School Librarian

I saw this on the School Librarian Workshop's Facebook page and had to share.

What do you think?

CPS ReVITAL Grant

The CPS REVITAL program is managed by Chicago Public Schools:  Libraries.  Visit the program website at ReVITAL Grant.  Fifteen elementary and five high schools participate in this two-year program (2013-2015) that will demonstrate best uses of iPads and Chromebooks in the library.  The program is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The grant has a really cool blog that highlights the work that the ReVITAL grant librarians are currently doing.  Check out our work at:  http://cpsrevital.blogspot.com/

Funny Stories

I often share funny stories about my students and events that take place in my Library Media Center with my family.  Here's two doozies for you.

Teens are always eating/snacking on something.  Normally I have to deal with my students eating chips  and sunflower seeds.  I caught one of my favorite students making a bee-line to the lab with her class with a box of Trix under her arm.  She swore she wasn't going to eat it while she was in the lab.  I guess I was born yesterday.  You can see the look of surprise on her face when I took the cereal and informed her she could get it after dismissal.  

Pure comedy!

This one took the cake.  

This year I began making really elaborate book displays.  I have a 'DIVA' book display by the front door of the LMC where I showcase books that appeal to teen girls.  'Wendy' as I call her is super chic, glasses, boa and all.  She even sports one of my old lace front human hair wigs.   The girls enjoy playing with the hair while checking out the books on the display.

During a week's visit in the LMC, a all male leadership class used the wig to shoot a public service announcement on the iPads.  After three class periods, the wig disappeared and no one knew what happened to the wig.  Fingers were pointing and no one was talking...typical right.  Wendy had to sport a stylish headscarf for about a week.  Finally a teacher on the other side of the building remembered that I had the display and informed me that he found the wig.  One of the school's jokesters was caught wearing the wig in his class as a joke.    When I got the wig back, it was matted and tangled.  Well, Wendy's wig is back, she's looking chic and the wig is glued to her head.

Teenage Boys!!!!

I Stand Corrected...

One of my students saw my previous post, Another Installment of e-Cards and informed me that e-Cards are called Meme's.  So I stand corrected.  Here's another installment of my favorite Meme's.  Enjoy!

For those who understand my pain living in Chicago!

That was me!

Too cute!

Repeat post...I just love this one!

So true!

Love this one!

Truth-Truth-Truth

Classic

Character Mock Interviews

This was a really nice project.

My co-worker Ms Henderson recently completed an interesting projects where the students conducted character mock interviews.  During the three day class period, students took on the persona of a biographical character in history.  They composed questions and answers based on what they read in their biographies and for recording a mock interview as if they were the character.

Here are two excellent projects that I would like to share.  Using iPads in the Library Media Center, the  students used the iMovie 11 app to complete their assignments.   In post production one of my students Cameron, provided the voice over at the beginning of the video introducing the projects.  I think we have a new James Earl Jones!


The WP2 Collaboration Writing Project - Nelson Mandela from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.
Nelson Mandela - https://vimeo.com/89641929

The WP2 Collaboration Writing Project - Chris Gardner from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.
Chris Gardner - https://vimeo.com/89673996

D-E-L-E-T-E!

It's time to delete.

As I perform the IOS 7 update all of my Library Media Center iPads, I find it's a perfect time to delete apps.  Deleting has taken me down memory lane.  Many of these apps haven't been used in over a year I'm ashamed to say.  I've learned a valuable lesson and will now be more selective in my app selection.

Phillips Students Visit Spain!

Yesterday students from Mrs. Carter-Richardson's honors Spanish class left O'Hare/JFK airports to travel to  Madrid, Spain.  This is a WONDERFUL experience for our students, some of which who have never left the city of the Chicago.  Throughout the trip (wifi permitting!!!) the students will be sending me pictures from their travels.   As I receive pictures from the students, I will upload them to the Phillips Pinterest account.  

WPAHS Honors Spanish Class Visits Spain -

  -  http://www.pinterest.com/auslwpahs/wpahs-honors-spanish-class-trip-to-spain/

Here's a iPhone exchange between John 'the photographer' and I before they departed from JFK.

Sneak Peek: Phillips Virtual Tour

Here's a sneak peek of the Phillips High School's 'Virtual Tour'.  Though in it's rough stages, the students still have some work to complete before they can properly use it as part of their upcoming tours.

Women's History Month on Pinterest!

Check out the Phillips High School's 'growing' Women's History Month Pinterest page!

Pinterest.com/auslwpahs

Chatting With Dr. Joyce Valenza

Just sharing some great news.  I was recently interviewed by Dr. Joyce Valenza of School Library Journal about the use of Pinterest at my school.  

This is the first time any of my work has been recognized by School Library Journal and it is indeed an honor! 

Here's the article that Dr. Valenza wrote:   

K.C. Boyd: Archiving academic culture and building community presence on Pinterest

Here's the accompanying Google Hangout:

The Breathing Zone

This app really works!

The Breathing Zone

Lately I've been in 'discovery' mode with the new iPads. Sometimes I'm successful, but more often I fail miserably. Frustration levels can get high and sometimes I feel like I didn't accomplish anything.  I really like The Breathing Zone app because it helps you return back to a 'normal' state of mind and just calm down.

This app works for me and I discovered that it works well with my students too.   My student *Stacy came into the Library Media Center, fired up about the typical 'girl' drama.  I immediately grabbed my iPhone, instructed her to sit down, close her eyes and listen to the breathing instructions.  After three minutes, Stacy came back from the edge of teenage drama.

I was really fortunate to catch this app when it was posted free for 24 hours in the app store.   For those who are considering purchasing this app, it is well worth the $3.99 price.  You can set the time, music and male/female voice in the settings.  In addition, there is a nice log that can track your progress over a period of time.  The breathing analyzer provides a deeper monitoring of breathing activity and encourages the user to meet goals for optimal breathing patterns.

Just try it!

*For privacy purposes, the student's name has been changed.

Garage Band Anyone?

My co-worker Mr. Simpson has mastered the use of the Garage Band app.  Last month, when he approached me about team teaching a lesson, using the app I jumped at it.  I looked at it as an opportunity to learn something new with a tutor sitting by my side.    The only glitch I had was, my inability to load all of the iPads with the app due to a CPS tech issue.  Otherwise the some classes had to share the devices and it worked out pretty well.

The students had to create a 8 measure 'back beat'.  These beats would be used as a background beat for the class song.  Some classes used the acoustic guitar while others used the smart guitar.  Was it noisy in the Library Media Center, yes but I didn't mind.  The kids enjoyed themselves thoroughly.  The final project was uploaded to SoundCloud.com for grading.  Some of the students really created some interesting beats and in some cases Mr. Simpson and I were pleasantly surprised with the level of genius on the part of the students.

Within the first five minutes of the lesson, Mr. Simpson had the students hooked in.  The students were interested, smiling, laughing and eager to be creative.   There were students who seemed to 'come to life' before my eyes because they could creative their own song and share it with others.

Below is a video highlighting a couple of periods where students used the apps and spoke very candidly on camera about the lesson.  Mr. Simpson and I plan on working with the students again this week.  Stay tuned for more music from these classes.

CPS Developing Use of Innovative Classroom Technology

Back in January, I was a presenter at the Chicago Public Schools 'Tech Talk  2014 Conference." This conference was created by the district to celebrate the very best of the use of digital technologies by educators across the city.  Two of my students, Myiah and Jordan provided a hands on demonstration on the use of iMovie.  Below is a video highlighting the the conference where Myiah and Jordan are featured.  View more about the 'Behind the Paws Student News Program' on my Library Media Center website - Behind the Paws

Enjoy!

Winner of the CPS ReVITAL Grant

Singer Pharrell's song, 'Happy' is the perfect song that expresses my feelings about a recent award I have received.  My students and I are HAPPY about receiving the CPS ReVital Grant for libraries!   Last week, a MacBook Pro and ten iPads were delivered to my Library Media Center and in a couple of weeks, the ChromeBooks will arrive.

There are so many ways this technology can be used at Phillips.  The video below is just a little snippet of how we will be using these digital devices to aide in instruction and help further advance students in the digital age.   Enjoy!


ReVITAL Grant - HAPPY from WPAHS Video Page on Vimeo.

Monday Morning Humor

Thanks to my Instagram friend BookNerd for sharing this funny Meme/e-card.  

You just have to laugh because it's true!

Happy Valentines Day!

Just sharing a couple of images from Valentines Day and Phillips Affinity Leadership Day  celebrations.  Enjoy! 

Black Girls Code

I am really geeked about this organization, Black Girls Code.  Created by Kimberly Bryant, Black Girls Code provides a world wide platform for black girls to demonstrate their abilities to code, and do so much more.  Through community workshops and after school programs, girls are introduced to computer coding lessons in programming languages such as Scratch or Ruby on Rails.  By promoting classes and programs, Bryant hopes to grow the number of women of color working in technology and give underprivileged girls a chance to become the masters of their technological worlds.

The next workshop will be held during the summer of 2014 in Chicago.  Get ready, get set, CODE!

iMovie Tutorial

February 5, 2014

Digital Learning Day is about giving every child the opportunity to learn in a robust digital environment everyday, with the goal of success in college and a career.  Read more about this day dedicated to technology at:  www.digitallearningday.org.  Below is the Behind the Paws student news crew's video submission for this year's celebrations.  Junior level students Jordan and Myiah provide viewers with a descriptive hands on demonstration of the powerful app, iMovie.

Enjoy!

Mardi Gras @The Phillips LMC

Celebrating Mardi Gras 2014 at the Phillips Library Media Center

#Repost from @Phillipslmc Instagram Account

#books #book #read #TagsForLikes #reading #reader #page #pages #paper #instagood #kindle #nook #library #author #bestoftheday #bookworm #readinglist #love #photooftheday #imagine #plot #climax #story #literature #literate #stories #words #text #librarians #schoollibrarians 

Pinterest and Black History Month

While watching Dr. Henry Louis Gates encore presentation of 'Many Rivers to Cross', I decided to create a new board on my Pinterest account.    The Black History Month Pinterest board highlights the achievements of African-Americans in American history and abroad.  You will find pictures, articles, school lessons and videos on this page that celebrates African-Americans.  There's also a little humor along with little known facts about people and events.

Pinterest is a social website where users can create, share and categorize images found online.   Users 'pin' items that are of 'interest' to them; this is why its named:  Pinterest.   Watch this cool tutorial video about the popular social media application here:  Pinterest Tutorial.    If you are still on the fence about Pinterest, access their Frequently Asked Questions page learn more about this site.  To fully enjoy the website, you must register and join which takes less than three minutes.

Like many, when I first joined Pinterest I merely viewed popular pins.  Eventually I because more comfortable with the site and began to create my own boards and re-pin items that were of interest to me.  Some of my boards are more developed than others, mainly because I'm enjoying other people's pins.  The one thing I enjoy about Pinterest the most is it serves as kind of a online locker for my interests and I can access them at any time.  Here's a screenshot of my board below.  There are over 200 pins about the subject of Black History.  Enjoy!

www.pinterest.com/boydkc/black-history 

Updated Content - Phillips LMC Website

Sharing:  

Updated content on my Library Media Center website.  

Enjoy!

Wendell Phillips Academy High School Website

Providing the Service That Counts

     Three years ago I posted a very personal presentation describing, "Why I Am A Librarian". Three years later with school libraries under attack, I felt it was time to update the presentation.  Often times I'm so busy with my students, books and learning/applying new technologies,  I don't articulate well what I do.  I'm guilty....I do a very poor job describing accurately what I do with print and non-print material.  Along with encouraging the love of reading, my job now consists of using technology to instruct, create and enhance lessons taught in the classroom.

That's me reviewing my students
'Behind the Paws' Twitter Activity

     Honestly, if you were to pass by my Library Media Center doors during the day you will think that all I do is sit behind my desk.  Not true, that glance of me behind the desk is only a snapshot of the numerous tasks that I complete in a day, week and month!   "School Library Media Specialists:  Providing the Service That Counts" accurately describes the work I do every day through technology supporting my fellow Library Media Specialists and serving the students and staff at my school.   If you would like to view the videos from some of the slides, just copy and paste the website address from the presentation into the address bar and the video will load.
     I am a school Library Media Specialist and I love what I do!

School Library Media Specialists: Providing the Service That Counts from K.C. Boyd

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!