Awhile back I wrote of using the Teen Read Week theme of “Books With Bite” for a year long reading promotion.  See  “Books With Bite” – TRW 2008.  Well, I’m finally getting started.  I’ve updated the library website to include the promotion announcement as well as a booklist page.  Its still a work in progress, but its a step in the right direction.

In addition to the website, my PARENT VOLUNTEER (yes I said parent volunteer – more about that development later) will be creating a bulletin board and book display to go along with the theme.  She’s already got lots of ideas for the promotions.  For this months, I’ve purchased a life size Dracula figure from Sam’s Club that holds a platter in one hand (which will be holding bookmarks or brochures) and has a small chalkboard sign draped from his other arm.  (Picture will follow once we’ve assembled him!)

Since September/October also contains Banned Book Week (Sept. 27 – Oct. 4) we’ll also be creating a display of “Books w/ Bite”: Edgy Titles/Banned Books.  Fran Bullington over at the Informania blog has helped me create a theme list that should cover the entire school year.  Here is what we’ve got:

August – September: Vampires and Other Creatures of the Night

October: Edgy Titles (Banned Books) and Nail Biters (thrillers, suspense, mysteries)

November-December: Tasty Treats (cooking, dining)

January: Biting Off More Than You Can Chew (finances, planning, do-it-yourself projects)

February: Bite Me (teen angst)

March: Just a Bite/Byte (short stories, poems / technology/computers to corresponding w/ Teen Tech Week)

April: Take a Bite Out of Crime – (April 13-18 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week)

May: Okay, I’ll Bite (urban myths and legends)

Another school year is up and running.  I’ve been very busy with training teachers in Moodle and the gradebook system.  I’ve also assisted with almost all of the English classes in taking the STAR (reading comprehension) and TRAILS (information literacy/research skills) testing and will finish up the last class tomorrow!    Now that I’ve got a few minutes to myself, I’ve been trying to clean out my RSS feeds (again).  Here are some odds & ends I wanted to share:

A Plethora of Technology: Trick My Truck – by Barry Bachenheimer – interesting ways to “trick out” your learning activities.

Blogging on the Bay: The Heart of a Teacher – by Bill Gaskins – All teachers should watch this video of a student giving a keynote address to his school district’s teachers.  It’s an embedded YouTube video, so you may not be able to view from work, but PLEASE take the time to watch from home.  You wont be disappointed.

Self Check #260 – by Emily Lloyd – Toung in cheek, “muliticultural” books.  I really love these doses of humor.  I think it would be a hoot to work with this lady!

CNN.com: “Monster mom’ – how to avoid being one” – 7 tips on how not to alienate your son/daughter’s teachers.

Both BBC News and The New York Times have articles about the Harold, TX school board allowing teachers to carry concealed weapons (guns) on campus.  How scary is that!?

Reader’s Digest: “13 Things Your Computer Person Won’t Tell You” – My personal favorite is #10 – get a MAC!  Hehehe! Told ya so!