Reading Logs going digital how to and the benefits of going digital Part II

The TechWizard's Guide to Library Magic

Written by Ms. Cummings

CiTi Library Media Specialist

Reading Logs going digital how to and the benefits of going digital 

Part II

Step 1 - Create a Google Form to collect reading log data

Step 2 - Create the Public Reading Dashboard
Step 3 - create the sections of your dashboard
Step 4 - Create the Teacher Dashboard

Last blog post was about the reading log form and creating it using Google Forms.  The last step was to create the Google Sheet connected to the Google form.  If you missed that post you can view it at this LINK.  Once you have these completed, have some fun entering a couple entries using the Google Form you created.  You must have at least one entry in order to set up your dashboards!  You will be able to erase these entries when you are finished setting up and testing the two dashboards (Public and Teacher).

You will need to access the Google Data Studio.  This will automatically save to your Google My Drive.  You can move it around in My Drive BUT you cannot move this to Team Drive.  I tried and it messed with viewing and the connection to the data.  So I have left mine on Google My Drive.

You can make a copy of my Reading Dashboard but I believe it is better to start from scratch.  There are some great templates and I would highly recommend taking the time to look at some of the templates.

1. Click on + start a new report
2. On the right, you will be asked for a data source.  First time using a data source you will need to click on "Create New Data Source" you are creating a link or connection to your data source. Once you clicked find Google Sheets box and click select.  Find your Google Form Response sheet.  Note:  If your sheet has more than one tab each tab will appear separately in the list.  Click on your file then Connect in the top right corner.
3. Table representing your sheet will be shown then just click "Add to Report" in the top right corner.
4. A pop up confirming you want to make the connection appears then click on "Add to Report"
5. You will see an empty rectangle that looks like graph paper.
6. Once you are at this point if you leave the document and go back into it you will need to click on "edit" in the top right corner when you go back in.  I lost track of how many times I kept clicking and I just needed to click on the edit button.  A little frustrating.
7. Stop and take a moment or two to decide what you want your Public Reading Dashboard to look like.  You will need the questions from your Google Form and ideas.

Mine is different than the Hommocks Dashboard.  I wanted to have a title to my dashboard and that it connects to the Library.  Take some time and do some planning.  Adding a title is simple to do by adding a text box (Insert Text) and adding a fill color to the box.

This is what I have on the Library's Dashboard:

• Total Books Read (set to only include FINISHED books) I have entries for 13 books but 2 were abandoned so the total count is 11 books read.
• Popular Genre
• Popular Authors (set to order by how many times the author appears in the logs plus what rate they received)
• Most Popular Books (set to order by how many read the book and the book rating
• Students VS Adults - kind of competition for the school year.
• This last section is for filtering the data.  The default is a cumulative display of all books read but you can have the display reflect what you filtered for.  I can choose a grade level, a team or a data range.  You can also select multiple filters at one time.  The display will reflect those choices.  The Hommocks Dashboard does not have this feature.  I added this to avoid having to create dashboards for each of my grade levels.  You may not need this.  You and your teachers/admin will have access to the Teacher Dashboard.
• I do not have the display of a graph showing books read by date/month, but you can add this to yours.  There are other options based on what data you collected.

Go ahead on do some planning the next blog post will go over how to create each of these sections.

Part III

Reading Logs going digital how to and the benefits of going digital Part I

The TechWizard's Guide to Library Magic

Written by Ms. Cummings

CiTi Library Media Specialist

Reading Logs going digital how to and the benefits of going digital 
Part I

Step 1 - Create a Google Form to collect reading log data

Step 2 - Create the Public Reading Dashboard
Step 3 - create the sections of your dashboard
Step 4 - Create the Teacher Dashboard

This is part I of my journey to bringing a reading log into the digital age.  When my kids were younger they had to do reading logs all through elementary school and without fail they would get lost or have orange juice spilled on them and one even ended up in the bottom of the hamster cage!  Needless to say, they eventually made it to school and the teacher would stamp it and we start the process all over again.   As  School Library Media Specialist working in a K-12 Library I decided I wanted more to come from those reading logs.

My first step was to create a Google Form that provided an easy way for students and parents to enter the information.  I had to decide what data I really wanted to collect.  Your choices will depend on what data you and your teachers want to collect.

My form includes:

1. Automatically collect email address - this makes it easy to restrict access too.
2. First & Last names - with school student email address you may not need this I choose to include it in my data collection
3. Select one - student or adult - I want students to see adults are reading too, but you may not want to include this option
4. Grade - I am K-12 so I did Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Plus adult.  You can choose the grades you are working with.
5. Team - There are some teams in my schools.  Optional question.  
6. Book Title - ALL CAPS - this makes it easier for the system to match up titles.  You can go into the Google Sheet and correct any errors but all caps help limit the need to make corrections.  The program will count a title in all caps as different than the same title but in lower case letters. 
7. Author - at least the last name
8. Genre - I set up options for the genre and included "I can't decide" option.  You can leave this as a short answer but I don't recommend that. for the same reason as the title.  Spelling errors will cause problems so it is easier to have them select from a list
9. Abandoned or Finished - This is important to me in that all reading counts and it tells me that the student didn't like something about the book.  This helps with book recommendations and possibly tell you when a class needs a lesson on picking out just right books.  I will show you how to set it up so only finished books are counted in "Total books read".
10. Rate this book - I put in a 1-5 scale for rating the book.  This will help with the popular author and popular book part of the display
11. What is the next book you would like to read? - This doesn't appear in the display but its data I would like to have.  I have told students that they can put that they don't know what to read next.  This is also an optional question.

I had gotten this far into my creation of the Digital Reading Log and honestly, I did not really know where to go from this point.  I attended a PD on young adult books and the presenter mentioned a reading dashboard.  I got the links and viewed what they had created.  This is the link to the YouTube video Creating a Digital Independent Reading Log with G Suite Apps https://youtu.be/ASHSGiyCE68

There is also an article about the reading dashboard at this link

Honestly viewing the video and article did help get me to move forward with reading dashboard but there was so much that I struggled to figure out.

This is a lot of information to collect and you don't have to have all these items, but this data collection will provide the data for 2 to 3 dashboards.  The first and primary one is the Public Reading Dashboard.  Secondly, there is the Teacher Reading Dashboard and last, there is the Student Dashboard.  The Student Dashboard I am still working on and I will add a post for that one when I have it working.

Go ahead and create your own Google Form Reading Log and the Google Sheet to collect the data.  The sheet is created by clicking on the green box on the RESPONSES tab of the Google Form you created.  You will need this for the next part of this project.  Having the finalized form before you start the next step will be helpful, but there is a way to manage if a need to edit the Google Form occurs.  I will include tips to help you deal with those issues in the next posts.

Part II

Marketing a High School Library

Marketing a High School Library

Teachers and Librarians get to go through a classroom evaluation several times each school year. This is my fifth year as a School Librarian at a BOCES program. For those that do not know what a BOCES program is here is the definition from New York State School Boards Association:
“BOCES stands for Board of Cooperative Educational Services. BOCES are public organizations that were created by the New York State Legislature in 1948 to provide shared educational programs and services to school districts“ ("New York," n.d.).

To my knowledge, there is one other BOCES in New York State and BOCES are not required to have a School Librarian. Since I am the only Librarian working at my BOCES I often have multiple administrators that the Library falls under. Next year I am told that the Library will fall under the Curriculum Administrator. This is the same person that has been doing my teacher evaluation each year already. I also have School Library Services that asks for a Member Plan to be filled out every 4 years, next year that may switch to yearly. You may be asking am I reading the right article? The Title is Marketing a High School Library. Before a recent classroom observation, one of my administrators had a moment to talk about connecting with more of the programs at CiTi and where I should be concentrating my efforts. A few points that I agree with such as I am quiet with people I am not as familiar with. True this year but not in past years. So I will work on that. Since I am a quieter person at this point I need to be more outgoing and ask to present at Faculty meetings. Presentations of 5 minutes or less. The point being I need to market the library better moving forward……..

I used to see teachers in the building all the time but then the library was moved to a building next to the main one. Great space but not so great for making connections. So marketing is important.

So what do I do to market the library already that have had some good results?

Weekly newsletter - using Smore.com I put out a weekly newsletter highlight service and/or new items in the library. I also include PD opportunities that teachers can attend that I will also be attending, in the hopes that we can team up. ("Smore," n.d.)

Walking - Yep that is right. At the end of the day and I am getting ready to leave I have changed my route out of the building so that I may run into teachers. This is actually going out of my way since I am quite close to the parking lot. Improvement to connections but not enough.

How to videos: I have had limited success with my FAQ videos and DIY videos. I have a YouTube channel that I post on the Library website. It gets some use but could be much better utilized. I need better videos!

Technology Committee - I am on the Technology Committee and I do reach teachers from across the programs this way. Plus I have connected with our Technology Director who is now advocating for the library when possible and appropriate at meetings.

What I tried that did not work:

Walking Lunchtime - I tried at lunchtime to walk from my end of the campus to the faculty room, but that leaves the library unattended and people stop and say they were just heading over to the library. I never actually make it to the faculty room for lunch. I also had to bring a note pad to take notes which I almost always forgot to bring with me.

Webinars - I use Zoom meeting to reach out to teachers that are either at another location or want an easy way to share their screen to figure out a problem. I have a Zoom session that runs on school days. Not one teacher has used that option. Also, I had only one successful webinar and that is when I was hosting but one of our vendors was presenting.

What to try next:

Mobile Library Cart: I have put together a mobile library cart with games, coloring/sticker books, and magazines. The idea is that students that finish lunch early can look through the magazines and play a quick game. This will help with lunchroom behaviors and market the library to students. The cart will also offer books for students to check-out as soon as I can get my mobile library catalog fully functional. I will be doing this 2 days a week and I am looking for another person to help with the other 3 days of the school week.


Mobile Library Cart Part II: Another cart is being set up with Fiction titles sorted by Genre. The point of this cart is to take the library to the classrooms. Since I am in a different building many of the classes skip going to the library. I was asked if it was possible to have a mobile library come to the classroom for book checkouts. I’m game for this I can reach the students on a regular basis that want to borrow books and don’t get opportunities to come to the library, but I can also reach those reluctant to come to the library.


Weekly Newsletter additional: I use the paid version of Smore so I get all the bells and whistles. I have noticed that even though I send out the newsletter using Smore’s mailing list option people are not actually reading it. Our Tech Department has started labeling emails as “External Email” that are from outside sources which have led to people just deleting instead of looking closer at the email. I have taken to also email the link to the newsletter to the “staff” list which is everyone no matter their job vs Smore mailing list which is just teachers and administrators. I do run the risk of people getting frustrated with the weekly email from the library. So I will be printing some of the newsletters and putting them in teacher’s mailboxes and try and make the connection between print and digital versions of the newsletter.

This, unfortunately, is not enough. In my first 4 years of working at this BOCES I had administrators that asked the question “have you worked with the library” when talking to teachers. I know this because I would soon afterward have the teacher in the library asking questions and would say their admin had mentioned the library. Here it is March and I have had only one teacher say admin mentioned the library.

I am looking for new and better ways to market the library. Please add a comment to this post to share what you are doing to market your High School Library.

References

New York State School Boards Association. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2019, from https://www.nyssba.org/about-nyssba/boces-fact-sheet/

Definition of a BOCES

Smore. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2019, from https://www.smore.com/app

Reliability Spectrum VS. FAKE News

Tammy Cummings, MLS
Center for  Instruction, Technology & Innovation

Reliability Spectrum VS. FAKE News

Librarians and educators today spend a lot of time educating students in regards to fake news.  The AASL Standards Framework for Learners has a standard (VI.A.3) that states "Evaluating information for accuracy, validity, social and cultural context, and appropriateness for need". (AASL)  In my role as a Library Media Specialist I have done many lessons on fake news and how to tell a valid source from a not so valid source.  I have seen many lessons by other librarians that concentrate on the areas of accuracy, validity.  These are the biggest evaluations used to decide if something is fake news or not.  The new Social Studies exams are now asking students to rate sources based on a reliability spectrum.  This connects with the remaining parts of the new library standard.

The new standard includes the need to evaluate sources not only on the accuracy and validity but also the social and cultural context and the appropriateness for the need.  This is the core thought process behind the reliability spectrum. Students will have several articles to read and they must rate them on this spectrum.  Students will need to know that it is not asking if the articles are fake news or not but how reliable are the sources to answer the questions that are being asked.

My example to students is as follows:

I am looking to create a healthy meal plan for the week.  I have three sources available to make my decisions.  

1. My grandmothers recipe box that is filled with our family recipes for generations.  
2. Local chef who wrote and published a cookbook.
3. A friend who is nutritionist and studying to be a dietitian.

Now I need to evaluate each source but what are the questions? Plus I need to state my reasoning.  Why did I rate that source the way I did?

Question 1:  Which source is reliable to create a meal plan for someone with a health issue, which one would be reliable?  Would you choose the friend studying to be a dietitian?  I would say that source would be between reliable and somewhat reliable, since the friend is still studying to be a dietitian.  Plus a dietitian is the better choice for nutrition decisions for health issues than a nutritionist.

Question 2:  Which source would be reliable to cook a meal for a night when everyone wants comfort food?  Would you choose Grandma's recipe box or the Chef that published a cookbook.  I would say that my family would want Grandma's Cooking and that makes it reliable.  Everyone likes Grandma's cooking.  The Chef I would say is somewhat reliable because to publish a cookbook you have to keep in mind what the reader would like to see in the cookbook.  That cookbook also needs to look appealing to get people to buy it but that doesn't guarantee that the recipes would be considered comfort food.

My example doesn't cover all the aspects of the reliability spectrum but it is a start that will get students talking.  Getting students to understand that the new Social Studies exams want them to take a stance and back it up.  There is no right or wrong answer to the rating but they need to be able to back up their decision with reasons and it can't be "just because" or "because it is".

The big take away is that students need evaluate their sources and be able to state how reliable those sources are.  Everyone not just students need to be able to chose a stance (using  the reliability spectrum) and be able to articulate why they took that stance.  It's OK to not agree but you must be able to back it up with your reasons.  Not everyone in my family would agree that my Grandmother's recipes would be considered comfort food.  They might say that the Chef's cookbook is more reliable.  That's OK because I know my family and they will not hesitate to tell me why, but they will also listen to my reasoning.  Are your students that comfortable with making a decision and stating why?

Remember it's not just about fake news but also about the reliability.   Lessons on Fake news are a great way to get student's attention and engage them in learning.  We also need to remember that there is more to evaluating sources and help students develop those skills.

Works cited:

(2018), National school library standards for learners, school librarians, and school libraries. Chicago, ALA Editions, an imprint of the American Library Association.

AASL_ReadingtheStandards_OnePager_2017.pdf. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2018, from http://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AASL_ReadingtheStandards_OnePager_2017.pdf

Library Website CiTi

Tammy Cummings, MLS
Center for  Instruction, Technology & Innovation

CiTi's Library Website

 The new  and improved library website is up and running. This new version of the website is linked to the CiTi website.  You will find it listed in the links column for each program at CiTi Library.  This will take you to the landing page and on this page there is a link (Visit the CiTi Library's  Google Site!) to the full library website.  You are welcome to bookmark the Google Sites Library page to take you directly to the page in the future.

Image of Library Website Landing Page

  The Library website is a place for Teachers and Students to find resources that support their learning.  There is a section for teachers that provides links to the teacher sign in pages for resources that we use here at CiTi.  The student section provides the links to the student sign in pages for the resources that students are most likely to use.  There are also resources to help students (and teachers) with their research needs and access to our ebooks/audio books.  You do not have  to be logged in to your CiTi Google account unless you need to view the restricted pages.  To view these pages just log in with your @citiboces.net account.

  The Library calendar is on the Home page of the Library website.  This calendar will enable you to see my availability for library lessons.  There is also the Library Schedule page that allows you to sign up for a time with the Librarian.  You will then receive a confirmation of that time from me.  This is the same form that teachers and students use to sign up for an ICE (Information, Curation & Exploration) session.  Once the Library space opens there is also a page for Library Sign In  where teachers will be able to see that their students did arrive at the library (They must have a pass).

The Library website is the best way to provide access to the digital library materials.  This website is updated on a regular basis and new items are added as they are added to the library.  Come visit the library website often.

Digital Breakout EDU

The TechWizard's Guide to Library Magic

Written by Ms. Cummings

CiTi Library Media Specialist

Digital BreakoutEDU

Have you heard about BreakoutEDU?  BreakoutEDU is a fun way to get students actively learning in a fun way.  https://www.breakoutedu.com/welcome/  

Through BreakoutEDU students use the 4 C's

     
     Critical Thinking
     Collaboration
     Creativity
     Communication

The CiTi Curriculum Library has BreakoutEDU kits to loan out to teachers.  Contact Mrs. Cummings for more information on the kits.

https://www.breakoutedu.com/digital/

BreakoutEDU has added Digital BreakoutEDU for those that do not have access to the BreakoutEDU kits.  There are many digital games already created on the websites but you can also create your own.  With a little help you can take an existing game and modify it to meet your needs.

Survey:

Once you have completed a Breakout game please take the time to complete this survey (link below).  This is to share your experiences with other teachers and to encourage the use of Breakouts in the classroom. The results of the survey will be displayed on the Library website.  

BreakoutEDU Survey

UPDATE:

The BreakoutEDU website has been updated.  They have added a paid access point but the free games are still available.  They are located under each subject area in a section called "User Generated Games"  You just need to create an account to access them, no subscription needed for these items.
Also, BreakoutEDU has created an app for a digital lock on the iPad.

Start of a new school year at the Library

CiTi Library Media Center
Tammy Cummings
Library Media Specialist

Hello,

I wanted to take a moment to say hello at the start of another school year.  You can take a look at my post about the library resources at https://techwizardsguidetolibrarymagic.blogspot.com/2017/02/library-resources-at-citi.html  and a few of my other posts on this blog can be helpful too.  The campus library is not yet ready but watch for an announcement on that hopefully soon.  

For planning purposed the curriculum library is located at 4th Street.  You can reserve materials through the library catalog at http://vbe.osw.opalsinfo.net/bin/home. It may take at least a week to get materials to you through the courier.  You are welcome to stop and an browse the materials in the curriculum library, but nothing can leave without being checked out.  All teachers can check materials out using the catalog.  If you would like to pick items up instead of by courier please email me so I can have the items ready for you. 

I will also be updating our subscriptions lists and making that available too.  Please do not post our user names and passwords online for these accounts.  Any questions or requests contact me and I will try to help.

I would like to share one new resource for reading that is free for teachers to sign up and set up their classes.  I would recommend signing up with your Google Accounts (and students) to make this easier (@citiboces.net)  Whooo's Reading is completely free. 

Whooo's Reading - The Accountability of AR Without Multiple Choice. Whooo's Reading is a higher-level thinking alternative to Accelerated Reader. Get your students writing about what they read. For more information please go to their website at https://www.whooosreading.org/

You can reach the Library Media Center at extension 460 or email Ms. Cummings tcummings@citiboces.org

Google Expedition UPDATE

CiTi Library Media Center

Tammy Cummings 

Library Media Specialist

UPDATE!

Google Expeditions Update.  Original Post Google Cardboard & Google Expeditions:  What I should know before hand.

I wanted to update everyone on Google Expeditions.  The app is adding new tours all the time.  The tours no longer are restricted to 360 Photos but now include 360 diagrams and drawings.  All are still created by experts in their fields.

For those that are having trouble with getting the app to run with the screen sharing.  You know you are having this issue when it never connects to a guide.  This means your network has a restriction on peer to peer screen sharing.  To overcome this hurdle don't go yell at your technology department!  You will need to purchase a Wifi device that will run about $80.  I use the Linksys AC750 Boost Dual-Band Wi-Fi Range Extender.  I do NOT plug it into the network.  I just plug it into a power outlet.  

You will need to take your device that you will use as the guide and start up the Google Expedition App.  Guides must log into their Google Accounts when using the app, Followers do not need to login.  I like to use an iPad for my guide device.  Download the tours you would like to run.  Then you will connect your guide device to the router.  Then go back into the Expedition App.  

Now you are ready to have follower devices connect to the wifi router, make sure it is the same one that the guide device is connected to.  Once they are connected they can start the Google Expedition App.  Select follow and join your tour.

IDEA!
Google Expeditions are created by experts in their fields.  Why not use these for research and not just field trips.  Allow students to be the guide and explore the tour on their own.  In the Guide point of view valuable & valid information is provided that students can use for their assignments.  The best part is that when they tap on the information it points them directly at what it is referring to.  The other great part is that they can't copy and paste the information.  They must take notes! This leaves us with the task of teaching students how to take notes properly. 

Maker Spaces: Makey Makey Kits

CiTi Library Media Center

Maker Spaces in the Library Media Center

Maker Spaces are great for learning and a big reason they are included in libraries today.  The Maker Spaces are spots in the Library set aside for students to be creative.  The library provides simple materials for students to create from scratch and/or technology kits that students can use.  My favorite is to provide some yarn and a crochet hook.  Students can crochet their own pattern or work on an afghan together.  Scrap booking materials are another great source.  The important aspect is to provide students with guidelines and let them create.  The basic guidelines of what materials they can create and take home and what materials are reusable by other students.  Then there are the guidelines for the project is it free creation or does it revolve around a topic from class.

The great thing about having a Maker Space in the library is that you can have technology available to all classes and not just one class.  A 3D printer is an excellent example.  Unless your class is all about 3D printing a teacher won't consistently use one all year long, but put it in the library and multiple classes can use it throughout the school year.  Another example is the Makey Makey Kits.  They are more affordable but will sit in a cabinet when a lesson doesn't require them.  Change this to having it in the library and the same class can use it for the lesson but then the kit is available to inspire other teachers for more lessons and to inspire other students to create.

Makey Makey:

What is a Makey Makey Kit?  Basically a circuit board that allows a person to create a keyboard with select keys on it and made out of anything conductive.  You are building a circuit.  The Makey Makey kits are not an all in one device.  You will need other items to make it work.

1. Makey Makey Kit
2. A Computer with a USB port
3. Clips and wires are included in the kit but having extras will be useful
4. Craft materials - some non-conductive and most that are conductive
5. Food - no not for you to eat but for you to create with.
6. Scratch - https://scratch.mit.edu/
7. Knowledge of how to remap the board for expanded options

Once you connect the Makey Makey to the USB port the red light on the back should be lit up.  Now let's test that the kit is working.  You will need 1 of the alligator clip wires.  Clip one to the earth and hold the other end touching the metal. Now with your other hand tough the spot that says space on the Makey board.  The green light should be on.  It may flicker but that's ok.  You just used your body to complete the circuit.  You won't get electrocuted as long as the computer and it's power cords are away from any liquids!  

Makey Makey website http://makeymakey.com/apps/ offers simple programs that you can use for almost instant creation and  to expand what can be created.  Think of it in the terms that you are creating a keyboard with the Makey board and it can be any of the keys that you need.  You are not limited to the 6 on the front of the Makey Makey Board.  The six on the front are 4 Arrow keys, space bar and the left mouse click.  Scratch has many pre-made programs that can be run with this kit and create circuits for.  You can play the piano, the bongos and lots of other items.  Makey Makey works with Scratch - https://scratch.mit.edu/ and adds animations and sounds to your creations.

Currently I am building a game similar to Operation.  You should remember the old Operation game. https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/3137739/ .
 You had a board with holes in it that you had to pull pieces out of without touching the sides.  It had an image of a guy on an operating table.  When you hit the side his nose lit up and made an awful sound.  You can create something similar with a Makey Makey, a few craft type items and the scratch pre-programmed game -

Here is an image of the Makey Makey Operation game my class created. Shown are the game board, Makey Makey set up for the game, and the computer that is running the Scratch program.  All set and ready to go!

Below is a Buncee presentation that I created for a professional development on Makey Makey.  The CiTi student library will have a Makey Makey Kit for classes to borrow and our Model Schools has kits available that have multiple Makey Makey kits in them.  I would love to come to your classes to teach students how to use a Makey Makey or I can do a small group presentation to teachers.

Free Comic Book Day May 6th!

CiTi Library Media Center

Free Comic Book Day is May 6, 2017

Every year the first Saturday in May is designated Free Comic Book Day!  This means that local comic book shops will be handing out free comics to anyone that stops into their stores.  I've included a map of the locations in our area.

As you can see by the map that their is only one location in Oswego County listed, but there are several listed for nearby Onondaga County.  Realizing that many of our students may not be able to get to these places on Saturday.  I attended an event at OCM Boces to learn more about the program and to pick up supplies for our students.    A BIG shout out to Diamond Comics for donating many of the comics for the event I attended. Students are encouraged to write thank you letters and cards! http://www.diamondcomics.com I picked up comics for our students.

The Library Media Center will be holding a free comic book day at 4th Street and for STRIVE on campus within the next two weeks. Please watch your emails for the dates. Also, for others in the Exceptional Education program that are interested please email me with grade levels and student counts, I will send out to you comics for your students by courier. my email The comic book give away will be paired with lessons on how to create your own comic book and story boards. Plus a sign a Thank You card to Diamond Comics for their generosity.

There is a lot that Comic books and Graphic Novels have to offer all students. Here is a link to the presentation from Friday. Graphic novels are a great visual format for students to enjoy reading and for learning new things. Our library collection has many great graphic novels some of which on listed on the ENGAGENY pagesl Comic books have tackled many of the classic novel titles and some science, but what I love about comic books is that they encourage students to read. Comic books can lead to students reading novels based on their favorite Super Heroes which can lead to interest in reading other books.

Take away:

1. Free Comic Book Day is May 6th at your local comic book shop
2. The CiTi Library Media Center has free comics for students. Contact Mrs. Cummings for more information.
3. Comics and Graphic Novels are great for learning and encouraging students to read.

SYNC Audio books for Teens for Free

CiTi Library Media Center

SYNC Audiobooks offers free audio books every summer.  I have created the following video tutorial to help you see how to download the books.  Over Drive will need to be installed on the computer that you will do the downloading on.  Over Drive is available on the Chromebooks and the download can be saved to your Google Drive.

Every week SYNC Audio offers 2 free audio books.  One is a classic title and one is a current young adult title.  Here is a list of the pairs and the dates they will be available:

2017 SYNC Audiobook Title Pairs

April 27 – May 3

THE DEAD HOUSE by Dawn Kurtagich, Narrated by Charlotte Parry, Christian Coulson (Hachette Audio)

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde, Narrated by Greg Wise (Naxos AudioBooks)

May 4  – May 10

FEED by M.T. Anderson, Narrated David Aaron Baker, John Beach, Anne Twomey & Tara Sands (Listening Library)

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY by Douglas Adams, Narrated by Stephen Fry (Random House Audio)

May 11 – May 17

BRONX MASQUERADE by Nikki Grimes, Narrated Jessica Almasy, Cherise Booth, Kevin R. Free, Marc Damon Johnson, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Melanie Martinez (Recorded Books)

TEENAGE DIARIES: THEN AND NOW by Radio Diaries, Hosted by Joe Richman (HighBridge Audio)

May 18 – May 24

THE GATHERING: SHADOW HOUSE BOOK 1 by Dan Poblocki, Narrated by Dan Bittner (Scholastic Audiobooks)

IN OUR BACKYARD: HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN AMERICA AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP IT by Nita Belles, Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella (Oasis Audio)

May 25 – May 31

FREAKLING by Lana Krumwiede, Narrated by Nick Podehl (Brilliance Audio)

BOY by Anna Ziegler, Performed by Sarah Drew, John Getz, Travis Johns, Amy Pietz, and Bobby Steggert (L.A. Theatre Works)

June 1 – June 7

BEAST by Donna Jo Napoli, Narrated by Robert Ramirez (Recorded Books)

OF BEAST AND BEAUTY by Stacey Jay, Narrated by Julia Whelan (Tantor Media)

June 8 – June 14

PLUS ONE by Elizabeth Fama, Narrated by Julia Whelan (Elizabeth Fama)

IF I RUN by Terri Blackstock, Narrated by Nan Gurley (Zondervan)

June 15 – June 21

THE RED UMBRELLA by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Narrated by Kyla Garcia (Ideal Audiobooks)

THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLK by W.E.B. Du Bois, Narrated by Rodney Gardiner (Dreamscape Media)

June 22 – June 28

THE WITCH'S VACUUM CLEANER AND OTHER STORIES by Terry Pratchett, Narrated by Julian Rhind-Tutt (HarperAudio)

THE WITCHES: SALEM, 1692 by Stacy Schiff, Narrated by Eliza Foss (Hachette Audio)

June 29  – July 5

AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OF JUAN JOSÉ by Richard Montoya, Developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, Performed by Keith Jefferson, Richard Montoya, Todd Nakagawa, Sean San Jose, Kimberly Scott, Herbert Siguenza, Tom Virtue, Libby West, Caro Zeller (L.A. Theatre Works)

MY NAME IS NOT EASY by Debby Dahl Edwardson, Narrated by Nick Podehl and Amy Rubinate (Brilliance Audio)

July 6 – July 12

REBUTTAL by Jyotsna Hariharan, Narrated by Phoebe Strole, Michael Crouch and Nina Mehta (HarperAudio)

REMEMBER TO FORGET by Ashley Royer, Narrated by Will Lasley (Blink)

July 13 – July 19

THE DORITO EFFECT: THE SURPRISING NEW TRUTH ABOUT FOOD AND FLAVOR by Mark Schatzker, Narrated by Chris Patton (Dreamscape Media)

SUGAR by Deirdre Riordan Hall, Narrated by Tara Sands (Brilliance Audio)

July 20 – July 26

GONE: GONE SERIES, BOOK 1 by Michael Grant, Narrated by Kyle McCarley (Tantor Media)

THE ONE SAFE PLACE by Tania Unsworth, Narrated by Mark Turetsky (HighBridge Audio)

July 27 – August 2

AIRBORN by Kenneth Oppel, Narrated by David Kelly (Full Cast Audio)

SHADOWS ON THE MOON by Zoe Marriott, Narrated by Amy Rubinate (Brilliance Audio)

August 3  – August 9

BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY by Ruta Sepetys, Narrated by Emily Klein (Listening Library)

IN MY HANDS: MEMORIES OF A HOLOCAUST RESCUER by Irene Gut Opdyke with Jennifer Armstrong, Narrated by Hope Davis (Listening Library)

August 10 – August 16

SHADOWSHAPER by Daniel José Older, Narrated by Anika Noni Rose  (Scholastic Audiobooks)

METAMORPHOSIS by Franz Kafka, Narrated by Martin Jarvis (Naxos AudioBooks)

Things to remember:

1. Your name is embedded in the meta data so each person must download their own copy
2. You have one week to download after that you miss out on the book, weeks start on Thursdays
3. You will need to back up your files since you cannot re-download after the week is over. 
4. These books are meant for a teen audience and may not be appropriate for younger students.
5. The Library (School and Public) are places you can go for help with your audiobooks.
6. Take the time to download and enjoy listening to these great books and share this with your students and their families.