Smart Librarians

October 9, 2014

Greetings!

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!

In this issue:

Winners from the Alabama Expo! And Welcome 150 new subscribers to EOT! -

Something to Smile About – Quotes about reading

Here’s a tip! – Turn a cart into a display

Common Core – Genius Hour!

Shameless Plug – Making Genres FUN!

Winners and WELCOME!

I had the chance last week to participate in the Alabama Library Expo, a fun 4 day touring vendor expo and training event. While I did not travel to the bottom left hand corner of the state, I was able to meet some great folks in Montgomery, Bessemer and Decatur AL from all over the state. Over 150 media specialists signed up for this newsletter and the chance to WIN! Bound to Stay Bound and I gave a door prize of a free half day of assembly programs to a winner at each stop. Congratulations to Erin Elkins at Owens Elementary in Limestone County, Jennifer Rich of Riverchase Elementary in Hoover and Kimberly Nunes-Bufford in Opelika.

Stop by the BTSB booth at GaETC in November and register to win a half day for your school!

Library Quote/Smile

“We read to know that we are not alone.” — C.S. Lewis

“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” — Oscar Wilde

Making the job a little easier – from 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes

#41 – Can’t seem to get the returned books reshelved fast enough? Turn the returns cart into a “Books that have been recently circulated” display by adding a sign that says “See What Your Friends Have Been Reading!” Instead of it being another thing that has to be done, you are providing a service to your students, allowing them to see the current books on display!

Common Core Tip

Have you heard about Genius Hour? It’s a trend in education that is really gaining a lot of traction.

“Genius Hour is a movement that allows students to explore their own passions and encourages creativity in the classroom.  It provides students a choice in what they learn during a set period of time during school.” (From http://www.geniushour.com/what-is-genius-hour/)

Of course detractors are going to say that you can’t allow kids to choose their own topics. But think about how many things you wrote about in school that seemed SO irrelevant to ANYTHING you cared about! And GH is not about allowing kids to choose EVERYTHING they want to research. It’s about allowing them a structured time to learn HOW to research by showing them how they can find out what they WANT to know.

The media specialist can be instrumental in implementing GH in the school. You have resources and training that make you a great fit for making GH a part of your school’s offerings for students. Research has shown that GH helps students of all reading levels and abilities. And GH is right in line with common core standards about genuine research.

Find out more at www.geniushour.com, or explore Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers for a different perspective of this great tool for teaching and learning!

Shameless Plug

One of the most popular NEW programs I offer is “Dig a Little Deeper!” a reading assembly program that explores the different genres offered in the library! Most kids will go to the same part of the library every time, unless someone shows them the treasures they can find on a different shelf!

Here’s what your colleagues have to say about the programs I offer:

“On a scale of 1 to 5, you are a 10+!  You do a great job and the children LOVE you!”

Nancy Bohannon, Children’s Librarian

Northlake Library, Tucker, GA

“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

PS – Don’t forget to share this newsletter and blog with your colleagues!

www.TommyJohnsPresents.com 
tommy@tommyjohnspresents.com
Call (770) 640-6509 or Toll Free at (866) 490-READ
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