Author Archives: cre8tivelibrarian

Scholastic Reading Summit for Educators

Forget the pool, the beach, or a romantic summer getaway … I have again taken full  advantage of professional development opportunities presented to me this summer!

  • Represent MSEA as a delegate at the week-long 2016 NEA Convention (✓)
  • Help revive Library, Information Literacy, and Technology special interest caucus (✓)
  • Attend week-long class Mentoring for All: Strategies, Activities, and Assessment (✓)
  • Attend  Scholastic Reading Summit for Educators (✓)

I am thankful to have discovered the Scholastic Reading Summit for Educators, and especially thankful that my school’s PTA graciously paid my registration fee with Scholastic Dollar$!  Muchas gracias,  Flower Hill Elementary School PTA!

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 I finally had the opportunity to meet the fabulous Mr. Schu – John Schumacher – and now understand why he has such a devoted following, and why he is the new Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs®. He’s awesome!  His book talks were full of energy and inspired me to find time – to make time — to sit and read as many of the  the more of the wonderful children’s books available, so that I can give authentic and inspired book talks to my students, too.  I was also pleased to discover that I am not the only person to smell the inside of a new book, or thrill in revealing the book under the dust cover! Thanks, Mr. Schu for the reminder that the goal of libraries is not to get back the books, but to get back the readers!!

Donalyn Miller had wonderful things to say about school librarians and the wonderful world of literature. “We are not simply teaching the readers our children are; we are reaching the readers they will become!”  I was thrilled to discover that we received a copy of her book, Reading in the Wild   and will be incorporating many of her suggestions for developing life long readers.   I’ve also become a fan of the Nerdy Book Club blog of which she is one of the four facilitators.   Thank you, Donalyn, for your wisdom.

Nancie Atwell, author of The Reading Zone (among others) offered an inspired discussion of reaching each student where they are, and how to nurture joyful reading, even with the most seemingly difficult-to-reach kids.  Thank you, Nancie (and daughter, Anne Atwell Merkel) for sharing your love of literature and reading.

Sara Pennypacker, author of middle grade novel Pax, was the keynote speaker.  Pax is the story of Peter and his pet fox Pax, who are separated when Peter’s father goes into the military to serve during the war, and their journeys to find each other again.   Pax Book Discussion Guide .  To listen to her NPR interview, click here.

Pax was illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Jon Klassen (click here for more information about his artistic inspiration.)

I left the July 14th event filled to overflowing with ideas for books to read (and share) and unique ways in which to encourage my students to develop a love of the written word – such as hanging book talk mini-posters in the girls’ and boys’ bathroom stalls!  Check back for a future post that will include pictures!

Still to come this summer:

Love, love, love being a lifelong learner!!

Unite. Inspire. Lead. 

I just completed an exciting week serving as a delegate for the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) the National Education Association (NEA) Representative’s Assembly in Washington, DC. There were more than 7500 educators working together to build strong public schools.

Highlights of the week were the impassioned speeches of the ESP of the Year, Doreen McGuire-Grigg, and Teacher of the Year, Johana Hayes, and the President of our union, Lily Eskelsen García.

“Continue growing, guiding and loving your students because you may have the next president, supreme court justice, doctor, lawyer, business owner, performer, volunteer, activist, or national teacher of the year sitting in your classroom.”  Johana Hays, Teacher of the Year, NEA RA 2016

It was fascinating to know that I was part of the decision-making process of the NEA.

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I, along with about 20 other educators, helped to revive the Libraries, Information Literacy, and Technology (LIT) special interest caucus, whose statement of purpose is to:

Increase the awareness and promotion of library media programs, information literacy and technology integration within the National Education Association.

Address and impact N.E.A policies that relate to library media, information literacy, and technology educational issues.

Provide opportunities for library media, information literacy, and technology educators to expand their professional awareness by sharing ideas and solutions to problems.

Provide opportunities for networking and professional growth.

(Updated 7/7/16 by NEA RA 16 LIT Caucus)

LIT

 

We encourage all media specialists, reading specialists, technology specialists, and other interested people to join us by visiting here . We’ll be connecting virtually throughout the school year and face to face in Boston for the 2017 NEA Annual Meeting. We hope you’ll consider joining us to reach NEA’s vision “to create a public school for every student” by joining our special interest caucus!

Hope to hear from you soon!

ESP of the Year: We Are the Secret Weapons in School and Student Success

Be Your Students’ Hero, Teacher of the Year Tells RA Delegates

Remarks As Prepared for Delivery by NEA President Lily Eskelsen García to the 95th NEA Representative Assembly

Hooray for Mistakes!

As the Creative Librarian, I am always looking for interesting ways to get my students’ creative juices flowing. Today, my kindergarten and first grade students explored their creative side after reading the book Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg, an ode to those who make mistakes – and how they can be turned into something beautiful.

Tying in the importance of recycling and reusing our resources, we discussed risk-taking and challenging oneself to make the world a better place. One of the many wonderful things about teaching elementary age students is that they generally are willing to explore an idea and embrace it fully with abandon.  My students were given scraps of ripped, wrinkled, and worn construction paper, scissors, glue, markers,and crayons, and began creating their own Beautiful Oops– inspired artwork. They selected just the right pieces of paper, and began crunching, coloring, cutting, and ripping. Within a few minutes their scraps transformed into art. I was thrilled with their excitement, and impressed by my students’ masterpieces!

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Beautiful Oops book trailer

Beautiful Oops – A Program to Foster Creativity

I hope you and your students will be inspired to make your mistakes beautiful, too!

 

GBF – The Greatest Book Festival!

As an enthusiastic member of the Gaithersburg Book Festival Committee, I was thrilled to see our lineup of featured children’s authors and illustrators, which included: Dianna Hutts Aston, Cece Bell, Gennifer Choldenko, Paul Czajak, Alexis Frederick-Frost, Laura Gehl, John Green, Steve Light, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Dave Roman, Aaron Reynolds, Syl Sobel, Maris Wicks, Timothy Young among others.

Paul Czajak reads Monster Needs Your Vote.

A family oriented event, the GBF also offers outstanding  (if I do say so myself!) series of children’s and teens workshops and other entertainment in the Children’s Village and Young Adult Pavilion.

2016 Children’s Workshops included:

 

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Despite the rainy (and cold) weather, our dedicated guests arrived in full rain gear.  And stayed.  And listened. And participated in the many author talks and workshops.  It was a wonderfully creative and enthusiastically attended community event, led by a group of totally awesome lovers of literature…Cannot wait for next year’s event!

Gaithersburg Book Festival

The 2016 GBF Children’s Village:  About  100 Reasons to Bring the Kids on 5/21

 

Awakening the Imagination

As we head into March – National Reading Month – my thoughts wander to the sights and sounds of spring, and the awakening of the earth, and our imaginations, after the cold winter snows have melted away.  New books that are ‘blooming’ this year (and one from last year) with themes of new beginnings and awakening the imagination are …

When-Spring-Comes

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes, Illustrated by Laura Dronzek, HarperCollins/Greenwillow, 2016

Kevin Henkes uses striking imagery, repetition, and alliteration to introduce basic concepts of language and the changing of the seasons. And Laura Dronzek’s gorgeous, lush paintings show the transformation from quiet, cold winter to the joyful newborn spring. Watch the world transform when spring comes!  –– HarperCollins/Greenwillow
Parachute

Parachute by Danny Parker, Illustrated by Matt Ottley, Eerdsmans, March 2016

This compelling book, perfectly complemented by Matt Ottley’s expressive artwork, lends a sympathetic ear to children’s fears while simultaneously assuring readers that they can overcome them.  –– Eerdsmans

 

Rain-Fish

Rain Fish by Lois Elhert, Illustrated by author, S&S/Beach Lane, April 2016

Complete with an author’s note explaining how Ehlert collected the found materials she used to make the book over the course of a year, Rain Fish is a spirited celebration of imagination, creativity, and observing the world in your own way—and it invites you to discover your own rain fish.  –– S&S/Beach Lane

 

SkyPig

Sky Pig by Jan L. Coates, Illustrated by Suzanne Del Rizzo, Pajama Press, September 2016

In Sky Pig, Jan Coates weaves a story of sweetness and whimsy, ingenuity and empathy. Plasticine artist Suzanne Del Rizzo brings dimension and energy to the tale of a pig who wants―against all popular truisms―to fly. He may never reach the sky on homemade clockwork wings, but Ollie still dreams as hard as ever a pig can dream. And Jack, a true friend, realizes that just because a pig can’t fly in the ways they have tried doesn’t mean he can never soar. An uplifting picture book for anyone who has tried and tried again. –-Pajama Press

This-is-Sadie

This is Sadie by Sara O’Leary, Illustrated by Julie Morstad, Tundra, 2015

O’Leary puts Sadie at the center of her own story, and invites her audience to follow Sadie’s lead. “Sadie has wings, of course,” we learn — “Maybe you have them too. Have you checked?” In Morstad’s quietly delightful gouache and watercolor illustrations, black-haired Sadie looks both delicate and strong, pretty and at times androgynous. She’s a mermaid and “a boy raised by wolves,” howling at the moon; she carefully chooses dresses and artfully hammers nails into wood. It’s an appealingly rounded glimpse of girlhood that’s somehow both timeless and modern.” —The New York Times review

There are many wonderful books about spring, imaginations, and new beginnings! Below you will find three different lists of books to explore – you are sure to find the perfect book to read with your children, or your students!

11 Children’s Books About Spring

http://www.delightfulchildrensbooks.com

Chidren’s Books for Celebrating Spring

pbs.org/parents/adventures-in-learning/2014/03/spring-books

Ten Books for Spring

http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/books/c346

Happy spring and happy reading!

 

A Mayor & Two Authors

First off, I have to say I love being a school librarian.  I love that I get to teach all of the kids in my school, can be creative and think outside the box,  and that I have amazing people in my professional learning network.

Last week, just two days before the Blizzard of Winter 2016, I had two visitors to my library.  Author Harold “Corky” Logsdon visited our 3rd graders to share his new children’s book, Marsh Mellow – a lovely poem about exploring nature “was penned while walking the stony lane through the marshland at Karen Noonan Center on the shores of Bishop Head along the Chesapeake Bay. (Absolutely stunning watercolor illustrations by Kristen Egan).  Corky, a retired high school teacher of environmental science, pulled my students into the story with his infectious joy of the  natural world.  I am so pleased that he will be coming back to share his book with my 2nd grade students, who just finished their inquiry projects about biomes and ecosystems.

Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman also visited with my 4th graders, as an extension to their marking period 2 inquiry project, “Maryland Economics”.  In this project, my students researched the demographics of our Flower Hill community, and based on the information they found, created a plan for a business that the community needed.  Since 65% of our community members are families with children under 18, many of my students created a business plan with a family-friendly theme.  I helped the three classes generate a list of questions, and we had a Q&A session with Jud, and ended with five students sharing their business projects with him.  It was a great experience for all involved, and we found out you can run for mayor of Gaithersburg as early as 18 years old!

 

Jud is also the founder of the Gaithersburg Book Festival,   which “is a celebration of the written word and its power to enrich the human experience. [Its] mission is to foster an interest in reading, writing and literary conversation.”  I am pleased to be a volunteer on the 2016 planning committee.  I am the coordinator of the Children’s Workshops and the helping fill the Story Time Tent with awesome readers, and hope you’ll visit the festival on May 21, 2016!

Mary Amato

Children’s Author Mary Amato

 

 

I also attended the Montgomery County Council of the International Reading Association
( MCCIRA ) author event on January 21, and met the delightful local children’s author Mary Amato, and learned great tips on classroom management using mindfulness techniques, and how to excite students to write.  From her I also picked up a copy of the first three books in her new series Good Crooks and I am looking forward to sharing them with my students!

Happy reading!

GBF: Opportunity for Deeper Connection with Authors and Illustrators

Gaithersburg Book Festival: Opportunity for Deeper Connection with Authors and Illustrators first appeared on the GBF website on January 4, 2016. Click link to GBF website here. 

By Melissa McDonald

As an elementary school librarian, my favorite part of the Gaithersburg Book Festival is the opportunity to listen to the children’s book authors and illustrators read their books and talk about their inspiration and their craft.  I can read a book aloud to my students with enthusiasm, providing the voices of the different characters, and emphasizing what I think are the important parts on each page.  However, nothing compares to an author reading aloud his or her own book to their adoring audience, or watching the illustrator start with a blank piece of white poster paper and creating the book characters in front of our eyes.  It is magical!  That moment when the author and illustrator connect with his or her readers is a great one indeed.

Throughout my school library I have pictures of myself with authors and illustrators – I think it is important to show my students that the people who create their favorite books are real people – to show them the connection we have through their written word and art.  When I am able, I like to video their talk and book reading, and love to share with my students as most of them are unable to attend events such as these.

51mdbfxwdgl-_sx258_bo1204203200_Last year I enjoyed Michelle Knudsen’s reading of Marilyn’s Monster and listening to Michelle Knudsen and Matt Phelan discuss how they worked together to create the book. Because of these videos, my students were able to connect with the book, the author, and the illustrator on a deeper level than if I had simply read the book to them.  For this I am deeply grateful, and hope that this is one way in which I can encourage life-long readers.

Michelle Knudsen’s Website: http://www.michelleknudsen.com/

Matt Phelan’s Website: http://www.mattphelan.com/

Marilyn’s Monster by Michelle Knudsen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38zCZCqG06M

Michelle Knudsen and Matt Phelan discuss creation of  Marilyn’s Monster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AemRfey6Og8

Melissa A. McDonald is a school library media specialist with Montgomery County Public Schools and a member of the Gaithersburg Book Festival planning committee.

 

Awesome & Amazing!

I am turning the Big 5-0 in April (where does the time go?!), and have decided my word of the year is ‘spectacular’.  On December 31st, when I look back on my year, I want to describe 2016 as SPECTACULAR!   I challenged my 4th & 5th grade students to pick their word for 2016, and created a Wordle word cloud with their answers.  Awesome and amazing were the most popular words, but I loved the creativity of some of my students when they listed fantabulous, specialistic, and sparkelicious!

2016wordle7As the Creative Librarian, I try to bring creativity into my library, and part of my creativity comes out in my bulletin boards and book spine art!

 
Check out my Bulletin Boards and Book Displays Pinterest board for more examples!

Coding is as easy as 1-2-3-click!

 

csedlogo15

As a lifelong learner, my goal is to learn something new every day, and to inspire my students to do the same.

hour of code banner

Celebrating Computer Science Education Week each year is one of the highlights of the school year for my students.  Each December we participate in the Hour of Code and learn beginning computer programming by coding games such as Angry Bird, Frozen, or Flappy Bird.  Hour of Code often uses Blocky which is a visual programming tool where students click blocks together to write code. To my students delight, Hour of Code added a Star Wars programming game and a Minecraft programming game this year.   Hour of Code encourages students to challenge themselves, work collaboratively, and explore computer science in a fun and engaging way.Hour of Code 2015 (6)

We were thrilled this year to be spotlighted in Montgomery County Public Schools’ MCPS Moment – to view the video, click here. My students did an amazing job during the filming!

Hour of Code 2015 (28)

If you are interested in giving your students the opportunity to explore computer programming, consider some of the following sites.

Blockly Games is a series of educational games that teach programming. It is designed for children who have not had prior experience with computer programming.

Other beginning programming educational websites that use Blockly are listed below (Courtesy Google Developers):

 

Blockly Games

Games for tomorrow’s programmers.
App Inventor

IDE for Android apps from MIT.
Code.org

K-12 computer science.
OzoBlockly

Programming line-following robots.
Wonder Workshop

Robots for play and education.
Open Roberta

Programming Lego EV3 robots.
Gamefroot

Make, play and share games.
Gameblox

Introduction to Game Design from MIT.
Made with Code

Encouraging girls to code.
scriptr.io

Powering your Internet of Things.

Walking with the Washingtons

 

As a  lifelong learner, I think it is important for educators to continually challenge themselves by seeking out new (and unique) learning  opportunities.

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I have just returned from a wonderful week at Mount Vernon, where I was accepted into their fabulous George Washington Teachers Institute Summer Residential Program.  In addition to being treated like guests of Mr. and Lady Washington, we participated in an exceptional week of multimodal education.

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Each day had a theme:

  • Welcome to the History of the Washingtons
  • George Washington’s Early Years
  • Washington and the American Revolution
  • Washington and the Exemplary Farm
  • Setting Forth a Nation:  The Constitution and Presidency
  • Washington’s Legacy

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and the agenda was packed full of hands-on activities, lectures from early American history experts, field trips,private tours, and living historical interpretations. We were immersed in the colonial time perioFB_20150914_08_33_31_Saved_Pictured, and it was completely A-W-E-S-O-M-E (can you tell I am excited?). I mean, how cool is it to have full access to  the grounds of Mount Vernon, and sit on the mansion’s piazza with amazing educators watching the sunrise (or the moon rise) over the Potomac, speculating what the Washingtons thought about as they enjoyed the natural beauty?

 

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I attended week 3, and dedicated educators from Arkansas, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Ohio were the invited guests.  Each of our trips was paid for by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association Regent from that state, and we stayed in the ladies’ quarters. One requirement of participation was that we must present the program to other educators, which I plan to do at my MCPS School Library Media Program professional day on August 19, 2015, and again at the Maryland Association of School Librarians annual conference on October 16, 2015.

WP_20150731_19_42_14_ProWhether you apply to this summer program, or one of the many others around the United States, I highly recommend taking advantage of your extended break by participating in a summer residential program!

 

 

To view pictures from the week, click here.

To view resources and my MASL presentation, click here.