Thanks, Giving and Goodbye!

With Thanksgiving weekend coming up, I have to stop and reflect about all the things that I am grateful for. There are many blessings in my life, and one of the most important things to give thanks for is my job as St. Monica's school librarian and the fact that I get to make a difference for many of our students.  My last three and a half years at St. Monica have been filled with many ideas and opportunities to make that special kind of difference.

And the rewards for me?  They are plentiful! Every day students tell me how much they loved a book, or read about a cool topic that they want to follow up on.  There are also those amazing days when a child tells me that they love me or that I'm the best librarian/storyteller ever.  And you know, just seeing them focused and listening to a story I'm reading in library period is the best reward ever!

I give thanks for all those amazing things that I get to enjoy almost every single day!   But today I want to offer a special thank you to all the students, their families, volunteers and staff of St. Monica school.  Today is my last day in the library, and I will be moving to another district school next week, where I will share my love of reading, learning, and libraries. 

This will also be my last post to the "Monablog".  I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared with you here, and perhaps you've learned a little in the process.  I give thanks to all of you for allowing me to connect through this library blog, at school on a daily basis, and for being able to enjoy the best job ever!

Keep reading, learning, questioning and trying new things! Best of luck and many blessings in the future. Goodbye and thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to make a difference at St. Monica school!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Margie Meakin
School Librarian, St. Monica School 

Things are getting a little "batty" at the St. Monica Library!

It all started when my cousin, who is a veterinary technician and works at the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) on Vancouver Island, emailed me photo of a "Townsend's" big-eared bat that someone had brought in.
 

The photos were amazing and I thought the kids here, at St. Monica, might like to see them.  The grade 2 class was scheduled to come into the library that day, so I decided to make it a "Bat" themed library period.


First, I read them one of my very favourite story books about a bat.  It's a fruit bat in this story, but what a lovely tale it is. "Stellaluna" by Janell Cannon, has won awards, was covered on the PBS hit series Reading Rainbow, and has been voted into the all-time top 100 storybooks by the Library School Journal.  It's a beautiful book, if you haven't read it, take the time to do so - it's such a lovely story!

To hear it read out loud, check out: StorylineOnline

 

 

When I finished reading the story to the Grade 2 class, I showed them the photos my cousin had sent.  Most of the kids were quite excited to see the photos, and many of them were curious to learn more about bats.

 

The final chapter in this library saga will take place tomorrow.  When the Grade 2 class comes in this week, I will have another type of Bat to show them.  This past weekend at my cabin, it was getting cold enough to light our wood stove to keep us warm at night.  We started to clean out the old ashes to prepare it for our first fire since last spring, and noticed a little black thing in the bottom.  Lo and behold, it was a dead and dried up bat!!!  What shock that was!! Here was a tiny and perfectly preserved bat!

 

I was sad that the bat had somehow gotten trapped in our chimney, couldn't get out and died, but kind of excited (and a bit weirded out by the coincidence of it all) that I could bring in this real bat for the kids to see. 

 

Now, they won't be able to get a really close look and I won't let them touch it (safety and health issues) just to be safe, but they'll be able to get a good look at in a clear, sealed container.  Kind of yucky but cool at the same time!

 

There's always something fun and interesting going on in the  St. Monica school library!

An interesting book for teachers, administrators and parents: "Classroom Habitudes" by Angela Maiers

After reading this title I'm sure you are wondering just what a "Habitude" is?  Well, it's a combination of habits and attitudes.  In this book, the author, who is also a teacher, talks about why these "habitudes" need to be taught in the classroom. Here's what she says in her blog:

"Why do we need to teach Habitudes?
As a classroom teacher, I spend many years checking off lists the skills my students needed to be successful. Yet, I wonder, is the checklist we operate from, our scope and sequence of traditional; skills and lessons, enough for our students to invent, create, collaborate, and solve their own problems?
And we need to start teaching them in the classroom…now!"

This book explores "the behaviors, habits and attitudes that we know with conviction, will ensure our students for success both inside and outside our classroom walls."  Not only can these "habitudes" help students in our schools, but many of these "habitudes" can cross over into everyday life and into the business world.

Six of the "habitudes" Maiers focusses on in her book are: 

• Imagination
• Curiosity
• Perseverance
• Self Awareness
• Courage
• Adaptability

Learn more about the author and her educational insights at: Angela Maiers.

And if you would like to listen to Angela Maiers' Tedx Talk titled "You Matter" click here.

Library News for September 2013

Welcome back St. Monica students and families!  The library is full to the brim of great new books we received this month and in the last couple months of the 2012/13 school year.

We’ve gotten in a great new selection of YA (young adult) fiction, lots of fiction for younger grades, beautiful and fun picture books and great new non-fiction resources, many of which directly support the Alberta Education Curriculum and what your children are learning in class.

The Online Reference Centre

In addition to all these print resource we have access to an excellent selection of online resources through Alberta Education’s “ORC” (Online Reference Centre). 
 
At this amazing website: http://www.learnalberta.ca/OnlineReferenceCentre.aspx ,  students will find government and teacher approved online resources that are geared to all the different grades.  Here’s a sampling of what’s available:

Bookflix  | Grades: K - 3 

Use this resource to access interactive fiction and non-fiction books organized according to the following themes: Animals and Nature, Earth and Sky, People and Places; ABC’s and 1,2, 3’s, Family and Community, Music and Rhyme, Adventure, Celebrations, and Imagination.

Muzzy Online  | Grades: K - 6   

Use this language learning program to learn a second language in an interactive way. Each lesson is presented by theme and includes video clips, exercises and games. The languages included are English, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, German, Portuguese and Italian. 

World Book Student  | Grades: 4 - 9

 Use this general encyclopedia to find articles, maps, pictures, illustrations, current events, audio and video clips, 3-D panoramic photographs, and Web links on a wide range of current and historical topics. A dictionary is included. 

TeachingBooks.net  | Grades: K - 12   

 Use this resource to locate information on how authors and illustrators write and illustrate their books, as well as links to author Web sites and audio book readings. Coverage includes graphic novels, picture books, historical fiction, adventure stories, mysteries, science fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.
 

If you or your child needs more information about these resources, please come and see Mrs. Meakin in the library, she will be happy to help you.

 

Want to discover more about what your child is learning in school this year?

The Calgary Separate School District's Dr. Andra McGinn (Superintendent, Specialized Program Schools / Instruction/ Religious Education) asked district staff to share this information with parents.

There is a great on-line resource available if you would like to learn more detailed information about your child's education.  Check out the Alberta Government's: "My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource."
 
Learn more about what is covered in each specific grade, read through the question and answer section, access contact information for any other queries you may have, and much more.

Be informed so that you may better support your child's learning and educational growth!

Welcome back St. Monica Students!!!!

I was walking out of a branch of the Calgary Public Library the other day, at the same time as two young children came running in, laughing and smiling.  That brought a huge smile to my face!!  What a positive experience.  Children, happy and excited to go and use the services of a library, can there be anything better or more heart warning to a parent or a librarian?

Then I remembered that soon I will be lucky enough  to see that same kind of thing happen in our library, when our students are here again this new school year!!  Most excellent!!!  I love seeing their happy, smiling and excited faces as they come in for library period!

Welcome back St. Monica students, so happy you're here!

Are your kids spending a lot of time on the computer this summer?

Happy Summer Everyone! 

I don't normally blog during the summer holidays but I read a great article today that I thought would be interesting for kids at home during the school break.  Instead of them simply playing computer games all day long, they can now learn a new skill and have fun while doing it. 

  

"Tynker" is a new computer program that kids can use to learn how to create code at home.  It uses a "visual" programming language (making it far more user-friendly for kids) and looks way less scary than typical computer languages such as "JavaScript".

 

Read more about this cool tool (hey that rhymes!) and having your kids learn awesome new technologies by visiting the MindShift link here.

 

Calgary Flood 2013 - St. Monica School Survives!!

 

Thank goodness, our school St. Monica, was not flooded!  We are affected nonetheless, because we are still in the "Emergency" or "Red" zone, so power, gas  and water are still turned off. 

The school will NOT re-open this school year (for the end of June 2013 only).  Please check the Calgary Separate School District website for further details.  Check the CSSD Website here.

Be careful everyone and stay safe, even during the cleanup and restoration stage!

Thank you Calgary and Calgarians for being so, SO, amazing!!

Keep them reading this summer!

Well, summer break is almost here and many school kids will have 2 months off. One way to keep their brains functioning during this period is by encouraging them to read.  And the best part about summer is that they can read what ever they want!!!  Not a text book for one of the their courses, not an assigned novel selected by their English or French (or Spanish, etc) teacher.  They can, and you should encourage them to, read anything they want!

By letting them choose what they want,  it will be of specific and particular interest to them, and it won't be considered a chore!  Let them read magazines, graphic novels, an informational book on digital photography perhaps, something they can use on their summer break. 

There are so many genres: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Mystery, Humour.  There are children's story books and novels, poetry books, "YA" (young adult) fiction, classics, non-fiction/informational books.  What kind of hobbies do they enjoy?  There is probably a book about that!

Encourage them to read a book that has been made into a movie, when they are done you can rent or borrow the movie so they can watch the audio visual version.  Ask them which one they like better and why?  Have them explain a couple of the major differences between the two versions.

Kids can sign up for local summer reading programs.  Check out your local library and see what they have to offer.  There is usually a theme and participants can win prizes for signing up and keeping track of their reading.  My children did this for many years and loved it.  They enjoyed reaching the milestones set out by the library, and at the end of the summer getting a small prize (usually a book).  It kept them busy, and they had fun doing it!

Our students here at St. Monica had a visit in June by one of the Calgary Public Library staff, who told them all about the summer reading program they are offering, and about all the things you can do at, and borrow from the Calgary Public Library.  Now's the time to take them to the public library and get them to sign up for the summer reading program, and have them check out all the great things the library has to offer! For more information click on the caption below.


Calgary Summer Reading Program



The Human Connection to Digital Resources and Academic Success

With so many people becoming "Internet Experts" are libraries really that important any longer?  And what about librarians?  Do they add any value to schools, students and learning?  Read the interesting article below from the "Independent School Magazine."  See how the human connection can make a difference:

The Human Connection to Digital Resources and Academic Success

Elisabeth Abarbanel; Sarah Davis; Dorcas Hand; Matthew Wittmer

Summer 2013

Page Content

Without question, the Internet has changed the way we think and learn, and will continue to do so as our technology evolves. In particular, the ability to access enormous amounts of information at any time from almost any place is forcing schools to redefine the idea of a classroom and the way we approach teaching. It is also reshaping the notion of school library services — what libraries look like and how they and librarians best serve schools.

Increasingly, we hear the questions: “Are libraries necessary today? Isn’t everything on the Internet? Can’t we use the library space for better purposes?” We read about prominent independent schools that have chosen to eliminate most or all of their print collections in favor of digital resources. Other schools have replaced trained librarians with technologists who are expert at connecting students with digital tools and websites, but not at maintaining and expanding the carefully curated and already owned print and digital collections. Some independent school librarians are being asked to dramatically weed their print collections to accommodate a move to a space smaller by half or more. More than a few school leaders see this as a good time to cut library funding in order to save money in the overall budget. Clearly, a popular impression out there is that the plentiful free information on the open Internet will answer all academic needs.

We respectfully disagree — and the research is on our side.

Read the rest of this article here.

The human touch, the connections between the school librarian and staff, teachers, students and parents can make all the difference to a school community's success. Let's continue to support school librarians and all that they do!!

Article Source: http://www.nais.org/Magazines-Newsletters/ISMagazine/Pages/The-New-School-Library.aspx

Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind [TED Talk]

Here's an interesting 7 minute TED Talk. Enjoy!

Click Here

Newbery and Caldecott award winners at the St. Monica Library

Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it!!!  Hundreds of new books have found a home in the St. Monica School library. Over the last few weeks, picture books, non-fiction books and many, many  fantastic new novels for all ages have migrated into our library collection.
 
Excitingly, some of these books are even awards winners!!  Each year kids are thrilled to find out which new books have won the Caldecott and Newbery Medals.  Here are the 2013 winners:
 
 
The Caldecott Award:

This clever, unassuming, and fun book won the Caldecott Medal for best artwork.  John Klassen is both the author and illustrator of this wonderful book that appeals to children and adults alike!  Click here to learn more about John Klassen and to go to his blog.


John Klassen

The Newbery Medal (for ages 8-12) 2013 award winner is:
  

An easygoing gorilla named Ivan is the narrator of this year’s Newbery Award winner, “The One and Only Ivan,” written by Katherine Applegate.  Ivan has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall where humans come to watch him and his friends, Stella, an elderly elephant and Bob, a stray dog. Mostly, though, Ivan thinks about art and how he can capture tastes and sounds with colour, until he meets Ruby, a baby elephant who has  been added to the mall attractions and he decides it is up to him to find her a better life.  Go Ivan!!!

We also have many of the runner-up honour books for both awards. Look for those distinctive medals on the front covers!  Winning medals are in gold, honour medals are in silver.

Newbery honour books:

• "Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon" by Steve Sheinkin
• "Three Times Lucky" by Sheila Turnage

Caldecott honour books:

• "Creepy Carrots!" illustrated by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds
• "Extra Yarn" illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
• "Sleep Like a Tiger" illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue

If you would like to learn more about the two awards, click on the medal captions below.  The links will take you to the American Library Association's pages that describe the awards and list past and present winners.

The Caldecott Medal

 

The Newbery Medal
 

And remember parents, whenever you see a book with one of these medals on the cover, you child is reading an outstanding book!!!

Curriculum Information for Parents

I often get parents coming into the library asking for curriculum information for the specific grades that their children are registered in.  A great website to check out that will answer many questions is from the Government of Alberta.  It is the "LearnAlberta" website.

A specific page on this site titled: "My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource" is a fountain of information!!!  You can click on any grade, from Kindergarten to High school and it will load information outlining the topics covered under the curriculum for that particular grade.

It is a fantastic resource!  Check it out here: "My Child's Learning"

St. Monica Spring Book Fair

Our latest Scholastic Book Fair was a great success!  Thank you to all our students, families and staff for support this worthwhile cause.  We always want our kids to be reading, but best of all  50 % of the profits comes back to our school library and your children's classrooms.

 

We are now able to get over $ 1000.00 in new books and school resources!!!  Look for them in the library and classrooms!! 

 

And a huge thank you also goes to our Grade 9 book fair assistants who volunteered to help run the book fair.  Great job: Alana, Clemenzia, Dominic, Greg, Hermela, Kalvin, Pamela and Tomi!!!

If you need someone to talk to.......

You can always contact "ConnecTeen."  Hearing YOUth. Helping YOUth

Being a teen can be tough. You have more independence than ever before, but you probably have more questions, concerns and responsibility than ever before too. If you ever have a question, a problem or just need someone to talk to – give "ConnecTeen" a call, drop them an email or chat with them online.



They can connect you directly with a peer who understand your unique perspective and can help talk through your problems.

Check out their website for more information.

So you want to be a Librarian?

One of the best (and smartest) things I ever did was to return to school later in life, to get my Library Information Technology (LIT) diploma from SAIT Polytechnic. 

Now, I could have gone back to University to get an undergraduate degree and then continue on to get a Masters in Library Science (MLS) or Master of Library & Information Science (MLIS), but I chose to complete my studies in Calgary and go with a 2 year program.  The reason I chose to go with the LIT was based in part on my age (already being in my 40's) and that I did not want to invest the time and money it would require to achieve an MLIS. For me, it made more sense to do an LIT, as it would fit in with my time criteria and would it would qualify me to work in the area that I really wanted to: becoming a school librarian.

If you think that the library field may be in your future, you need to think carefully about what it is about librarianship that appeals to you.  It is reading and storytelling?  Is it research, or finding the answer to well hidden, and often obscure answers to the bizarre or extremely technical customer questions?  Do you thrive on cool, new information technologies and want share their use with others?  Do you want to help students or other customers find the answers to course work they are doing, and to help them succeed academically?

I just finished reading a great article by Rick Anderson about becoming a 21st century librarian and some of the worthwhile goals that people might have in mind when they decide to work in the library field.  Here are  some the reasons he listed in his article (click to read article) "Authentic Librarianship and the Question of Service": 

To prepare people for lives of professional scholarship

To increase participation in a democratic society

To support research into solutions to social and scientific problems

To support the development of innovative products and life-saving treatments

To encourage and promote critical thinking

To increase awareness of and tolerance for difference and diversity

To broaden minds and enrich lives

To improve character and ennoble the “whole person”

Whatever your reasons for working in the library field might be, please take the time to check into the various areas you could possibly focus in. Click on the links below to get general information: 

How To Become a 21st Century Librarian

"So You Want to Be A Librarian"

Have you considered a career as a school librarian?

Academic Libraries

Public Libraries

Special (Law, Medicine, Oil and Gas) Libraries

Descriptions of Library related careers

Library Information Technology Diploma from SAIT Polytechnic



If any St. Monica parents or students are interested in getting additional one-on-one information about a career in the library field, I invite you to stop by, anytime that I am in the library, and to speak to me personally.  I truly enjoy sharing my love of librarianship and information gathering knowledge and experience with others.

Mrs. M. Meakin
St. Monica School Librarian

Here's a great Easter book: "The Parable of the Lily"

 

Maggie, the farmer's youngest daughter, loves getting gifts, especially mysterious ones. One wintry day, she receives a package in the mail. She excitedly opens the package to find a bulb buried in a crate of dirt. This was not what Maggie expected. She had hoped for a doll or a game, not a bulb that would one day become a plant. When spring comes, she finds the bulb in the cellar and tosses the lifeless thing into the garden, never to think of it again. . . . Until she walks outside on Easter morning and finds the most beautiful lily she has ever seen. Through the unique gift of a bulb, Maggie discovers the power of grace and forgiveness and the true meaning of Easter.

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Tips For Parents Who Read With Their Children

  

Here are some tips for making reading more fun and successful

• Sit together in a nice spot where both of you will be comfortable
• Make sure both of you can see, touch and experience the book
• Notice the picture on the cover of the book; what clues does it give you about the book?
• Who is the author? Have your read other books or stories that you've liked by the same author?
• Take turns, each reading pages or certain sections
• Take time to talk about the pictures, and others things that both of you like about the book
• Use your finger and glide under each word as you read along
• At the end of the story, review what it was about.
• Try another book if you are both still keen.  Don't push or force, try to simply have fun and enjoy!

"TD Read With Me Program" from the CPL

Does your child, for whatever reason, struggle with reading?  Does he or she need some additional reading practice that will be fun for them?  Consider signing up for the "TD Read With Me Program" sponsored by TD Canada Trust and put on by the Calgary Public Library.
                      

Children are matched up with adult volunteers to spend an hour, one on one at a local library branch practicing their reading skills.  In these one hour sessions children will spend some time: reading, playing literacy oriented games, doing fun exercises, being read to, and other fun activities with their adult volunteer partner. Some of the program goals are listed below:

TD Read With Me is designed*:

• To enhance reading level skills and interest in reading for young readers
• To instill confidence and genuine desire for lifelong learning
• To provide exposure to a fun creative learning environment
• To foster independent learning skills
• To introduce family/caregivers to the Library
• To increase awareness and use of library resources, services and programs

* Information taken from the Calgary Public Library website.

Parents must stay in the library for the full hour that their child is spending with the volunteer.  The child and the volunteer meet once a week and commit to working together for at least a year's time.

If you are interested in getting more information about the program, signing your child up, or volunteering, please click below: 
                 TD Read With Me Program

 "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." — Frederick Douglass

 

Once again Author Neil Gaiman Defends Libraries and What We Do

After best selling British author, Terry Deary, rants that Libraries are "no long relevant" (read about it here) Neil Gaiman responds on Twitter.  Follow the conversation below:

 

2:15 PM - 13 Feb 13

13 FebNeil GaimanVerified account‏@neilhimself

Loving the pro-library opinions here. And yes, libraries make readers. They don't starve authors.

 

1. 13 FebMeiLin Miranda‏@MeiLinMiranda

   @neilhimself I have 6 copies ea of my 2 novels in our library system. Once a month I look up how many are checked out, and smile.
2. 13 FebPatParslow‏@PatParslow

   @neilhimself Libraries feed authors and readers, just in different ways
3. 13 Febsxip shirey‏@sxipshirey

   @neilhimself "libraries make readers. They don't starve authors." perfectly put.
4. 13 FebLiz Vallish‏@elizziebeth

   @neilhimself I basically grew up in the library and later, when I had my own money, I started buying books.
    
5. 13 FebJoi‏@Joi_the_Artist

   @neilhimself My dad was a librarian from when I was 6 til I was 21. Practically lived in the library, developed life-long reading habits.

    
6. 13 FebJoshElder‏@JoshElder

   @neilhimself Over half the copies of my children's book "Mail Order Ninja" were sold to institutions (schools and libraries).

    
7. 13 FebMike Jung‏@Mike_Jung

   @neilhimself Libraries are essential to our collective health, intellectually, culturally, and socially. They promote the general welfare.

 

I love this last comment!  Let's all support libraries for the good of our children's (and our own) health and welfare!! 

 

I can see what having access to a library means to our children, each and every day! It supports and encourages them, inspires creativity, gives them the odd kick in the pants, stimulates curiousity, answers compelling and personally significant questions, keeps them up to date, takes them to another world, shows them that they are not alone.  The list of reasons go on and on. 

 

Thank you Neil Gaiman, for looking at the bigger picture, and shame on you Terry Deary, for thinking (mostly) of only yourself!