My second graders created Library ABC books using the app 3o hands. We read an L is for library by Sonya Terry to get some good ideas. We asked the questions "What are resources? and what resources are in our library? Then each student was assigned a letter and we looked around the library to find a resource that started with our letter. We wrote a sentence about our resource and snapped a picture of it with our iPad. Then we created a presentation using 30 hands and recorded our voices to tell about our resources. Here are our results. Enjoy!

mr. Joyce abc book fall 2013 from Cheryl Kosmo on Vimeo.

Mrs. Osiecki abc book fall 2013 from Cheryl Kosmo on Vimeo.

Where did the third graders travel to this summer? Just imagine!

Our third graders learned about the fifty states by using the Enchanted Learning Website. They researched their state, wrote postcards to their teachers filled with interesting information, and created an electronic postcard using Google Presentation. Take a peek. You will definitely learn something you didn't know about our fifty states.

Ms. Matrisciano's class

Mrs. McKenna's class

No conflict between ebooks and print books for me.

I've read a lot of articles lately about libraries thinking about going all digital all the time. This concerns me.  What is so difficult about the idea of embracing electronic resources while also having the beloved books in print available for all? Think about it. I don't know about you, but it seems to me that this time of year is the perfect argument for both formats.

 I have books downloaded on my iPad, but when I go outside to enjoy some time on my lounge chair, I can't see the screen. Also the electronic devices don't like the warm weather, even if I could see the screen. It's just too hot for them. So I take a good old fashioned book outside to my yard, on the beach, at the pool, at the lake, at the park, and I read. No unhealthy sand and sun for my iPad or laptop, and no worries about spilling my iced coffee and having a significant cost to replace it.  I don't have to worry about charging them up! I am not tempted by the distractions of my online communities. I get to enjoy the outdoors and relax. Who wants to be stuck inside this time of year?

Next week I am headed out of town. It is pretty easy to take along my ipad. I can access my ebooks on the plane, train, or bus. If I am driving I can plug it in and listen to an audio book.  It provides its own light in the hotel room late at night when my husband wants to turn in for the night. If I want to go online and check twitter or Facebook, watch a movie, or listen to the radio, the network access is there for me. And has there ever been a better app to have with you all day than MLB.com? I can check on the scores and root for the Sox to win and taking a peek at all their competition and hoping they are not winning. That option is not available with those old fashioned books! I can get the classics for free and literally have them at my finger tips. What more could I ask for?

So for me, it is not an either or situation. I appeal to all libraries not to abandon the printed word for the electronic word. Both are viable and valuable for our mental and physical well-being.  I am on my electronic devices every day, at all hours of the day, but let's not go crazy here. We need all that the web 2.0 world has to offer and all that the a book we take out of our beach bag provides: an opportunity to read, relax, learn, and enjoy. Happy Summer! 

Summer reading!

Today I want to remind everybody to go to the Newton Public Schools library media page to access summer reading list for elementary students.  The link is:

http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/teachingandlearning/departments/librarymedia

For our new Williams graduates headed to Brown Middle School you can see their Summer reading choices and more at:

http://brown.newton.k12.ma.us/content/best-books

June: Reflection

I have been working in my current position as a school library teacher for 17 years now and this year has certainly been one of my most memorable. It is really satisfying to be able to say that not only does this job never get old, but it continues to challenge me and extend my world because of its constantly evolving nature.  My dual role of library teacher and Instructional technology specialist affords me the opportunity to belong to many different learning communities in the online learning world.   EdWeb.net, Edmodo, Google Apps, iTunes U, SimpleK12, Library 2.0, Classroom 2.0, and Twitter, to name a few, are all excellent sources of professional development that offer exposure to all kinds of learning tools, pedagogy, and perspective on all things in the education world. Sometimes it's hard to keep up, but sites like Evernote, Diigo, Delicious, and Scoop it provide great organizational methods to keep a person from being overwhelmed.  Every single day I pick up a new tip that helps me learn, and the most important piece of advice I could give any teacher is when you are learning more, your students are learning more. So I will take some time to relax this summer, but also find more opportunities to learn something new or share something new with a colleague. The ability to continue to learn, grow, and improve my practice is right at my finger tips with social media. There are a lot of wonderful educators out there sharing and learning.  These are exciting times to be an educator!

So what to do with 48 fifth graders and kindergartners on a Friday afternoon....have a Mo Willems fest!

Yesterday I taught the fifth graders how to use the Scribble Press app. I told them I wanted them to teach the kindergarteners today. Their job: to get the kindergartners to answer the question "What was your favorite part of library this year?" Then partnered up with a fifth grader,  they used the app to illustrate and write their answer in the style of Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny series. We had to share the ipads so while half of the students created with the app the other half explored the Mo Willems website,  or read a Mo Willems book with their partner.  All the students had a great time and the fifth graders did such a wonderful job of coaching the kindergartners. They were collaborative and creative. Sometimes it's tough to keep the learning fresh and exciting in June, but this app really did the trick!

book drive becomes a reality at Williams

I am so pleased to announce that our fundraiser for schools in need raised enough money to purchase 26 new books for three schools in Massachusetts and one in Oklahoma that was devastated by the tornado. In addition, our students donated  new and gently used books to support the effort. Each school will received one box with 26 new books  dedicated to the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy. They will also receive two more boxes each with the additional donated books. I am so proud of the Williams community's commitment to community service. Great job by a great school!

Principal Bob Beaudet and myself getting the books ready to send to schools.