Easy Like Sunday Morning: Can You Say Hectic?

Today's post is going to be a compilation of several posts from eight days, some #late and some very current.  I was so busy posting on my other blog, I totally forgot about this one.  In addition, I have four papers and a presentation I need to hammer out this week.  Here we go!


Chicago Public Library's:  Bam! The Power of Comics and Graphics
October 21st
This conference was needed in my life as I am now running a Anime/Manga Club.  Besides the awesome keynote address, my favorite presentation was by CAKE.

Making Mini-Comics

Book Donation

Thank you Lydia Breiseth for the donation of much needed books.  Lydia is the Manager of the Learning of the Media Department at WETA Public Television in Colorin, Colorado.   She read about the Phillips Library Media Center and generously donated books for my avid readers.  On behalf of my students, many-many-many thanks!

Pictures from the School Library Journal Leadership Summit

October 24th-26th

St. Paul, MN

Attending this leadership summit has inspired me greatly.  I am so glad I attended and had the opportunity to meet so many leaders in the school library world.  I can't wait to attend next year!

The Plane

The beautiful hotel

My mother accompanied me on this trip
There I am, talking about the importance of speaking up.

Listening to 'Mr. Minnesota', Dr. Doug Johnson

My friend Karen Latrice made the beautiful cards.
I'm pictured with Dr. Joyce Valenza, Dr. Doug Johnson and
School Library Journal's Librarian of the Year, Michelle Coulte

My mother, SLJ's Executive Editor, Kathy Ishizuka and I

Listening to a presentation

Anime/Manga Club Elections

I am so glad the voting and elections are over with.  The student speeches were a trip!

Turning in their ballots

The Strangest Things Take Place In the Library Media Center

Have you ever really took a look inside of your student's bookbag?  Normally you will find chips, a water bottle, books and other teen items.  One of my students Cameron carries a lint brush everywhere he goes.  Always concerned about his appearance, 'he wants to look good'.

Students Helping Each Other:  

Cameron gives Orlanda a lesson on ironing dress pants with a crease before she heads off to work.

See, you do it like this!

Make sure the iron is set at the correct temperature.

Lunch Periods in the LMC:  Peer Tutoring, Socializing, Computer Access and more.

Social Time

Time for Math XL 

Mistakes Are Made

Why did I say I have a new Galaxy Note 4?  Here you see the children decided to take selfies...with my phone.  

This was taken Friday at dismissal.

Thank You Jesse Sharkey

Jesse Sharkey

    Last night, Chicago Teacher's Union Vice-President Jesse Sharkey appeared on Chicago Tonight, a public affairs program on Chicago's WTTW television station.  During this segment, he supported Chicago Public Schools teacher-librarians by emphasizing the importance of a professionally staffed library, the instructional program and the maintaining a curated collection.  I've provided the minute mark below so you can listen to both comments, just click the link below.  

http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/video  

4:27 minute mark

7:57 minute mark

Jessie Sharkey with Chicago Tonight's
Brandis Friedman

Easy Like Sunday Morning: Calendars

It's Sunday morning, time for me to reflect and think about the past week.  I listen to my iTunes gospel mix, power up my computer and write before I go to class.  This morning I want to share with you my struggle with organization.  I fail miserably at this...but I'm pleased to inform you that I'm improving!

A Circulation Desk Selfie

My e-calendar is my best friend....the challenge for me is to STOP and enter what I'm supposed to be doing on the calendar.  Between working with my students, doctoral studies and family, my mind is all over the place.   My calendar helps keep me focused and on task.  My calendar also  informs me through email pop ups and chimes what I need to be doing and where I need to be.

My memory is poor.  I have a hard time remembering ideas, website addresses, names etc.  I saw this meme last week and it help me put it all in perspective:  I'm a liar.   I have to write things down, plain and simple.  As a result of this, I've gone 'ole school' and started using journals like the one below.   I have them everywhere:  next to my bed, in my office, in the car, at the circulation desk and in my backpack.  Since I work with so many Mac products, the Notes feature is also a handy e-tool for me.

I found a box of these blank page journals hidden away in a office at my school.

I'm Easy Like Sunday Morning!  That's all for now. 

Homecoming Week 2014

The students had so much fun during Homecoming (Spirit) Week 2014.  Here's just a couple of pictures from Twin Day, Nerd Day and Crazy Hair Day:

 The Behind the Paws crew members took pictures highlighting each day's theme.  At the end of this video, the students also created a mini-music video highlighting the lastest dance craze in Chicago, 'Boppin'.    The video was played during the Homecoming Assembly on Friday.  Enjoy!

Fall Book Displays

Here's some pictures of my Fall Book Displays!  The Hip-Hop Reader Dolls are the creation of Rose Culley, owner of Marie's Balloons of Park Forest, Illinois.   Also, you will see a picture of me trying to present like Vanna White.  The back story of that book display is I snatched the branches from the Phillips High School trees in the teacher parking lot.  Hey, I wanted the display to look authentic.
 

My Circulation Desk

I just love the hat!

Check out the earrings!!!

There's no excuse, you can find something to read in the Library Media Center

A simple display on the coffee table

Branch Out....Read Something New

Pinterest is my best friend.  If you look carefully, you will see the branches.

My 'ole school' vampire display

The teeth

How many 'ole school' vampires can you identify on this picture?

What I Am Reading Now

Doctoral Life:  I'm currently reading Carol Collier Kuhlthau's book, "Seeking Meaning:  A Process Approach to Library and Information Services" 1st edition (Chapter 3).    Kuhlthau is the Professor Emerita of Library and Information Science at Rutgers University.

     The book focuses on the Information Search Process (ISP) which is a six stage model of the users’ holistic experience in the process of information seeking.  The ISP model, based on two decades of empirical research, identifies three realms of experience: the affective (feelings), the cognitive (thoughts) and the physical (actions) common to each stage.    This book was extremely helpful for me because I recently wrote a paper about the  Constructivist Metatheory Approach and the Information Search Process.

Thank You!

Finding books on a limited budget that my advanced readers will enjoy has been challenging this year.   I'm so happy that my students are reading heavily, but the problem is I can't keep up.  

Last week I had received a box full of donated books from Chicago author, Darrin Lowery.   He said that he had read a post on author Treasure Blue's Facebook page about me and the work I do to get teens reading.  His 'Congratulations' series is about real life events that take place in Chicago that my students can relate to.  The response to the books has been very positive.  My students are enjoying reading a story where their hometown Chicago is used as the backdrop.  A young lady read one of the books in two days and came back for another one.   Mr. Lowery all I can say is...

Thank You

Thank You

Thank You

Behind the Paws

Here's the latest episode of Behind the Paws.  I know this is a late post but Homecoming Week had me distracted!!!

Sick and Shut In

I love my Wonder Woman mug.

Monday while serving pizza for my new Anime/Manga Club, I picked up a gift from the kids:  A Cold.   This bug left me congested, weak and was the worst I've experienced in a long time.   After a couple of doses of anti-biotics and drinking Tumeric plant teas, I feel a little better.

I'm happy to share some statistics from my September Monthly Report I submit to my administration.

     701 books circulated (check-outs and renewals)

1,249 students visited the Library Media Center

That's all for now, I'm going back to bed.

My junky but functional circulation desk.

Conversations at the Circulation Desk #4

Conversations at the Circulation Desk is an ongoing series that celebrates the teen mind, voice and spirit.  in this episode, three seniors are providing 'Teen' Reader's Advisory for a junior level student.  Nikki Carter and Kelli London books are referenced heavily in this video.  #HowILibrary

Read more about both of these authors here:

The Brown Bookshelf:  Day 21 - Nikki Carter

http://thebrownbookshelf.com/2012/02/21/day-21-nikki-carter/

Sormag Blog:  Featured Author, Kelli London

http://sormag.blogspot.com/2012/06/featured-author-kelli-london.html