Showing posts with label greg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label greg. Show all posts

Friday, February 8, 2008

Readings: did you read this one?

  • Another article on the implications of the proposed new copyright law from The Georgia Straight, Jan. 31, 2008: You can get your ... , by Blaine Kyllo
  • Downloadable Book posted by Val H to the BCTLA Forum -- Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive -- A digital literacy guide for the information age by Mark Briggs, who makes me feel really stupid when he writes, "Can you send an attachment with email? Then you have what it takes to publish a blog with pictures." He also notes that, "Blogs aren't always pretty to look at, but they can be published by anyone who can click a mouse and type" (54).

    I am going to read carefully Chapter 5: "How to Blog!" Here Briggs tells us, "A good blog is an ongoing conversation. It is facilitated by you, but, if it works, it may be dominated by your audience. If that happens, you win ... and most importantly, the readers win." Of course, he is writing for journalists, so I needn't be feeling as though I am having a conversation with myself if you are not commenting online, right? I will also see, in Chapter 8, how to add digital photos ... then I'll be blogging at full capacity. In his chapter on Web 2.0, Briggs writes about YouTube: "Sites such as Wikipedia, MySpace, YouTube, and Flickr create sophisticated warehouses of content -- without creating any content at all. It is ... an upside down model for creation when compared to the traditional methods anyone over 30 has grown up with" (27).
  • Tyee TL Chris's email this week about her trip to Christianne's Lyceum of Literature and Art ; the electronic flyer of professional development opportunities is a downloadable pdf on this site and registration information is there as well. Chris told us she was very impressed! "The space is beautiful, the programs extensive and Dr. Christianne Hayward is unpretentious, extremely talented and knowledgeable." Chris pointed out the 'light dinner' offer with these evening events and would probably love to get a group together for one or more of these. Aren't we lucky to live so close to opportunities such as these. Christianne will be presenting at Winter Tonic, so be sure to come and check her out!

  • Brad at Point Grey recommends this books: "We just got a book back from cataloguing, and it is a great resource." It's K-12. Click here for more information: PowerPoint for Teachers: Dynamic Presentations and Interactive Classroom Projects (Finkelstein/Samsonov, Jossey-Bass Teacher, 2008)

  • Jackie, Consultant, Social/Emotional Learning, here on the 4th floor "downtown" recommends this 26-page pdf package from the UK: Confident, capable, and creative: supporting boys' achievements.


Kudos for Their Brilliant TL Performances


  • Nancy at Weir: Was that you we saw at the BCTF news conference sharing your experience of the impact of e-testing on schools and, in particular, on school libraries? Check here.
  • Marisa at Fraser: Was that you we read about in the Murray Dobbin article in The Teacher magazine. It was about the school's Peace Choir and the work of our talented TL Marisa Orth-Pallavicini. Read "Songs of Peace: Making the world a better place", as posted by Val H to the BCTLA News blog. Check out Val's archives as well.
  • Frances at Hastings has started a blog of great resources for elementary French Immersion students. It was launched at the Technology Day workshop "French Electronic Resources" co-presented by Frances and Katharine from Churchill: http://mmerenzullo.blogspot.com/

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More next week on the TL workshops at various District Pro D Day and also Winter Tonic events.

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Be sure to check out the Dragon's Lair flyer from Peggy

... and do let me know if you're bringing a class here.

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See you at Winter Tonic

Gladstone on Tuesday at 4 pm ...

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Resources

Always Worth a Look: Greg's TOP 10 Picks February 2008 (click on Links): Exciting Ideas and Opportunities for Social Studies Teachers and Students! Note that Greg is recommending Awesome Stories.

From Val O: FREE Resources for the first 100 people to complete a short feedback form -- The Gathering Place: An Exploration of Canada's Capital (Grades 5 – 8 Social Science) has now been delivered to over 10,000 schools across Canada, and they want to know what you think! This resource is available in French as well.

Looking for First Nations titles and resources? Deb, our administrator for Aboriginal Education, recommends GoodMinds.com as a great tool.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Changes in School Libraries

Movement in the District

We have seen changes in TL staffing the school libraries at Carleton, Beaconsfield, UHill Elementary, Begbie, Magee, and Van Horne.

More next week ...

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Have you checked the latest Pro D offerings? On December 10, we will be having another TL Studio session at Kerrisdale Elementary Library. See the latest research tools for primary students. Some people may wish to continue with wikis ... and I had some interested teachers from this week's Powerpoint session sign up to do more ... it will be more of the same kind of techno-fun so do try to come.

The other session for the month will be TL Accounting 101 on December 13 with someone from Accounting. I will do a short Excel lesson. Register online.
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Email from IT-advancing colleague:

You might find this article on a school district banning Wikipedia of interest...

Banning Wikipedia at school: good idea or missed opportunity?
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LOTS OF RESOURCE INFORMATION THIS WEEK --

Greg's TOP 10 Picks
December 2007Exciting Ideas and Opportunities for Social Studies Teachers and Students!

1. Canadian Council for Geographic Education. CCGE programs aim to strengthen geographic education in the classroom and to increase the public awareness of the importance of geographical literacy.

2. Canadian Heroines. This great site is designed to encourage classroom study of the many important roles and contributions of women in Canadian History. Contests, pictures, profiles, lessons and many other resources and ideas are all available here.

3. Christmas in the "trenches". This is not a history lesson. Many Canadians will spend this Christmas fighting for peace in Afghanistan. Help your students show the troops they care.

4. Korea and China Calling. Join Canadian Social Studies teachers this summer as they journey to Asia to gain understanding of the legacy of the Asia-Pacific War and how it impacts on peace and reconciliation today. A very moving experience.

5. Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan. Help a little 10 year old BC girl from the Okanagan raise the literacy rate of women in Afghanistan. Witness and participate in "the power of one"!

6. National Student Commonwealth Forum. Imagine a hundred or more young Canadians coming together for five days to explore global issues as well as national concerns. Inquire today!
7. Popper's List. Access on-line documentary videos from BBC, PBS, UKTV, Discovery Channel, History Channel, A&E and other sources.

8. Student Vote. A made in Canada program helping educators teach elections and active citizenship to students. SV provides free learning materials and electoral supplies to schools across Canada.

9. Vancouver 2010/EDU. An online, interactive, bilingual e-magazine enabling teachers and students to learn more about 2010 and the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.

10. World Book. Now may be the time to update your school encyclopedia. Until December 14/07 the 2008 WB is on sale at its lowest price in the past 10 years. Also check out sales on WB On-Line.

(Comments and ideas-Contact Greg at 250-485-8295 gtgsmith@gmail.com . Check out all the Top Picks for 2007 at the BC Social Studies Teacher's Association website and click on: links
(GREG'S LIST IS ALSO PUBLISHED IN TEACHER-LIBRARIAN)
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Complete list of winners of the Governor General's Award

ENGLISH FICTION: Michael Ondaatje for Divisadero
FRENCH FICTION: Sylvain Trudel for La mer de la tranquillité
ENGLISH POETRY: Don Domanski for All Our Wonder Unavenged
FRENCH POETRY: Serge Patrice Thibodeau for Seul on est
ENGLISH DRAMA: Colleen Murphy for The December Man (L'homme de décembre)
FRENCH DRAMA: Daniel Danis for Le chant du Dire-Dire
ENGLISH NONFICTION: Karolyn Smardz Frost for I've Got a Home in Glory Land: A Lost Tale of the Underground Railroad
FRENCH NONFICTION: Annette Hayward for La querelle du régionalisme au Québec (1904-1931): Vers l'autonomisation de la littérature québécoise
TRANSLATION - FRENCH TO ENGLISH: Nigel Spencer for Augustino and the Choir of Destruction (translation of Augustino et le choeur de la destruction by Marie-Claire Blais)TRANSLATION - ENGLISH TO FRENCH: Lori Saint-Martin and Paul Gagné for Dernières notes (translation of Last Notes and Other Stories by Tamas Dobozy)
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (ENGLISH) - TEXT: Iain Lawrence for Gemini Summer CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (ENGLISH) - ILLUSTRATION: Duncan Weller for The Boy from the Sun
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (FRENCH) - TEXT: François Barcelo for La fatigante et le fainéant CHILDREN'S LITERATURE (FRENCH) - ILLUSTRATION: Geneviève Côté for La petite rapporteuse de mots, text by Danielle Simard
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Winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize:Elizabeth Hay, for Late Nights on Air

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For secondary TLs:
A recommendation for more substantive materials -

From Mary Ellen Marus, Pathfinder, 604 324 2671, maryellenm@telus.net -- Pathfinder books touch on the history and social studies curriculum of grades 11 and 12. Teachers involved in the IB programs have been especially interested in the books and I have met with a few teachers and librarians in recent weeks.

Pathfinder titles include the writings and speeches of working class and revolutionary leaders from Che Guevara to Nelson Mandela. (Original source material is so important for research.) Many titles relate to the important events of the 20th c. – the Russian revolution, the rise of fascism, WW I and II, the Cuban missile crisis for example.Social issues are taken up from the suffragette movement to the women’s liberation movement of the 70s as well as the civil rights movement and the on-going fight against racism. Other books are about politics today from the roots of the conflicts in the Middle East to the volatility of the stock market. Have a look at the attachments as well as Pathfinder Press website to get an idea of the books.