Read For the Record!

Hi Staff!
I was trying to think of a fresh, new way to celebrate Read Aloud Month in October...and I think I have it!  (In the past we have used CCIRA "color in the poster" activities as a way to encourage reading at home.  I just don't see enough kid participation to see this as being beneficial.  I know you are already expecting them to read at home on a regular basis, so I don't want to add another "thing" to that arena.  If you are interested in using these resources with your own class, I have the booklet and you are welcome to browse through it.)

So....here goes!
We will participate in the Pearson Foundation's "Read for theRecord" event on October 7th by reading Ezra Jack Keats' Caldecott winning, Snowy Day throughout the building.  I have purchased a copy of the book for each classroom as well as specialists to use and add to your classroom libraries! :)  I will register us as a school and just need you to e-mail me how many people heard the story on that day (only count yourself once, please).  I will then tally our numbers and submit them to the Pearson Foundation for the record count.  Last year, there were 2,019,752 people participating by reading the foundation selected book! 

We are working on currently getting bookplates in the books and you will have your copy soon.  In the mean time, here is a link to the Pearson Foundation listing a TON of fun resources for participating in this day.  Please note: you can make this a big deal or a small deal--totally up to you.  If you simply want to read this book with your class, that is enough to participate.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 
Yours in BOOKS!!!
Dana :)

P.S.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to read aloud the selection to classes on this day, as we will be setting up the book fair and conducting preview sessions in the afternoon.  Sorry about that...conflicting schedules?!?! 

Google and Read Aloud and Collaboration, Oh My!

Hi all!
I have a few thoughts to share with staff as we near the middle of September!  Let's start with celebrations!

• Collaboration SuperStars-I want to tell you all about a couple of excellent collaborations I've had this week!!!
• Mrs. Stacy Hestermann-We co-taught a lesson on creating a name rebus in Kidspriation with her first graders.  Both the process and product were wonderful!  Thanks, Stacy!  Love working with you!! (Thanks to Jennifer Crouch and Carol Jennings for getting the idea rolling for the whole grade level!)
• Mrs. Christy Walp-We've begun our zoo animal research with 5th grade and I truly appreciate the way we can be viewed as equal teaching partners to her class.  When I forget to mention an important idea to her kids, she is able to fill it in, knowing the questions that may be in her students' minds.  Now, that's what I call co-teaching Christy! Thanks!
• Technology Kudos!-Go out to:
• Mrs. Sheri Gurule who is figuring out how to blog her weekly newsletter!  She figured out how to create an e-mail list of parents in IC to e-mail them her blog link instead of sending home a paper newsletter each week!  Wow...tech savvy and going green!  Way to go Sheri!
• Mrs. Christy Walp who is figuring our how to manage student accounts in Glogster (and helping me figure it out as well!)  As frustrating as it has been, she is sticking with it so that her kids can benefit from an innovative final product--and 21st Century too!  Nice work!

And now some news...

• Google Calendar-The last ERD in September we will learn how to use Google Calendar to book Tech Lab times.  I will be coming around soon to put the shortcut to login screen on your desktops.  

• Read Aloud Month Activity-Instead of participating in CCIRA's annual Read Aloud Month (color in the poster) activity, I will be purchasing a copy of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats for each teacher to share with their students.  On October 7th, we will participate in the International Reading Association's "Read for the Record" event by reading this book.  Last year, more than 2 million people read the same book that day.  I will be collecting data on how many participants we have at Riverdale to contribute to the BIG statistic that day...and you get to keep this classic title (and Caldecott winner) to add to your class library!  More information on specifics and related lessons to come!

• CCBA Book check out-Looking for a few EXCELLENT books to read aloud...and possibly spark some writing ideas?  This year, we will circulate the Colorado Childrens' Book Award Nominees in a new way!  We will be creating tubs of books containing 4-5 titles for you to check out and share with your students.  You will be able to keep them for an extended time so that you and your class can enjoy multiple titles together.  (Students will still be able to check out CCBA's as well, but they will be on a limited basis.)  In February, we will vote for our favorites.  In order for kids to vote, they need to have read or had at least 3 of the books read to them.  I hope to craft some type of online voting this year!!!

• Professional Books-We should have several of the latest professional technology books back from cataloging soon.  If you are interested, stop by and ask! :)

Thanks for a successful first full week!

Teachers and staff,
We'd like to thank you for a wonderfully successful first full week in the library!  We met with all 17 classes (K-5) conducting orientations and enjoying a a grade-level specific library related story.  Students learned about book care, overdue notices, areas of the library appropriate for their level, and how to use passes this school year in the library. (NOTE: CLAIRIFICATION ON PASSES-Students will need their pass with them whenever they are in the library for a period of time.  This includes checking out books, using computers, using a table for study or reading time, or playing games.  They DO NOT need their pass if they are only returning books and going back to class immediately thereafter.  My apologies for any confusion there may have been.)

We are happy to report that we circulated 1,081 items this first week!  Averaging a bit more than 200 per day, this is up from a 180-190 average last year.  67 of these items were magazines, which makes me glad!  One of my goals last year was to build up a magazine collection that students enjoy reading.  Third, fourth, and fifth graders may check out magazines.  If second grade teachers are interested, I can do a magazine lesson for their students later in the school year (after winter break).  Magazines provide students with a nice variety of articles and many non-fiction features of texts (photos, captions, bylines, columns, etc.)  Magazines can also be a great option for reluctant readers, as they generally have shorter "stories" to read, rather than several long chapters which can prove frustrating.

When checking out the new Canon Powershot Cameras and Flip Video Cameras this year, please be sure to remove your photos and videos from the cameras and SD cards before returning them to the library.  Also, please recharge the batteries for the Canon Powershot Cameras before returning them.  (The charger is included in the tub when you check one out.)  If you have any questions regarding use of these tools, pleas let us know!  We'd be happy to help!

I would love to meet with grade level teams to sketch out major projects for the year (in Google Calendar) in the near future!  I would like to COMMEND the FIRST GRADE TEAM for having met and talking about their needs!  We are on our way to scheduling a super-meaningful year of collaborative efforts for these young learners.  We have some reading and writing collaborations as well as science ideas in our plans.  Thanks to Jennifer Crouch, Stacy Hestermann, and Pat Piche!  I love working with you ladies!

I am working on a plan for assisting Bonnie with passes during whole class checkout times.  After I talk with her, I will give you more information on having your students prepared when they come down so that we can keep this circulation time to the allotted 15 minutes.

Thanks for a SUCCESSFUL first full week with Riverdale Students!  Looking forward to the week ahead and helping with assessments. 
:) Dana

Staff Wordle created on August 16th!

Staff, Here is the beautiful wordle we created as a description of who we are as a staff!  Enjoy--and come try out wordle so we have a wonderful display for Back to School Night!  :)

Our Year's Mission

Here is a Wordle depicting where Adams 12 Five Star Schools is headed!  Enjoy!

New Professional Books!

Hi Teachers!
At the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) conference in June, I purchased several new professional books for the Riverdale professional collection! If you are in need of some new tech ideas, these will be helpful for sure! They need to be cataloged, but then will be available for check out. They are FANTASTIC resources! Check 'em out--literally! Ha!

Welcome Back!

Hi Staff! Welcome back to school for the 2010-2011 school year! This blog will be where I post news and events for staff throughout the year. I hope to update it on a weekly basis with events, ideas, and resources. Please visit often! I'll also send out a link when I have updated the blog. I am hoping to get more of us on board with blogging this year. If you are interested, let me know! Wouldn't this be a great way for you to get news out to your parents? And think of the paper it would save!