Our second six weeks was a busy one. That's always a good thing! This 6 weeks our highlights include our Fri-YAY makerspaces each Friday, book club (meets twice a month), and 37 Library Introduction classes. We celebrated National Train your Brain Day, and we hosted a plethora of other Library activities as outlined by our October 2022 calendar. In addition, we hosted the Yearbook photos, a faculty meeting and multiple PLC meetings. Not bad for our little library.
When you start off the year with a cyberattack, how do you recover? My district was without internet and wi-fi for over a week at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. That threw all of our well-laid plans into disarray. I was planning to target all of the English I & II classes this six weeks to do my beginning of year library introduction. To be honest, I am at the end of the six weeks, and I am just now planning those classes. I was able to see the Junior English classes for Book Speed Dating and a quick library introduction. The seniors are on their own this year.
Having said all that, it has been a productive 6 weeks - at least when I look at my library usage statistics. We have way more students coming into the library this year. Our numbers are up before school and during lunch. I even get a few students after school who need to print or check out a book before the busses roll away. Yay! I love a full library.
Here are the 1st Six Weeks Usage Statistics for the SHS Library. They are a bit longer this year. After doing so many presentations with Pam last year about telling our library's story (see presentation here), I realized that the library is more than just numbers. So the 2nd page of my statistics includes snapshots of tangible things that happened in the library. You have to show the "fun stuff" as Pam said so often during our presentations. That is what I am doing this year. Showing the quantitative and the qualitative information in my report which seems to broaden my range of people who are interested. Nice!
This year started off a bit of a nightmare, but we are slowly starting to gain momentum. By the end of the next 6 weeks, I am hoping to have all of my library introductions done. I guess only time will tell if that will come to fruition.
I'm still planning to have a fantastic year. I hope you are too.
It is hard to believe that 10 years ago I started this blog to record my every day adventures of being a high school librarian. Where does the time go?
I did a lot of reflection at the end of the year last year as to what I want to do and where I want to go next with the library. Since my previous 5 year plan was complete, I made the bold decision to plan for one year at a time. Details to come.
Here was my previous 5 year plan that was finished at the end of the 2021-22 school year: SHS Library Strategic Plan, 2017 - 2022, and here is my one year plan to be completed at the end of the 2022-23 school year: SHS Library Strategic Plan, 2022 - 2023
The difference between the 2 plans
The Mansfield ISD librarians did a book study last summer, and it really inspired me. I've been coasting along since COVID, and I decided this was the year to get back into the game, so to speak. Hence the one year strategic plan which I believe will hold me accountable. With a 3 - 5 year plan, it is easy to schedule things way in advance, and not do much year 1. Now I have a plan for just this year. Can't put that off!
The book we read was Leading for School Librarians: There is no other option by Hilda K Weisburg, and I highly recommend it to any and all librarians out there. I am good at my job, but I wasn't giving it 100% of my effort. I think with my new plan and this book under my belt, I am ready for a new year.
Bring on the 2022 - 2023 school year! I am planning it to be fantastic. Hope you are too.
Why Humans Build Up by Gregor Craigie
In his nonfiction book, Why Humans Build Up; The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers, author Gregor Craigie walks the readers through the evolution of these great monuments. In the beginning, these buildings were erected for safety and religious purposes. Now the main focus is to build tall towers for population booms. Some newer skyscrapers are even built to reduce pollution and help battle climate change. Each chapter explains this progression from safety to sustainability. The author anchors the readers’ learning by citing well-known high-rise structures such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Eiffel Tower, and The Empire State Building. In addition, the author stretches the readers’ learning by discussing other lesser known structures. These include The Lighthouse of Alexandria, The Shanghai Tower, Hong Kong High-Rise, and The Manitoba Hydro Palace just to name a few.
Both the illustrations and the photos included enhance Mr. Craigie’s story and assist the readers in understanding the content. The language is clear, and the author includes a glossary for those who need it. Consequently, it is a valuable resource for students who read below grade level, or those who are reluctant to read. In addition, students who are fascinated by history and architecture will enjoy this book. It is similar to some of David Macauley's older books such as Cathedral (Clarion Books, 1981), Castle (Clarion Books, 1982) and Pyramid (Clarion Books, 1982). Both authors have a way of using both language and illustrations needed to help the readers learn.
In summation, Why Humans Build Up: The Rise of Towers, Temples and Skyscrapers is recommended for audiences in grades 6 - 12. It would be an asset for both school and public libraries.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the TCEA Library Conference. It was virtual which I enjoyed because I could attend the classes in my PJs. I have always been into the tech side of things. So this conference really spoke to me. I would definitely do this again next summer.
Here are some of my favorites that I hope to use in the 2022-23 school year.
Today is the last teacher work day, and I still feel as if there is so much to do. I have one more day on my contract, and we have graduation tomorrow morning. Then I am presenting at the Region 11 Conference on June 15th. I am also attending a virtual TCEA Library conference at the end of June. So I guess this really isn't my last day. Is it ever when you teach?
Today I want to talk about summer reading. There are a couple of different things I promote just in case students want to read but can't get to the public library for the summer. It happens - a lot.
First I create a Google Slide of all of the eBook platforms we have available. This one is similar to last year except for the Mansfield ISD reading requirements. Apparently, we do not have any summer reading requirements this time around. I advertise in our Principal's newsletter, the morning announcements, and all of our social media outlets. That has been going on about 2 weeks now. Hopefully everyone knows about this resource now. In addition, I also have it posted on my library LMS, which is Canvas.
Here is my latest review for School Library Journal:
The Twins of Auschwitz
By Eva Kor and Danica Davidson
Little Brown & Company
2021
In
1941 at the ages of seven, Eva along with her twin Miriam were already
experiencing antisemitism. The small village of Portz on the border
between Hungary and Romania was not beyond the grasp of the Third Reich. Eva
remembered going to the picture show and watching a movie called, “How to Kill
a Jew” where a Jewish father and son were running away from Germans with guns,
hunting them for sport. In schools, “The Protocols of the Elders of
Zion,” a fabricated document about the evils of the Jewish race, was being
taught as truth. Both Eva and Miriam were bullied and harassed in school for
being Jewish. In 1943, Eva’s father tried to take the family and flee
into the night, but it was too late. They were made to be prisoners in
their own home. The following year the Nazis invaded Hungary, and Eva’s
family was forced to wear the Star of David patches on their clothes.
After that, they were forced to board a train where they were shipped to
Auschwitz The family was immediately separated, and the twins were taken
to Dr. Mengele for experimentation. Eva and Miriam endured starvation,
medical experiments and more. They made it out of Auschwitz when the
Soviets liberated their camp, but their lives would never be the same.
The Twins
of Auschwitz is a disturbing read as all memoirs of the Holocaust
are. Here the readers gain a different understanding of Auschwitz from
Eva’s perspective. As a twin, she was forced to take part in medical
exams, tests, studies and experiments. Many holocaust books make a passing
reference to these twin experiments, but Eva gives the readers a first hand
account. The narrative flows well and is easy to read. The
vocabulary is simple, and there is a glossary in the back for readers who need
more information about key terms. Seeing that the main character is
between the ages of 7 - 10, it would seem as if this is a story for young
readers. However, due to the mature content, it is this librarian’s
opinion that The Twins of Auschwitz should be purchased for middle school or high
school students. It would also be a valuable purchase for reluctant
readers at both levels due to the fast paced chapters and easy
vocabulary. In a world where people who lived the Holocaust are no longer
with us, this book is a sincere and truthful reminder of this horrific event.
