Tag Archives: summer

Summer Reading Programs

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A lot of folks have been disappointed that the SC Department of Education will not be proceeding with a No Book Left Unread Summer Reading Challenge this summer.   While I appreciate that this is sad news, there ARE other State summer reading programs as well as reading programs sponsored by other organizations.

Here are just a three:

Collaborative Summer Library Program – This program has three levels: childrens (“One World, Many Stories”), teens (“You Are Here”), and adult (“Novel Destinations”).  The goal is to “travel” through books.

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge:

“Now in its fifth year, the Summer Challenge invites kids to log the minutes they spend reading as they Read for the World Record. The 20 schools with the most minutes logged will receive recognition in the 2012 Scholastic Book of World Records. Kids can participate in weekly challenges, earn digital rewards, enter sweepstakes to win fabulous prizes, find great books to read, and more.”

Barnes and Nobel Summer Reading - For every 8 books read the student can choose a free book from the list on the back of the reading journal.  Meant for elementary levels (1st through 6th grade).

And of course, you can ALWAYS promote the SC Book Award Program.  Challenge your students to read all 20 of the books and plan your own “rewards” for students.

Looking ahead

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DSC_0136Summer break is almost over (I’ve only got one full week of vacation left!) and I’m in pre-planning mode for the upcoming school year.   I thought I’d share some of my ideas and challenges in preparing for when teachers return on August 10th.

Two weeks ago our school’s leadership team met to plan for next year.  I’ve been tasked with technology staff development.  I’m really excited about this development and have LOTS of ideas brewing.

I’ll also be meeting with the Freshman Academy lead teacher, and others, about some new technology our school will be receiving (can’t be more specific just yet, but stay tuned) and how to incorporate this new tech into their curriculum.  This means I’ll be doing a LOT of research for resources and begging for help from my PLN!

In addition to the new technology, I’d already made plans to work with the FA English teachers on incorporating Information Literacy/21st Century Learner Standards as well as the new SC Internet Safety Standards into their specific curriculum.  I am hoping to develop some team teaching incorporated INTO their curriculum and not just as add ons to the standard research paper or through hit and miss projects with other classes.   We’ve discussed using the TRAILS assessment to determine current knowledge and what areas to build upon this year.

The FA Lead Teacher has also requested my assistance with titles for their new reading initiative.  Each core subject will be requiring their students to read one novel per quarter.  These assignments are in support of our school’s literacy initiative for High School’s That Work – students are supposed to read across the curriculum and at least 25 novels during the school year.

Needless to say, 2010-11 is looks like it will  be another busy year!

In the meantime, I’m currently taking a photography basics class.  The above image is one of mine!  I’m doing pretty well with close ups like plants and objects, but not so much with more distance photos.  It’s a hit or miss.  This stuff is harder than I though (using manual mode and not automatic on the DSLR).  I’m going to post some of my more successful photos to my flickr page.

Anyhoo! Hope you guys enjoy what’s left of your summer vacation!  I know I’m sure gonna!

Schools Out For the Summer!

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“Schools Out for Summer …  Out till fall, We might not go back at all”  - Schools Out by Alice Cooper

Wow, seems like just yesterday we started back and now the year is done.  This was a crazy and busy year and I am very glad to have it over; however, the end also brings students and faculty moving on to better endeavors.

Friday we celebrated our 87 seniors graduating – their last official act as students of Wagener-Salley HS.  May their futures bring them all they dream and desire.   A bright spot of graduation was seeing former students there to see their family and friends graduate.  Two former drama club members, one a founding member, were there to see their sister graduate.  I don’t know how I’m going to deal with no longer having a Parsons with me next year!

Friday also marked the end of our time with the faculty who will not be returning next year.  I will especially miss seeing Ms. Blizzard’s smiling face and our talks of God, art, family and sharing.  I will miss the ladies of Special Ed – it has been a joy to work with you guys and you will be hard to replace!  Kyle, I would have loved to have worked with you more to incorporate our shared interest in technology with your students’ learning.  I hope we continue to learn and share from each other.

The one teacher that is hardest for me to have to say goodbye is, of course, Carrie.  Carrie, are you sure you have to go?  I know, it is time to move on, but I’m loosing too many of my dear friends.  Who am I going to rely on for PowerTeacher backup?  Who’s gonna be my collaboration buddy now?

DON”T LEAVE ME!!!!

But seriously, I wish you and all of the folks heading out that you live your dreams and find happiness where ever you land.  Knowing you all, you’ll have no problems making new friends.  I also believe that those who will have your positions next year, while they can never replace you guys, they will find their place and we’ll build new friendships, too!

On the library side, my End of the Year Report can be found on the library webpage - scroll down the left side and you’ll find a section called Reports.  While the format is the same as last year, I’ve added some sections and lots of photos to make it more visually pleasing.  I’ve also created an iMove from the photos taken in the library and at library events.  Unfortunately, I cannot post it to the public web as I don’t have student permissions.  I will try to load it to my Dropbox account and if you want to view it, let me know and I’ll send you the shared link.

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Summer plans:

If you don’t have plans already, why not come join me at the Upstate Technology Conference June 22nd and 23rd?  I’ll be co-presenting with Cathy Nelson, LMS at Dorman HS and Fran Bullington, LMS at Boiling Springs HS.  Our session, There’s an App for That: Using Web Apps to Organize, Simplify, and Enrich Your Life is Wednesday, June 23rd from 1-2pm.

Well also be presenting the same session at the ETV Technology Workshops July 27th – 29th.  I’ll also be presenting a session titled Web 2.0 Speed Dating. I’d love to see some of you guys there!  (but don’t feel you have to come to my sessions, just come learn and share with us!)

I plan to keep myself very busy this summer – I was really bored last year since I didn’t go anywhere or do anything.  This year I will be at three conference (UTC, ETV, and the High School’s That Works National Conference in Kentucky).  I will be spending a week in Orlando, Florida.  I’m meeting with former teachers and my co-presenters this week.  I’m meeting another fellow librarian in Charleston one weekend.  Then there’s my Grandmother’s 80th Birthday and we’re planning a huge party and it just so happens to be on the SAME day as my 20th High School Reunion (ye-gads!  20 years – where did the time go?)

But most of all, I will be reading, reading, reading.  I have 80+ books still to read from the consideration list for the SC Young Adult Book Award Committee.  The goal is to have them all read before our August meeting, so keep you fingers crossed for me!

Have a Spectacular Summer!

Creative Commons Flickr Photo Credits:  “Summer” by Teo’s Photo  and “Summer Feet” by aussiegall