The school year is moving forward and soon (believe it or not!) we will reach the end.  For me this is really the beginning of the next cycle of planning and preparing for 2014-15.  Disney’s quote does capture some of how I approach this time of year.  As I think about flex sessions and staff developments, work with teachers and curriculum, I feel that curiosity is a motivating force that keeps me going.  Without you, my colleague, I would not receive those questions and ideas that make me ponder what we do and why we do it.  You inspire my curiosity.  And that’s a great thing!

AL A CARTE (March 28, 2014)

Visual Learning – My newest read (on order currently from Amazon) is John Hattie’s book Visual Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning.  I’ll review it when I’m done, but in the meantime, check out the link to Amazon to learn more.

Getting Boys Excited about Books – Some nice thoughts on the topic.

 The Three Most Damaging Words – Powerful, short video.  Not to share with students as it has bad language, but for adults it’s food for thought.

 Larry’s Guide to Infographics – I enjoy Larry’s blog, as he collects materials from other places and puts them together for me to enjoy.  I also love infographics.  Here’s this month’s collection from Larry.

Bell Ringers Start Off Your Class Right – This time of year, we slide a bit out of routine.  Here’s a great reminder of why bell ringers (or sponges or set or whatever you call it) is so important.

Speaking of Bell Ringers – This might be interesting to share with students.  What would they do?

May your break involve rest and relaxation and something fun that you’ve been wanting to do.

Al A Carte (March 7, 2014)

Word Mover – This is an app that would be a creative supplement to any book you’re reading.   It allows students to create found poetry–think what a student could create if he/she took important quotes from the text to make a poem.

 Inferior Technology – Is the printed book inferior technology to the ebook?  Perhaps not.

Reading Reimaged – Check out this new technology about speed reading.  I haven’t decided if it’s cool or scary.

40 Years of the Cell Phone – This might be an interesting short video to share with students.  The changes over the years are interesting.  You have to pay attention in order to catch when one could access the web from a phone, though.

Real Books – Love this infographic about the top ten reasons to choose a paper book over an ebook.  I’m still a papyrus fan.

Stop Multitasking – And by the way, this infographic gives you a good reason for slowing down.  Really, you should.

Nerdy Book Club – This blog site has a new look.  I find it useful to check on occasion for finding new books to book talk.

A Peek at Common Core 2.0 – This post is a hilarious spoof on the Common Core and future changes.  We teachers will find the humor in it.

Sharing Never Starts Too Early – This video will melt your heart.  What an amazing little girl.

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

The Sandhill cranes are making their way north again.  What a unique, Nebraska experience if one has the time to drive to North Platte.  Just look up right now in Lincoln and see the geese passing through.  It’s always a sign that spring is around the corner.

Al A Carte (February 24, 2014)

Multi-tasking While Reading? – Ask your students the question posed on this blog.  I’m curious to hear what they’d say.

 Book Trailers – There’s some cool book trailers on this website.  You may find some that can be nice sponges or closures for your class.  Some are student made, and others are professionally done.  I particularly liked the professional book trailer for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.  Some of the student-created ones are nice, too.

An Essential Question – I appreciated the ideas shared in this post on student-centered classrooms.  I ask myself:  could I give up the control necessary to emulate this kind of classroom?

Google Like a Boss – Here’s some Googling tips I didn’t know.  Nice.

This is Your Brain on Fiction – This video talks about how fiction affects the brain.  It’s based on the research I shared a few posts ago about how much of an impact fiction makes on brain activity.

Picture Books for Short Lessons – Look at this wonderful list of picture books.  Maybe a short lesson or two about biographies for your students?

Amazing 3-D Street Art – This blog often comments on books but also has a fascination about movie/TV from books.  Check out the cool 3-D street art that has been commissioned for the release of Game of Thrones, Season 3 on DVD.  Then scroll down to read about The Maze Runner trilogy.

The Junction of Sunshine and Lucky – A great place to end today’s post.  August “Auggie” Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmate’s father starts the House Beautification Committee, it’s homes like Auggie’s that are deemed “in violation.” Auggie is determined to prove that she is not as run-down as the outside of her house might suggest.  See the rest of the review at “Read Now Sleep Later.”

“Oh please, oh please, we beg, we pray, go throw your TV set away.                                  And in its place you can install, a lovely bookcase on the wall.”    Roald Dahl

AL A CARTE (JANUARY 31, 2014)

 The Fault in Our Stars, Movie Version – Many of your students may have read this popular book by John Green.  There’s a movie version coming soon.  Could have a discussion about which is better–book or movie?  (Hands down, with The Hunger Games…the book!)

TextProject Resources – I admire Elfrieda Hiebert (known as Freddie to her friends) for the work she has done in the world of reading.  This site formalizes a decade-plus of ongoing work done by Hiebert.  It’s full of marvelous resources. Check out the 4Es (Exceptional Expressions for Everyday Events).  Nice lessons abound here!

 Book Recommends – This site is fast and easy to scan for possible fresh titles for your students.

 In Case You Didn’t Know – What’s a “blab school”?  Check out this video.   Then check out this link.

An Alternate Take on Close Reading – This article has a fresh perspective on close reading.  Yes, we talk a lot about it, but I think this author’s purpose is a valuable one to think about:  “Lots and lots of text at instructional reading levels is the best way to develop good readers.”

 Choice Literacy – Here’s another good site for a lot of helpful resources on literacy and middle school.  They are celebrating Middle School Literacy on this site, Feb. 1-7.  As they say…enjoy!

Happy Chinese New Year!