Thursday, February 6, 2014

February 6, 2014


February 6, 2014

Every Other Thursday, you’ll get this short, fun, relevant newsletter. It will contain a quote or smile about the library and those who love it, an idea you can use to promote your library or reading in general, a Common Core implementation idea and a shameless plug for the programs I offer. Enjoy!

If you are new to EOT or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at www.smartlibrarians.com. And please tell your friends about it!

I hope you were able to stay safe and warm in the ice and snow last week. And then that groundhog says we have 6 more weeks of winter! I never did like that little rodent!

In this issue:
  • Library quotes/funnies
  • Promote reading with Family Reading Night
  • Contest winners announced!
  • Common Core Idea – AASL Best Websites
  • Shameless Self Promotion – Best Science Night Ever!
Library Quotes/Funnies

“For something that doesn’t make a sound, a book speaks loud enough for its message to be etched on our hearts forever.”
Thoughts from a Bookworm #126 – from www.darwingeek.tumblr.com

“Any book you haven’t read is a new book!”
Seen on a T-shirt at COMO 2012

Promote (from the Theme/Event section of “45 Ideas in 45 Minutes!”

19. Host a Family Reading Night. I have seen this done a variety of ways. Sometimes it is called Family Literacy Night, but I like Reading better. (As a parent I was more likely to go to a Reading Night than a Literacy Night. We LOVE reading, but we are already literate at my house.)

You can set up stations for genres, age groups, independent reading or read alouds. Keep in mind your theme for the year and decorate/promote accordingly. For example, if you are doing a Reading Round Up, all reading stations could be like cowboy campsites and the stories would be about life on the range, excerpts from Hank the Cowdog books, folk tales like Pecos Bill and biographies of Annie Oakley and Wild Bill Hickok. You could even invite a motivational reading show performer (see www.tommyjohnspresents.com for more info!).

Contest winners announced!

I am no good at choosing winners based on anything besides drawing a name out of a bucket. We had 5 people enter and all were fun, creative or desperate, indicating that they should get the free one year subscription to www.curriculumdivas.org! So all 5 are winners! I will send your e-mail addresses to the Divas and they will get in touch with you soon about setting this up. Our winners are:
  1. Elizabeth Foster, Media Specialist, Royston Elementary School, Royston, GA
  2. Kelley Johnston, Media Specialist, New Hope Elementary, Whitfield County, GA
  3. Cheryl Fletcher, Media Specialist, Americus Sumter High South, Americus, GA
  4. Natalie Lett, Media Specialist – Statham Elementary School, Statham, GA
  5. Ruthie Hite, Teacher-Librarian/Media Specialist, Reese Road Leadership Academy, Columbus, GA 31907
Congratulations Media Champs! Enjoy your subscription!

Common Core Idea – AASL Best Websites

I led a breakout session at the Dougherty County Schools Media Specialists Training in January (for the 4th year in a row!) and had a great time. The best information I got (and there was a LOT of good stuff shared) was something that Marie Salter shared. The AASL reviews hundreds of free educational websites and chooses the top 125 each year to share with us, even if you are not a member of AASL. Take a few minutes and peruse http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-websites/2013 for some great resources that will help you do your work as a teacher/librarian! For the rest of the year, I will be selecting 2 websites from this page to highlight in EOT.

Shameless Self Promotion – Best Science Night Ever!

If your school is having a science night and they want to have the best attendance ever, tell your PTA or science teacher to give me a call. I have two science programs for elementary students that are Common Core aligned and are a lot of fun! And they both promote READING!
 
Go Wild! is all about the scientific process and life science and Work Smarter, Not Harder! is all about the 6 simple machines. Both programs were developed with input from the folks at the National Science Center in Augusta, GA.

Here’s how to have the Best Science Night EVER! Bring me in to do a half or full day of one of the science programs during the day for your students and the other that evening. At the daytime program, I’ll encourage the kids to come back for a completely different show in the evening and they will drag their parents back to have more fun! The reason I know it works is that it always does! Whenever a school books a literacy/reading night or science night using this format, we have record attendance at the evening program. I offer a discount for booking programs like this, so get your science person to call or e-mail today!

Here’s what one of your colleagues had to say about our science shows:

“Very motivating for the kids and the staff! The thing I liked most about “Go Wild!” was the way you related fun, science, reading and geography into a show that was both very educational AND entertaining!
JoLayne Rentzel, Educational Programs Director
National Science Center, Augusta, GA

Let me know how I can help! See you in two weeks!

Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy Johns
Educational Entertainment Specialist
Call (770) 640-6509 or Toll Free at (866) 490-READ
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