Pass it on . . .

A friend and colleague invited me to attend the Association of Marquette University Women annual Leadership Luncheon. Being with a group of successful women--whose scholarship and networking efforts have paved the way for four generations of women--was INSPIRATIONAL. 

Bonus? Hearing HarperCollins Children's Books editor Molly O'Neill share her love of children's literature. 

Molly O'Neill

10blockwalk.blogspot.com

@molly_oneill

Think the big publishers are all in it for the buck? After hearing Molly, I heartily disagree. Molly ADVOCATES for the reader. Certainly she wants a blockbuster publication, but she looks for the books that help children ask questions and find their place in the world. In no particular order--and paraphrased--here are a few of Molly's comments:

What if someone had not put the right book in her hands as a child?

When selecting books for children, it's important to retain 
honesty and validate how it feels to grow up.

Good children's literature is open ended 
in that it allows children to find answers for themselves.

Children's literature has a core of hope.

What age is your inner reader?

So, I put books in the hands of children. I'm a Gatekeeper. (Okay, trying to shake the "Ghostbusters" images. This might take a moment or two.)

Ahem. Mostly it's an process that has become instinct. I build a relationship with a student, figure him out, and match him to (I pray) the ONE BOOK that changes everything. Sometimes the process is habit. I don't much care for those moments. I'm not proud of them. Don't you think I should be ATTENTIVELY putting the ONE BOOK into her hands? Yeah, me too.

Here's the thing about hearing another passionate Gatekeeper: it jump starts my battery. The end of a school year leaves me with a battered, broken down attitude. Man, I'm tired. It's not that I'm dispassionate, I'm depleted. Thanks to Molly, I am able to get my engine running and store up energy. GALVANIZED.

That's energy I'm going to put into matching the ONE BOOK to each student.

It's a good day, Friends, and I have a dream job.

Lovey, Dovey: Book Trailers

Sadly, my theatrics don't ALWAYS sell a book to a student. I sing. I dance. I make the funny voices. Sometimes, it's just not enough.

Book Trailers, you make my life a bit easier. Book Trailers--you are my new friends. BTs, you help me capture the entire crowd. I kind of love you. 

And now, I can put you in a playlist. I can make your URL into a QR code. I can share you. Over and over. With sweet glee.

(Yes, I'm a total geek.)

Still Learning . . . WEMTA Inspirations

Technology, you fickle beast, you change so frequently. Just when I think I've got one facet of your character nailed down, you go and develop another. 

~ ~ ~ ~

Nope. Not me. I don't feel that way. (Okay, Twitter had me on edge for a stretch. I was not getting it. I'm now Twittified. No worries.)

It's a good thing I love a tough puzzle. Nothing pleases me more than discovering something, learning about it, and figuring out how to use it! New (to me) uses for technologies inspire me. At WEMTA, I learned about using technologies for unintended projects. Creativity knows no bounds when grown-ups and students alike are given a range of choices. 

I've been trying this out in the library, giving students a scavenger hunt "Mission" and asking them to "spy" on the library stacks. Then, I charge them with providing me "evidence" using an App of their choice. I've ended up with a variety of app use: Camera, iMovie, Notes, Explain Everything, and more. Good times, happy kids, great outcomes.

Here's a CREATIVE post from "The Busy Librarian" about using programs other than Power Point to make presentations: The Busy Librarian: So Long, Powerpoint. I love this post. I love that Matthew Winner eulogized Power Point. If only I were clever enough to think this stuff up!

What's the point of this post? Try new things! Winner inspired me to try out PowToon. I'm now a convert. I've got a PowToon in the queue for a presentation I'm giving next week.

Wowsa . . . it was good.

WEMTA's annual conference was held this year in Madison, Wisconsin--beautiful place. Learning in Monona Terrace, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, was a pleasure. I especially enjoyed the photography exhibit depicting Wright as he explained organic architecture.

Photo from Liberty Lady

Madison is a walking town. I walked all over every chance I had.

Photos by Liberty Lady

So, what did I take away from this conference? Here is lesson #1:

Scott Meech spoke about Downers Grove 58's implementation of the SAMRi initiative and their transition to 1:1 computing. That's 9000 iPads in the hands of students! Wow.

If you haven't read about the different levels of technology implementation--you must. SAMR, designed by Ruben Puentedura, levels the playing field among teachers; encouraging reflection and meaningful implementation.

Photo from Downers Grove Art Teachers