Rally to Restore Illinois School Librarians!

 

Attending the American Library Association Conference in Chicago this month? 

School districts in Illinois are making the wrong choice by cutting school library budgets and laying off licensed school librarians.    Are you tired of hearing about school library closures?  Do you want to join the fight?  A victory in Illinois would mean a win in every state!


Please RSVP and attend the Rally to Restore Illinois School Librarians

When:        Friday, June 23rd at 12 noon CDT (Rain or Shine)
Where:      James R. Thompson Center (State of Illinois Building) Courtyard 
                   -100 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
Why:         To demonstrate in support of licensed school librarian positions and 
                     school library program budgets in every school in Illinois
How:          RSVP here. And bring your voice, your heart and your hope! 

Click Here to RSVP for the Rally!

Culture, Dignity and Identity

It's here!

Chicago Public Schools has finally launched the Interdisciplinary African and African-American studies program.  This new program was developed to heighten students’ understanding and awareness of African and African-American history and culture, while also fulfilling CPS’ commitment to ensuring that students are 100 percent college ready and 100 percent college bound.   

The curriculum is also grounded in the Common Core State Standards as well as other national, state, and local standards.  It is aligned directly to the CPS Content Area Frameworks.  The Illinois House Bill 2859 and ISBE mandate that every public elementary school and high school include the instruction of a unit of African-American studies.

CPS teachers can access additional materials
through the Knowledge Center.

The four hour training session for CPS teachers was held at the historic Du Sable Museum.  The museum was founded in 1961 by teacher and art historian Dr. Margaret Burroughs and other leading Chicago citizens.  This museum is one of the few independent institutions of its kind in the United States.  Developed to preserve and interpret the experiences and achievements of people of African descent, it is dedicated to the collection, documentation, preservation and study of the history and culture of Africans and African Americans.   

  

The training session began with greetings from Pemon Rami, Du Sable Museum's Director of Education and Public Programs educating the audience about the importance of students receiving universal lessons about learning about oneself.   There was also a discussion about Dr. Burroughs famous poem, "What Will Your Legacy Be?" and challenged all teachers and administrators to celebrate the importance of culture, dignity and identity through the curriculum.

Chicago Public Schools Knowledge Center

The 157 page curriculum guide includes lessons plans and websites for study.  Additional material can be accessed by CPS teachers through the Knowledge Center where there are tons of downloadable materials.  

Discussion about the Montgomery Bus Boycott

The keynote address was excellent!  The presenter provided a 'sample' lesson of how to tie in multiple events in African-American history to produce a successful lesson that the students would enjoy.   Using the Montgomery Bus Boycott as an example, the presenter discussed how so many 'quiet' activists played a major role during this important event in American history.  It was really interesting to connect the names with the faces of the tireless activists and hear about their stories of courage.  

The first break out session was delivered by King High School's, Angela Davis.  Her presentation about 'Africanisms in America' provided attendees with an in depth view of culture and how it influences us as individuals and people.   She modeled a short lesson that used music, the black church, art and architecture as examples.  One thing I would like to note is the book list she provided for attendees is excellent and I hope it will be shared so that all CPS students can access it and enjoy.  

The next breakout session was supported STEM education and was just plain fascinating.   CPS teacher, Kwadwo Oppong Wadie discussed how students can use tools and technologies developed in Africa to investigate the Earth and Solar System.   It was fascinating to learn how stellar bodies, their characteristics and attributes are integrated into African cosmologies. 

While listening to the lectures today, I downloaded 'The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks' by Jeanne Theoharis. The book highlights Parks' great personal, financial and psychological sacrifices she made in her personal life. In addition, it was interesting to learn that her grandfather and Malcolm X father were both Garveyites and active members of the movement.   

Overall, this is one of the best professional development session I've attended this year.  If you are a CPS teacher, you can access the copyrighted curriculum designed by CPS teachers at the Knowledge Center.  Within a couple of months, the Latin American Curriculum will be released.    Stay tuned!

                                      

National Library Week

#Reposted from American Library Association: National Library Week

Libraries and librarians have a powerful and positive impact on the lives of Americans on a daily basis. Their stories are key to communicating the value of libraries.   National Library Week is the perfect opportunity to encourage your community to tell the story of how the library has changed their life.

It's time to celebrate in Chicago and around the country!

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/

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!

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!

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

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.  

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!