Supporting ELA CCGPS in the Library

I want to show the video, Don't Let the Pigeon Touch the Books next week to let the students know how to take care of the books (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW25mqJjEF4).  Since many won't have read the book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, I wanted to read it this week.  I also want to be able to show that what I do in the library media center supports the CCGPS in ELA.  I looked at the lesson plans for first grade and they have been working on the essential question, "How do we identify the most important information in a story?".  They have been using the 5Ws & H (who, what, when, where, why and how).  So today after reading Mo Willem's book we answered the 5Ws & H as a group.  Then I told them we were going to take an Accelerated Reader quiz on the book together, so I projected in on the large screen and we went through it.  Many first grade students have not yet taken a quiz, so I took this opportunity to model it for them.  And besides, it's a really funny book...to first grade students!

Supporting CCGPS: ELACC1RL3-Describe characters, setting, and major events in a story, using key details. ELACC1SL2-Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or
information presented orally or through other media.

Screencast-O-Matic

I made a screen capture video using Screencast-O-Matic to create an instruction tool for school staff.  We have a new way to submit technology work orders via the school system website and I remembered doing a screen capture video in a graduate class at Valdosta State University.  I thought that a video would be a better way to show staff how to do this task than reading printed instructions (which I also created...4 pages of screen capture with call outs, etc.)

It was fun and very easy to do (and it's free).  The software creates a video in MPEG4 format, which requires QuickTime Player, so I also converted it into WMV format.  I emailed both formats to staff so they would be able to play the video.  I was pretty sure that most of our computers had Windows Media Player installed, but wasn't sure how many had QuickTime installed.

Here is a screen shot of my video screencast.
Note the cursor is hightlighted with a yellow circle, so you can easily track the movement.

I'm thinking of other tasks, procedures or instruction that would lend itself to using this technology.  I could see teachers using it to instruct students on how to things.  They could copy them onto the computers in their classrooms.

 I also figured out how to change a screen capture into a jpeg, since this blog only lets you insert video or images.  You use the Prnt Scrn key and open Accessories>Paint and then paste the screen capture there and save as jpeg.

Cicada

While feeding the chickens today I noticed a cicada on the door of the chicken coop.  I usually see the shed of the insect on the trunks of pine trees, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the actual insect.

Also, here are 3 of my chickens!  They are getting bigger, but are still not full size.  We're probably still 2 more months before there are eggs.

Chickens Make It to the Coop!

We have been building a coop for our 5 young chickens and we finally were able to move them into it on Sunday!  They had been living in a plywood box in our garage for about 2 weeks so we were all happy to make the big move.  We placed them in the night roost portion of the coop first and locked them in there for awhile so they became familiar with that new environment.  Then we opened the door into the run.  Cautiously they looked out but weren't too anxious to go out into that big scary space.  I went into the coop and placed food all along the ramp and they eventually made their way out.  After a couple of hours they all made it all the way down the ramp and then made themselves at home.

My Chickens

I named my blog, "Karen's World" and the address is "georgiabooksandmore.blogspot.com" so here is a blog about something not book related...chickens!  I decided about 6 months ago I would like to have chickens in my backyard so I could have fresh eggs.  I finally got some on May 7th from my son as a Mother's Day present.  Only problem was that we don't have the coop built yet, so they lived for a week and a half in a large plastic tub.  This was sufficient until my son and husband said they intended all along to have more than 3 chickens.  So my son built a larger brooder to accommodate 2 more chickens which we bought on May 16th.

First chicks I received as Mother's Day gift on May 7th.

Here are the original 3 plus 2 more purchased May 16th.  See how much the original 3 have grown!

I asked at our second purchase at the feed store exactly what kind of chickens I had.  The red one is a New Hampshire Red (named Rosie), the pale yellow ones are Buff Orpingtons (I originally named the 1st Buff Henny Penny) and the black one is a Black Sex Link (named Nugget by my son).  The other 2 Buffs I haven'

t named.  For one thing I can't tell them apart.  We are spending Memorial Day weekend building the permanent coop.  I'll post a photo when it's completed.

National Library Week Activity

I know it's a little late, but school is officially out and I might have time to catch up on some blogging!  I repeated my activity from last year called "Guess Who's Reading!".  I photographed volunteer staff with one of their favorite books, with only the top of their head and hands showing, adding the "Guess Who's Reading!" at the top.  I laminated them and posted them around the school with a small number in the corner

Here is the original photo (of me) to which I add the "Guess Who's Reading!".  I hold a contest and if the students guess a certain number of staff correctly, their name is entered into a drawing for a prize.  I then post the names later.  It's been a fun activity, with the students getting really excited and going around with clipboards and discussing who is behind the books.  We celebrate NLW a week later than ALA, as we are testing during the official ALA week.  So it comes at good time when the students could use a fun activity!

 

I got the idea from a blog I follow called "Library Displays" and changed it up a little.

Books-My Window to the World

I just finished a new display for National Library Week which we will be celebrating April 22-26 (due to testing during the official NLW time).  I also didn't feel that the ALA theme "Communities Matter @ Your Library" was a great visual for our bookmark contest, etc.  So with some help from my Library Media Center Committee we came up with the theme "Books-My Window to the World".  My display features a window frame hanging in front (it's made of styrofoam, covered with wood-grained cardboard donated by a parent who worked with a Hallmark store).  I think it turned out great!