Read - Learn - Innovate!
  • LMC Blog
  • Library Information
    • General Information
  • Library Resources
    • K-4 Symbaloo
    • Websites and more!
    • Nutmeg Books
    • Search Engines for Kids
    • Digital Resource Login Info
    • Book release calendar
    • Series and Your Next Read help
    • Book Trailers
    • Image Sources
  • Makerspaces
  • Bookmark Exchange blog
  • Staff Resources
    • Bookflix
    • Resources
    • Mystery Skyping
    • Math
    • Science
    • Language Arts

You Don't Want a Unicorn!

5/3/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
You really don't! But it is fun to read about them! Students this week are having fun enjoying fab author Ame Dyckman's latest book, illustrated by Liz Climo. Always a lot of fun, there were lots of laughs as we read this one aloud. Burping rainbows?!? I promised I would post the book trailer, so here it is! Enjoy! We can't wait for Read the Book, Lemmings! due out Nov. 7!
Picture
0 Comments

It's so cute! Learning with the Cubetto robot

5/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Do you see it up in the corner? That's it - Cubetto. My students are in love. 

I have been using Cubetto from Primo with my kindergarten classes this spring. It has been so much fun and every adult who is in the room with me is astounded. There are so many things I love about this robot. 
  • It's screen free!
  • It involves story!
  • We can get hands on!
  • Many different topics are embedded!
  • Oh, and then there's the whole computational thinking/coding thing.
Picture
Picture
I purchased the Cubetto + Adventure Pack. Here's what you get: Cubetto, Board, 16 blocks, 5 World maps made of cloth & 5 story books. 

We got started simply by bringing half a class down on the floor where I had Cubetto ready to go. (You do need AA batteries!) The kids were so excited! Everyone got to touch the robot and pat it on the head. Then we started to try out the different blocks. We loved that the green block moved it forward and the red block turned it right because they were easy to remember. Yellow turns left and the blue (function block) was a mystery for a while. Next, we noticed the compass rose and talked about the directions on the map. Cubetto starts on the compass rose. Then we started reading the story and away we went. I made sure each child got to add blocks and push the blue button to execute the program. 
Here's one more action shot:
Picture
Even my 10 year old was fascinated by Cubetto!

Cubetto gets kids to think about what must happen to accomplish different goals - that idea of computational thinking.There is all kinds of great language building happening too! It's coding without the screen. It's creative, play, and fun! 

There are many resources available for Cubetto and I'm excited to have my students try some new things, such as building their own course to maneuver Cubetto through. I think there are endless possibilities with Cubetto!

0 Comments

#SibertSmackdown and Mock Caldecott results!

1/26/2017

2 Comments

 
Besides the amazing opportunity to "see" the ALA Youth Media Awards streaming live on Monday morning, I was particularly excited to learn something important too. Sibert is pronounced with a long i sound - not an e sound as I had been doing for the past two weeks.

And what a way to start off Monday! Of course I was thrilled to hear the winners of the Newbery, Caldecott and Geisel Medals announced, but perhaps even more special was to hear about some of the awards with which I was less familiar. Congratulations to all the amazing authors and illustrators for their important work.

And the winner is . . .

Because we were attempting to finish our Mock Caldecott reading, as well as learn about some possible nominees for the Sibert Award, my students did not get to spend as much time interacting with the texts as some of the other smackdown participants did. But all six of my library classes that had third or fourth graders were able to look at and read most of each of the books I was able to find. Click here for my post about the awards and books on which we focused.
​

For the #SibertSmackdown: 

My students chose Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate. Not too far behind were Animals by the Numbers, Coyote Moon, and Giant Squid. 

We had a lot of fun sharing thoughts with students from around the U.S. and the world, using Flipgrid and Padlet. Check out Michele Knott's post about her students' ideas about these books. Listen to students from Erika Victor's class in Malaysia on the Flipgrid too!

For the Mock Caldecott:

The students overwhelming selected Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat. I think it was the dinosaurs that hooked them!
2 Comments

Happy New Year! And that means awards!

1/16/2017

0 Comments

 
We are ready! My library classes have been reading and thinking critically about many different pictures books and this week, we join some very special committees as we select our own winners. It is not going to be easy. Have you read these books yet? Many of us are agonizing over the decision. And this is just for the few books we read together. We cannot even imagine what each committee has gone through! Monday, January 23, the ALA Youth Media awards will be announced. Woo hoo!

Our Mock Caldecott nominees

Mr. Schu has a terrific list of Mock Caldecott titles so that is what we used. Take a look!

#Sibert Smackdown

There's still time to share student voices! Read Melissa Stewart's blog post to get title ideas. Then check out our #sibertsmackdown page and the Flipgrid (on the Flipgrid app use code: 30fa9c) on which your students can record which Mock Sibert title they chose and why. We can't wait to hear what you think!
0 Comments

#cyberPD DIY Literacy Ch. 5 & 6

7/19/2016

3 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
I think that my sketchnotes sum up what I felt were key features of each of the 4 tools, but here are a few more thoughts.
  • I loved the fact that the needs of kids who are ready for more! There is always a continuum in each classroom and these tools support all learners.
  • Much of this thinking goes back to formative assessment and not waiting until the end of a unit to make changes, but on a daily basis.
  • An emphasis has been placed on including drawings or icons, not just text on these tools. Brain research really supports this!
  • As in several of the other chapters, ways to know when students no longer need the teaching tool are shared. Chap. 5 was Automaticity, Awareness, and Agitation.

Troubleshooting! We can learn from the authors’ experiences here!

  • Loved the little tricks - tune in to pop culture, sports, whatever your kids are into so that you can grab their attention!
  • Student voice! Make sure they are a part of the tool creation!
  • Plan the times you create your charts, etc - I often have the situation where I’ve created 5 of the same thing with 5 different classes (sometimes 10 if I’ve done it at 2 schools). I loved the ideas to mix it up a little.
  • Edit or revise the tools over the year - how smart! This not only brings back the chart to your students after they have been away from it for a while, but to me this is a great way to show growth.
  • White space, BIG letters, & color - but also coming back to the use of icons or pictures to really make an impact and have that learning stick.

Finally - the wrap up: Helpful tools are better than beautiful ones and once again, be sure you are involving students in their creation in order to get that ownership and creativity!!!

3 Comments

#cyberPD DIY Literacy Ch. 3 & 4

7/13/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Here are my reflections and things that just caught my eye while reading these chapters! 

I just loved the reminder about the massive amount that kids have to think about and process every day in school (and out) and all of it is “important”. I have long wanted to do what Kate did and follow a student for a day. I think all teachers and administrators should do this once in awhile. I believe it would be very eye opening.


TOOLS
  • Charts help keep learning or strategies in the forefront for student
  • Bookmarks - make the list yourself - much more personal for students
  • Prioritizing & Micro-progressions: I am beginning to see how the micro-progressions can help students at all levels and move them along - there is always more you can do or add. I can see my students using micro-progressions for note taking. I think in the past I have done just a good/needs improvement type of thing on chart paper. Micro-progressions will lead to independence for your students.
  • Demonstration notebooks - I love that these lessons can be referred to again and again. Model and then do it. Little tricks like using a sticky note as a reminder of which strategy they will use are great! Not only does it jog their memory, but it helps set their intention too.

    THOUGHTS
    Reflect! Over and over I find that reflection leads to using the best practices

    Something that stuck with me was the idea of really selecting which lessons to hold students to. Very often, we want them to show evidence of everything we have taught. I love how they almost give permission to let some things go.

    Formative assessments - I need to do these more - they are important and can be very quick since our library blocks are not long

Love these authors! Carol Dweck, Daniel Pink, Kylene Beers! Pink tells us that autonomy leads to engagement. So true! Given the right tools, they can do it on their own and will actually want to do so, not just to please their teacher, but so they can accomplish something.

Make clear what the hard work looks like through micro-progressions.
  • Again, I notice the emphasis on kids being part of the process. On page 57, the 3rd and 4th levels are done collaboratively as a class and then in small groups.  
  • Reflection on which level they are most comfortable with and why with the teach acting as a coach when kids need a push. I can see that when this continues as part of conferring, it will be really powerful for students. They are part of the process.
  • Transferring this work to beyond just 1 or 2 days - as they did with keeping the charts active, the micro-progressions are not just forgotten, but used over and over in various ways. Great ideas on p. 59 and 60


The teaching tool is not there forever!
Chap. 3: Timing, behavioral cues, and rigor all help you know when to move students away from the tool. Setting goals and challenging students reminds me of gamifying their learning. If they aren’t ready yet, no big deal. I also love how the authors state that if the student isn’t ready, to set a future date to try again without the tool.
Chap. 4: Working overtime, reflections on growth, helping others - 3 more signs kids are ready to move away from the teaching tool.

Final thoughts
Rigor and 5 ways to Culture Intrinsic Motivation - these were new to me, but how awesome! My school district is really taking a look at whether students are truly engaged or not and I think these 5 ways are good reminders of how to reach every child. Maybe you are good at one or two of these areas, but working to include more of them would be valuable.

Carl Anderson’s reminder (p. 69) that we should not be more tired than the students. There has been a lot of buzz lately about who is doing the work? That could be a tricky thing I suppose, but I understand the point. This happens with my son and I when I am helping him practice soccer - he should be doing more than me. I have to be planned out and know what skills he needs to work on, but when it’s practice time, he needs to be practicing the moves. Jan Burkins and Kim Yaris's book Who's Doing the Work: How to Say Less So Readers Can Do More is going to be another one of my summer reads.

2 Comments

#cyberPD 2016: Chap. 1, 2, & Bonus

7/8/2016

1 Comment

 
As an elementary librarian, I love reading professional books with both an eye for how I can use these ideas in the library, as well as sharing with my colleagues. I am particularly excited this year, because we are going to be using the Reading Units of Study and I believe that this book will be a wonderful way to support teachers and student learning.

Here are my takeaways from this week’s chapters:

  • Tools can help students learn, grow, and engage, but perhaps more importantly, become independent.
  • Memory (too much too fast), rigor (who’s working hard?), and differentiation (meet the needs of all students) are struggles with which tools can help us.
  • HOW we use these tools is so important, not just what the tools are!
  • Tools help make teaching clear
  • Tools help BIG ideas come to life
  • Tools help learning to STICK! Visual, concrete, repetition

Different tools:

  • Teaching charts: Repertoire (list of strategies) and Process (steps)
  • Collaboratively creating these charts with students is BEST
  • Demonstration notebooks: interactive lessons & strategies
  • A “before” work sample, name the focus, & space to work, cards with strategies & prompts, “after” work samples created by students & you
  • Use with individuals, small groups - makes clear how to progress
  • Micro-progressions:  models of work that moves from one level to the next
  • Allows for students to self-assess
  • Clearly shows ways to improve
  • Bookmarks: personalized learning, created by students
  • Helps show students how they can accomplish their learning

How to find strategies:

  • What does this child need right now?
  • Find your people - in your building or online - your PLN - be connected! This is one of my favorite things. Being in the library is a solitary endeavor sometimes and my virtual PLN is a life saver.
  • Professional reading!
  • Search online, but search wisely
  • When writing your own strategies: THE WHAT + THE HOW + THE WHY
  • I am excited to think about learning in the library that I can use this
  • I can see where it would be easy to put too much into a strategy - I loved the warnings they include!

​
What stands out for me is the focus on creating and supporting students as they become more and more independent. I am fascinated by Burkins & Yaris’s book, Who’s Doing the Work? I haven’t read it yet, but I think this is an important shift. In the library, there are many areas that these tools can help my students learn. Immediately strategies for notetaking, for reading informational text, for selecting books, for using technology tools come to mind.

Picture
Since going to ISTE last week, I have been trying out Sketch noting. Thanks to Matt Miller for a terrific session getting me started! It is something I've wanted to do for a long time and now I am really excited to bring this strategy back to support the learning of students and teachers. The brain research is really interesting and I think Sketch noting makes a lot of sense. I think my Sketch is still way too wordy, but I'm working on that. 

Here is a link to my Amazon Professional Book list with a number of Sketch note/Doodle books.
1 Comment

#cyberPD 2016 begins!

7/7/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Here we go! Another terrific title to explore this summer with a group of amazing educators from around the globe! Week of July 3rd: Chapters 1, 2 and Bonus. Week of July 10th: Chapters 3 & 4. Week of July 17th: Chapters 5 & 6.

0 Comments

Tales2Go info

6/8/2016

0 Comments

 
Summer reading time is almost here! I don't want to forget about LISTENING to reading too! There are huge benefits such as enhanced vocabulary, fluency, and listening skills. Snuggle up and read aloud with someone. Here's something else to try: Brewster School has a subscription to Tales2Go - an audiobook service with some terrific titles. All Brewster students have used Tales2Go in their library classes this spring.

Use Tales2Go in the car or plane if you are traveling this summer or curl up with someone and listen.

For further information:
  • How to access at home
  • Videos on using Tales2Go 

Kindergarten parents, your child will be coming home with a letter which includes their login information. First and second grade parents, your child should know their login information, but if they don't, please email me. 

Happy Reading!
Mrs. Lussier

0 Comments

Flocabulary - Use music and video to engage and learn!

2/8/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
"The most engaging learning tool on the planet." --Flocabulary.com

They aren't kidding. Really. I have been hearing about how amazing Flocabulary was for a while and so I finally checked it out. There is so much to talk about, it is hard to know where to begin. What is it? Using rap and video, students K-12 are presented with content on a wide variety of topics, from your traditional subject areas to ones such as current events and computational thinking (yes videos about coding)! There are tons of additional resources for each video which can be used for both learning and assessment. Want to take it further? There are activities, lessons and games too. But my favorite is when the students write their own academic rhymes and can even perform them! 

Interested yet? Want to learn more?
Use this How-it-works video to see it all in action or click on the image below for your free trial. 
Picture

What do the kids think?

It's fun! It's poppy and energetic!
Makes you want to get up and move!
The raps are fun, but still give you information and explain!
We love singing along with the main parts.
​It helps us get started understanding a topic.

Teachers, read more here!

Teachers, with Flocabulary, you have many, many resources right at your fingertips. Videos are organized by subject area, but you can also search by Common Core Standards which makes it so easy to find just the right resource. Graphic organizers are provided too, along with everything needed for each lesson. Use as much or as little as you want. The academic rhyme writing begins with basic couplet writing and adds figurative language, storytelling and song creation. Your students' raps can be even be shared, increasing the power of student voice. One of my favorite sections is the Week in Rap Junior which is perfect for students K-5. For example, this week I will use the latest video which raps about Groundhog Day and Chinese New Year in library class to engage my students and get them asking questions. Using a variety of different media, both print and digital, is essential and Flocabulary gives us an easy-access, high-quality way to do it.
Thank you Flocabulary, for giving us a chance to try out your site! Sign up for a free trial by February 29! 
0 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Mrs. Lussier is a Library Media Specialist at Brewster and John Lyman Elementary Schools in Durham & Middlefield, CT.  I am passionate about getting kids reading (ok, everyone!), using technology and having FUN!
    Follow me:
    Twitter: @jluss
    Instagram: mrslussierlibrary
    Facebook: @mrslussierslibrary
    Google+: Jenny Lussier
    Pinterest: jluss13

    Tweets by @jluss

    2017 Reading Challenge

    Jenny has read 5 books toward her goal of 305 books.
    hide
    5 of 305 (1%)
    view books

    Jenny's books

    Dangerous Deception
    Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny
    Bugged: How Insects Changed History
    Bramble and Maggie Spooky Season
    Nest
    The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
    Mouseheart
    Me Want Pet!
    Queen of Christmas
    The North Star
    Kate the Great, Except When She's Not
    Tap to Play!
    When the Silliest Cat Was Small
    Cows Going Past
    Vote for Me!
    Snowmen All Year
    Uni the Unicorn
    Chickens to the Rescue
    Wazdot?
    The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House


    Jenny Lussier's favorite books »
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Map

    Blogroll

    Librarydoor
    Book-a-day Almanac
    The Nonfiction Detectives
    A Year of Reading
    Librarian's Quest
    Great Kid Books
    Free Technology for Teachers
    SLJ
    The Styling Librarian
    The Book Whisperer
    The Busy Librarian
    Barrow Library Media Center
    Watch. Connect. Read.
    Kid Lit Frenzy
    Chocolate Air
    Daydream Reader
    BookJeannie
    100 ScopeNotes
    The Daring Librarian
    Sharpread
    Librarian in Cute Shoes
    Read Write Reflect



    Archives

    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011

    Categories

    All
    21 Century
    21st Century
    Aasl
    Authentic
    Author
    Author Visit
    Books
    Booktrailers
    Collaboration
    Common Core
    Curation
    Ebooks
    Education
    Elementary
    Google Earth
    Information Literacy
    Ipads
    Library
    Makerspace
    Msla
    Reading
    Research
    Science Fair
    Skype
    Smartboard
    #walkmyworld
    Web 2.0
    Writing

    Click to set custom HTML
Proudly powered by Weebly
✕