Thursday, June 6, 2013

Annual Dinner Discussion and Recommendations!

 A good time was had by all...in addition to the wonderful brownies and food!  In case you missed the dinner, please see the: 
  •  summer book recommendations below from our local librarians,
  • 1 CCSS lesson suggestion and the sample invitation  letter that was sent to Administrators by Liz Bailey (who shared the lesson)
  • Diane Cordell's (our local photographer) postings at this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/8952927965/  

Young Adult Books
TITLEAUTHOR
Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the UniverseSaenz
Bad GirlsJane Yolen & Heidi Stemple
Breaking NightLiz Murray
CleanAmy Reed
Code Name VerityElizabeth Wein
Drowned VaultN. D. Wilson
Girl StolenApril Herny
Golden BoyTara Sullivan
Grave MercyRobin LaFevers
Knits for NerdsToni Carr
MoonbirdPhillip Hoose
Out of the EasyRuta Sepetys
Perfect EscapeJennifer Brown
Please Ignore Vera DietzA. S. King
Poop Happened:  A History of the World from the Bottom upSarah Albee
Raven BoysMaggie Stiefvater
SeraphinaHartman
Tiger LilyJodi Lynn Anderson
UngiftedGordon Korman
Children's Books
TITLEAUTHOR
Can We Save the TigerMartin Jenkins
Goldilocks & Just One BearLeigh Hodgkinson
Ralph Tells a StoryAbby Hanlon
The Thing About GeorgieLisa Graff
Splendors & GloomsLaura Amy Schlitz
Stolen Into SlaveryFradin
Suppose You Meet a DinosaurJudy Sierra
UnspokenHenry Cole
Until the Cows Come Home & Other Expressions About AnimalsSandy Donovan
Waiting for the MagicPatricia MacLachlan
WonderR. J. Palacio
Adult Books 
TITLEAUTHOR
Age of WonderRichard Holmes
CookedMichael Pollan
Cutting for StoneAbraham Verghese
Destiny of the RepublicCandice Millard
Echoes of the MountainKhaled Husseini
Frankenstein (paired with Age of Wonder , above) Mary Shelley
Grave MercyRobin LaFevers
InfernoDan Brown
Reconstructing AmeliaKimberly McCreight
The Know it AllA. J. Jacobs
The Life BoatCharlotte Rogan
The Paris WifePaula McClain
The Twelfth ImamJoel Rosenberg
The World Until YesterdayJared Diamond
Where'd You Go Bernadette?Maria Semple


 Dear Administrator Mover and Shaker friends,
I would like to invite you to experience what a 100% Inquiry project looks like at the elementary level.  The students in Mrs. Robbins’ 5th grade class were given the opportunity to follow their interests generated from nonfiction reading this year.  They students developed “Essential Questions” that they would like to have the opportunity and time to seek answers for.  For example, one student wanted to know why France gave the U.S. the Statue of Liberty.  Another wanted to know what in Anne Sullivan’s life caused her to want to spend her years helping Helen Keller.  (I know, that one is amazing, right? Remember, we are talking 10 year-olds here.)
Students did independent research, meeting with their learning coaches (myself and the teacher) along the way at different benchmarks.  They were invited to brainstorm ways of expressing their learning, and chose a method that would be a good fit for the material they wished to convey to the audience.
We would like to share their work with you on Friday, June 7 from 9:30 to 10:15.  The first 20 minutes will be 4 whole group presentations, and the rest will be set up museum style, where you will be able to browse from station to station to see what the students accomplished.
                In an educational culture presently smothered in high stakes test taking, this will provide proof that our students can still have authentic, learner-driven experiences that will provide opportunities for critical thinking, creativity, and communication.  I am also hoping to highlight the importance of a collaborative library media program to make this happen.  I know you KNOW this, but here is a chance for you to see what is possible with an average group of kids given the right supports and a learning culture that celebrates their success. 
Thank you for considering attending, if your busy schedule allows.  And feel free to add any other guest that you might think this might find this interesting.



Liz Bailey
School librarian, Shenendehowa Central Schools