Bookmarks from Hong Kong Arrive

Right before school was out this afternoon we received our package from La Salle Primary School in Hong Kong. Two hundred forty bookmarks, yeah! A brief look tells me that they are excellent. Can't wait for my fifth graders to get one.

The 6th graders today began selecting their choice from the India ones we received yesterday.
Now all we have left are the ones from Canada. I heard from the media specialist at Worsley School our partner school in Alberta, Canada. She received the package we sent to them and ours is on the way.

ISLD bookmark project is absolutely one of the best activities we do each year in our library.

Today is International School Library Day

Today we received our bookmarks from our partner school in India. One school down, two to go. The package was torn and taped together, but the bookmarks arrived intact. Some had glitter, some had jewels, one had Disney stickers, but all had ribbons....so my students who have seen them now think we should put ribbons on ours next year.

Back to a previous post about the student who had never seen a real apple tree. This 4th grader was in the library today. I asked her if she had seen an apple tree since we last spoke. She said "no", so I then asked if she had ever seen a pear tree. Again, the answer was no. I said,"Well, come on, we are going on a field trip." Right next to a drive around the side of our building is a chain link fence that divides school property from the neighbor's house. An right next to the fence on the neighbor's side is a pear tree. Two 4th graders and I walked around the building, we looked up at the pear tree and saw pears, then we looked at the ground and saw fallen pears on the ground. The young man with us just reached his hand through the fence and picked up two pears from the ground. Each student then had a perfect fall pear. The young lady said, "I am going to get into trouble. I was just suppose to go to the library and back." I promised I would go with her and tell her teacher. So the two adventurers and I walked back to their homeroom and shared our story.

It's all about teachable moments. She still has never seen a real apple tree, but now she has experienced a pear tree. I hope that tonight, at home, when she cut into that pear to eat it that it was juicy and delicious and this is an experience she will remember for a long time.

Twilight Saga Completed

Tonight I finished reading Breaking Dawn and have completed the Twilight series. My favorite of all 4 novels is the first, Twilight. Will I purchase them for my 4-6 grade library....no, but that doesn't mean there won't be students reading them. I have encouraged some to wait until they are Jr. or Sr. High, but the attraction is now. So read, they will.

Will I go see the movie? I think so.

Funny footnote: Last weekend I called the public library to see if Breaking Dawn was in. (remember, now, that I live in Alabama and have an accent to those not from the South) Of course, the librarian that I spoke with was not a "native." I asked for "Breaking Dawn" and then she had me repeat it. Then she had me spell the first word in the title. After my response she repeated to me, "Breaking Down". I laughed and told her, "No, dawn, like when the sun comes up." And then I said to her "You're not from the Valley, are you honey?" We both had quite a chuckle. And, of course, the book was checked out!

What are we thinking?

One day this week while working with my students on their bookmarks for International School Library Day I had an interesting conversation. Two different 4th graders told me that they had never seen a real apple tree. We live in what is probably still considered a rural area. But never a real apple tree? On the same day a former English teacher/grandmother/library volunteer told me she had helped her 4th grandchild with research on a famous scientist who was famous for discoveries with quarks. Never an apple tree, but learning about quarks?

A science teacher popped through the library right about that time and spouted out "subatomic particles". I know knowledge is exploding exponentially......but..................

WHAT ARE WE THINKING??????? We expect our students to have some very basic knowledge and experiences that they don't have! This is something as librarians, teachers, parents, grandparents we need to remember.

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Wordle Success

After viewing a fellow librarian's blog http://lib.surruralist.net/ and having an email conversation with her, I now am able to post my wordle. "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Thanks so much Pamela.

Absolute Favorite Comic Strip of All Times

http://www.comics.com/comics/arlonjanis/index.html

My absolute favorite comic strip of all times is Arlo and Janice. This strip is the creation of Jimmy Johnson who was originally from a small town near where I live. Jimmy is a graduate of Auburn University. His strips are true to life (my family's at least) and he has been accused by many of "peeking in windows" for his ideas. He once came and visited my 5th grade classroom and talked to my students about his work. Take a look and be entertained, and bookmark the page so you can go back everyday.