Lending on Kindle and Nook

Maybe you've been too busy to notice, but Kindle and NOOK fiends are very excited. Lending has been enabled for Kindle recently through OverDrive, so now you can borrow eBooks from your local public library for FREE! Woohoo! Also, sites like Lendle and eBook Fling allow registered users to trade lending-enabled books safely and securely. I'm loving it! I'm off to read my latest downloaded book for free right now...

Happy Reading!

Get Prepared for the New School Year: Declutter and Organize

When I moved to another school this year, I found that I really had no use for a file cabinet. Most of my materials are stored online in cloud-based applications or on my flashdrives (I organize my flashdrives by year). I was able to throw away all materials in my two large file cabinets. It seemed like such a waste to keep and transport all those outdated or unused handouts/materials to a new school. I did, of course, keep many of my classroom library books. However, even then, I discarded or donated many older titles that kids haven't checked-out in two years.

Books and other materials are wonderful, but let's not become hoarders. There are always children that need books, new teachers who need to create classroom libraries, and churches or pre-schools that could use extra materials. Once a year, go through and purge materials you have not touched in two years and shred all documents with sensitive materials. (Of course, keep anything that you must house for legal purposes. Just box it up neatly and label it so that it is out of your way.) If you do a little at a time, you'll see that your workspace stays primarily clutter-free. A full-blown purge may take days or even weeks, but you'll feel much better afterwards. I guarantee next time you'll think twice before throwing another file folder full of worthless junk into the file cabinet.

Happy Reading!

The Unquiet Librarian

I met Buffy during a workshop this summer. You should definitely follow her if you are interested in incorporating eBooks and eReaders into your classroom or library. Find her blog at http://theunquietlibrarian.wordpress.com/

Happy Reading!

New Wiki

Hello, all!

I've been a very busy girl lately. I just created a wiki for teachers who are interested in integrating more instructional technology into their lessons. Visit my wiki at http://instructionaltechforteachers.wikispaces.com/

Happy Reading!

Prezi.com

I think I've talked about Prezi.com before. Let me just reiterate: IT'S AWESOME. I did a presentation using Prezi.com the other day and it was wonderful. I recieved some good feedback on it. Let me just say that using Prezi is not as easy or quick as creating your regular, run-of-the-mill PowerPoint, but it is so cool that the time is worth it.

Check out my Prezis at http://www.prezi.com/. Type in my name "Antoinette Mursier" and all of my shared prezis will appear. Way cool.

Happy Reading!

February Book Trailer of the Month!

I have wanted to read this book for awhile. This teen-produced book trailer made me want to read it NOW!

Happy Reading!

Audible.com

Quick Post:

Subscribe to Audible.com and start downloading audio books for wallet-friendly prices (many new titles for $12-15). They make your commute bearable and build your audio library. If you use it once, you'll be hooked. Just make sure to buy a whole stack of CD-Rs!

Happy Listening!

Word Walls - Not Just for Decor Anymore

Went to an interesting Word Study professional development today. The presenter talked about the right and wrong ways to use Word Walls. Below are some of her timely suggestions.

How to make Word Walls work for you:

• Add words gradually
• Make words easily accessible (i.e. not behind computers, eye-level for comfortable viewing, etc.)
• Use colors for confusing words
• Choose words judiciously
• Provide opportunities for on-going review
• Make kids accountable for recognizing and correctly spelling these words

These tips made me realize that my homely little Word Wall needs to be spruced up a bit. How about yours?


Below is an website with ideas on how a Word Wall could look and where you could squeeeeeeze one in your room.

http://www.santarosa.k12.fl.us/reading/wordwall.htm

Happy Reading!

Kindles, NOOKs, and e-Readers

I heart Amazon.com! I just love them and I love my Kindle. I am a book lover. The moldy smell, the rough edges, the crinkly warning sound as you open a hardback too far....Ahhh, I love it!  I never thought I'd be one of "those people" with a Kindle. Now I have one and you'll have to tear it from my cold, dead hands before you can take it from me (even then I might decide to haunt you for the fun of it).

Now that I have one, what do I do with it in my classroom? We have several in our media center, but we have a problem. The connundrum is that every Kindle is tied to an Amazon account with an active credit card. So how do we use them effectively without having a million dollar bill from some kid going on a book spree? Do we just use them for the staff? Encourage kids to buy their own? I don't know, but I want to solve this issue. It's keeping me up at night. What's the good of having the technology if you can't safely use it in your classroom?!?!?!

Google Reader

If you don't have a Google Reader, then GET ONE! These days it is almost impossible to keep up with all the cool blogs and information that is available. Put it all in one spot. It's like one stop shopping (without the Wally World greeter)!

Hello again...

Yes, it has been quite awhile. I do enjoy posting, but I often forget - a lot. Here are some things that I've been doing since my last post:

Reading (of course)
Starting a new book blog using eChalk
Reading blogs
Attending the NCTE conference in Orlando
Stalking authors that I met in Orlando
and so on...

I hope to add more to my blog in the upcoming days and weeks. I think it's time to kick the tires and light the fires!

Happy Reading!

The Simply Joy of Read Alouds

I love read alouds. I like doing the voices. I enjoy sitting in my comfy chair with a picture book or novel in my hands. I especially adore the moment I hook those cynical middle school kids with my cadence and a simply wonderful book. You can literally SEE the instant you have them addicted. I was reading Chrysanthemum to my eighth grade reading lab kids last Thursday and they were just enthralled. I remember a moment last Thursday when I looked out and saw them just enraptured with their chins on their hands as they sprawled comfortably on my rugs. Every eye was on me as I turned the pages. I thought, “Wow! This is what teaching reading is supposed to be like.”


We used the book as a springboard for a discussion on characters. The kids were very successful on the characterization discussions, activities, and essay that followed. I attribute their achievement to their intense connection to the read aloud. More and more teachers are realizing that all children – even inherently suspicious middle school kids - enjoy being read to on a regular basis. The read aloud experience is pleasurable, of course. However, it can serve multi-fold purposes if teachers plan ahead (just a little) and create mini-lessons around read alouds. I have seen first-hand how the connection to a book read aloud can make all the difference. Try it!

Happy Reading!

www.delicious.com/LitTeachrSC

Good afternoon!

I enjoyed a long ride to Orangeburg on Friday with one of my most influential collegues, D.S. We spent almost four hours in the car (in mind-numbing traffic on I-26) brainstorming  numerous ideas for the upcoming school year. One brilliant plan (if I must say so myself) was to create a Delicious page so that we could share all our accumulated literacy websites with other teachers. By the way, Delicious.com is nowhere near as licentious as the name suggests. It is simply a bookmark website that operates much like your current browser's Favorites or Bookmark tabs. That is except for the fact that Delicious allows for users to share their bookmarks with anyone who has the URL. It's fabulous! 

You can subscribe to my Delicious bookmark site by RSS feed or you could simply bookmark it yourself. I would LOVE for people to add to my list of sites if they have any websites they want to share. They can be literacy-based sites or Web 2.0 tools. My Delicious page will be updated periodically. Check it out at the site below! Let me know if you create your own Delicious page so I can subscribe to it. Isn't sharing information fun?

http://www.delicious.com/LitTeachrSC

HAPPY READING!!!

Stay Tuned...

Stay tuned for upcoming posts on providing feedback, using Balanced Literacy Frameworks, and flexible grouping. Thanks to my wonderful hubby (who bought me an awesome flipcamera for my birthday) I will now be posting photos and videos as well. Look forward to new posts at least twice a month. STAY TUNED!

Happy Reading!

Reaching Readers in the Digital Age

On Thursday I went to a presentation entitled "Reaching Readers in the Digital Age." I know a teensy bit about technology, so I was a bit jaded going into this session. Usually presenters show you PhotoStory, Wordle, or PlayAways and call it "innovative." This was different. It was nothing like I expected. For one thing there were no handouts. Groundbreaking! She gave us a postcard with a Wordle on the front with her Glogster address on the back. She presented using Glogster entirely to link to the Web 2.0 sites and examples she wanted to showcase. It was too cool. I'm sharing her Glogster presentation with you so you can see it in action. Too neat!

Play around with the Glogster and tell me what you think! Become a follower of my blog to see more ideas!

http://earon.glogster.com/reaching-readers-in-the-digital-age/

Happy Reading!

HSTW Conference 2010

I'm sleepless in Louisville, Kentucky. Why? Tomorrow I get to attend yet another day of informative sessions about integrating literacy and technology. The sessions so far have been interesting and the presenters have been full of new ideas. Stay tuned for helpful hints and tutorials I have picked up during the conference.

Couldn't attend the HSTW Staff Development Conference this year? Go to the link below to download individual conference handouts and PowerPoints for all available sessions. WOW! It's like getting all the info you want without the lengthy plane/bus ride - FOR FREE!

NOTE: This service will only be available until September. HURRY!

http://data.sreb.org/hstw/summerconference/schedule/search.aspx

Happy Reading!