Doing Research the Right Way

Teaching students how to discern quality and trash information is a big challenge.  Recently, a 6th grade Science teacher asked me to do a mini lesson on searching for information on science careers and then how to give credit to the source.  In a nutshell, here is what I presented to them.

Google has some wonderful lesson plans and videos for educators to use to explain how an Internet search works to how to narrow your search to how to give credit.  Here is one of the videos that I showed to the students.

If you have a subscription to Brain Pop, I found the following video to be very effective in explaing why you have to be selective in the type of websites you use for research.  Brain Pop Video Online Resources

Here is another great resource from Google called theReliable Resource Check Sheet.  I passed this out to the students to use while they looked at the two following websites.  

These are two hoax websites that the students tested their skills at finding unreliable resources.

Burmese Mountain Dog

Mankato, MN

After searching for a hour or so, I found these three websites that were reliable for the students to do their research. 
Occupation Outlook Handbook

Science Buddies.org

Science Jobs Government Database

If you want to check out the Google resources for teachers, click on the Google Lesson Plans.

Before I let them get to the work at hand, I showed them this brief Plagiarism Presentation that also included some great questions to check for understanding of what plagiarism involves.

And last but not least, my favorite online citation maker from my home state of Oregon...OSLIS Citation Maker.  There is an elementary and secondary version with the ability to save the list of citations to a Word document or to Google docs.  Very slick!!

That's it folks!  Good luck in your quest to help inform students on the best way to be knowledgeable in the wide world of research.

Happy Teaching,

MRS. G-M

"Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life." Posters through Scholastic

YEAH to Scholastic for creating such a treasure of illustrator's expressions of why reading every day is so important!  And the money earned from the sale of the posters and calendar go to fighting illiteracy.  Go to this website right here to find out more.  Here are a few of my favorites with a few videos of the illustrators sharing their inspiration and techniques.

Harry Bliss

Nancy Carpenter

Henry Cole

Kazu Kibuishi

Kadir Nelson

Enjoy and "read every day."

Happy Reading,

MRS. G-M

Picture Book Party with RaeRae

Rae and I did one of our very favorite things last night and put on our fuzzy jammies, gathered a bunch of new picture books and climbed into our warm bed to snuggle down to some fun stories and pictures. Yes Rae is 12 and I'm beyond 12, but we still adore a good story with entertaining pictures.

Here are a few of our favorites...

Mo Willems, if you can hear me,...you can do no wrong in my book. From preschoolers to 5th graders, I have them clamoring for your books, begging their classmates to pass over the Knuffle Bunny, drop the Pigeon and hand over the Elephant and Piggie books.  Well, here is another brilliant take on the classic Goldilocks tale with every Kinder's favorite...dinosaurs.  I'll definitely be sharing this one in a story time soon.

Goodreads Summary:  

Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.

One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go...someplace else. They were definitely NOT setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.

Definitely not!

A few months ago, I noticed some blogs raving about Dragons Love Tacos, one so much that they had planned a party featuring tacos and dragon party decorations.  Don't get me wrong, I love me a good taco and I can see that dragons are pretty cool.  However this one wasn't one of Rae and my absolute faves.  Cute idea, but it wasn't a home run for us.

Goodreads Summary:  

Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos. Buckets and buckets of tacos. Unfortunately, where there are tacos, there is also salsa. And if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa . . . oh, boy. You're in red-hot trouble.

Pete, what a mellow guy you are!!!  Your books brought a smile and cheer to our story time.  I can hear the jazz riff playing in the background as we read your repetitive story. Great one for first graders!  I'm looking forward to sharing it soon.

Goodreads Summary:

Pete the Cat is wearing his favorite shirt—the one with the four totally groovy buttons. But when one falls off, does Pete cry? Goodness, no! He just keeps on singing his song—after all, what could be groovier than three groovy buttons? Count down with Pete in this rocking new story from the creators of the bestselling Pete the Cat books.

Our extended family has lost two dear canine souls this past year as well as having to say goodbye to our dear Luna when we moved to Ecuador.  This story started the tears flowing, but also tickled us with giggles.  Lovely story, with a bit of a scary edge at the beginning, that I hope to recommend to dog-loving, Halloween trick or treating kiddos.

Goodreads Summary:

 Gus doesn't feel like doing much after his dog Ella dies. He doesn't really even feel like dressing up for Halloween. But when Gus runs into a bunch of rowdy skeletons, it's Ella--his very own Bone dog--who comes to his aid, and together they put those skeletons in their place. A book about friendship, loss, and a delightfully spooky Halloween.

As always our picture book party was a huge hit.  My only regret is that we don't do it more often.  We finished our evening with the same favorite...Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs with Bone Dog coming in second.

Hope you can have your own Picture Book Party!

Happy Reading,

Mrs. G-M

New Library Digs in Quito

A quick peak into my new library digs...

Catalog computers...

The lower school check out desk...

The picture book section with Spanish picture books in the foreground.

The nonfiction section for elementary students...the curvy bookshelf is waiting for the 100's of new books due to arrive tomorrow.

Here is my teaching area for Middle Grade students.  I'm awaiting the projector and document camera to be installed (:

The info desk aka my "office".

The upper school section with comfy, colorful couches and a new graphic novel section...spot to be if you are a high schooler.

Fiction section for upper school...notice the PACKED shelves.  A new shelf will be placed here very soon.

Spanish books for upper school...

That's the quickie tour.  I'll share more as new developments arise.

Thanks for stopping by,

Mrs. G-M

Family Friday

Family Friday is a composite of the books my wide-range of readers in my family are reading.  There's a tween with a love for realistic and fantasy fiction, a teen who could read dystopian novels all day long, a husband who loves his nonfiction and myself, the Teacher Librarian by day and lover of all books by night.

For the tween, she is reading ...

 

We have enjoyed reading this sweet book together during our transition to Quito while we have been waiting for our own new kind of normal.  Addie, the main character, has struggled in her own nonchalant way to create her own "family".  Her mom is absent...she comes home infrequently and spends the time watching a "Judge Judy" type of show and chatting on the computer.  Addie cares for her both physically and emotionally.  All Addie wants is to have a "normal" life.

Goodreads Summary:
Addie is waiting for normal.

But Addie's mom has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, jubilation or gloom, her way or no way.

All or nothing never adds up to normal.

All or nothing can't bring you all to home, which is exactly where Addie longs to be, with her half sisters, every day.

In spite of life's twists and turns, Addie remains optimistic. Someday, maybe, she'll find normal.

Leslie Connor has created an inspiring novel about one girl's giant spirit. waiting for normal is a heartwarming gem.

The teen in our life has been reading...



Not exactly dystopian, for once, The Adventures of Alfred Kropp, is more like a dooms day adventure book. Alfred Kropp is an awkward teen with a strange and sad family history trying to find his "talent".  In comes an opportunity to help his uncle, and now he is involved in a "King Arthur-esque" adventure.  This is a hard one to put down.  Now we are on our own search for the next book in the series.

Goodreads Summary:
Alfred Kropp was just trying to survive high school when his guardian uncle gets him roped into a suspicious get-rich-quick scheme that changes his life forever: stealing Excalibur—the legendary sword of King Arthur. But after Alfred unwittingly delivers the sword into the hands of a man with enormously evil intentions, he sets off on an unlikely quest to try to right his wrong and save the world from imminent destruction. This gripping, fast-paced, hilarious novel is both a thrilling adventure story and an engaging account of one boy’s coming of age.

  

The nonfiction lover is reading... 

 


 








My husband loves books about outdoor activities and adventures.   This intense book does just that and gives wonderful science to back up the story.  The PE teacher and coach in him is getting new information to teach students about how their bodies work. 

Goodreads Summary:
Full of incredible characters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and, most of all, pure inspiration, Born to Run is an epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt? In search of an answer, Christopher McDougall sets off to find a tribe of the world’s greatest distance runners and learn their secrets, and in the process shows us that everything we thought we knew about running is wrong.

Isolated by the most savage terrain in North America, the reclusive Tarahumara Indians of Mexico’s deadly Copper Canyons are custodians of a lost art. For centuries they have practiced techniques that allow them to run hundreds of miles without rest and chase down anything from a deer to an Olympic marathoner while enjoying every mile of it. Their superhuman talent is matched by uncanny health and serenity, leaving the Tarahumara immune to the diseases and strife that plague modern existence. With the help of Caballo Blanco, a mysterious loner who lives among the tribe, the author was able not only to uncover the secrets of the Tarahumara but also to find his own inner ultra-athlete, as he trained for the challenge of a lifetime: a fifty-mile race through the heart of Tarahumara country pitting the tribe against an odd band of Americans, including a star ultramarathoner, a beautiful young surfer, and a barefoot wonder.

And for me...




I just finished the best book that I have touched in a long time.  I actually found it through my public library's online ebook library and read it on my Kindle.  It mesmerized me with the background story of a world that is altered by longer days and nights.  The unpredictability of this new world has everyone scrambling to adjust.  Julia and her family show us how a marriage, a child going through puberty and their surrounding community deal with these new challenges.  This book definitely stretched the power cord at night when I couldn't put it down errr turn it off.

Goodreads Summary:
On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, 11-year-old Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life--the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.

With spare, graceful prose and the emotional wisdom of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker has created a singular narrator in Julia, a resilient and insightful young girl, and a moving portrait of family life set against the backdrop of an utterly altered world.

Thanks for reading.  If you liked this blog post, please feel free to sign up to get them directly sent to your email.

Happy reading,
Mrs. G-M

Teddy Roosevelt on the Amazon, who knew?

Goodreads Summary

It's hard to believe since I am a Teacher Librarian, but I am in my first adult book club.  Our first book is about Teddy Roosevelt traveling and exploring a tributary to the Amazon River.  Being that we are in Ecuador and to the East of Quito is the Amazon.

My passion is fiction...nonfiction books unless it is a cookbook, have always been a challenge for me to read.  "The River of Doubt" was no different for me.  I found parts that intrigued me and kept me going, but overall I kept wishing there was a movie.  However, I can see myself referring back to certain sections that shared in detail natural history of this bio diverse region of the world. 

Here are a few links to some extra information about the book and Teddy Roosevelt.

Reading Group Guide 

Article from Time Magazine about expedition 

Part one of a video series on the expedition

Biography on President Teddy Roosevelt...kinda long, but very interesting.

NPR story tracing the expedition on The River of Doubt

And lastly, National Geographic channel did a series of shows on the fish along the Rio Roosevelt.  You can find information about it here.

Happy Reading,

Mrs. G-M 

What do 5th graders like to read?

 

Glory Hallelujah!!  I'm in my new position as a preK-12th grade Teacher Librarian.   I have landed in Quito, Ecuador at an American International School called Academia Cotopaxi.  The language of instruction is English, but there are a large number of ESL students.  So, hence the collection is a mix of English and Spanish books. 

Last week, a new to 5th grade teacher asked me to share some books that 5th graders might enjoy.  In particular, she was curious about fantasy and science fiction.  I have collected 30 that are a range of all the genres and reading levels that I have seen walk out in 5th graders hands.

I did a quick search and here are some more book recommendations to give to a 5th grader.

Recommendations from a 5th Grader 

5th Grade Chapter Book Pinterest Board  

Excellent List of Fantasy Books for 5th Graders 

Science Fiction for 5th Graders 

Happy Reading,

Mrs. G-M

A New HOME...Ecuador

Yes, our family is headed to the beautiful country of Ecuador in 12 short days. We have been searching and devouring anything we can read about our new home.  Lonely Planet's well-rounded guide books have been our top travel guide choice for decades.  We found this one to be just as good a read and we will have to report back on how true it is once we are in the country.

A house with a guest home, maid's quarters and a palapa right on the beach for under $200K?  Sign us up!!  We have told soooo many people about this show.

I love that this book is created by people who live in the area and have lots of budget ideas.  One goal is to go to the VIVA offices and meet the folks who do the hard work of tracking down all the nitty gritty info.

  

Speaking of VIVA, I have thoroughly enjoyed the writings of Jena Davison as she learns and grows through her experiences in Ecuador and beyond.  Thanks for your insights Jena!

For my first book club gathering with my new AC friends and colleagues, I am looking forward to reading about Teddy Roosevelt's experiences in the Amazon basin.  I hope to track down some more inspirational reads about this new fascinating place.  Do you have any to share with us?

Happy reading,

Jen

Techie Tuesday...Best Social Studies YouTube Channels

YouTube is an excellent resource for all educators with this week's focus on Social Studies channels.

Please click on the thumbnail picture to go to the website.

1. 

2.  

3. 

4.    

5.  

Happy Exploring,

Friday Five Book Fix...Holocaust Remembrance Week

Credit:  United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

While reading through Facebook posts the other day, I noticed that it was Holocaust Remembrance Day.  It struck me how coincidental that I had just started a book that features parts of the Holocaust, and then I realized that my son and I were reading a book that also talks about the Holocaust.  Yesterday while substituting in a 9th grade English class, another wonderful book that happens during the Holocaust appeared.   Listed below are these books as well as two more that are well worth reading and sharing with many people.

1. 

This is my current read that I just started and already has me swept up in the characters.   I love that Jodi Picoult takes on such challenging topics and ties them to current times.

2. 

While reading this book, my son, Reid, a 13 year old, and I have had some interesting conversations about human nature and the choices that people make.   I asked him what he would do if he saw people scaring and hurting people as the Nazis did.  His reply, "Well, unfortunately, to some degree, this happens every day at Middle School and as hard as it is, I would stand by the person being harmed.   If I don't, then who will?"

3. 

Freshman in our school district are reading the first of the Night series.  I would love to be a fly on the wall and hear the discussions that will occur from this thought-provoking novel.

4. 

Lois Lowry rightfully won the Newbery for this incredible book.

5. 

Author and illustrator extraordinaire, Patricia Polacco shares more of her rich family history in this masterpiece.  I am so grateful for her gift of storytelling through words and art.  I hope I can tell her in person someday.

I will bear witness and always remember so that those that lost their lives did not die in vain!  Do you have any other must reads about the Holocaust?

Techie Tuesday...iPad Apps for Elementary-aged Kids

iPads and their counterparts are so much fun!!  We find our kids thinking of "playing" on them before all other activities.  This can be a bit obsessive and annoying for us parents!!  To counteract this, here are some educational apps available to at least make the online time valuable.

Please click on the thumbnail picture to go to the website for more information.



Common Sense Media Review:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/wurdle





Common Sense Media Review:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/stack-the-countries



Common Sense Review:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/highlights-hidden-pictures



Common Sense Media Review:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/garageband



Happy "Reading" and Exploring,