Standards for School Library Resource Collections
A PDF Copy of the Following Information is available at the link provided. Standards for School Library Resource Collections, 2016 All schools regardless of enrollment or grades served should use these core collection standards for evaluating the library resource collection. Standard selection tools and the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) collection development guidelines are used to facilitate decisions on acquisitions, weeding, and collection evaluation. Risk Library collections may be exemplary in some areas, but not others. At Risk A minimum of 11 books per student that meet the At Risk age requirements, are current, aligned with the curriculum, reflect students’ interests, and are age and developmentally appropriate. Basic A minimum of 13 books per student that meet the Basic age requirements, are current, aligned with the curriculum, reflect students’ interests, and are age and developmentally appropriate. Exemplary Collection Percentiles Grade Definitions Elementary
The Best Sites That Students Can Use Independently And Let Teachers Check On Progress
(You might also be interested in The Best MATH Sites That Students Can Use Independently And Let Teachers Check On Progress) I know “The Best…” list has a very awkward title, but I couldn’t think of a better one. In our Family Literacy Project we provide home computers and Internet access to immigrant families. Eighty percent of household members spend at least one hour each day (many spend considerably more time) on our website. I thought readers might find it useful to see which ones we’ve determined to be the best for kind of program. There are sites we use, and which I think stand-out when compared to similar web applications: Raz-Kids provides a large number of “talking books” at multiple levels that speak-the-text at the same time the words are highlighted. I Know That has tons of engaging learning exercises and game. U.S.A Learns is another addition. Spellbee! It’s quite easy for players to register very quickly. My Testbook looks like a great addition to list. And, it’s free.
Story Starters, Creative Writing Ideas for Fiction
Looking for story starters and creative writing ideas? You've just struck gold. Here you'll find an endless supply of inspiration. Bye-bye, Writer's Block. Take a moment to bookmark this page so that you can find it again whenever you need new ideas. Also be sure to check out our free 3-day online creative writing course, Endless Story Ideas, which will show you techniques to come up with new fiction ideas whenever you need them. Do you like this page? Story Starters Not sure what to write about? Or get started with these Ideas for Characters, Ideas for Plots, and "What If" Story Starters. Find out about two magic phrases that make it easy to come up with great story ideas. Get 20 ideas that answer the question, "What happens next?" Browse Story Prompts About Obsessions, Life Changes, Talents, Travel, Relationships, Secrets and Habits. Use our fun Story Ideas Kit to create mix-and-match story plots. If you're looking for more detailed creative writing ideas, read on. And... Break it down
Kevin Henkes Live! Join us for an exclusive webcast with beloved children’s book author Kevin Henkes
Kevin Henkes is the creator of nearly 50 books for children. He has written both picture books and novels; his picture books include Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse; Chrysanthemum; and Kitten’s First Full Moon, a winner of the Caldecott Medal. Among his novels are the Newbery Honor Book Olive’s Ocean and the upcoming middle grade novel The Year of Billy Miller. Join us to hear Kevin talk about his work, his inspirations, and The Year of Billy Miller–an acclaimed and irresistible story about friendship, siblings, and the perils of elementary school. And take this chance to ask him your questions live! Archive is now available! We encourage you to set up an assembly for this Livestream Event, so all of your kids, parents, and teachers will be able to watch and participate. Broadcasting LIVE from Bank Street College of Education in New York City Sponsored by: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, and School Library Journal
Weeding without Worry
Library weeding gets a bad reputation, thanks in part to weeding horror stories. In 2013, Highland Park (Mich.) High School was accused of throwing out a large collection of history materials, including some rare items, which had been cultivated over a 50-year period. That same year, the Urbana (Ill.) What usually happens is that a disgruntled (sometimes justifiably so) staff member sets off the alarm to the public about what’s happening behind closed stacks. It pains me to read about these situations for a number of reasons. In 2001, while working for Chicago Public Library, I was accused by a local politician of destroying books while working on a massive and much-needed weeding project at a regional branch. I also hate to hear bad weeding stories because they raise the hackles of patrons, taxpayers, and book lovers everywhere and lead them to believe that weeding is never a good thing. Ideally, a library wouldn’t need to perform drastic weeding projects. Communicating with patrons
Good-to-Go Projects for 2014
Image credit: iStockphoto When teachers ask how to get started with project-based learning, I acknowledge the "front-loading" that's part of project planning. Before students enter the picture, teachers need to consider the learning goals of a project, develop an assessment plan, and map out at least a rough calendar of the learning activities that will support the inquiry process. Those details may change once students dig in, but having a plan provides a roadmap for the student-directed learning ahead. Starting with a ready-made plan that you can adapt to fit your context can help you and your students get off to a faster start with PBL. The Happiness Project Is your community a happy place? These are among the intriguing questions that students will explore in a global investigation of happiness in 2014. Here's the big idea: The project is adaptable across subject areas and grade levels. Check out the project description and resources, and fill out a form to indicate interest.
Creative Writing Ideas & Creative Writing Tips
Tears into Blood | Adam Gidwitz
Fairy tales turn tears into blood. This is why I write them. Yes, I write them because they are so funny and weird and beautiful. And because they make children clasp their hands together and stare at you so hard you think they might fall over. But I also write them because they turn tears into blood.What do I mean?
