New Faces, New Episode!

After a long absence, the Phillips 'Behind the Paws' crew has produced a new episode.

• New Faces
• New Music
• New Animation
• New Bloopers

Special thanks to Mrs. Kaushal for being so flexible during her interview!

Enjoy!

My Busy Week!

Last week was so busy!  Here's a day by day breakdown:

Sunday:  Reflection

Still overcome with emotion after watching the #Selma50 celebrations on C-Span

I snapped this picture when I was getting my locs maintained.  #SoInspiring

Monday:  Wake Up!

The big reveal took place:  I was named a 2015 Library Journal 'Mover and Shaker.'  Huge honor!

Updating the Phillips Twitter page, listening to Bob and drinking coffee

Anime/Manga Club Meeting:  The students are working on their next project, and I'm the subject!!!

Yup, they are up to something!

Selfie Tuesday!  

Here's a couple of pictures

I found my glasses, Tuesday is a good day!

My students just love coming into my personal space.

Fortee' is way to comfortable on top of my library table!!!

Wednesday:  

Good news and tears

I received some really good news from CPS.  Stay tuned!

When these kids graduate in June, I'm going to lose it.  #EmptyNester

Thursday:  

Technology Thursday 

So happy to see my Techie Girl Rebekah today!

Friday, March 13th is National Digital Learning Day!  See Phillips video below!

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. 

School Librarian

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

What do you think?

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

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

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.

#WorkFlow

   A couple of you emailed and wanted to know how I start my day and what my circulation desk/area looks like.  Well here it is!

     I try to begin my day with forgetting all of the things that annoyed me the day before.  Since I'm on the run in the morning, I have to be creative.  Smoothies and my detox drink are my weapon of choice.  As far as what my circulation desk looks like....A HOT MESS!  I'm a solo librarian so I try the best I can to circulate/shelve books, support the curriculum/technology integration and keep a tidy space.
   
     Here's a couple of pictures I've taken over the last eight weeks that I'm willing to share.

One of my Fall book displays, my students helped me with this one.
The clock is just struggling on the shelf since it had a disagreement with the wall.

Breakfast smoothie:  cucumbers, melons and strawberries.

This is the most uncluttered part of my circulation desk!
My trusty Mac Book Pro and LMC iPads.  I try to drink a jug of my
detox drink of cucumbers, lemons, limes and fresh mint everyday.

One of my new Fall Book Displays.
Some of my students created this one and did a good job!

Pictures of family, friends and former students.
I keep my Librarian bling shirts on display at all times!

Another bling shirt and pictures with various authors and entertainers.
I use this as a conversation piece for my students.

This sign is in support of my football players who are avid readers.
I had to move the football behind the circulation desk.  The boys
were having a little too much fun with it on the floor.