The Art of #Repost

I love to #Repost...especially on Twitter!

 
I'm up every morning at 4:30am reading online and learning new things.  Whether it be on my iPhone, my trusty iPad mini or desktop, reading professional articles provides me with more knowledge, direction during confusing times and inspiration to strive for better for my students.  

   
     Often times, something that is written by another person will grab my interest touch my heart or add fuel to it internal burning fire of an issue that I'm dealing with.   I normally don't #Repost other blogs on my blog but in this case, I just couldn't resist.

#Repost - Diane Ravitch recently posted a speech given by Principal Frank Sutliff.  Sutliff is also the President of SAANYS (School Administrators Association of New York State) and a former librarian.  This speech was delivered to a crowd of concerned citizens and educators at the Oneonta (New York) Forum on January 18m 2014.   

My favorite quote of the article was of course librarian centered:

“I know that I loved reading due to the worlds that it opened; I also know that our so called close readings of prescribed documents and passages will not open up that same love of literature in today’s students.”

Man did he ever hit that one out of the park!  Just read the ENTIRE speech, you will not be disappointed.  Remember, feel free to #Repost.

Diane Ravitch Blog

"A Principal Eloquently Denounces Common Core and Race to the Top"

http://dianeravitch.net/2014/01/30/a-veteran-principal-eloquently-denounces-common-core-and-race-to-the-top/ 

CPS Tech Talk - Part I

     Here's my slideshare and pictures from the first of two presentations I recently gave at Tech Talk.  Tech Talk is a Chicago Public Schools conference that celebrates educational technologies used in a K-12 setting. This year, two of my students Jordan and Myiah joined me.  They described some of the videos they produced and performed a short demonstration on using iMovie.  I am really proud of these young ladies and my hope is they will continue to embrace technology as they move into their senior year.  Below is the presentation and some pictures.  Enjoy!

Producing a Student TV News Program Using iPads from K.C. Boyd

The audience

Techie Girls Myiah and Jordan

Myiah and Jordan presenting a video

CPS Tech Talk - Part II

     I have been giving presentations for years at the local, state and national level.  I've always checked and re-checked my bag to make sure that I had all of my presentation aides and materials.  Unfortunately this time and with the slip of the fingers,  I uploaded the wrong presentation and had to go off of 'my memory' to complete my second presentation of the day.  Believe me this was not a good move as my memory is extremely poor!
     With that said, here is the presentation that should have been uploaded to my slideshare cloud account and presented to the attendees who came to my session.  Hopefully you will enjoy the presentation and recognize that school librarians are already implementing Common Core Standards in their daily lessons.  Just remember to share the AASL Crosswalk for Common Core with your principal, use some of the resources provided in the presentation and take a deep breath.  It's going to take a minute for all of the members of the learning community to understand your role and the indelible impact you will make on student achievement through Common Core.

Common Core Standards, Technology and the School Library Media Specialist from K.C. Boyd

Another Installment of My Fav E-Cards

     I belong to a number if listservs and chat groups for educators and librarians.  Often times the sharing/posting of a simple e-card can make a difference in a persons day or express exactly what they are experiencing in that moment.   

     Here's the latest installment of e-cards that should strike a nerve in all of us.  Enjoy!

Phillips Students Salute Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here's the 'Behind the Paws' salute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I believe this is the best work the students have completed since the inception of the program.  All this work was created through the use of iPads and a MAC Book Pro.    

Please enjoy the video and feel free to share!

Happiness

Happiness is...the Genius Bar Technician informing you that your sick MAC Book Pro's harddrive is still covered under warranty! #librariansrock #reading #happiness #joy #computer #library #apple #librarians #elearning 

@PhillipsLMC Instagram Page

I'm gaining more followers on my LMC Instagram page.  Follow Me @PhillipsLMC

Proud Moment - Part II

     I live in Chicago, I mean #ChiBeria.  This year's snowfall was painfully brutal along with the sub-zero temperatures and windchill.  I especially wasn't happy when my beloved 4x4 truck decided it did not want to start for four days.  In my 'Tamar voice', "Hash-Tag....Frustrating.com"

 

     Now that I have vented and put my woes to the side, I have some great news to share!  I was recently quoted in an article about Chicago Public Schools Embracing Social Media.  Below you will find the link to the article.  I'm really proud of the social media work I have done personally and for Wendell Phillips Academy High School.  Social Media is fun and it's here to stay.  As educators we need to embrace it and use it to it's fullest capacity to meet the specific needs of our students.

Enjoy the article! - CPS SCHOOLS EMBRACE SOCIAL MEDIA

CPS Schools Embrace Social Media

Happy New Year!

Start 2014 off on the RIGHT foot.  

So Long 2013

- Taking down decorations

- Judging student foot traffic and deadlines

- The Cold Weather

- Christmas shopping

- Holiday Assembly

- Prepping for January Behind the Paws shows

Here's a couple pictures that describe the last two weeks of school. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE AUDACIOUS LIBRARIAN!

2014 Dr King Show and Educator Resources

   Inspired by Dr King's powerful words and fueled by the Chicago Public Schools chicken patty lunch meal.  My students are Bad! They researched recited and edited their Dr Martin Luther King quotes for the King Holiday tv show.  #AheadOfTheGame  #BossLibrarianChronicles #teens #highschool #library #ipaded

Here's a listing of some of my 

2014 MLK Resources for teachers

K.C.'s MLK Educator Resource Page

Here's my slideshow I created last year that devoted to the MLK Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Washington D.C.. from K.C. Boyd

True Story by Ni-Ni Simone

My student Jada is happy to be the first student allowed to check out the new

 Ni-Ni Simone release, True Story.   Check out the author's website, ninisimone.com 

which has sooooooo many things that teen girls just love.  

Follow Me On Instagram!

My LMC Instagram page is still developing.  Follow me at phillipslmc and see what takes place in my busy Library Media Center.

Holiday Greetings from Behind the Paws

Continuing in the holiday spirit, here's another episode of the Phillips High School, "Behind the Paws" student news show. Enjoy!
Behind the Paws S2 E7 from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.

Proud Moment

I finally found it.   A blast from the recent past and a very proud moment.   Below is a picture of me receiving the Chicago Public Schools 'One's to Watch' award January - 2013.  #librariansrock

Teens, Language & Texting

Just pulled this off of Twitter.   Very interesting....

If I were a parent, I would especially 

pay attention to this one below!

Preparing for the King Show

The Behind the Paws students are preparing for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. show in 2014.  Here's a couple of pictures from today's class period.

Students wrote critiques of the current episode of Behind the Paws and researched possible quotes that will be read during the segment. 

I'm really proud of my students Myiah and Rossanli.  Both ladies are showing strong leadership and technology skills with using the iMovie app.  You will see in the picture how the girls are showing their peers how to pull images from Google and insert them into iMovie.

Enjoy!

RIP Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela

1918 - 2013

Anti-Apartheid Icon and 

Father of Modern South Africa

BTP Holiday Show

     Here's the latest episode of my students news program, "Behind the Paws".  This is a fun show where the students have the opportunity to capture holiday greetings from the teachers and staff members of Phillips High School.  This show is shot on iPads.
     I'm so proud of my students and the hard work demonstrated last week to produce this show.  Make sure you check out the segment produced by my two students Myiah and Rosalini.  The students used the iMovie app to create the Nelson Mandela tribute.

Behind the Paws S2 E2 6 from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.

Follow Me On IG

Just a quick blog post. 

The Phillips Library Media Center now has a offical Instagram page.  Follow @phillipslmc to view posts from this busy library in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.

Latest Episode of Behind the Paws

Here's the latest edition of the 'Behind the Paws' student news program.  My students just get better and better.

Enjoy!


Behind the Paws S2 E5 from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.

Databases for Research

     This lesson was an introduction to using databases for my freshman and sophomore classes.  I engaged the students in a brief discussion about upcoming research based assignments for their classes.  I then introduced and encouraged the students to listen critically to a short video describing internet search engines vs. library databases.  Next, I led the students in a brief discussion about Google and Wikipedia as a respected primary source for research. 

     The lesson concluded with the students logging onto Gale Student Resources and conducting a simple search using the subject:  Chicago Violence.

Twerking and Books

I've been really busy over the last two weeks. If you are a school library media specialist you know that it's grant writing  season. I've been up to my eyeballs in writing grants and proposals.  I'm really tired and I'll be glad to finish writing  these last three proposals.

Funding is greatly needed in my library media center this year so I will continue to apply apply apply for grants. My attitude is, 'The only thing they can do is tell you no.'

My friend Rosie texted a picture to me this afternoon.  I laughed so hard that I began to cry. Forgive me if I have offended anyone, I just couldn't help but post this picture.

Water Anyone?

This is my rountine at the beginning and end of each week:  dragging in a suitcase full of bottled water to my second floor Library Media Center.

Since Veterans Day was Monday and Report Card Pick Up was yesterday today, Wednesday is the beginning of the work week.   This water is not just for me, but also for my students.  I'm so grateful I have a elevator in my school!

#TheThingsLMSdo!

It's All In A Name

I love it when my co-workers use the correct name:  Library Media Center.  This is a sign on the door of one of my colleagues.  This was a friendly reminder to her students that they were to report to the Library Media Center during the class period.

Smile

I love getting flowers at work.  My friend Karen sent me these flowers to make me smile after a rough week.  #FeelingSpecial

Saying Goodbye

I hate saying goodbye...especially to students.  My student Jessica was a joy to have in class.  On her last day, the Behind the Paws crew held a class party and ate cupcakes.   I'm so glad social media will play a part in keeping in touch.

Jessica is second from the right

Behind the Paws - S2, E2

Here's the latest episode of Behind the Paws....enjoy!

Behind the Paws S2 E2 from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.

#TeamAnimal

My first post using the Blogger app on my Galaxy 3!

Guess who's #TeamAnimal, my student Dana.  Dana is a voracious reader of the genre Street Literature.  After conducting a Reader's Advisory interview, K'wan's Animal was the next and natural reading selection for this student. 

Dana visits the Library Media Center about three times a week during 8th period.   In this case with this book, Dana read the adult Street Lit book in one day.  As she explained to me, she gets much of her reading accomplished while using public transportation and when she completes classwork early. 

When she returned this book yesterday, she immediately inquired about the sequel.   As I informed her,   Animal II is scheduled for release on November 19th.   In the mean time, she is enjoying reading some of K'wan's previous books.