Dystopian Fiction Prezi

Tuesday was an exciting day at Dorman.  I presented a booktalk to Mrs. Shepard's class on Dystopian fiction (see Prezi above).  The students will group into mini book clubs based on the titles they select.  I may work with the class again to make their own book trailers.  Great collaboration opportunity to work with students in creating a digital product. 

Melanie showed me how to create a Resource List within Destiny.  We are making resource list for Mrs. Campbell's SAT class featuring high Lexile level titles, both fiction and nonfiction.
I worked on updating the library Home Page on Destiny by checking links and making sure all resources were current and linked correctly.

Thursday will be another busy day with another booktalk scheduled and a research presentation to a STEM Humanities class.  This is just the beginning of my internship, but I have already had so many opportunities to work with the teachers and faculty.

Guest post on Cavaliers Read! blog

I'm on the blog! Cavaliers Read!: Dystopian BookTalk http://t.co/BGgaZ4NdvD

— Elizabeth Graham (@LibSciGal) September 10, 2013

Day Two - File Conversion, Pez, and Beowulf

Day two at Dorman went by at a brisk pace as my day was filled with two more classroom observations, interacting with students, and planning with Mrs. Dillard and Mrs. Nelson.  In preparation for a booktalk next week, Melanie walked me though using converting YouTube videos to .wmv files so that they can be played in the classroom.  Cathy and I talked about the research process, finding good sources, and how to walk students through the steps.  She also gave me some pointers on doing an effective presentation.

Melanie helped me identify potential teacher collaboration partners and I look forward to exploring a variety of curriculum topics.   Speaking of varied curriculum, the classes I sat in on were Physics and a 12th grade English class.  Even though I must confess an ignorance when it comes to Physics, I was impressed with the teacher's enthusiasm for the material and her rapport with the students.  The classroom featured student projects - tombstones of famous scientists and blinged out periodic element blocks.  My favorite touch was the teacher's large collection of Pez dispensers lining the tops of shelves.  Very fun! 

As an English major, I did feel more at home in the senior English class.  They started the session with an SAT review question and discussed test taking strategies.  Next was silent reading time (which I was more than happy to participate in), followed by a discussion of Beowulf.  The teacher advised the kids to become "active readers" as a way to more fully engage with the text.

Day One - Hit the Ground Running

Tuesday was Day One of my library internship at the Dorman Media Center.  Fitting the scale of Dorman itself, the media center is a large, open space with room for multiple classes, a large collection and a wide assortment of work rooms and offices and serves as a hub for school activities. I received a warm welcome from Mrs. Dillard, Mrs. Nelson, and Ms. Hammett and was provided with my own intern workspace and official notebook.

The media specialists encourage students to frequent the library before school, during lunch, and after school to check out, use the computers, and even just charge their devices.  

This year Dorman has a BYOD (bring your own device) policy and students can use their phones, iPods, laptops, and Kindles on their own time or, in class, with their teacher's approval.

I learned more about some of Dorman's academic iniatives and how block scheduling works.  Mrs. Nelson did a library orientation for a sophomore English class and I sat in on a U.S. government/economics class.

If Tuesday is any indication, I will have a busy semester as I was able to meet many teachers, staff, and students and already have projects, book clubs, and book trailers on my calendar and agenda.  In the afternoon I helped some students find books and was happy that I could provide some "high school" age recommendations.  I can't wait to see what Thursday brings!

BYOD Image retrieved from http://ltlatnd.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/what-is-byod-and-why-should-i-care /
Dystopian Fiction Image retrieved from http://edu.glogster.com/blog-thumbs/14/21/75/66/21756632_2/dystopian-fiction.jpg?u=cfffe272ded09e462d8be18e86f73ab1

Back to School Orientation from my Internship School

Great back to school library orientation on @slideshare #schoollibrary #teacherlibrarian http://t.co/ZcCXUsyYD7
— Elizabeth Graham (@LibSciGal) August 29, 2013

Books and More Books

Thanks to the almost daily rain, this has been a perfect summer for lounging inside reading.  No guilt at missing out on a beautiful sunny day.

Last night I finished Ruta Sepetys' second novel, Out of the Easy, a young adult mystery set in postwar New Orleans. Josie Moraine is the daughter of a local prostitute, but at 17 she is eager to attain a better life for herself.  Josie

Link to the author's website and video about Out of the Easy.

Summer Time is Reading Time

This summer will be reading time for me - and my kids, if I have anything to say about it!  Yesterday I visited Barnes & Noble to browse the Teen section for good reads.  A new sub-category of teen fiction that I was unaware of: Teen Paranormal Romance.  Genres are very specific these days!

Here are a few titles that I have added to my "must read" list:

Legend and Prodigy by Marie Lu

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Crossed and Reached by Ally Condie (Matched series)

The Program by Suzanne Young

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

The Dead, The Enemy and The Fear by Charlie Higson looks like a good zombie series for my 14 year old son.

Currently I am finishing Matched.  I skimmed through the book earlier this year, but was informed by a young neighbor that I missed some of the essential plot points so I am trying again. 

Books finished in the past few weeks:

A Thousand Pardons by Jonathan Dee
Spring Break by Mary Kay Andrews
Three Times Lucky by Shelia Turnage
Almost Home by Joan Bauer (7Reads Middle School title)

So far I have been alternating adult fiction and non-fiction titles with young adult novels.  Back to reading!