Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Boot Camp Reflection
Well, now that all is said and done, I truly believe that I learned a lot in the 4 days of Boot Camp. I think that there were a lot of valuable ideas and lessons that I will be able to apply to the library this year. I am excited to set up n EyeSpy area in the library. I am also hoping to start a Makerspace as well. I have a few projects in mind that I would like to coordinate with the teachers. I am also excited to share what I learned with the teachers in my school and I will definitely encourage them to sign up for the Boot Camp next year along with me!
School LIbrary Boot Camp - School LIbrary Summit
This session seemed to have a lot of information and moved very fast and it was difficult for me to keep up, but I tried.
Basically we discussed the goals from last year and the learning commons. We broke away and came up with goals that we want the SDLA to address for the coming year.
Basically we discussed the goals from last year and the learning commons. We broke away and came up with goals that we want the SDLA to address for the coming year.
School LIbrary Boot Camp - STEM & Reading
I really enjoyed this session hosted by Dr. Kathleen Matthew and Dr. Faye LaDuke-Peister.
The emphasized that learning is based in reading and that it is important to integrate STEM and reading. It is essential for students to be able to read, write, and use language effectively.
It is always nice to be read to, and this was the first time I've heard The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacio. Then we discussed the book and came up with questions and answers about the story.
We then headed outside for a scientific fact gathering mission involving trees. We had to gather data then when we got back, we had to put that information into a poem.
Our Tree
By Melinda Cherry and Jennifer Anderson
Our slender, smooth tree spreads its 10 foot crown.
The whiteish trunk supports its 7,000 rustling, green leaves that reach 27 feet into the blue sky.
Its hard, earthy branches lift chirping birds off the ground.
The clean smelling, smooth leaves tremble as a branch snaps in the wind.
We discussed different reading strategies that we could use with our students including; Questioning the author, Reciprocal teaching (My favorite), and Shades of meaning.
We closed with The Giving Tree by Shel Silversein.
The emphasized that learning is based in reading and that it is important to integrate STEM and reading. It is essential for students to be able to read, write, and use language effectively.
It is always nice to be read to, and this was the first time I've heard The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacio. Then we discussed the book and came up with questions and answers about the story.
We then headed outside for a scientific fact gathering mission involving trees. We had to gather data then when we got back, we had to put that information into a poem.
Our Tree
By Melinda Cherry and Jennifer Anderson
Our slender, smooth tree spreads its 10 foot crown.
The whiteish trunk supports its 7,000 rustling, green leaves that reach 27 feet into the blue sky.
Its hard, earthy branches lift chirping birds off the ground.
The clean smelling, smooth leaves tremble as a branch snaps in the wind.
We discussed different reading strategies that we could use with our students including; Questioning the author, Reciprocal teaching (My favorite), and Shades of meaning.
We closed with The Giving Tree by Shel Silversein.
School LIbrary Boot Camp - STEM Resources & Projects
I do, You do, We do
This session had some great ideas for student research.
One of the tools that I hope to use and share this year is ABC Graffiti. I thought that this was a great way to brainstorm and come up with ideas that you already know. Once you start the list, you can research and add onto the list to find ideas to focus on or include in a research project.
I did like the W.I.S.E model for developing ideas and sorting information. This was the first time that I have seen this model and I think that it could really take off in our whole school.
Essential questions were something that I have never heard of before, but it makes total sense. The PowerPoint describes how to come up with an essential question.
(1) The question should be interesting and compelling to your students right now! (2) It should invite them into the ongoing disciplinary debates and conversations that create knowledge in the first place. (3) It should require students to learn—and to use—the same understandings and strategies as the real experts in the field.
I realized how important it is to let students discover what they are interested in. I think that this year, instead of having the students do an animal research project, maybe I'll have them choose whatever topic is interesting to them.
I was also inspired to investigate Makerspaces more. I think that they would be a great addition to our library.
This session had some great ideas for student research.
One of the tools that I hope to use and share this year is ABC Graffiti. I thought that this was a great way to brainstorm and come up with ideas that you already know. Once you start the list, you can research and add onto the list to find ideas to focus on or include in a research project.
I did like the W.I.S.E model for developing ideas and sorting information. This was the first time that I have seen this model and I think that it could really take off in our whole school.
Essential questions were something that I have never heard of before, but it makes total sense. The PowerPoint describes how to come up with an essential question.
(1) The question should be interesting and compelling to your students right now! (2) It should invite them into the ongoing disciplinary debates and conversations that create knowledge in the first place. (3) It should require students to learn—and to use—the same understandings and strategies as the real experts in the field.
I realized how important it is to let students discover what they are interested in. I think that this year, instead of having the students do an animal research project, maybe I'll have them choose whatever topic is interesting to them.
I was also inspired to investigate Makerspaces more. I think that they would be a great addition to our library.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
School Library Boot Camp - Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF)
This is the session that I was most looking forward to. Although we didn't get to go down into the tunnels, like everyone wanted, I think that this was an amazing experience.
We learned from our presenter, Julie Dahl, that most of the science experiments being performed at SURF are at the 4850' level and that there are only 76 people allowed under ground at any given time for evacuation purposes. The LUX (Large Underground Xenon Detector) and the Majorana Detector are the two major experiments happening right now at the SURF, although there are over a dozen other, less publicized experiments going on too. The Earth Movement Detector (geologists detected movement caused by earthquakes thousands of miles away), Life Underground (NASA driven experiment for life on Mars), and the upcoming Neutrino Experiment (partnering with Fermilab to study neutrinos as they travel through the earth).
One of their missions at the SURF is to promote STEM education and student participation, engagement, and performance in STEM fields. She discussed teaching writing and literacy across the curriculum and working on research projects. I thought her examples of where to find ideas for a research project (Popular Science, TED Talks, Scientific American, and Mythbusters!) were g
reat!
I thought that she had great information that anyone could understand and that I learned quite a bit from this session.
The wonderful Peggy Norris led our tour of the SURF Yates Cage and Hoist Room. You could tell that she was passionate about engineering and education.
I definitely came away with some great ideas for collaborating with my teachers and possibly the SURF.
And remember, there are unicorns underground!
We learned from our presenter, Julie Dahl, that most of the science experiments being performed at SURF are at the 4850' level and that there are only 76 people allowed under ground at any given time for evacuation purposes. The LUX (Large Underground Xenon Detector) and the Majorana Detector are the two major experiments happening right now at the SURF, although there are over a dozen other, less publicized experiments going on too. The Earth Movement Detector (geologists detected movement caused by earthquakes thousands of miles away), Life Underground (NASA driven experiment for life on Mars), and the upcoming Neutrino Experiment (partnering with Fermilab to study neutrinos as they travel through the earth).One of their missions at the SURF is to promote STEM education and student participation, engagement, and performance in STEM fields. She discussed teaching writing and literacy across the curriculum and working on research projects. I thought her examples of where to find ideas for a research project (Popular Science, TED Talks, Scientific American, and Mythbusters!) were g
reat!
I thought that she had great information that anyone could understand and that I learned quite a bit from this session.
The wonderful Peggy Norris led our tour of the SURF Yates Cage and Hoist Room. You could tell that she was passionate about engineering and education.
I definitely came away with some great ideas for collaborating with my teachers and possibly the SURF.And remember, there are unicorns underground!
School LIbrary Boot Camp - Digital Resources Exploration
This session was full of a lit of great information about technology that is available to you and your students not only online, but also through the South Dakota State Library.
Jane and Danielle showed a YouTube video on STEM. The main idea that I got from the video is that STEM Education = solving problems.
The discussed the scientific method, which I'll admit, I haven't seen or thought about in a very long time. Also introduced was the "Essential Question". This is something that I had never heard of before, or at least I'd never heard it put this way. I thought that it was a great idea because it is relevant to students, open ended, and fostered discussion. It might be hard making sure that my questions are open ended and are relevant to students, but I look forward to the challenge.
I think that the TPE charts are great. I really enjoyed the exercise that we did and collaborating with others in my group to come up with information and questions. I think that their ideas and point of view challenged me to think about the topic in a way that I never considered.
Jane and Danielle covered information on a variety of online resources available on the SDSL website. I am relatively familiar with these resources as I had just completed the SDSL Online Database Challenge. I thought it was a good refresher and I did learn a few new tricks with a few of theses databases.
Jane and Danielle showed a YouTube video on STEM. The main idea that I got from the video is that STEM Education = solving problems.
The discussed the scientific method, which I'll admit, I haven't seen or thought about in a very long time. Also introduced was the "Essential Question". This is something that I had never heard of before, or at least I'd never heard it put this way. I thought that it was a great idea because it is relevant to students, open ended, and fostered discussion. It might be hard making sure that my questions are open ended and are relevant to students, but I look forward to the challenge.
I think that the TPE charts are great. I really enjoyed the exercise that we did and collaborating with others in my group to come up with information and questions. I think that their ideas and point of view challenged me to think about the topic in a way that I never considered.
Jane and Danielle covered information on a variety of online resources available on the SDSL website. I am relatively familiar with these resources as I had just completed the SDSL Online Database Challenge. I thought it was a good refresher and I did learn a few new tricks with a few of theses databases.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
School Library Boot Camp - Learning and Teaching
The Learning and Teaching session seemed to focus on the different types of classrooms and teachers; how to shift the focus from the teacher or standards to the student. It also gave great examples of using tools to spark innovation and imagination.
I found that the Learning and Teaching session was an opportunity to be more introspective. It really made me think about what kind of classroom I have (traditional vs. standards-based vs, innovative classrooms) and/or what kind of teacher I am. I would hope that I run a student focused library, however I feel that more often than not, I am focused on meeting standards a the expense of what the students want to learn about. Although, in our library, we have noticed a correlation between what we are teaching and the books that are
being checked out. When I did a biography lesson, our biography section saw a spike in circulation.
The Student Learning Triangle was a great visual that put the ideas of Objectives, Activities, & Assessment into perspective.
I really enjoyed the Private Eye activity and can't wait to implement this activity in our library. I think that student would really get into it. Each month, week, whenever, we could rotate items and activities. One month could be fall items (a leaf, a pumpkin, a pumpkin seed, etc) and they could write adjectives about the items or make a picture of them close up.
I found that the Learning and Teaching session was an opportunity to be more introspective. It really made me think about what kind of classroom I have (traditional vs. standards-based vs, innovative classrooms) and/or what kind of teacher I am. I would hope that I run a student focused library, however I feel that more often than not, I am focused on meeting standards a the expense of what the students want to learn about. Although, in our library, we have noticed a correlation between what we are teaching and the books that are
being checked out. When I did a biography lesson, our biography section saw a spike in circulation.
The Student Learning Triangle was a great visual that put the ideas of Objectives, Activities, & Assessment into perspective.
I really enjoyed the Private Eye activity and can't wait to implement this activity in our library. I think that student would really get into it. Each month, week, whenever, we could rotate items and activities. One month could be fall items (a leaf, a pumpkin, a pumpkin seed, etc) and they could write adjectives about the items or make a picture of them close up.
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