I Need to have a Geek Moment!

I wanted to quickly share a few highlights from the last few weeks!  So Warning--- Geek moments ahead!

Last week our awesome Library Administrator was honored with the Distinguished Library Service Award for School Administrators for the state of Texas!  WOW!!  One Administrator from the entire state (which you know is big) was selected to receive this award. Ms. Renee Smith-Faulker truly values the library and has a great vision for CISD libraries.  Not only does she have a vision, but she puts the vision into action.  I am so excited, grateful, and honored to work in a district that utilizes and supports their libraries. Check out her blog post and the Google Hangout on Air of her award speech.

I love Ms. Smith Faulkner's new name for the Librarians - Hybrarians

Blog Link:  Smith-Faulkner Digital Leadership Blog: The Texas Library Association Conference 2015: TLA 2015 Conference The Texas Library Association Conference April 14-17 Last week, I was honored at the Bluebonnet Awards Luncheon a...

Google Hangout on Air







Geek Moment #2

I think I might have won the title of World's Coolest Librarian!
Not because of anything I have done, but because...

An Author tweeted me!!!! 
                 &
Lego Man tweeted me!!!!!

This might not mean much to the average adult, but when I mentioned it to my 10 year old son, I received an ooohhh & awwww.

I wanted to Geek Out about this for a moment, because to me it reflects the power of social media, connection, & support. I thank Ms. Smith Faulkner for leading us to blog regularly, tweet, and to lead with an online presence.

I am so excited to collaborate with Mara Shaughnessy @lilmonstermara the amazing author & illustrator for LegoMan in Space!  I think I floated on cloud 9 for two days after her and lego man's @legomaninspace  Sweet Tweets!

Library Resources

Need resources for research?

We have quick & accurate databases for your students to use.
Use this graphic in the computer lab or print one for each of your students!

Need a little extra help? Check back for a video explaining how to locate and use our databases. 

Join me for Collaboration Week for research help, collaboration, and instruction.

Click Here to sign up.

Happy Researching!

CE Library Schedule

CE Library April Newsletter

Collaboration Friday: New Animal Species

Tadpole, legs, arms, frog, what???

Life cycles can be confusing and weird. This topic can also stay on a remembering, understanding, or application level of Blooms when taught.  When trying to have our 1st grade students truly create, (not just create to remember or apply) we thought it would be a good idea to challenge our students to create their own animal.  After their animal was created we then challenged them to create their own life cycle for this animal.  We were hoping that students would have to analyze the animal to see how they would change in each step of the lifecycle.

We utilized the same concept of creating an animal with Kindergarten and 2nd graders to learn that animals have needs.  Students were asked to create an animal and then analyze their animals needs.  We used both Switch Zoo and Chatterpix for the students to create and present their animals. We also challenged the students to justify why their animal had needs.  Students collaborated to determine the new animals habitat, food, temperature, and additional needs. Justifying their animals needs was a difficult concept that many students did not naturally complete or verbally explain. 




For greater understanding it would be good to have the students evaluate each others creations, looking to see if the animals needs were justified in the chatterpix.

What are your thoughts on raising this lesson to a higher Blooms level?

Databases for Research

Hello Fabulous 2nd Grade teachers and students!

Here is the link for one of our research databases, National Geographic Kids or kids infobits

See me for the password :)

Have Fun Researching Amazing Animals!!