read & write

Staff,

I need to share some thoughts with you.  I feel like I have the most awesome job in the school.  I am able to touch, feel, read all these new books we get, peek at new thoughts, share joys, read about the newest idea, skill, strategy through all the avenues of media.  We weekly get news papers, journals, magazines, books of all genres, professional tools, etc.  ( I know I can get carried away sometimes).  There is not a day that goes by that I am not thankful to be a Literacy Coach/Librarian at Fairview. 

About now you are wondering what triggered this mouthful of gobbledygook. 

Today we received new copies of the student newspapers for science, social studies, geography, and Wisconsin.  What fun to look through them and think of all the fun ways to enhance learning for students.

A box of recorded books arrived, the first delivery from our extra fund account. Titles include: Flush, Flipped, Chasing Vermeer, Crispin, Hoot, Dragon Gate, The Endless Steppe, Jacob I have Loved, and Double Helix.  (this is enough to get my blood moving, how can I accelerate my hearing ability so I can sample these luscious titles).

To top my day with an exclamation point, a box of Professional books arrived.  I am going to share the titles and hope I can wet some appetites to sample these thought movers. Titles are: Classroom Management that Works by Marzano with A Handbook for Classroom Management that Works.  (great stuff) Differentiating Instruction in a Whole-Group Setting by Hollas. (I had to take 15 minutes and page through this one a little closer.  Powerful ideas.) The ABC’s of Bullying Prevention by Shore. (Who hasn’t suffered at the hands of some bully, in childhood or as an adult, maybe we call it something else?).  Failure is Not an Option by Blankstein. (What would we have to do in a school to make that a reality?). Best Practices of Award-Winning Elementary School Principals by Harris.  (this was chosen by Jackie, but paging through it I loved the words of wisdom which apply to teachers in most cases as well).  A DVD movie on Math Mastery: Success for All in Math and Science.  (I didn’t take the time to preview this so hope someone else might be interested in substituting this flick for their netflex and sharing the content with me.) Student Council Kit (the kit has many components and would really be a help to someone interested in providing training in leadership to our young people). The final one I share is small in size but is going with me on my travels this weekend to see my mother (my husband drives and I read). Fish! Sticks: A Remarkable Way to Adapt to Changing Times and Keep your Work Fresh. (I am very aware of keeping my work fresh after being in the business of education for most of my life, minus the first five, I really feel a need to embrace change with the times and find that fresh approach.  I will have more to say on this book come Monday).