Today is the last day of school before our Christmas/Winter break. I'm looking forward to attacking my huge pile of books that I want to read. I have 33 books on my bedside table to read, 3 of which I've already started. I pick up different books depending on my mood. Somedays I'll be interested in reading non-fiction such as history or education, another day I need a good British mystery such as P.D. James. Young adult books and children's books are always on my list, especially good fantasy stories. I had been proud of myself for bringing my large pile under 20 titles this fall, before I attended FAME that is and purchased many more. Now, I have to decide which books to bring to Canada to read over the holidays. My husband gave me 3 books for Christmas (we opened our presents early so we don't need to take them up north)so those books will probably go in my suitcase.
Many students have been in here returning books and taking out new ones to read over the break. It's been great to see the large piles of books some are taking out to ensure they have enough reading material. It will be a very busy day on Jan. 9 when these books are all due back.
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and a great holiday. I'm looking forward to hearing about the books everyone has read, and I'll have some to talk about as well.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Organizing by Genres
Okay, I must like making more work for myself.
I had been thinking about rearranging the fiction section of the middle school area at Plantation Key School for the last couple of years. Now that I'm at the high school, I have liked the idea even more. Most students come in and ask for a book "just like this one". I have noticed that, like many adults, teenagers prefer to read one genre. Bookstores already know this, and they shelve their wares by genre with sections for mystery, romance, fiction and literature, history, graphic novels, art, health etc.
Coral Shores has an interesting layout of shelving. Due to study rooms and windows, the shelving is broken into many different sections, with fiction along three outside walls and the non-fiction stacks in the middle of the room. With fiction books being so spread out along the far walls, it is sometimes difficult to find the books. (Of course, more signage would help, I'm going to look into signs that hang from the ceiling as there is little wall space).
The moment that really got me thinking about this was at the FAME conference. While attending the Teens Can Read workshop, one of the presenters discussed how she had rearranged her Media Center and circulation doubled. Although worried about information literacy and teaching students who to find books, I realized that students would still be practicing these skills in order to find the location of the books. The teachers questioned thought rearranging the library would be a good idea, as did most of the students.
Now, I need to decide what genre to place each book in, order labels and apply, change the books in the computer, and rearrange the books. That should keep us busy here in the library for quite a while. Oh well, I like to be busy!
I had been thinking about rearranging the fiction section of the middle school area at Plantation Key School for the last couple of years. Now that I'm at the high school, I have liked the idea even more. Most students come in and ask for a book "just like this one". I have noticed that, like many adults, teenagers prefer to read one genre. Bookstores already know this, and they shelve their wares by genre with sections for mystery, romance, fiction and literature, history, graphic novels, art, health etc.
Coral Shores has an interesting layout of shelving. Due to study rooms and windows, the shelving is broken into many different sections, with fiction along three outside walls and the non-fiction stacks in the middle of the room. With fiction books being so spread out along the far walls, it is sometimes difficult to find the books. (Of course, more signage would help, I'm going to look into signs that hang from the ceiling as there is little wall space).
The moment that really got me thinking about this was at the FAME conference. While attending the Teens Can Read workshop, one of the presenters discussed how she had rearranged her Media Center and circulation doubled. Although worried about information literacy and teaching students who to find books, I realized that students would still be practicing these skills in order to find the location of the books. The teachers questioned thought rearranging the library would be a good idea, as did most of the students.
Now, I need to decide what genre to place each book in, order labels and apply, change the books in the computer, and rearrange the books. That should keep us busy here in the library for quite a while. Oh well, I like to be busy!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
The Library Media Center
Here is a picture of the Coral Shores Library Media Center. We have approximately 13,000 books, 17 computers, 3 OPAC stations, magazines, books in Spanish, and we have started a Graphic Novel collection (see previous posts). The school building is only 4 years old, so everything is nice and new. 
Florida Teens Read again
Congratulations to Anna who read all 15 of the Florida Teens Read titles. There are several students who are close behind her!
I just finished Alt. Ed. by Catherine Atkins. Good story about a fat girl who learns to stick up for herself. After getting in trouble and almost expelled, she is asked to attend a session with 5 other students afterschool once a week. Her Alt. Ed. session teams Susan up with the boy who was bullying her, a cute jock, a Christian cheerleader, a gay boy, and a girl with a bad reputation. Susan isn't getting any support from her widower father, and her brother is never home. Can she survive 12 weeks of Alt. Ed?
Off to the next books on my list...
I just finished Alt. Ed. by Catherine Atkins. Good story about a fat girl who learns to stick up for herself. After getting in trouble and almost expelled, she is asked to attend a session with 5 other students afterschool once a week. Her Alt. Ed. session teams Susan up with the boy who was bullying her, a cute jock, a Christian cheerleader, a gay boy, and a girl with a bad reputation. Susan isn't getting any support from her widower father, and her brother is never home. Can she survive 12 weeks of Alt. Ed?
Off to the next books on my list...
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Florida Teens Read
If you're not familiar with the Florida Teens Read program, I'd suggest dropping by any high school library media specialist or looking here for more info, http://www.floridamedia.org/teensread/teensread.html. This is a great program, only in its second year. It builds upon the Sunshine State Young Readers Award offered to grades 3 through 8. The format is very similar, students read a minimum of 3 books (out of up to 15 nominated titles) and then vote for their favorite in April.
So far I've read 8 of the 15 titles for this year, and have enjoyed every one. I'd have to say my favorite at the moment is My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, a heart wrenching story about a 13 year old girl whose sister has a rare form of leukemia. Kate is going to die if she doesn't receive a kidney transplant, and Anna is a perfect match. Anna was actually conceived in order to be a donor for Kate, and now, after 13 years of giving up platelets and bone marrow, she has had enough, and sues her parents for medical emancipation of her own body. But if she wins, Kate will die.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer has been VERY popular here. I haven't read it yet because I never have a chance to grab it! As soon as it comes back, someone checks it out again. Alex Flinn has another book on the list, Fade to Black, and she is always a popular Florida author. The Printz honor book Fat Kid Rules the World surprised me, it was a touching story about two troubled kids who want to help the other by forming a punk rock band.
I'm off to grab another book from this list, talk to you later!
So far I've read 8 of the 15 titles for this year, and have enjoyed every one. I'd have to say my favorite at the moment is My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, a heart wrenching story about a 13 year old girl whose sister has a rare form of leukemia. Kate is going to die if she doesn't receive a kidney transplant, and Anna is a perfect match. Anna was actually conceived in order to be a donor for Kate, and now, after 13 years of giving up platelets and bone marrow, she has had enough, and sues her parents for medical emancipation of her own body. But if she wins, Kate will die.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer has been VERY popular here. I haven't read it yet because I never have a chance to grab it! As soon as it comes back, someone checks it out again. Alex Flinn has another book on the list, Fade to Black, and she is always a popular Florida author. The Printz honor book Fat Kid Rules the World surprised me, it was a touching story about two troubled kids who want to help the other by forming a punk rock band.
I'm off to grab another book from this list, talk to you later!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Graphic Novels
We now have some new graphic novels in the Media Center! Thanks to our adoptaclassroom sponsor, Ms. Sue Whitley, we were able to purchase approximately 20 new graphic novels. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it effectively doubled the size of our collection. The new titles are a good mixture of manga, superhero, and other genres.
It has been interesting to watch student's reaction to the new collection. The books are currently on display just inside the entrance way to the library media center. Some students come in, stop and look at them. When they find out that the books are available for checkout, they are so surprised! "You mean we can take these home, really? We're allowed to read comics (or manga)?" Some students go for the superheroes, some for the manga. Although the circulation hasn't been as high as I hoped for or expected, we've checked out approximately one a day since the new ones arrived, and almost doubled the entire graphic novel circulation stats of last year in less than one term. This is an area that needs to be expanded (good news for all you graphic novel and manga fans).
If you have suggestions for this area, please let me know. Remember all titles must be appropriate for high school. And keep checking the display to see what's new!
It has been interesting to watch student's reaction to the new collection. The books are currently on display just inside the entrance way to the library media center. Some students come in, stop and look at them. When they find out that the books are available for checkout, they are so surprised! "You mean we can take these home, really? We're allowed to read comics (or manga)?" Some students go for the superheroes, some for the manga. Although the circulation hasn't been as high as I hoped for or expected, we've checked out approximately one a day since the new ones arrived, and almost doubled the entire graphic novel circulation stats of last year in less than one term. This is an area that needs to be expanded (good news for all you graphic novel and manga fans).
If you have suggestions for this area, please let me know. Remember all titles must be appropriate for high school. And keep checking the display to see what's new!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
FAME
Wow, was the FAME (Florida Association of Media in Education) good this year. It was at Walt Disney World, which is a fantastic place for a conference. Mickey Mouse came to the opening session of the exhibits, how cool is that!
One of my favourite (Canadian spelling) parts was meeting all of the authors. I was lucky enough to meet Jacqueline Woodson, Dan Gutman, Jack Gantos (for the second time) and Alex Flinn, who also spoke about reluctant readers. I also purchased many of their books plus others. I came home with about 30 for me personally and the school library. I just can't control myself when it comes to books!
The Teens Can Read workshop was very worthwhile. Not only was I introduced to many YA books, of which I want to read them all, many reading and collaborative strategies were discussed along with the handouts which makes it really easy to add them to my classes. Students, just wait, you'll be doing these activities soon, I hope you like them!
Another workshop also dealt with Library Media Center standards. We all know that funding is going down while book prices are going up. $6 per student does not allow us to purchase enough resources for our schools, especially when books, non-fiction particulary are costing $22 and up in many cases. My own collection has an average age of 1992, and that is with serious weeding of old and misleading books over the last few years. We are almost in 2007, which means the average book at Coral Shores is fifteen years old ! And these students are being prepared for the future with outdated resouces? Hmm, does anyone else see a problem here?
Okay, I'll get back on my soapbox on a later date. But in the meantime, teachers, there is plenty for you at FAME too, especially English, Reading, or Technology teachers. Hopefully I'll see you there next year.
One of my favourite (Canadian spelling) parts was meeting all of the authors. I was lucky enough to meet Jacqueline Woodson, Dan Gutman, Jack Gantos (for the second time) and Alex Flinn, who also spoke about reluctant readers. I also purchased many of their books plus others. I came home with about 30 for me personally and the school library. I just can't control myself when it comes to books!
The Teens Can Read workshop was very worthwhile. Not only was I introduced to many YA books, of which I want to read them all, many reading and collaborative strategies were discussed along with the handouts which makes it really easy to add them to my classes. Students, just wait, you'll be doing these activities soon, I hope you like them!
Another workshop also dealt with Library Media Center standards. We all know that funding is going down while book prices are going up. $6 per student does not allow us to purchase enough resources for our schools, especially when books, non-fiction particulary are costing $22 and up in many cases. My own collection has an average age of 1992, and that is with serious weeding of old and misleading books over the last few years. We are almost in 2007, which means the average book at Coral Shores is fifteen years old ! And these students are being prepared for the future with outdated resouces? Hmm, does anyone else see a problem here?
Okay, I'll get back on my soapbox on a later date. But in the meantime, teachers, there is plenty for you at FAME too, especially English, Reading, or Technology teachers. Hopefully I'll see you there next year.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Welcome to the Coral Shores Media Blog
Hi everyone,
Welcome to the Coral Shores High School Media Center blog. I'm excited about starting this blog so I can share news about the media center, books, and library life in general.
About me...
I am new to Coral Shores this year, I have previously been the media specialist at Plantation Key School(K-8) for four years, and before that at Summit Private School (pre-K-6), a Montessori school for six years. I absolutely love books and reading, and I also enjoy using technology. I had a Smart board at PKS and loved using it. I have a feeling I will need to purchase a new one for over here.
Please read and comment, and stay tuned for much more!
Welcome to the Coral Shores High School Media Center blog. I'm excited about starting this blog so I can share news about the media center, books, and library life in general.
About me...
I am new to Coral Shores this year, I have previously been the media specialist at Plantation Key School(K-8) for four years, and before that at Summit Private School (pre-K-6), a Montessori school for six years. I absolutely love books and reading, and I also enjoy using technology. I had a Smart board at PKS and loved using it. I have a feeling I will need to purchase a new one for over here.
Please read and comment, and stay tuned for much more!
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