Greetings!
Last week I talked about the importance of reading aloud. I got a response from a teacher telling me about the books she enjoys reading aloud to her students and hoping other teachers will share their favorites, as well. So, you are invited to send a quick email to me listing books that you love reading aloud. I will share the list in the near future and we can all enjoy them and maybe even find some new favorites.
This week I want to talk about e-books and e-readers in the school. I know that many of your schools do not allow Kindles or Nooks at school. However, many of you do allow these and those that don’t allow them YET, may find that you will need to do so in the next year or two. The e-reader is here to stay. That being said – you may consider having a contract or policy for the e-reader. I hope you have a Computer User Agreement for the computer use in your school. (If not, then that is another post.) The e-reader contract would be similar. In your e-Book User Agreement here are some things to consider including. I took the following items from http://www.pointpleasant.k12.nj.us/Forms/Policy2361_eReaderAgreement.pdf
1. All e-readers must be labeled with the student’s first and last name.
2. Each student is responsible for his or her own e-reader and is strongly cautioned not to lend it to another student while in school.
3. E-readers can be used in class only when the teacher gives the student permission. If a student is using an e-reader at an inappropriate time, the teacher may revoke student permission to use the e-reader during that class.
4. E-readers are to be used for reading and teacher-approved school work only. Any student found to be using his/her e-reader for unapproved activity or Internet access during school hours will lose his/her privileges.
5. E-readers may NOT be used for audio books, music, or movies in school.
6. The privilege to use an e-reader can be revoked at any time.
I googled e-reader user agreements and was quite surprised at some of the restrictions that public schools and other church schools put on the e-readers that are brought to school. Some stated that ALL material downloaded on the e-reader must be appropriate for the school. I was surprised at this, but it isn’t a bad idea. Others said that if students bring an e-reader to school a teacher may at any time look at the material downloaded to make sure that nothing is inappropriate. Others said that while the e-reader is at school, the wireless must be disabled. The list goes on. Do a search for e-reader agreements and see what you can learn.
I am now going to admit that my school does not yet have a policy or e-reader agreement. I have mentioned to the administration that this may be something that we need to do, and we are likely to either have a policy or consider a policy at some point this year. When we have a policy, I will certainly share ours with you. I just feel like it is good to be prepared for the coming of the e-reader rather than have to hustle to catch up.
If your school allows e-readers, I would urge you to consider a policy before any problems arise. If you are considering allowing them, then a policy ahead of time would certainly be appropriate.
I hope you have a great week. Don’t forget to send me ideas for good read alouds.
Audrey
Monday, September 24, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Reading Aloud is Important
Greetings!
I certainly hope you are reading aloud to your students. It is my belief that we should read aloud to students of ALL ages. Yes, I know that older students can read for themselves and you high school teachers or librarians probably don’t read aloud to them. Still, I think you should. Here are my reasons.
1. Everyone enjoys a good story and we should not leave anyone out. I know that I listen to a preacher better if the sermon is illustrated with stories.
2. Speaking of listening, many children today need to improve listening skills and stories are one way to help improve that skill.
3. Reading aloud and sharing books models how important this skill is. When I read a book to a group, the book I read is the exact book that students ask for over and over. Years ago I read a story called “Mailing May” (see note below) to a group of 1st and 2nd graders. One little girl checked the book out repeatedly for years. She graduated last year, but that book was special to her for many years.
You may not realize what kind of power you have at your fingertips. You can influence the reading material of your students. There is such a plethora of reading material and much of it is just trash. If we can find good wholesome books for our kids to read, what a blessing it would be.
I hope you have a great week.
Audrey
Note: Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell, Illustrated by Ted Rand. Greenwillow Books, 1997.
Summary: May is a small child who wants to go visit her grandmother across the Idaho mountains, but the family does not have enough money to pay the $1.55 fare. May tries to earn money, but she is just too young. However, Ma and Pa come up with a plan. Ma’s cousin Leonard is working on the mail train from Grangeville to Lewiston and May is ‘mailed’ to her grandmother. What is the best thing about this book is that the story is true. You can read the whole story in the back of the book.
Check out other books by Michael O, Tunnell if you like this one.
I certainly hope you are reading aloud to your students. It is my belief that we should read aloud to students of ALL ages. Yes, I know that older students can read for themselves and you high school teachers or librarians probably don’t read aloud to them. Still, I think you should. Here are my reasons.
1. Everyone enjoys a good story and we should not leave anyone out. I know that I listen to a preacher better if the sermon is illustrated with stories.
2. Speaking of listening, many children today need to improve listening skills and stories are one way to help improve that skill.
3. Reading aloud and sharing books models how important this skill is. When I read a book to a group, the book I read is the exact book that students ask for over and over. Years ago I read a story called “Mailing May” (see note below) to a group of 1st and 2nd graders. One little girl checked the book out repeatedly for years. She graduated last year, but that book was special to her for many years.
You may not realize what kind of power you have at your fingertips. You can influence the reading material of your students. There is such a plethora of reading material and much of it is just trash. If we can find good wholesome books for our kids to read, what a blessing it would be.
I hope you have a great week.
Audrey
Note: Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell, Illustrated by Ted Rand. Greenwillow Books, 1997.
Summary: May is a small child who wants to go visit her grandmother across the Idaho mountains, but the family does not have enough money to pay the $1.55 fare. May tries to earn money, but she is just too young. However, Ma and Pa come up with a plan. Ma’s cousin Leonard is working on the mail train from Grangeville to Lewiston and May is ‘mailed’ to her grandmother. What is the best thing about this book is that the story is true. You can read the whole story in the back of the book.
Check out other books by Michael O, Tunnell if you like this one.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Greetings!
Since the school year has just started, you have money that needs to be spent on your school library. I’ll be happy to help you spend this.
Throughout the school year I will give you ideas for books that you may either need or want for your library. This week I have some great ones for you.
If your library is like many libraries, you need to update your astronomy section.
Here is a great one titled A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano published by Charlesbridge. She does a great job of explaining what a black hole really is. The book is just about right for elementary libraries. Students from middle to upper grades will all be able to read and learn from it. Teachers can use it as a great supplemental resource for science, too.
Since election time is right around the corner, putting out some books about elections, governments, and presidents will help stimulate some interest in the subject. Here is a set of books from Searchlight Books published by Lerner about Judges and Courts, The Congress, and The President, Vice President, and Cabinet. These are appropriate for primary and middle grades.
I found a set of books that address certain issues that come up at school such as being kind and honest with others. This set is called Positive Steps published by Smart Apple Media and each book in the set addresses a particular kind of behavior. The titles shown are Dealing with Differences, Being Honest, Caring for Others, and Dealing with Bullying.
If you have horse lovers in your school like I have at mine, you can’t have enough horse books. Kingfisher Riding Club is a reputable source for all things horse and this one about the different breeds from around the world is really great. I learned that there are hot-blooded, warm-blooded, and cold-blooded horses. Who knew?! Read Horse and Pony Breeds by Sandy Ransford to learn more.
Last week I answered a question about outdated textbooks and asked for any suggestions from you regarding them. Jennifer H. responded with some great options. She said that older math and reading textbooks can be used as a resource for extra practice. You can sell them at yard sales. Student missionaries who will be teaching may welcome them. Contact the WWU student missions to see if there is any interest for them. Thanks, Jennifer, for your great ideas.
I hope you got some good ideas for books.
Have a great week.
Audrey
Since the school year has just started, you have money that needs to be spent on your school library. I’ll be happy to help you spend this.
Throughout the school year I will give you ideas for books that you may either need or want for your library. This week I have some great ones for you.
If your library is like many libraries, you need to update your astronomy section.
Here is a great one titled A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano published by Charlesbridge. She does a great job of explaining what a black hole really is. The book is just about right for elementary libraries. Students from middle to upper grades will all be able to read and learn from it. Teachers can use it as a great supplemental resource for science, too.
Since election time is right around the corner, putting out some books about elections, governments, and presidents will help stimulate some interest in the subject. Here is a set of books from Searchlight Books published by Lerner about Judges and Courts, The Congress, and The President, Vice President, and Cabinet. These are appropriate for primary and middle grades.
I found a set of books that address certain issues that come up at school such as being kind and honest with others. This set is called Positive Steps published by Smart Apple Media and each book in the set addresses a particular kind of behavior. The titles shown are Dealing with Differences, Being Honest, Caring for Others, and Dealing with Bullying.
If you have horse lovers in your school like I have at mine, you can’t have enough horse books. Kingfisher Riding Club is a reputable source for all things horse and this one about the different breeds from around the world is really great. I learned that there are hot-blooded, warm-blooded, and cold-blooded horses. Who knew?! Read Horse and Pony Breeds by Sandy Ransford to learn more.
Last week I answered a question about outdated textbooks and asked for any suggestions from you regarding them. Jennifer H. responded with some great options. She said that older math and reading textbooks can be used as a resource for extra practice. You can sell them at yard sales. Student missionaries who will be teaching may welcome them. Contact the WWU student missions to see if there is any interest for them. Thanks, Jennifer, for your great ideas.
I hope you got some good ideas for books.
Have a great week.
Audrey
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Outdated Textbooks
I got an email from a teacher wondering what I tell people to do with outdated textbooks. She wondered what the best way is to take care of them and wondered if there was a place that needed them.
This is a great question. I am not sure what people do with them actually. I know that most schools simply do not have the storage space to keep them. I would say that if they are in poor condition, to recycle them if possible. If they are in good condition, I would expect that there are schools somewhere that could use them. I don’t know where to find these schools, but I think that the conference office may know more about this than I do.
If the old books are from the old reading series, I would recommend keeping a set or two of each level in the library as a library book. It may be that you have students who need more reading practice and having a book that is on his or her level to read will really help. This is especially true for the younger grades. If you have any of the old Dick and Jane books or even the really old Alice and Jerry books, you have a treasure. Keep them in the library and let students check them out to read.
Now I will turn the tables on to my readers. What do YOU recommend schools do with outdated textbooks? I’ll compile ideas and let you know what others suggest.
I hope you have a great week and a Happy New School Year!
Audrey
This is a great question. I am not sure what people do with them actually. I know that most schools simply do not have the storage space to keep them. I would say that if they are in poor condition, to recycle them if possible. If they are in good condition, I would expect that there are schools somewhere that could use them. I don’t know where to find these schools, but I think that the conference office may know more about this than I do.
If the old books are from the old reading series, I would recommend keeping a set or two of each level in the library as a library book. It may be that you have students who need more reading practice and having a book that is on his or her level to read will really help. This is especially true for the younger grades. If you have any of the old Dick and Jane books or even the really old Alice and Jerry books, you have a treasure. Keep them in the library and let students check them out to read.
Now I will turn the tables on to my readers. What do YOU recommend schools do with outdated textbooks? I’ll compile ideas and let you know what others suggest.
I hope you have a great week and a Happy New School Year!
Audrey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)