Room on the Broom

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention."

-Oscar Wilde

I have been crazy busy these last few weeks.  This is exciting to me, because it means that the library is being used as it's supposed to.  Yay that!

Today I just wanted to write a quick blurb because I read one of my all-time favorite books during Book Talk today.  Instead of just allowing my regular book talkers to come, I made the entire room of kids who were in here during lunchtime today come and listen.  They came slowly, dragging their feet.

Ok, so confession: it's a picture book I wanted to read to them.  So it wasn't really a book talk, more of a Book Read.  I'm totally ok with that.

I wasn't sure how a picture book would go over.  These are middle school kids after all.  I told them that this is a Thanksgiving book, and that while I read they were to listen for the reason it's a Thanksgiving book -- instead of a Halloween book, because it has a witch in it.

Then I started to read.

They were enraptured.  They didn't say a word, except for one student who made a perfectly appropriate comment at one point.  Which was something to the effect of, "wow, she really loses things often."  Which told me he was totally engaged and into the story.

I finished the book and then asked them what their response was.

"It's definitely a Thanksgiving book," said a girl.  "They all helped the witch and then she said thank you.  Thanksgiving is about helping, like the Indians helped the Pilgrims.  And the Pilgrims should have said thank you."

My day is complete.

Happy Reading!

Together

"Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success."

-Henry Ford

When I looked at my schedule this morning, I was a little overwhelmed.  What a busy, busy day I had planned!

Mr. Levengood had scheduled his classes to have their library orientation periods 1 - 5.  We would have the November FFB during nutrition.  I had a book talk scheduled.  *whew*

First of all, I love library orientation.  It's that time near the beginning of the school year when I get to talk at each and every student in the entire school and remind them how awesome the library is.  We go over rules and procedures--how to behave, how to check out books--and why the library is important.  We cover fines and the cheapest way to replace a lost or damaged book.  But most importantly, I get to connect with every one of my students.  I have 700 of them this year and it's so great to remind them that the library is here for them, that I am here for them.

The November FFB was hosted by our awesome history department.

Historians Extraordinaire: Mr. Gearin, Ms. Arzanipour, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Benjamin-Joseph, Mr. Cornett

Being as dedicated to historical events as they are, they included some historical information about our breakfast.

They served Starbucks coffee (now we're getting fancy!), juice, muffins, bagels, and fruit.

What a spread! 

Artful display arranged by our awesome parent volunteers while I taught Mr. Levengood's classes. 

Awesome.

Blurry photo of breakfast drinks and 8,000,000,000,001 creamers.

There are two more that I left in the fridge.

Once again, just before the nutrition bell rang folks started to show up, nosh, talk, and laugh.

Mrs. Teems with bagel and A Brief History of the Bagel

Mr. Brener, Mr. Catanzariti, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Valverde, Mrs. Macris, Mrs. Teems, Ms. Winberry,  

Mrs. Cook, Ms. Strong, Mr. Levengood

Mr. Brener, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Strong, awesome parent volunteer

This time there were many comments.  I heard, "this is so great.  I love seeing everybody!"  I also heard, "oh you just wait until the science department's turn comes!" This all makes me very, very happy.

During lunch, I quickly set up Doctor Who and all the Little House books I could find, which were a lot, thanks to Ms. Strong's personal library.  This time only two kids came to the book talk, but they were both very present and attentive, and thought that the idea of covered wagons was "really cool."  They also particularly enjoyed when I talked about Pa carrying a shotgun, trapping game to feed his family, and how he had to cut down trees to build them a home.  I tailored the book talk for the boys, what can I say.

Little House on the Prairie with the Raggedy Doctor

Mr. Levengood observed to me that I seem to be always busy, the library phone is always ringing (he had to answer every time it rang while I was teaching his classes), and I don't ever seem to stop.  I like that observation; to me, being busy all the time means that I'm getting a lot done.  I hope to continue doing so for a long, long time.  <3

Happy Reading!

What Makes a Rainbow?

"Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution.  

If you don't have any problems, you don't get any seeds."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Remember when I wrote about my wish list?  Remember those photos of our signage that were lovely and important but boring pine, and I asked for a gift certificate to Home Depot so that they could get painted?  Well, we got a gift certificate--which means they got painted!

Check out their story:

First they were primed:

 Eighth grade scholar Alex Loza helped a parent volunteer with the priming and painting.

I took pictures.

I'm helpful.

then painted:

Gillikin Purple

 Winkie Blue

Quadling Red

then placed back on the shelf in all their glory:

Emerald Green

 This one is my favorite.  First we painted it blue, then decided that was too dark, so we went over it in red, 

but only the front.  You can still see the blue.  I call it the Superman Sign.

Look how much they brighten up the back wall of the library!

I am surprised how much adding just a splash of color does to cheerify the space.  Ms. Winberry popped in for a brief moment to drop something off and immediately mentioned how much they add to the ambiance in here.

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this project -- the donor, the painters, and the admirers.  It's people like you who make life so much better for our kids.

Happy Reading!

In November

"Dull November brings the blast 

Then the leaves are whirling fast."

-Sara Coleridge

Here's the November calendar (so far):

The November calendar was illustrated by two of my library practice students.  I freaking love the turkey.

Wow, we've got a ton of stuff planned!  Crochet Club, Book Talks, Book Club, Game Day--plus, our next FFB, Coffee with the Principal, Library Committee meeting, and a Booster Club meeting.  A lot goes in on here!

Happy Reading!

The Night Before Halloween

"Sometimes comfort doesn't matter.  When a shoe is freakin' fabulous, it may be worth a subsequent day of misery.  Soak in Epsom salts and take comfort in the fact that you're better than everyone else."

-Clinton Kelly

The one question I've been asked most often today is this:

"Where on Earth did you get those shoes?!?"

Well, here's the answer.  Ebay.  Also, they're my wedding shoes.  :)

Yes, I did.

Here's what I look like today:

Wicked Witch of the EAST, people!  Ruby Reds and stripy stockings?  Get it?  Well, do you?

Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday.  

Today's schedule was a busy, busy one: the first half of the day was taken up by our library committee meeting, and then at lunch the plan was to read scary stories.

The library committee meeting went quickly, I felt.  Here's the agenda:

New Business

1.  Million Word Readers

     * 10 already!  (Eight students, plus Ms. Orendorff and Mr. Higgins.)

2.  Library grants page

Old Business

1. Name (we're going with 'library committee')

2.  Mission Statement (see below)     

3.  Virtual Reference Desk (VRD)

4.  Server update

5.  Technology update

6. Blog  (I got to show off this blog!)

Discussion/ Suggestions

Mission Statement

In support of the Daniel Webster Middle School Mission Statement and Vision, the Mission of Daniel Webster Middle School’s Library Media Program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The Library Media Program accomplishes this mission by:

1)   Being an integral part of Daniel Webster Middle School and it’s learning community.

2)   Collaborating with teachers to create authentic learning for all students

3)   Providing instruction in information literacy

4)   Supporting the content curriculum and reading initiatives

5)   Promoting life-long reading and learning, both for pleasure and for information

6)   Providing scholars with materials that meet their needs

7)   Providing our students with an inviting and safe environment

There was great discussion and suggestions.  This time I had someone else take notes so that I could focus on what was going on rather than taking notes.  That worked much better, although I have not taken a look yet.  If you have more to add, questions, comments, and/or concerns, please feel free to add them in the comments section below.

During lunch I competed with the leadership class.  They had a huge costume contest and I read scary stories.  I honestly didn't think I would get anyone in here; it would seem to me that watching all the fun costumes would definitely win out over some geezer reading.   I prepared my table anyway.

Yes, that's the Raggedy Doctor sitting on a pumpkin.  Of course he joined in the fun!

Let's see...Jack o lantern full of chocolate.  Check.  Pumpkin carved into Ruby Red Slippers, complete with glowing LCD candle in red candle holder.  Check.

Actually, here's a better photo of that:

Carved pumpkin courtesy of one of my library practice students.

...Basket full of pretzels.  Check.  Pile o' books of scary stories.  Check.  Shades pulled down.  Check.  Lights out.  Check.  All ready.

The bell rang and the usual crowd didn't rush in to grab their accustomed seats.  While I was expecting this, I still felt...disappointed?  I'm not sure.  But then a few minutes later two girls came in and asked, "are you going to read the scary stories?"  I grinned.  "I would love to."  

In ones and twos kids started to come in and sit with us.  They passed the treats and whispered to each other to only take one, just in case more kids came in.  I would ask one student to choose a book, then ask another to pick a number between 1 and 100 to figure out the page number of the story to read. We all agreed that while the stories weren't actually scary, they were certainly creepy.  There were about  fifteen kids crowded around my table, which surprised me.  I read until the bell rang.  I was almost glad it did--my voice was starting to go.

As they filed out, they thanked me and asked when the next activity would be.  I showed them the library calendar where they wondered about the crochet club and asked about the next book talk.

When the last student left, I walked around campus--people will milling about and taking their time to get to class and I wanted to see the costumes.  I was able to take a few quick photos with Mr. Higgins and some of his students.

With Mr. Higgins.  He was a vampire Viking.  I called him Eric all day long.  

Eric is a vampire Viking on the show True Blood, for those of you who don't watch.

 With the adorable Fairy Princess Noor.  

Noor is in my Library Media class, so I know she turned her permission slip in!  

So, that was today.  I wish you all a safe evening full of fun.

Happy Reading!