Got space? The LMC does!

Let’s face it.  Classrooms keep getting more and more kids, but the 1950s brick and mortar doesn’t expand with the increase in students.  While observing and assisting classroom research and projects in the LMC, I’m reminded of how important a role physical space plays in any learning environment.  If you have a class project where students need to spread out with materials, the LMC may be the place for it.  

Smartboards can enhance your lesson

We have over 3,000 square feet with about 60 tables that can be reconfigured to meet your needs.  Additionally, don’t forget the access to print and electronic resources that students will have in the LMC.  Does your classroom have windows?  If not, the LMC with its view of our beautiful new courtyard and natural sunlight might be the change in venue your class needs.  Sometimes just changing the location for one class can breathe some light into the post holiday months that make up, in my opinion, the toughest stretch of the school year.  We are also happy to announce, if you haven’t noticed, our very own Smart Board for staff, students, and presenters to use.  We have also added 20 more iPads to make up a full class set of 30.  They can be checked out from the Ellyn page where you access the labs and LMC space.  They can be checked out in groups of 5 for different units.  This way, the possibility exists for multiple teachers to be using them.  As we move forward into 2012, please utilize the resources we have available for you and your students.  Questions?  Please ask!

iPads in the LMC

We are excited to finally be able to offer iPads for checkout here in the LMC.  There are currently 10 available for check out for your class use, and for staff to take home on an overnight basis as well.

After break, a full class set of 30 will be available as well.  The iPads offer a great 21st Century learning tool to support your curriculum.  The real power of the iPads comes from the apps that are available to purchase and download to the devices.  Teachers are encouraged to look for apps that might support and enhance their curriculum.  When you have an app that you would like to see added to the iPads, fill out the "app for an app" which can be found on the Ellyn page under the forms section.  This form will be reviewed by the district tech team and, once approved, will be added to the devices.

Wading through web sites or the iTunes store through the thousands of available apps can be a dautning task.  I would suggest looking at a curricular area and asking yourself whether the learning experiencece can be supported by an app, and then look to see if something is available.  Chances are, "there is an app for that." 

Here are two sites that review apps for educational purposes: http://www.iear.org/ and

http://appitic.com/

Even without specific apps, the iPads might meet your needs in other ways.  Here are some things they can do right now:

Take photos and video

Voice recordings

Internet browsing

Google Earth

Film editing with iMovie app

How do we get the pictures and video from the iPad to a desktop?  You guessed it!  There's an app for that (known as Dropbox).

If you are unfamilar or hesitant to use them, please ask for help.  If you are interested in more information about classroom use, I have found this site to be an excelletn resource http://learninginhand.com/

We also are researching and evaluating interactive ebook apps for the iPads as part of our efforts to diversify the LMC's collection.  Graphic novels in particular lend themselves well to reading on a mobile device.  More to come on this in the future.

Sign out for the iPads is through the LMC space and equipment page on Ellyn. 

If you are unfamilar or hesitant to use them, please ask for help. 

If you are interested in more information about classroom use, I have found this site to be an excellent resource http://learninginhand.com/

A Blog About Blogging

As Dr. D mentioned during our session on Friday afternoon, writing across the curriculum is a SIP goal.  Tied in with his comments about homework, a review of the day’s lesson, and checking for understanding, I would like to comment on a web 2.0 tool that I think teachers, across content areas, could utilize to achieve the above-mentioned ideas: blogging as a classroom.  The basic premise is this:  teachers can post a question for which students can write a response.  The responses are visible by everyone else in the class and students and teacher can comment on the students’ responses.  Different blogging services give different control over the permissions of posts and comments.  One that I like and have used is Kid Blog at http://kidblog.org/home.php 

The features of this site are: being able to view posts and comments from students before they are published, importing your class list from an excel spreadsheet, password protection from anyone outside the class to view posts, and the ability to add guests from outside the class (like your LMC specialists!) to take part in the conversation.

Possible blog topics taken from opener/closer handout:

• Do you know anything about . . .?  How does it compare to . . . 
• Describe . . . using your sensory words and new content words
• Explain what is meant by . . . How does that compare to what you or others believe/see/explain?
• What is an example of . . . ?
• Compare and contrast . . . 
• What is the cause or effect?
• What is the most important idea and why?

Susan and I would be more than happy to facilitate the use of a blog in your classroom.  It can also be linked to your teacher web site for easy student and parent access.  Happy blogging!

Collaboration with Literacy Department

Hello fellow literacy colleagues and welcome to the 2011-12 school year.  In my new role as one of Hadley's Library Media Center (now known as the LMC) Co-Directors, I am happy and eager to collaborate with you in meeting the needs of your students.  One way that I will be communicating with all staff is through this blog.

I just want to share some ideas that might be points of collaboration between us if there is an interest.


Book Trailers
This is a great 21st century way for students to demonstrate synthesis of a finished novel and is an excellent example of an alternative to the traditional book report format.  

Vocabulary 
With vocabulary study as one of many priorities and initiatives, here is an example of a short visual presentation that I made in Christina Graves's class last year to facilitate discussion and study.  We could work with students to create their own presentations.

Another great way to reinforce vocabulary study is through the use of digital flashcards.  Students can create these digital cards and study them on a computer, a tablet, or even their own mobile phone.

Graphic Novels

One of the initiatives that the LMC will work on this year is expanding on our collection of graphic novels.  These novels are a great way to reach struggling and reluctant readers as well as proficient readers.  I am happy to collaborate on a graphic novel unit with you if you are interested.

iPads

Yes!  There will be a classroom set available.  E-books and graphic novels on the iPad are just two out of numerous possibilities that they might have for literacy teachers.  I look forward exploring their potential impact on teaching and learning with you.

I don't want to overload you in my first blog, but please look forward to more throughout the year.  You can subscribe by inputing your email to the right, or you can subscribe through Outlook in the RSS folder.

Or, you can subscribe using your favorite RSS subscriber program (if you want to know what RSS is and how you can utilize it, just ask!)

Once again, I want to say how I am looking forward to developing a collaborative relationship between you, your students, and the LMC.  Please feel free to leave a comment below.  Have a great start to the year.