Just thinking… « The Education Librarian: A Day in the Life

Teen Read Week 2012: Gearing Up for Collaboration

As the school year winds down for me, it’s easy to get caught up in the last minute whirlwind of final exams, papers, coercing materials returns, and talking my wonderful faculty off the proverbial ledge. But when I’m really on my game, I begin thinking about the first couple of months of the next school [...]

YALSA Blog Tweets of the Week – June 1, 2012

Do you have a favorite Tweet from the past week? If so add it in the comments for this post. Or, if you read a Twitter post between June 1 and June 7 that you think is a must for the next Tweets of the Week send a direct or @ message to lbraun2000 on [...]

On YALSA Award Winners and Ebooks

In the spring issue of YALS, you’ll find an easy-to-reference listing of all the YALSA award winners and book and media lists announced at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Since ebooks are on the rise, I thought I’d take a look at which of the winners are currently available as ebooks and which are available for [...]

ALA Annual: Where to Eat, Part 5

Get ready– ALA Annual in Anaheim is just around the corner! Be sure to take advantage of Division Member advance rates – $230 for the entire conference by June 14th for YALSA members. Once you’ve registered, plan out your conference activities with the ALA Conference Scheduler. YALSA’s list of events at ALA Annual will give you plenty [...]

Summer Programming in a Teen Center

My library is in a community heavy on teen foot-traffic and light on teen activities (outside of the library), so during the summer it is common to see the room filled to the brim with teens escaping the heat, annoyed at the friends they have spent every hour of every day with, looking for something–anything–to [...]

California School Books Going Digital

Posted on June 10, 2009 by charnigo

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to lighten the backpack loads of school children by “phasing out school textbooks” for digital ones. Read all about “California School Books Going Digital” from Google News (AFP). Not sure what to think about this one. The students’ backs might suffer less from not having to lug around those huge [...]

Filed under: Just thinking..., Uncategorized | Tagged: budget woes, California School Books Going Digital, digital learning aids, Digital Textbook Initiative, education budget, George could care less, ho hum, me being sarcastic | Leave a Comment »

A Sunny Day at the Houston Cole Library

Posted on June 1, 2009 by charnigo

View from the 5th Floor Well, it’s nearing the end of “Maymester,” and I thought I would take a few pictures of the view from the library today. The Houston Cole Library (HCL) is the tallest library in the state, with 12 floors (the Education Collection is on the 5th floor). There are so many [...]

Filed under: Just thinking..., Portraits of the Houston Cole Library, Uncategorized | Tagged: Alabama, College of Education, Houston Cole Library, Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University, JSU, Prince of Frogtown, Rick Bragg, the 5th Floor | 1 Comment »

The Very Hungry Caterpillar vs Frida: Viva la Vida: The Surge of Esoteric Subjects in Children’s Picture Books

Posted on May 30, 2009 by charnigo

Students and faculty often bring a children’s book up to me and ask me for what age it is suitable. This is one of the hardest questions to answer, particularly when a book appears to be written for a very young child but covers a complex subject. One trend I’ve noticed in children’s picture book [...]

Filed under: Just thinking..., Uncategorized | Tagged: Andy Warhol, children's books, Children's Picture Books, esoteric subjects, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, Very Hungry Caterpillar | Leave a Comment »

From “no guns” to “no hugs?”

Posted on May 28, 2009 by charnigo

Wow. I heard a story on this morning’s The Today Show which seems rather disturbing. You hear so much about school violence and school bullying and then you hear that some schools are officially banning hugs. HUGS? Banning hugs? Apparently, the new “high five” greeting has become the “hug” among today’s youth and some schools [...]

Filed under: Just thinking..., Uncategorized | Tagged: ban hugs, hugging, hugs, hugs at school, school policy, school violence | Leave a Comment »

NPR Song of the Day (whistle while you research!)

The Honeydogs: A Retail Solution For Heartbreak

The hook in "Broke It, Buy It" is insidiously catchy enough to ricochet through your head for days. Levy concludes with the implication that our inability to accept our failings causes more unhappiness than the failures themselves as we chase retail solutions — "we broke it, so we buy it."

Andrew Cyrille: Haitian Fascination

In "Marinèt," Cyrille and master percussionist Frisner Augustin collaborate on a breezy but intense Haitian folk tune, focused on Alix Pascal's gentle twoubadou guitar and Augustin's exacting but joyous chant and maman drumming.

In Trance 95: The Old New Wave

The late-'80s song "Presidente," recently reissued on a "minimal wave" compilation, sounds both dated and futuristic. With discontented vocal samples and drum machines creating a sinister backdrop, it closes with a stately march that practically glides across headphones as it ends.

BADBADNOTGOOD: A Moody Jazz-Hop Think Piece

A Toronto-based jazz trio whose approach to the genre has angered aficionados and grabbed the attention of young fans, BADBADNOTGOOD carries on jazz's rich tradition of reinvention and provocation in "UWM."

K-Holes: A Grimy Smear Of Rock 'n' Roll

In the frayed, exhausted "Child," K-Holes' members wield their own unique sort of holler.

Chuck Prophet: Tawdry, Tattered Glory

Few can turn tales from the outer limits into catchy songs quite like Prophet does in "The Left Hand and the Right Hand." He's as original as the oddball characters he brings to life.

Eliza Rickman: A Cockeyed Pop Song

"Pretty Little Head" is simple yet intricate, a contradiction which helps give it the feel of a nursery rhyme that's just starting to teeter off the rails. All the while, the arrangement works hard to keep listeners from finding their bearings for long.

Sonnymoon: The Sunnier Side Of Mortality

In Sonnymoon's "Just Before Dawn," Anna Wise's ethereal vocals float across a palpitating soundscape. "Every night, you should have someone to hold," Wise sings, "to tell you that you did okay when your mind is against you."

Deep Sea Diver: Density And Depth

A bittersweet gem, "Weekend Wars" provides a fine showcase for Shins guitarist Jessica Dobson. The song puts Dobson's powerful, tremulous voice to its paces in an ebb and flow of sharp guitars and flourishes from her more-than-capable bandmates.

Diplo Cranks Out An Unending String Of Hooks

"Express Yourself" incorporates elements of New Orleans bounce, a dance-friendly style of hip-hop that relies on driving, up-tempo beats and repetitive call-and-response vocals. In the process, each element of the song manages to lodge itself in your head at the exact same time.

NPR: Education Topics

Seattle Area Lacks Computer Science Majors

In Seattle alone, there are thousands of computer-related jobs waiting to be filled. But at the University of Washington, the number of bachelor's degrees in computer science is the same now as it was more than a decade ago. A lot of students have been rebuffed in their effort to major in computer science or computer engineering.

Small Change In Reading To Preschoolers Can Help Disadvantaged Kids Catch Up

Researchers say that changing what 4-year-olds see and think about when a book is being read can improve kids' reading skills later on. The key: Focus their attention on the words instead of the pictures.

Why Indian-Americans Reign As Spelling Bee Champs

Indian-Americans make up less than 1 percent of the U.S. population, but they've won the past four National Spelling Bees and 9 of the past 13. How has this tiny community become a spelling dynasty, and why are they so driven to win?

Hard Lessons Follow Rocky Start For Chicago Teacher

Tyrese Graham is a second-year science teacher at John Marshall Metropolitan High School on the West Side of Chicago. When he started teaching, Marshall was among the worst public schools in the city.

Jeb Bush Stays Focused On Education After Office

On the campaign trail, Mitt Romney singled out former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for his leadership on changing the way Americans look at education. Bush, out of office for five years, talks about the issue's importance. But he and his policies do have their critics.

ALSC

Comment on So You (Might) Want To Be (ALSC) President by Thom Barthelmess

Thanks, Mary, for your wise, stalwart, visionary service as ALSC President! It has been an inspiration. As a relatively recent past president I'll add a few markers to your trail: Become an active member of the ALSC 2.0 Community. Follow the blog. Offer to write a post. Explore ALAConnect. Post to a discussion list. Even if you can't travel to conf […]

Comment on The Reading Pros by Abby

Thanks, Janet for the book club ideas! I think it would be great to start a book club for 1st-3rd graders. I agree that the kids are usually most interested in the questions-they usually can't wait for an opportunity to talk about the book :)

Comment on The Reading Pros by Janet Thompson

Excellent list of tips Ms. Abby, thanks. I would add that if you don't have friends supporting the snacks, those can be very simplified. In fact, for our youngest book clubbers, 1st - 3rd grader, they tended to get too wound up regardless of what was served, so they've been reduced to the proverbial bread & water. I give them Smarties(R) as the […]

Comment on School-Age Science Programming by Natalie

Fantastic, doable ideas- thanks!

Comment on “Read It Again Ms. Tess!” — My Library’s Outreach to Head Start by Lisa

Whenever I visit Head Start, it's always the highlight of my day!

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