iMovie!

The fifth grade students are doing some really cool things using Menus. The teachers have given them choices for products. Some of the products are easy and the students can quickly produce, others are quite intensive. One whole group of students have decided to create movies. If they do it well...they get 100 points. So...we sat down the other day to brainstorm how to create a movie...from the storyboard to the final product. We talked for about 30 minutes about the basics and then we started talking about perspective. Wow...did we get a long way. We went from starting with "talking heads" to doing green screens. The students decided to experiment with Keynote/PPT for the title slides. The flip cameras were put to use quickly. For the second part of the class time, they started putting the videos together. Each student started with a different piece...I can't wait to see how they all go together. It never amazes me as I work with students how they can so quickly learn the skills and never hesitate to try anything new. Just a suggestion and they are off with new ideas...they are so interested in trying new things....sometimes you just learn things from your students!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Again it's a Monday to write about the week in the Rummel Creek Library....last week was a great week...a busy week...it was wonderful. On Monday, my schedule was a bit sketchy....a few classes here and there, but time to get some cataloging completed. By Monday afternoon, I knew the week was going to be different than my schedule reflected. The fifth grade teachers are doing some really great things...students are doing menus and can select a project from a menu or list of possibilities. Most of them involve the library some how. It's great! That's the math/science side, the language arts/social studies teachers also have projects going...so....most of the week the fifth grade students camped out in the library...literally...the entire grade level most of the day most of the week. It was GREAT! we had every computer in the library and labs going. Students were in groups and using books as well as any resource available. The students were all in fifth grade, all doing projects...just everyone on their own choice. One moment I was helping out with PowerPoint, the next iMovie, some were using web 2.0 tools and then we threw in pages and keynote. The flips and digital cameras were all checked out and in use. I wanted to take photos...but I didn't have a camera left. The best part was watching the students share what they learned. What I shared in math, they applied in social studies...it was the best week ever!

But that's not all...in and around fifth grade students camping out, we finished the primary GT experiences, story time and lessons for second grade classes on the fiction section and the different kinds of genre available to them. It was a whirlwind week.

But...that's still not all. We had scheduled a day for volunteers to come and process the books from the book exhibit. (Since my schedule had originally looked a little slim, we thought this would be a great week) so 8-10 volunteers joined us in the library on Wednesday for several hours to process the new books. It was great...nearly everything was completed. (Thank goodness for a library assistant!)

But that's still not all...I had staff development for teachers in grades K, PreK and 1st grade. I shared new technologies and books.

This was definitely the week to be in the library....it was the place to be!

The iPad

So it's Monday and not Friday...things got a bit crazy in the library on Friday. The iPad is here. I like it so much better than the iTouch...perhaps it's my age...I can see it better. I downloaded the app Stanza...so cool...so many books to download.....Now I want to see it on the iTouch.

Fourth and Fifth grade classrooms have received their iTouches...now it's on to Third Grade. Hopefully they will be completed by the end of the week. Downloading the update has taken a little time...Hopefully I won't have to do it again too soon.

Tech Team met on Friday during lunch. I had more than 60 students ready to make movies. We have our first three assignments already from PTA...it will keep us more than busy! We'll have to stay on task to make it work. Life is good!

Wow! What a week!

Working in library, you never know what kind of excitement will happen. Libraries are no longer the quiet place students go to read, but rather they are full of equipment, activity and laughter. This week the library was everything and more! I can't decide which day was best..we had a computer in a classroom go up in smoke...yes, the students were evacuated while we tried to discover the smell, only to find a computer that had overheated and was smoking! Needless to say, it was a little excitement. We also took in other classes that suffered from a "no air conditioning" day. So the library was always full of students. For books and breakfast on Friday...we had 29 students enjoying the book "Book Woman!" As expected...had I not read the book to them, the students would not have picked up the title. Oh-well..once they heard the story and we talked about the lifestyle of those special librarians...the students loved the book. What a wonderful choice to be on the Bluebonnet List! Next week is the book exhibit...can't wait to pick out new titles for the library. As I set up the exhibit...I found all kinds of titles I wanted! YEAH~ Oh yeah...I forgot about Tuesday - a day spent with Health Fitness teachers - yes...even a librarian can work with the Health Fitness Teachers - It's been a long exciting week. I'm looking forward to a little rest...oh...except I just received my iPAD...how can I not spend time playing with the iPad! JOY!

September 10th

Busy week again as we are trying to get all of the computers up and working. Tried to share a video with PTA volunteers, and of course, technology did not want to cooperate! Won't give up yet...but it does get to be a problem when everytime you want to share, you hit a wall. The generic log in for PreK/K will be a lifesaver! Now it won't take the entire lab time to sign in a child. It also gave me a log in for a parent who comes in to use the internet. Next week we start projects as soon as the macs are reimaged. It's hard to believe we're in to week four! It seems like school never had a summer break!
I am hoping to finish up a few projects started in the coming days...sometimes it seems so difficult to finish something before something new comes along. It's time to do a check off list!
Next week I'm really going back to being a librarian...trying to keep up with some reading!

September 3, 2010

Well, I'm already behind...I didn't get a post up last week. I really wanted to get one up each week. This week has been a busy week: Bluebonnet Orientations, Library Orientations and Computer Lab Orientations. For more information go to the website: Rummel Creek Reads, you will see a link to Bluebonnet 2010-2011 - Look for links to activities and more to keep students learning and growing. While you're on that website, check out the summer reading program for activities to do with any book. We're moving on with technology at Rummel Creek. Some of the students have already created two projects. To help keep up with everything going on with technology at RCE...check out this webpage: Rummel Creek Technology....this is full of links to all kinds of information about technology. Since you are searching through this blog...don't forget to look at the Rummel Creek Website (Library Link, Curriculum link, pick a subject) for games and activities to extend and enrich classroom curriculum. For just some fun things, check out the library calendar linked from the home page of RCE (it's still under construction for September).
Yesterday I met with a boy scout group to share with them the "back rooms" of the library. I think they were amazed at all that goes on in the library behind the scenes. Today, a few of those boys were in for a lesson - they sure sat still for the stories!
I am looking forward to Monday "off", Hopefully next week will go a little smoother with a day to pull things together! Happy Reading!

Welcome back to school

The school year starts on Monday, the library is already busy with syncing ipods, processing books and getting ready for the students to arrive. 2010 - 2011 will be an exciting year with new technology, author visits, new books and more. I am excited to share a new things with the students and parents at RCE. Just for fun...check out these websites to explore: http://www.wordle.net (make your own word cloud), http://www.bighugelabs.com (create trading cards and more), Rummel Creek's school web page http://rce.springbranchisd.com - click on Library Link, then curriculum links to get to games to support the classrooms curriculum. Drop by next week for another update from the Frazzled Librarian at RCE!

Internet Safety

Listening to the news and reading the paper lets you know that we need to keep up and be aware of whats new on the internet. One of the resources I use is Common Sense Media. This site reviews books, movies, websites and more. They also give you tips for keeping up with all of the different types of media. Click on http://www.commonsensemedia.org for more information. At school we are using iSafe curriculum to work with the students. One of our parents has a site as well.... http://www.cybersafefamily.com . Click on her site for more information on being safe using the internet with children. Additional resources used in the classroom include Easy Tech and BrainPop. We are making sure that our students know how to be safe on the internet. Check out the technology links for Web 2.0 on the RCE page...we've found some more fun tools for the students to try. Fifth grade students used many of these as we began working on their Memory CD for graduation.

Catching Up

Curriculum night is over, and I think it went well....I am hoping that parents will take time to visit the Rummel Creek site and see all of the wonderful things that are available.
At the PTA meeting I was able to share two student created videos - one from Fifth Grade and another from Second Grade. The students have worked hard to learn the iMACS and iMovie....their creations are great. I was able to post two of them on the Rummel Creek Library Wiki....so take a look. It's our first attempts, and already the students are ready to create more and have made suggestions on how to improve!
Today is Monday...the library was once again filled with students exploring the macs and the iTouches...it's wonderful to see the activity. Parents, you too can come and test the equipment and explore with the students....the APPS webpage has been fixed...it's a little easier to read. Trying to keep up with all of the ones the students suggest. So keep coming back. I'll try to keep them in Alpha order by title within the subject area.

TCEA

I'm sitting here waiting for a session to start. I have so many ideas floating around in my head. I've learned a lot in a very short time and can't wait to share it with the students at RCE. I've updated the webpage with many of the sites that I learned about. Many of the sessions I have attended have been geared to PreK through 2nd grade. The links for these grade levels has expanded. Please visit the Library Link, Curriculum Link and grade levels for hot links to all kinds of activities to enrich your students learning. My enthusiasm and excitement is not showing as I write...but hopefully you'll see the results soon at RCE!

Library is CHANGING

I've been contemplating how to get a little more energy in the library...well...the macs and iTouches have done the job. Starting at about 7:20 every morning, students arrive and begin the morning exploration on the computers. At 8:00 we have to push them out to class. It's a good problem. Wish I had more. The late comers get the "old" black PC's...but even those are seeing more use then in the recent past. Its fun to watch the students work together to figure out a problem. I'm not doing a lot of teaching yet, just want them to explore...they are actually teaching me. I've learned a lot about the iTouches. Very cool piece of equipment. My life is changing daily as we add new apps to the device. This morning we had many things going on in the library - KRCE is back on the air, the Odyssey groups were practicing, and then the computer users took over the rest of the space. Nice and busy..Nice and loud...just like a library should be. Be checking the RCE wiki for samples of the student products soon...we've got some Steven Spielburg's in the making!
Curriculum night is fast approaching - we'll be focused on Literacy and Technology...come and see how technology supports the classroom curriculum. Bring your own laptop or iTouch and join us in creating wordles, animotos and more! February 16th - in the Library, Kiva and labs!

Been Away Tooo Long

Well, it's been a while since I've taken the time to post, but now it's time to get back into the habit.
Technology/Literacy Night is coming soon, and this is the place for all of the information! February 16th at RCE - be there to learn all of the cool things your children are exploring. We have computers set aside for you to create and explore with set up. The fun will start at 5:30 and run through about 8:00 - come by for some fun. Check out the Roadrunner Express and your e-mails for more information.
The RCE students are going GREEN....to help promote the program, students have created movies...these movies are now posted on the RummelCreekLibraryWiki for you to see. A link is also available on the RCE homepage...so take a look!
Check back in a few days, I should have more postings about Curriculum Night and more movies to share! I will try to post once a week to keep you posted about Curriculum Night!