40 Book Pledge: Virtual Edition

 Last year was my first year to organize a book club around Donalyn Miller's 40 Book Challenge.  To read all about my adventures last year, see previous blog posts "40 Book Pledge," "Half Way through the 40 Book Pledge, " and "End of the 40 Book Pledge."

Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic we are experiencing, I decided to take the 40 Book Pledge virtual.  The meetings are asynchronous. I decided that many of their actual classes were using the synchronous format already.  So in lieu of face-to-face meetings or video chats, I am posting a discussion once or twice a month on our district chosen platform, Microsoft TEAMs.  I created a 40 Book Pledge class, and invited students and faculty to join using a TEAMs code.  I am planning to post on a Tuesday, and the participants have the rest of that week to respond.  They can participate by responding to my post or by making comments on someone else's posts.  I arranged it this way on purpose because I want the virtual club to be low-key and not stressful.  Plus I want it to be a comfortable space where books can be discussed on their time.

I worked on the transformation of this club from in-person to virtual this past summer.  Here is what I created . . . Bitmoji style. (Just a side note on the whole Bitmoji craze.  I find that the Bitmoji rooms are my happy place.  This is a way for me to unwind and do something creative while I am processing whatever needs to be processed, which - let's face it - was a lot these past 6 months.  I'm pretty sure I don't even care if the students like the Bitmoji thing because I do.  Sometimes you have to do a little something just for you.  Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. 😁)

Back to the topic at hand . . . here is my 40 Book Pledge Bitmoji which has ALL of the information my patrons need to join and participate. 

The books sitting next to me on the couch are my works cited.  Everything on the chalkboard opens to a Google doc explaining that topic.  Then each of the genre stickers opens to a genre room with book recommendations from our actual library. Now that I have purchased 2 new eBook platforms, I will probably change some of the books in these genre rooms to reflect the ones they can find on JLG Stream or Teen Book Cloud.

Let's talk about recruiting.  Last year I introduced the club during my library orientation classes.  This year I was still putting my library back together from the summer renovation.  The library is BEAUTIFUL, but it has taken more time than I care to admit putting everything back together.  So no classes.  Therefore, I sent out the Bitmoji information to the faculty this week, and I will send an additional email next week to our ELAR teachers so they can add the link to their Canvas courses. I am also planning to reach out individually to all the participants from last year. 

I just posted a "Welcome to the Club" discussion where the students/staff will introduce themselves and talk about their favorite books or genres.  Then our first "meeting" will be Sept. 22nd.  We'll see how this goes.

Have a fantastic day, and be safe out there.

Review: Six Super-Skills for Executive Functioning

 

Six Super-Skills for Executive Functioning 

by Dr. Honos-Web

 

At its essence, executive functioning is the ability to plan life goals and carry them to fruition.  Psychologist Dr. Lara Honos-Web has created a clear and stimulating guide for teens to help them sharpen those skills directly related to executive functioning regardless of the teens’ abilities or situations.  The six super-skills discussed in this book are finding gifts, setting goals, chunking, boosting motivation, managing mood, and finding focus. Each chapter is organized into small segments allowing the readers to digest the information. Dr. Honos-Web uses authentic science to explain the skills and then adds real-word examples of high school students applying these skills to their everyday lives.  In addition, each chapter stresses the importance of positive self-talk, using technology to help achieve goals instead of being a distraction, and using said skills instead of drugs or alcohol to alleviate stress; examples of how this can be done are also included.  Dr. Honos-Web often encourages the readers to journal their feelings throughout the book.  In this respect, Six Super-Skills for Executive Functioning is much like another teen self-help book, This Moment is Your Life (Dial Books) by Miriam Gates.  Both guides encourage teens to manage their stress in healthy ways, give examples, and ask the readers to journal their progress.

 

These super skills are relevant in today’s off-center world.  Any readers, no matter their age, will find something helpful within the pages of this book. Dr. Honos-Web seamlessly weaves science and actual examples into her narrative without talking down to her audience.  The chapters are succinct yet seem to cover a lot of information.  Readers who are interested in living their best lives should not hesitate to pick up a copy of this book.  All public and high school libraries will have a better collection if Six Super-Skills for Executive Functioning is part of their nonfiction repertoire.    

 

Verdict: Because of its applicable subject matter and general appeal to both teens and adults, Six Super-Skills for Executive Functioning by Dr. Lara Honos-Web is recommended as a first choice for both public and high school libraries.