Reading Extravaganza

Fourth grade hosted a special reading extravaganza for their students yesterday in the library. There were about 200 people in the library from 10am to noon, and they each got a free book (even the adults!), had some hot chocolate and cookies, had their picture taken with our mascot, and checked out library books to read over the winter holiday. It was a great event, and the fourth grade teachers are already talking about doing another one in June. How fun. It was like summer library but in the winter!

Fall Conference

Our state librarians' fall conference was last week. It was, as usual, completely fabulous from the beginning to the end. I feel like I have so many friends throughout the state. It's like a family reunion. There were so many wonderful sessions to go to; some times it was hard to decide on just one to visit. A couple times, I tried to go to a session but it was completely full (fire-code-violation-full), and I didn't get to hear the speaker. I learned a lot, which is an important reason to miss school and spend lots of money. One of my favorite sessions was presented by an author named Lynn Farrell Stover. She writes library lessons that are super-fabulous and adaptable to what I do in library classes. We sat together at an awards dinner Friday night, and the conversation never lagged. She was delightful. I left the conference completely exhausted and laden down with more boxes and bags than I came with. I passed out a bunch of stuff to the students in my LIBR 310 class (and they totally loved that), but there is still plenty of conference-related work for me to do. I was in charge of evaluations this year, and I have lots of conference evaluations to tabulate and evaluate.

Me and My BFF

I am so lucky. Me and my Tomie. I sound like Rosie O'Donnell.

Strega Nona

I got to meet someone great today. Tomie dePaola came to my town this afternoon to sign books. He has a new pop-up book that just came out (so cute!) and is touring independent bookstores and signing. What a treat.

Tomie was delightful. Simply delightful. He was full of laughter, kind, gentle, and interested in those of us in line. (I had heard stories to the contrary, but I am happy to say that I no longer will believe them or repeat them.) Truly, I feel honored to have met him. I cannot say that about many people. He is an icon, a national treasure.

I have a picture of us. It's out in my camera (which I left in my car). I will upload it tomorrow.

ADVOCACY

The State of Virginia is doing something new this year... it sounds right up the librarians' alley. LEXILE MEASURES" TO PROVIDE PARENTS AND TEACHERS WITH NEW TOOL TOPROMOTE READING & LITERACY ~ Addition to SOL Reports Connects Students with Challenging Books ~ RICHMOND * Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced a new initiative that will help parents select books that will strengthen their children's reading skills. When elementary and middle school students receive their Standards of Learning (SOL) test reports next spring and summer, their reading scores will be accompanied by ac orresponding "Lexile measure" parents can use to select books. A Lexile measure ranks reading ability and text difficulty on a single scale, allowing parents * and teachers * to select books at or slightly above a student's reading level. Currently, more than 115,000 books have been assigned a Lexile measure. "Virginia must increase literacy levels if the Commonwealth is to compete in the global economy," Governor Kaine said. "Adding thisinformation to SOL reports is another way to help Virginia students develop the comprehension skills they'll need to be successful." Governor Kaine and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) workedwith MetaMetrics Inc. to include Lexile measures in the SOL testing program to provide parents and educators with a new tool for selecting reading materials that challenge students and increase comprehension. Adding Lexile measures to SOL reports supports Governor Kaine's goal of increasing early reading skills and the Board of Education's focus on improving adolescent literacy. "This is a practical step that connects teachers and parents in a partnership to promote reading and literacy," said Board of Education President Mark E. Emblidge. "Teachers can use Lexile measures to assign and recommend books that will help students develop stronger reading skills," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright. "Parents can use Lexile measures to select texts that reinforce what teachers are trying toaccomplish in the classroom." Lexile measures will be reported with the scores of students taking SOL reading tests in grades 3-8 next spring. In the meantime, students, parents and teachers can match scores from the 2008 SOL reading tests with corresponding Lexile measures by using a conversion table available on the VDOE Web site. "Lexiles enhance state assessment programs by converting scale scores into useful information," said MetaMetrics President Malbert Smith III."MetaMetrics is proud to collaborate with Governor Kaine, the Board ofEducation and VDOE in providing this new tool for Virginia's schools and families." MetaMetrics maintains an online database of books with Lexile measures that can be searched by title, author, topic and reading level. To promote the use of Lexile measures, VDOE is providing elementary, middle and high schools Lexile charts with sample book titles grouped by Lexile range and difficulty level. The charts will be distributed to parents of students in grades 3-9 and include information on how to select books using a Lexile measure. Two Web-based training modules are available on the VDOE Web site for parents and educators to gain an understanding of Lexile measures and how they can be used to increase students' reading comprehension skills. VDOE is conducting four training sessions this fall for division-level instructional leaders, administrators, school librarians and reading specialists on how Lexile measures can be used to increase reading achievement. VDOE also will work with public libraries to raise awareness about the addition of Lexile measures to SOL reports and how teachers and parents can find out if a title has a Lexile measure. So what's the problem? WHERE ARE THE SCHOOL LIBRARIANS?!?!?!?!!? HOW COULD THEY NOT HAVE MENTIONED US>!>!!>?!>!>? I am so upset about this I can barely think straight. All I do every day, all day long, is encourage reading, improve critical thinking skills, and deliver instruction that is driven by student test data. Why should I be included? This is so ridiculous. Letters to everyone involved forthcoming...

Meetings

I have a confession. I like meetings!! I do not mind the occasional faculty meeting. Today we had our monthly librarian meeting, and it was so much fun. We laughed so hard at silly things that only librarians would find funny. Our meeting went from 5 pm until 6:40 pm, and the time just flew by. I got some great suggestions for lessons and books that are new to me, and those things alone made it worth it to me.

I Got the House All Smoky

A first grader told me just about the funniest story I've ever heard yesterday. Last weekend, he got his house "all smoky." When I asked him what happened, he told me he was making grits. My eyes got huge and I said that he shouldn't be using the stove. Well, he looked at me like I had two heads and said, "I'm not allowed to use the stove! I put them in the oven." Of course. He put grits in a pot, added some butter, and put them in the oven at 500. His brother (who is 8) turned down the oven to 200, but that wasn't hot enough, so he turned it back up. The grits got all stuck together "like a pancake" and the pot exploded, he told me. I reminded him that one doesn't make grits in the oven, and once again, he looked at me like I was crazy and said, "I've been watching my mother make them for years. I KNOW how to make grits." This was just about my favorite story ever.

Three Weeks

So tonight at my Reference & Bibliography class, we got to talking about my credentials. I realized that I had not shared my qualifications with the students. Someone asked me how long I'd been a teacher before becoming a librarian (8 years) and how long I've been a librarian (7 years), and then someone asked me how long I've been a professor, and I answered, "three weeks". They laughed pretty hard. It's true, okay maybe four weeks, but there's no way I can embellish that!

NBF 2008

Jon Scieszka

It was pouring down rain when we met Jon Scieszka. He was so great--thanking US for waiting for him in the rain. Wow. I wish all the 4:00 signings were as much fun. Kadir Nelson, not so much. Hence, no picture of the pouter. (However, his new Abraham Lincoln book with Doreen Rappaport is FABULOUS!!! It was available only at the book festival!)

Tiki Barber

OK, I didn't actually get anything signed by Tiki, and I am glad. His line was crazy-long and full of kids wanting to meet their hero. I was in the line next to his, so I still got a great picture.

Alexander McCall Smith

I didn't meet Alex Smith at this book festival, either. My sister and I had met him several years ago at a book store. He was signing in the tent next to where I was standing, so again, I got a good picture.

Judith Viorst

OMG! What a delight she is!! The man in front of me in line actually had a tatoo on his leg of Alexander. He was so excited to show her, and she was thrilled (and a little scared) to see it. She signed three books for me. Then I saw her crossing the street later and took her picture. Repeat after me, "I am not a stalker; I am not a stalker!"

Jan Brett

What a great day!!! The skies threatened, but the rain did not come down on us until 3:30, just as we lined up for the last authors of the day. We were not deterred!! We spent the whole day over in the author signing area, and it was definitely worth it. The biggest coup: JAN BRETT!!! We waited over two hours in line to meet her. It was so worth it. She was so kind and wonderful and signed for hours and hours.

That's all I can write about now. There were more. Marc Brown and Judy Sierra, Joseph Bruchac, Katherine Paterson, Steven Kellogg, Andrea Davis Pinkney. It was a great day.

Listserv Stupid

So this came across one of my listservs last night: When I signed up for the **** conference I specifically asked that my e-mail address NOT be used for anything other than conference information. I guess you've already sold or shared it, because not only is my mail flooded with library stuff, but tons of other solicitations. I am extremely annoyed by this invasion of unwanted e- mail and total disregard for my request. SIGH. I know I shouldn't have. But I did. I responded: Thank you for sending this to everyone on the list. Now we know how you feel getting unwanted messages. Slightly snarky, I know. I couldn't resist.

In the groove

We've had three good weeks of school. I've made many lists. I've crossed off many to-do's. There is always more to do. This year's schedule is pretty good. I have three full (really full) days of teaching each week, and two days of flexible time. So far, I've had a bunch of classes coming in for different kinds of things. It's been fun. My favorite first grade teacher's class is studying Audrey and Don Wood, so we went to their website, so cute. A fifth grade class is buddying up to read to a different first grade class, so we brainstormed how to make good choices of books. They had some ideas that I hadn't even thought of, so that was great! This week, I am going to a workshop learning how to use our state-funded databases. I am ashamed to admint that I don't even know how to access them. This is the year to learn! The National Book Festival is coming up on Saturday, and I am simply beside myself getting ready for it. Who to meet?!?!?! The class I am teaching for a state university went well the first week. There are 17 students, all elementary or middle school teachers. Tomorrow we discuss Dictionaries and Encyclopedias and basic evaluation of reference sources. I am ready. Another busy week begins. Yawn.

First Day!

Today was the first day of the school year, and I spent about 1 hour total in the library. How sad. Most of my day was spent in the hallway bathroom, going over expectations for bathroom behavior with 1/2 of our school. Guess who gets to repeat herself tomorrow for the other half of the school?!?!?!? I miss my library.

Duh...

I am so retarded. It's not a ZEN server; it's a XEN server. I don't know what the difference is, but it's not a peaceful picture in my mind anymore. We had the network guy out again today with more problems. I actually convinced him to call the tech support center for our software, and surprise, surprise, they told him that our software is not compatible with the new Xen server. Shocking. Of course, our tech people thought to check that out first, right?

Zen Server

OK. What the heck is a Zen server? That is apparently where my library automation system has migrated to. I cannot access this server, but heck, why would I need to work directly on the system?

Such geniuses we have here. Who sat around thinking, "What can we do to f*^k up the lives of our librarians? Let's move their library system without telling them about it. And yeah, while we're at it, let's import data from a March archive into the system."

Really. When I opened the system, the date was from sometime in March of 2008. We've only circulated thousands of books, added a couple hundred, and inventoried the entire collection in that amount of time. Nothing important, really.

Ugh. I hate network people. I hate incompetent ones even more. I need some Zen in my life.

Tomorrow!!

Well, I have it. Sunday Night Dread. It is back in my heart. It will live there for the next nine months. It's not that I don't want to go back to work. I do. I am excited about a new school year, new kids, old families, great colleagues, the whole thing. It's just that I love summer. So much. I LOVE summer. I love the flexibility of summer, the long days and late nights, doing whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it. It's over. Everything in my life now has to get crammed in to two days on the weekend. It's going to take some getting used to.

OMG

OMG I am teaching a class for a state university!! I cannot believe it!! There is much work to be done, but I think it will be exciting. A cohort of teachers getting their LMS endorsements will be in the class; I hear there may be 20 students! Something new in my career.

It'll Happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer library is a go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just so excited. Last night, the PTA approved $675 in funding for my program. I am overwhelmed, truly.

End of the Year Craziness

Today we had our year-end Battle of the Books competition. It went really well, I think. The kids seemed to have a lot of fun, and they were good sports about it all. A few teachers decided yesterday that they did not like the schedule of BOB, and they attempted to change it very last-minute. I was SO irritated; this constant 'us vs. them' attitude is just exhausting. So some people jumped through hoops early this morning to create a schedule that made the teachers happier. I am rolling my eyes. In happy news, the library will be open this summer!!!! I am so excited!! I have to decide which day to hold open library and then get some information out there for the parents. Jeez, we have 2 1/2 days of school left. Plenty of time.

TESTING

Ugh...next year, the library will be used for online testing, which means it will be closed to everyone (even teachers) for the better part of three weeks. I know this happens in high schools all the time, but I am still trying to wrap my head around it. We have no other space that will hold a class of kids (no empty classrooms), so I'd better get used to this idea, unfortunately.

CP

So today I got a phone call from a CP. She had called last week because her son had an overdue book on his record that she TOLD him to return two months ago. She says he returned it. OK. I am not going to win this battle. The book may get returned, but it is no longer checked out to that child. I just took it off his record. Then the parent tells me that she told her son not to check out books from the library anymore. She could see according to his overdue notice that he had another book checked out. When I saw the boy's class later that day, I asked him if he had the book in his desk because he should return it asap. I said something like, "I talked to mom this morning, and she told me that you weren't supposed to be checking out books. So if you have it, I'd better take it back." That was pretty much the extent of our conversation. She called again today because he had checked out another book on Friday!!! Was she made that he defied her rule and my request? One would think. One would assume that the parent would be mad at her child for doing the EXACT OPPOSITE of what his mother and librarian had told him. One would think... Oh, no. Not this CP. She was mad because I spoke to her son in his classroom about this. It was NOT MY RIGHT, she tells me. IT WAS BETWEEN HER AND HER SON, she tells me. AND I SHOULD BE HAPPY SHE IS CALLING IT TO MY ATTENTION AND NOT THE FRONT OFFICE'S, she tells me. To that, I responded, "Thank you... I think." Ooh, she did not like that. I couldn't help it. I really tried not to be mouthy, but I failed. And pretty much I am not too sad about that. I tried to explain to her that if she had wanted him not to check out, she could've told me about it and I would put a note on his record. I tried explaining this, but she would not listen. THIS IS BETWEEN HER AND HER SON, she kept saying. OK. It's the end of the year. We are not even circulating books anymore. This kid is really a nice kid. I really like him. It's just his CP that has put me in a mood. She just had SUCH an attitude. I, however, did not have an attitude until she told me that I should be HAPPY that she did not contact the front office. After I thanked her (I think) I invited her to talk to the principal. I almost wish she would. The number one thing to drive me out of teaching will be CPs like this woman. It won't be the low pay, or the exhaustion from working with kids, or the many extra hours I put in. Nope. It will be the crazy parents.

We Know the Value of Book

So a kindergartner returned a picture book the other day that was wet. Not just a little damp--I'm talking wring-it-out wet, fuzzy-mold growing inside it already. I sent it back home with a note about the damage, writing that even though it was probably an accident, the family is still responsible for paying for it.

And I get a scathing, SCATHING letter back from the dad about how I accused his son of damaging the book and how if we needed money for the library, they would consider helping out, but it is WRONG for me to demand payment for a book his son did not damage. "We know the value of book in our house," he wrote.

Hmmm...the note came back with the book, which was completely dry. Yet the dad is trying to tell me that the book was damaged before his son ever checked it out?!?!? It came in soaking wet yet was completely dry the next day and he thinks that someone got it wet the week before his son checked it out? I think not.

I sent a very kind letter back, even cc'ing my principal on it, and haven't heard a word since. Sometimes it just feels good to get the last word in.

So far, at least...

The Thing on the Sofa

One of our state-award nominated books was He Came with the Couch by Rob Scotton. The first time I read it, I did not love it. The second through fourth times I read it, I still did not love it. After the 5th time, though, I started to like it just an eensy-weensy bit. The students, however, LOVED IT FROM THE GET-GO.

I should've remembered earlier that we do not have the same funny bone, me and the kids. Usually, though, if they like it, I like it. And I guess that's what happened here.

This week, I've been reading a line or two from a well-known children's book on our morning announcements. We call it Mystery Book, and the students can enter a guess as to what book I am reading. Yesterday, I read a little bit from The Old House (written and illustrated by my friends Pam and Henry).

This one little guy didn't get it right, but he did make me laugh. On his scrap of paper, he wrote "The Thing on the Sofa". I knew exactly what he meant.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

I have had such a fun time this week with the fifth graders reading "Casey at the Bat". I showed them several illustrators' versions, and then I read Christopher Bing's aloud. I met him back in 2003, and even though he's a Red Sox fan, he signed my book for me. After reading it, I went back and clarified much of the text for the kids. "The rest clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast": this phrase got giggles almost every time!!

Then we did a readers' theatre of the poem, and the kids were really good about it!

Every class had the same reaction of disbelief when I got to the end of the poem. How could they not have heard it before? I think this might be my greatest contribution to the education of children.

Out Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is our regional librarians' conference, and I have a professional day to attend. It'll be a great time of recharging my batteries and seeing lots of professional friends. I hope my sub does okay. She only has 4 classes tomorrow, so it should be fine. Fingers are crossed...

Spring Break

is good for the soul. It's Friday already, and I haven't thought about school at all this week! That's what Sundays are for, right?!?!

In the Classroom

I've been teaching in the classrooms this week, and it's been pretty fun, actually. I was dreading it, but it's actually been okay! Our reading specialist is having her bookfair in the library this week, so I said I'd go to the rooms. The kids are very cute about it all. They like having me in their domain. I ask about how they do things, like line up or get volunteers, and they're all so eager to show me.

I've been doing dictionary reviews with 3rd and 4th graders, and finishing up our state's Readers' Choice books with the primary kids. 2nd graders started some atlas work, and I think they've enjoyed it.

We had the MOST awesome author visit last week: Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole spent the day with us. They did three presentations for the whole school, and they also signed books. And signed. And signed. We sold over 400 books! I just LOVE these people. I wish they were my friends, but I realize that this thought borders on stalking, so I will just be happy to know them at all. Here they are in action in the picture above. Oh, notice the fabulous blowups our art teacher did of Henry's illustrations.

Tomorrow's the start of our spring break, and my plan is to sketch out lessons for the rest of the year, which is coming WAY more quickly than I can even believe.