Do we need library lessons? - SCIS Barbara Band looks at the many benefits of regular library lessons, and speculates what would be lost without them. A school library is (or should be) a whole-school facility, enabling the learning needs of all students, supporting staff to deliver the curriculum, and providing resources for reading and information within a unique space. That’s the theory. The reality, however, is likely to be library staff constantly juggling between the diverse needs of various groups, library lessons full of hands-on activities, busy research lessons using a multitude of resources, quiet periods of study, and times of silent personal reading. All this usually in one room during one day! Most of the time this works, although it does depend on what sort of space you have — an area that lends itself to being ‘zoned’ will be more accommodating to differing needs than a large square room — and it also requires tolerance, recognition of diverse needs, and flexibility. Does this matter?
The information process | Supporting learning and teaching The information process is the series of physical and intellectual steps that anyone takes to complete an information task. Each step usually requires the use of several information skills. This process is generally a part of learning and problem-solving inside and outside the school. View an outline of the steps of the information process, along with some of the key questions that information users can ask themselves as they proceed. Information skills, expressed as objectives, are also shown for the process steps. They are applicable to all themes and subjects. A guided inquiry approach, and reference to other information process models, may further enrich the development of information literacy skills. Defining Steps in the process What is my purpose? Information skills Students should be able to: relate the task to their learningclarify the meanings of the words of the taskidentify and interpret key words and ideas in the taskstate the task in their own wordswork out the parts of the task.
Understanding Social and Emotional Development in Preschoolers By Kristin Stanberry It’s easy to monitor your preschooler’s physical development as he or she grows taller, bigger, and stronger. But how can you measure your child’s development in other areas? For example, can you tell if his social and emotional development is on track for his age? As your child’s parent and first teacher, you’re in a good position to observe and assess whether he’s developing skills appropriate for a 3- to 4-year-old child. Is your child developing age-appropriate social and emotional skills? It’s helpful to know what social and emotional skills your child should be developing by age 3 or 4. Encouraging social and emotional development at home Now that you understand some of the social and emotional skills your child should have, you can reinforce those skills and help him develop further where necessary. Note: If your child has a regular babysitter or daycare provider, be sure to pass these tips along to the caregiver. Cause for concern?
Building Good Search Skills: What Students Need to Know Getty The Internet has made researching subjects deceptively effortless for students — or so it may seem to them at first. Truth is, students who haven’t been taught the skills to conduct good research will invariably come up short. That’s part of the argument made by Wheaton College Professor Alan Jacobs in The Atlantic, who says the ease of search and user interface of fee-based databases have failed to keep up with those of free search engines. In combination with the well-documented gaps in students’ search skills, he suggests that this creates a perfect storm for the abandonment of scholarly databases in favor of search engines. He concludes: “Maybe our greater emphasis shouldn’t be on training users to work with bad search tools, but to improve the search tools.” His article is responding to a larger, ongoing conversation about whether the ubiquity of Web search is good or bad for serious research. So what are the hallmarks of a good online search education? Related
Study Vibe - How to study - study skills for primary and high school students Literacy Matters! - Home Library Learning Path by Lynette Barker on Prezi 20 Genius Baby Hacks to Make Your Life Simpler | The Fussy Baby Site I have to admit I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time lately reading ‘hacks’: tips or tricks to make life easier (or at least more fun). I know my husband has LOVED hearing how to pull out a sliver using baking soda, use bread clips to organize power cords, and how to microwave leftovers for even heat distribution. But what’s missing from the web? Hacks to help us help our fussy babies with eating, sleeping, crying and all the other fun stuff we get to deal with on a daily basis. Some of these hacks are geared towards newborns, others to slightly older kids. 1. Hack: Source: Women and Newborn Health Services 2. Source: Indiana State Department of Health 3. Source: Cheezburger 4. Hack: Put a little bit of apple sauce in the middle of a cloth, roll it up, and freeze it. Source: HowDoesShe 5. Hack: Baby/toddler sleep requirement chart (based on Weissbluth’s Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child). Source: Baby Center 6. Hack: Put sprinkles on pretty much everything! 7. 8. Source: Joyful Abode
Teach Your Kids the Secrets of Smart Web Searching Help Your Child Search the Web Like a Pro “Let’s google dinosaurs.” Sound familiar? Searching the Web is so commonplace that even young children know what it means to “google.” But when your children really need to do research for a report – or dive deeper into a subject they’re interested in – it helps to know some strategies for improving their results. Effective online searching can make a huge difference in the quality and relevance of the content your children find on the Internet. Why It Matters Everyone knows there’s a huge amount of data on the Internet. Different search engines work differently. Finally, the links that come up in searches may have some strings attached – not to the research topic, but to advertisers. Smart searching will help avoid a lot of wasted time. Tips for Effective Online Searches Choose your search terms carefully. Adding more words can narrow a search. Use synonyms! Point out sponsored links. Be aware of your browser's safe-search settings. Write "site."
Citation Machine Navigating the information landscape through collaboration - SCIS Elizabeth Hutchinson, Head of Schools' Library Service in Guernsey, writes that information literacy is at the centre of student learning, making the role of library staff as important as ever. School libraries and school library professionals have a huge role to play in supporting teaching and learning within a school. I often hear visiting authors comment on being able to identify a good school by how well the library is used. School librarian Caroline Roche penned the phrase ‘heart of the school’, which is used to describe schools whose library is at the centre of learning. In a perfect world, all teachers would know how to access their school library and understand why using the library is beneficial to them and their students. In order for school librarians to remain relevant it is important for us to keep supporting the next new idea in schools. Information literacy starts in the school library Identifying resource quality through referencing How can library staff help?
SearchReSearch HALO® SleepSack® wearable blankets: The Safer Way to Sleep® How to Rescue a Wet, Damaged Book: A Short, Handy Visual Primer After the hurricanes in Florida and Texas, the question has surely been asked: How to save those wet, damaged books? Above, you can watch a visual primer from the Syracuse University Libraries--people who know something about taking care of books. It contains a series of tips--some intuitive, some less so--that will give you a clear action plan the next time water and paper meet. Follow Open Culture on Facebook and Twitter and share intelligent media with your friends. If you'd like to support Open Culture and our mission, please consider making a donation to our site. Related Content: The Art of Making Old-Fashioned, Hand-Printed Books How to Clean Your Vinyl Records with Wood Glue How to Open a Wine Bottle with Your Shoe