Creating lists with list.ly

Just found out about this super cool resource!  I was busy with #nctlchat last night and SO MANY cool resources were being shared that I opened a google doc to make a list.... well.... one of the resources listed was http://list.ly.  So I spent a little extra time to move those resources from my google doc to create a new list.ly.  It was so worth it!  Check out my list.ly and within some of the many great resources shared in last night's chat:

#nctlchat: Digital Resources

View more lists from Sedley Abercrombie

Twitter as PD

Why use twitter?  The simple answer, it's a way to develop your own PD and cultivate your personalized PLN.  Connect with people that are cutting edge and are changing the face of the library profession.  

My twitter (@sedley1) is strictly professional and I follow trendsetters and leading professionals in school library, ed tech and publishing.  Everything "cool" that I've done in the past year can lead back to twitter.  

Just a few cool things I have done:

• participated in the Global Read Aloud  and skyped with other classrooms nationwide and in Canada
• procured an author visit via Skype 
• attended #edcampelon and connected with over 100 leading professionals from around my state
• discovered new books, websites and apps
• participated in live video chats with leading professionals nationwide via Google Hangout
• learned about different professional opportunities 
• participated in twitter chats
• made friends - real ones (we've had dinner together)

Creating a twitter account is easy, but using learning to use it to your advantage can be a little bit tricky.  Here is an article with a video that helps demystify using twitter:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/

Another good way to get started is to catch some "twitter chats".  These are live chats at a specific time using a particular hashtag that you can search and follow the live tweets.  Often those on the chat are discussing a particular topic of the night and it's a great way to find new resources.  Here is a google doc that several educators collaborate on to keep a running list of the most current chats:

Google Doc: Ed Twitter Chats

I think the COOLEST thing that I have done is collaborate with three other teacher librarians from across North Carolina to create our own weekly twitter chat.  We've been at it a month now and we have really hit the ground running.  Hosting your own chats can be a lot of work but having four of us working together has really eased the burden and made it lots of fun.  Check out our website here:

http://www.nctlchat.com

A shoutout goes to Jen Baker - @caneslibrarian, Chris Tuttell - @tuttelltweets and Lisa Milstead - @LisaMilstead, without whom our twitter chat would not be possible.

And if you do tweet or plan to, follow me @sedley1.  And join in our twitter chat (#nctlchat) on Sundays at 7:30 EST.  

Conferences: Sharing the Love

This past Friday, I was fortunate to be able to go to East Carolina University to the 10th annual Library Paraprofessional Conference.  ECU is where I got my MLIS and I love any opportunity to visit Joyner Library.  Since it double as an "educational field trip" I let Emma skip school to keep me company on the 3 hour ride:

Although we were a bit late, we were able to catch the last half of Kathy Sprau for the keynote.  Her presentation?  "It is all about me... I can make a positive difference!"  Some great information and she had some fun team building exercises as well.

 

Emma enjoyed the break out sessions we attended.  First was the Union County Library presenting "Avengers Assemble!  Community partnerships to find the superheroes in your library".  The UCL collaborated with a comic book artist, a comic book company and a movie promoter to launch a superhero themed library card campaign:

 

The library had a number of events surrounding the campaign, including all library staff wearing capes!  I know, right?  Costumed patrons were offered a chance for free movie tickets but the movie promoter surprised everyone that attended with free premiere movie tickets for a screening of Captain America:  the Winter Soldier!  What a treat!  http://www.co.union.nc.us/Portals/0/PublicInformation/News/Marvel1.pdf

Next was an awesome presentation by Cumberland County Library System and their annual Interactive Murder Mystery Event.  I don't know how I would fit this into an elementary school setting, but I would LOVE to do one sometime.  So much fun!  

See photos of the Murder Mystery here:  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151725230897490.1073741832.178550667489&type=3

Emma and I split my lunch (it was huge) and then we walked over to the bookstore to get both girls a new t-shirt.  After lunch, I presented to 27 public librarians about our #bookninjas and #mightykids book clubs:

The attendees loved the awesome royalty-free photos in my #haikudeck presentation, and it was so easy to put together:  

Emma passed around my iPad and we had 17 libraries sign up via google doc to learn more about joining the #bookninjas and #mightykids!  So exciting!  Our book clubs have been so much fun this year, we just wanted to branch out and share the joy!

Finally, I was able to meet some awesome public librarian rock stars in person:  Kelly Brannock and Lori Special with the NC State Library!  Lori presented just after me with the new online summer reading program.

The new program will be optional this year but will be statewide for next summer.  What cool new features this program will offer and will streamline the data collection process for public librarians and their patrons.  School librarians will be able to sign up students at school... honestly, Lori had me at "widget"....

Long day in the car, but some quality time spent with my girl and met some great new people and learned new things!  Will definitely have to pencil in for next year!

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app

I LOVE the insanity!

One thing I pride myself on is that we never turn anyone away. We have a part fixed, part flex schedule which allows for open checkout on Monday afternoon, Friday mornings and all day on Thursdays. You have your normal frequent flyers... some teachers send their kids all the time. Some never let them come on their own (sad, I know, right?), but today was one of those CRAZY days! I didn't get an accurate headcount, but at one time we had 5 (count them, FIVE) classes in the media center during open checkout. IN-SANE! We had the Thomasville "Library Lady" doing her monthly story time with two kindergarten classes...

Then we had two second grade classes and one third grade class all decide at one time that 1:15 was the perfect time for their students to come check out books...

At one time, there were over 100 students in the media center at one time!  We also had 4th graders come in to use their "Tiger's Den Passes" - one of our positive behavior support incentives we use in the library.  Students are allowed to use these passes at their teacher's discretion (usually during their self-selected reading block) and for however long the teacher decides (10 minutes to an hour)....

We also had some 4th graders coming in to search for books using our iPad search stations:

Finally, a third grade class was planning on doing a book buddies with a kindergarten class.  The K class was already in the media center so we invited them to stay in here for their book buddies!  Why not?  It's the perfect instagram moment (@sedley1)!

So this was a pretty low-tech day in the media center, but one that was literacy rich!  

I mentioned earlier that we have a fixed-flex schedule, so every class has a 35 minute block in the media center each week.  Each of these classes came for a SECOND round of media center fun!  

Did I mention I love my job?  

Book Ninjas and Mighty Kids

Currently I'm working on a presentation for a Library Paraprofessional Conference at East Carolina next week.  I'm going to be presenting about book clubs.  I have so much to say about book clubs because ours were so successful this past year.  I only piloted 5 months because I wanted to gauge the interest and see if it was even viable.

Although our book clubs were not gender exclusive (we did not market strictly to "just boys" or "just girls"), we did choose books for each group based upon interest.  The Book Ninjas read books that were high-interest adventure books.

The Mighty Kids books had strong, female characters and themes about social issues.  No damsels in distress in this group!  We would discuss the book, sometimes play jeopardy on the smart board, have a special snack (usually one that appeared in the book) and maybe do a craft.

Putting together the book clubs was a lot of work, but SO WORTH IT!  I could not have been as successful without the help of my trusty sidekick, Penny, and the support of PTO, staff and administration.


The book clubs were so popular that I have already created lists for next year.  I hope to take it even one step further and go virtual!  I hope to have other classes or libraries join us through blogging, edomodo or Skype!

If you are interested in joining Book Ninjas, Mighty Kids, or both, please sign up below to get the book lists.  There is no cost or obligation, but I hope you join us!  I will be sharing activity ideas, links, etc. for each book in the near future.

Code Camp was a huge success!

Last Friday we launched our first Code Camp (#codecamp)!  We promoted the camp about a month ago and "sold out" in less than 24 hours!  The interest is so high that we are planning to put on future 4 week camps next school year, one per quarter.

Students started out with an hour of code from http://code.org/.  They were able to access this from the Fair Grove Code Camp Symbaloo:  http://dashboard.symbaloo.com/mix/fairgrovecodeclub

Our school principal, Mrs. Wagner, also joined in the fun and completed the #hourofcode alongside 28 4th and 5th graders.  Here is a 5th grader helping her navigate level 15:

Putting on the Code Camp was easy!  The student interest was high, problem behavior was non-existent and student engagement was intense.  Not to mention the cost was $0, and we used our mac lab that otherwise sits empty after 2:30.

For information on how to start your own Code Camp, check out my Smore:

KIDS CAN CODE: start a code club for next to nothing...