Only 2 days left for FOOD FOR FINES!

Okay, here is the deal, like the clock is ticking towards the New Year ----- so is the time you have left to bring in some non-perishable food items for our FOOD for FINES campaign! Only two days left to help support this worthy cause and return your overdue resources! Wednesday and Thursday are the only two days we will be open before the New Year ---- so hurry on in! Oh and yes --------Happy New Year!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

On behalf of the Library staff, we wish you Happy Holidays and we wish to thank those of you who have participated in or are planning on participating in our FOOD FOR FINES during December. We are excited about the amount of food we have collected so far! Have a safe and happy holiday season and the very best for the coming Year!

Food for Fines!

In the spirit of the holiday season, the SERC Library will forgive fines on all overdue resources returned in December that are accompanied by a nonperishable food item!!!! All donations will go to the Amazing Grace food pantry in Middletown run by St. Vincent de Paul Middletown. This is a great way to celebrate the season, help your community, your library and yourself!

Happy Thanksgiving

On behalf of all the SERC Library staff members, we wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! We invite you to read the quotes below and take a look at the Young People's books listed.

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." ~ H. U. Westermayer

"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow." ~ Edward Sandford Martin

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them" ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"Thanksgiving, after all is a word of action." ~ W.J. Cameron

"Our rural ancestors, with little blest,
Patient of labour when the end was rest,
Indulged the day that housed their annual grain,
With Feasts, and off'rings, and a thankful strain."
~ Alexander Pope

Giving thanks: A Native American good morning message by Chief Jake Swamp and illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr. The 24 page text of the picture book is based on the Thanksgiving Address, an ancient message of peace and appreciation of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants, as told in Six Nation tradition. These words are still spoken at ceremonial and governmental gatherings held by the Six Nations. The colorful illustrations are of nature scenes. The Six Nations or Iroquois include Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora. Children are taught to greet the world each morning by saying thank you to all living things. Diversity is considered a gift and people everywhere are thought of as family. Ages 4-8.

The holiday book by Karent L. Saulnier. Holidays, their meanings, and how they are celebrated are explained in this 48 page book for ages 3-8. Each sentence is shown in illustrated sign language.

Yummy and Fun!

Three weeks until reading and yummy rice! ---- but who's counting!

Okay, have you done it ---- have you signed up ---- there's only three weeks until EVERYBODY COOKS RICE -- December 11th, you are coming aren't you? Your not going to leave me to read by myself and eat all the rice, are you? Remember the deadline for registration is Friday, November 26th and by then you will already be tried of eating turkey or plum tuckered out from shopping sooo early in the morning! Sign up or you'll miss all the fun! See you on December 11th! And, DO NOT FORGET YOUR RICE RECIPE ON AN INDEX CARD --- I can always use new rice recipes when I read my book!!!!!

Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley event on Saturday, December 11th from 9:30 am to 12 pm

Everyone eats rice, no seriously, everybody does! Come join the latest offering in the "Raising a Reader" series as we invite families to the State Education Resource Center (SERC), if you could not guess considering you are at the SERC Library blog, meet the staff of CT Parent Information and Resource Center (CT PIRC), the Early Childhood Resource Center, and the, yes you guessed it the SERC Library staff to eat rice and play with rice ----- no seriously ----to READ the book Everybody cooks rice by award-winning children's author Norah Dooley, create some crafts and play games related to the story ----- sample different kinds of rice -----yummy! ----- decorate rice cakes and rice treats! You can take home a recipe box, designed by you and filled with rice recipes -----please bring your favorite rice recipe to share with others ---- directions and materials to replicate activities at home and a copy of Everybody cooks rice! To register for this yummy learning event to be held on Saturday, December 11th from 9:30 am to 12 pm, please contact Suequanna Lewis, Project Assistant at 860.632.1485 x 288 or lewis@ctserc.org. Space fills up fast so get going and register by Friday, November 26th so you won't miss all the rice, I mean fun!

Designing UDL

Contest on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Educators & Pre-Service Educators

What do you know about Universal Design for Learning?

How has UDL assisted you in lesson design and implementation for your teaching practice?

Participate in the National Center on Universal Design for Learning contest and you could win up to $500.

The deadline for contest entries is December 1, 2010.

Get tips on how to get started, contest rules, how entries will be judged and how to apply and submit your entry online at: http://www.udlcenter.org/community/designingudl.

Universal Design for Learning is a framework for designing flexible curricula with multiple access points for all students to gain knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm for learning. UDL is gaining momentum across the country. Educators at all grade levels--from pre-kindergarten through adult education--are learning strategies and practices to enable all students to have the opportunity to reach their greatest potential by putting UDL principles into action! To learn more about UDL visit: http://www.udlcenter/org/aboutudl/udlguidelines.

Thank you CW for the post information and write up!

Energy Balance 101

Energy Balance 101 - Healthy Schools. Healthy Kids.

Okay is this timely or what! Engery balance - Active, Healthy Lifestyle ---- Halloween 3 days away, Thanksgiving in less than a month, December Holidays on the way! Take a hike! No seriously, check out the Energy Balance 101 at http://energybalance101.discoveryeducation.com/ and DISCOVER (no pun intended, HA HA) all the ----- get ready ----- FREE resources for teachers, parents and community to support kids for an active and healthy lifestyle. For teachers a free k-5 wellness curriculum with lesson plans, resources, and videos aligned to national standards. There are resources for family and community extension to help with learning beyond the classroom. Besides you might learn something too! So why are you still reading ---- check out the link and the lunchbox sandwiches they'll love under the Families/Parents tab!

Red Ribbon Week - October 23 - 31, 2010

Red Ribbon Week is the nation's oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of Americans during the last week of October every year. The US Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the National Family Partnership sponsor this week. Check out the US Drug Enforcement Administration's web site at www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/redribbon_factsheet.html for information on Red Ribbon anti-drug campaign facts and the National Family Partnership web site at www.nfp.org/ for information on Red Ribbon Week. By participating in this campaign, young people pledge to live a drug-free life and pay tribute to DEA Special Agent Enrigque "Kiki" Camarena.

School Bus Safety Week

Yes, it is School Bus Safety Week!!! Yikes, there has been alot going on this week ---- yes, I know School Bus Safety Week is almost over ---- sorry! Well, this year's theme is "Cross in View, It's the Right Thing to Do!" Okay, so to make up for the fact that this posting is sooo late, how about thinking of getting your kids ready to come up with a poster? Yes, this year's poster contest was suppose to be submitted by the third week in October for consideration for the poster for 2011, however, now you can get a jump start on the poster for 2012 --- well you can get started as soon as you check out the National Association Pupil Transportation site at https://naptonline.org for lots of neat stuff including, yes you have guessed it ---- free resources on bus safety and info on the poster contest. So this winter when the kids have to stay indoors on bad weather days ---- start those posters! Get out those crayons, markers, color pencils, paints --- okay, you get the idea now all you have to do is wait for the theme for 2012! The wheels on bus go round and round --- everybody sing...

Character Counts Week

Character Counts! Week ---- October 17-23, 2010

According to the Josephson Institute Center for Youth Ethics web site, http://charactercounts.org/, this year's National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week will be celebrated by nearly 8 million kids in 52 countries --- that's a big party! The web site mentions parades, themed dress days, T-shirt design contests, writing contests, classroom-door decorating contests, all kinds of parental involvement, CC! assemblies, Role Models of the Day, Pillars of the Day, art projects, class mentoring, surprise guests, and several versions of Celebration Friday. Check out the web site where you can get ---- yes, yes ---- free lesson plans, Red Ribbon Week tie-in activities and much more!! Get into CHARACTER and check it out!

Teen Read Week

Happy Teen Read Week - October 17-23, 2010

Teen Read Week is an intiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)! YALSA started the week in 1998 and each year there is a theme ---- this year's theme ---- Books with Beat @ the library, which YALSA hopes to encourage teens to read poetry, audiobooks, books about music, and more. Help celebrate Teen Read Week by checking out what your town libraries are going to help celebrate this week. Teens have many entertainment options ---- we librarians don't want them to forget about all the entertainment they can find within the library! Reading is fun and we need to encourage fun reading for teens! Okay and for folks who need to hear about research ---- "Research shows that teens who read for fun have better test scores and are more likely to succeed in the workforce." Yes, taken verbatium from YALSA's page on ALA's website. Now get out there and ENCOURAGE TEENS TO READ! --- and don't forget to check out our library!

Some of the latest Transition and Career resources at the SERC Library

Check out some of these recently added new resources:


Work and disability: Contexts, issues, and strategies for enhancing employment outcomes for people with disabilities edited by Edna Mora Szymanski and Randall M. Parker, 2010.

This 492-page third edition, written by several contributing authors, covers the latest in legislative background and other contextual matters regarding employment of people with disabilities: vocational theories and research related to disability; counseling interventions, multicultural issues, vocational assessment, labor market information, and accommodation of people with disabilities in the workplace; job placement and job development; outreach through business consultation; and supported employment for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Think college!: Postsecondary education options for students with intellectual disabilities by Meg Grigal and Debra Hart

This 342-page resource uncovers the big picture of today's postsecondary options and reveals how to support students with disabilities before, during, and after a successful transition to college. It will help readers understand the current models for postsecondary education (PSE), overcome the common challenges to PSE for students with intellectual disabilities, plan effective person-centered transition services, and support students as they manage all the practical aspects of a positive PSE experience.

Transition strategies from adolescents & young adults who use AAC, edited by David B. NcNaughton and David R. Beukelman, 2010.

This 228-page book will help professionals who provide critical supports to young people who use AAC make a smooth transition to a fulfilling self-determined adult life by providing effective services that meet the young people's individual needs and make the most of advances in technology. Combining the best research-based practices from diverse fields - including special education, vocational rehabilitation, and communication disorders - this resource covers every aspect of transition planning for young adults with a wide range of disabilities. Guidance from top experts is woven together with personal stories of young adults who use AAC, shedding light on the challenges of transition and the research-based strategies that lead to positive outcomes.

Universal design for transition: A roadmap for planning and instruction, by Colleen A. Thoma, Christina C. Bartholomew and LaRon A. Scott, 2009.

This 238-Page guide applies the principles of universal design for learning to transition for students with disabilities. This concept is called UDT or universal design for transition and can support the planning for transition from school to adult life. This book provides practical guidance and teaching tips and information on technology supports, the assessment process, IEPs, employment, secondary education, community living and recreation and leisure. Includes case studies and reproducible pages.

These are just a few of the many resources that can be found at the SERC Library. Check out all the resources available in the Library catalog at http://serc-verso.auto-graphics.com/iluminar.

Welcome to Connecticut CEC DCDT Conference Attendees

Welcome to Connecticut - we hope you enjoy your stay!

In honor of your conference down in Mystic, our blog post is featuring transition and school to work sites you might like to check out or revisit! There are lots of listings on the web, however, we decide on a few we like or visit. Some have resources (some you can download), links, info for parents, students, professionals and lots of other stuff.

Here goes:

DCDT's own site (big surprise here!) www.dcdt.org/transitionresources.cfm
NICHCY's site: www.nichcy.org/educatechildren/transition_adulthood/pages/basics.aspx
ILI (Independent Living Institute): www.independentliving.org/
LifeSkills4kids.com: www.lifeskills4kids.com/acorn.php
NCSET (National Center on Secondary Education and Transition): http://ncset.org/
JAN (Job Accommodation Network): http://askjan.org/
AHEAD (Association on Higher Education and Disability): www.ahead.org/students-parents/transitions
PACER Center Champions for Children with Disabilities: www.pacer.org/publications/transition.asp
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities: www.supportforfamilies.org/internetguide/transition.html
NCWD (National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability): http://www.ncwd-youth.info/
LDonline: www.ldonline.org/indepth/transition
AccessCAREERS: www.washington.edu/doit/Careers/k12.html
Disability.gov: www.disability.gov/home/i_want_to/learn_about_transition_services_for_youth
Think College! College Options for People with Intellectual Disabilities: http://thinkcollege.net/


You might also want to check out this series of article recently from Edutopia:
How Career Tech is Merging with College Prep: www.edutopia.or/stw-career-techincal-education-resources

In addition, check out the previous posting. We listed some of the newer resources in the SERC Library.

Enjoy your conference and we hope you get to see some of the uniqueness of Mystic and Connecticut!

National School Lunch Week

October 11 - 15, 2010 is National School Lunch Week!

Yes, there is an organization for this celebration --- www.schoolnutrition.org/ and yes, there are some ---- get ready ----free resources to help celebrate this week! There are even recipes----I know, school lunch recipes -- are you daft -- who would want school lunch recipes, so apparently you have not been reading previous posts? If so, you would by now recognize the themes here!

Okay, back to National School Lunch Week, in addition to activities check out their catalog --- I love the teddy bear (cute grin, watch out about making eye contact) but the shirt with "Ketchup is not a vegetable" ---- what is up with that----notice it is not listed for sale----listing goes from D to F but no E for the shirt (they either got some nasty emails or sold out--I'm going with sold out!). Check out the pins, love the veggie and fruit characters 26-27!

Happy School Lunch Week!

National Educational Office Professionals Career Awareness Week

October 10 - 16, 2010 is National Educational Office Professionals Career Awareness Week. Wow, who knew about this organization? Well, certainly educational office professionals! The organization has been around since 1934 - first as the National Association of School Secretaries -- later changed to National Association of Educational Secretaries, and now know as National Association of Educational Office Professionals. Check it out at http://www.naeop.org/. On behalf of all parents and late students thanks for those passes EOPs! Have a great week!

Google Refreshes Service for Educators for the Fall

Yes, one of our favorite search engines has enhanced their services for educators this fall. First, as if you have not already noticed, Google Instant made it debut last month, so long before you're finished typing, Instant search starts predicting your search and showing results. Google says this can save you 2-5 seconds per search and the search gives predictions that can help guide your search. Wow, searching on the net is now like search databases (and helps correct those spelling errors)!

In addition, Google has updated Google Earth with version 5 the latest edition of the virtual globe software. Don't forget about Google Voice which allows you to combine your computer with your phone, check out Google Forms which allows you to collect data from parents and students, and the ever popular Google Images.

Well, you know the drill --- Google (http://www.google.com/) it!

Fire Prevention Week October 3 – 9, 2010

Did you know that this year's campaign is all about the importance of smoke alarms! Did you know all the neat activities available to parents, kids, teachers and firefighters on the National Fire Protection Association web site? Well if not, what are you waiting for ---- check it out at www.nfpa.org/.

Even though my Dad was both a paid firefighter and then a volunteer and my sons were both volunteers, I did not realize all the neat activities available to learn about fire prevention and yes, they are FREE (do you see a reoccurring theme in some of the SERC Library blog postings)! Okay, I did get distracted by one posting under the Latest News; Do you have a smoking firehouse recipe for chill? Yes, firefighters are good cooks, and yes, often when we stopped by the fire house when Dad was on, the firemen took us kids over to the bakery and bought us donuts (chocolate covered!) and spoiled our dinner, but seriously, who can resist looking at recipes! So just a quick peek at those and then on to the important activities!

AND check your smoke alarms!!!!

MATH ---- Free sites, resources!

In conjunction with SERC's Math Conference on Tuesday, September 28^th, here are some sites to check out!

Learning Today blog, http://blog.learningtoday.com/ excellent free resources are offered by this software company. Also check out the "Teacher Resource" tab. Lots of K-5 stuff including materials for all levels of learners that will help with differentiation.

Math Snacks, http://www.mathsnacks.org/, designed by educators at New Mexico State University with NSF funds are engaging animations and games designed to help learner in grades 6-8 truly understand math concepts.

Harcourt School Publishers at http://www.hbschool.com/thinkmath/index.html is indexed by grade level for K-5, web-based math activities and concepts including numbers, data analysis, operations, algebra, geometry, time money and measurement.

Math Apprentice, http://www.mathapprentice.com/ provides opportunity for students in grades 4-8 to put math skills to work in one of eight businesses.

Jim Dornberg has created a wiki housed at http://smartmeasurement.wikispaces.com/ . Grades K-6 can view activities about length, time, money, perimeter, area, temperature, weight, volume, surface area, and angles.

Minute Math, http://www.10minutemath.com math.com is a high school teacher sharing knowledge with students and colleagues across the world. There are extra assignments for his calculus class, a set of non-linear graphs with the labels and scale hidden in a Word document for teaching exponential growth, a review Jeopardy game created with a Flash-based online game creator, explore some of the past posts for more.

And last but not least, Math and the Movies!, http://mathbits.com/MathBits/MathMovies/MathMovies.htm uses over 20 movies as teaching tools. Movie options contain information about which clip to show and provides student worksheets. Most activities are developed for grades 6-12 and movies range from a 1941 Abbott and Costello film, Proof, Castaway, Star Wars, Star Trek, to Harry Potter.

Wow – that's a lot of FUN Math!

The Be Cool Series

Teaching conflict management from a student's perspective can help students "be cool" in many difficult situations. This series by James Stanfield is now available on DVD at the SERC Library. This series has modules designed for lower elementary, upper elementary, middle school and high school students. The program teaches the key elements of emotional intelligence: impulse control, empathy and self-awareness. Students are shown being challenged by a difficult person or situation and then modeling three possible responses to the conflicts. Topics include criticism, teasing, bullying, anger of others and one's own feelings of anger.

The National Science Digital Library

Okay --- we know --- again with one of our favorite things --- free resources!!!! We cannot help ourselves --- like the SERC Library, this could be one of the best kept secrets around!!! Check out the The National Science Digital Library, http://nsdl.org/. The NSDL is a free online library for education and research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The site was established by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2000 as a free online library which directs users to resources for STEM education and research. The site has content that is aggregated from a variety of other digital libraries, NSF-funded projects, publishers, and NSDL-reviewed web sites. The site is designed primarily for K-16 educators, however, anyone can access NSDL.org and search the library at no cost. Some content providers do require a nominal fee or subscription to retrieve their specific resources, however, there is a great deal of free resources!

Thinkfinity.org Website

We recently found out about a great web site through our subscription to Edutopia and we love to share info on free resources! Thinkfinity.org is a source for thousands of premium lesson plans, interactives, student materials and more from leading educational organizations, including the International Reading Association, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the National Geographic Society, just a few know national organizations. The resources are free and will help stretch tight instructional budgets! The site covers core curriculum subjects preK-12, resources are standards-aligned and searchable by theme, content, grade level, resource type and content partner. Professional development is available also on the site.

At least check out the site to see what it has to offer and possibly share the site (or not) with other educators, parents, and friends!

Here is the link: http://www.thinkfinity.org/.

Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools by Susan M. Swearer, Dorothy L. Espelage and Scott A. Napolitano (371.58 SWE)

Educators have an obligation to report and/or intervene in situations where bullying is observed. However, many educators may wish they knew more about the best possible approaches, including prevention. This excellent professional book takes a thorough look at the range of bullying behaviors and recommended interventions. Topics include team-based interventions, developing school and districtwide policies, the law and best practices.

The Kinesthetic Classroom: Teaching and Learning Movement by Traci Lengel and Mike Kuczala (372.868 LEN)

Are some of your students very active? Are students sometimes restless during classroom activities? Do you notice students who attend better in class following gym class or recess? This clever book takes physical activity beyond gym class and recess and right into your classroom! Research shows that regular physical activity helps all children and teenagers perform better in school. This book is filled with suggestions of movement activities which can be easily integrated into the classroom as part of teaching and learning, many in two minutes or less.

Road Trip

There she goes, Megan and her friend are on their way to Indiana. Notice that she is now a blondie! Have fun Megan!

To read makes my speaking English good?

Confession time...when it comes to grammar I am one of those people. You know...the kind who will edit someone's doodles, or worse, their e-mails/Facebook updates/love letters. If you haphazardly scribble me a note I will read it, acknowledge it, and probably add a comma. I can't help it - I love writing, editing, and grammar, especially when it's used correctly. So for this post I would like to share some of the best grammar resources I've found in the SERC Library...



The Chortling Bard - Caught'ya! Grammar with a Giggle for High School (IM 428.00712 KIE)
Tee-hee...chortling indeed...even this book's cover illustration of a puffed up Shakespearean type incites a laugh. In this 226-page resource, the author uses three of the Bard's most famous tales to teach writing mechanics to high school students at any level. She adapts the stories into modern, vocabulary-rich English, and includes thorough sentence breakdowns, word and literary device lists, and corresponding exams, as well as a grammar reference handbook. And as an added bonus, she includes a warm-up exercise for students to construct Shakespearean insults, pointing out that the average person won't know the origins of the words anyway, and that "English teachers are so thrilled that you are using Shakespeare that they won't mind." Now come check out this book, you gorbellied, clapper-clawed connigit!

Grammar Games (CD 372.61 DAV)
This award-winning CD-ROM contains four games for children to practice their grammar knowledge, including proper punctuation, formation of plurals and possessives, and identification of sentence fragments. Each game has multiple difficulty levels, allowing children of all ages to partake in the educational fun. The jungle-themed games (Rain Forest Rescue, Falling Fruit, Hidden Wonders, and Jungle Gizmo) are vibrantly colored and accompanied by a lively beat. This program will work both in and out of the classroom, so parents be sure to check this one out.

Tic-Tac-Grammar (IM 372.61 WIL)
This unique 166-page book fuses grammar lessons with the classic game of Tic-Tac-Toe. There are more than 150 different game sheets included, on which students match pictures with sentences in a fun, lightly competitive way. The games prompt students to make corrections to the provided sentences, in addition to coming up with new ones of their own. The book also contains additional activity ideas, recommended book lists, and blank Tic-Tac-Toe game pieces so that teachers can put their own creativity to good use. The excellent grammar guidance makes checking out this book a no-brainer - the only thing left to decide is who will be X's and who will be O's!

English Grammar in Use: A Self-Study Reference and Practice Book for Intermediate Students of English (IM 428.24 MUR)
Now...admittedly, the first three materials in this post speak to the more light-hearted side of teaching. But this book here? Serious business. This recently revised third edition is nearly 400-pages long, and contains hundreds of grammar rules with corresponding self-check exercises. There is also a CD-ROM included, with hundreds of additional practice activities, audio recordings of major grammar points, a built-in dictionary, and customized tests to help readers work on the areas of their choice. Though geared more towards self-study than school curriculum, teachers will find plenty of material to incorporate into their own lesson plans. It is also excellent for educators, college students, and any other individuals who need to brush up on their writing proficiency, or frankly, for grammar nerds like myself who get a cheeky delight out of testing our syntax savvy. Fun!


Note from the Grammar Police: Please feel free to point out any grammatical errors in this post in the comments. Statistics show a high likelihood of making a grammatical error when writing about not making grammatical errors.

Bonne Fête Nationale! (Happy Bastille Day!)

Il est le quatorzième de Juillet, et en France, c'est Jour de l'Indépendance! La Bibliothèque SERC collection des Jeunes a une section dédiée français, avec des titres tels que:
 
It is the fourteenth of July, and in France it is Independence Day! The SERC Library Young People's collection has a dedicated French section, with titles such as:

Food / La nourriture, By Barron's Educational Series (YP-FR F BAR)

Cuddly and colorful teddy bears teach new words to very young children - in both English and French! Barron's Bilingual First Books give little boys and girls an early start in learning a foreign language along with their own. Des oursons adorables et sympathiques enseignent aux enfants des mots nouvelles - en anglais et en français! Les Premieres Livres Bilingues de Barron's permettent aux enfants de s'initier une deuxieme langue ainsi que d'apprendre la leur initial.

Goodnight everyone / Bonne nuit à tous, by Lone Morton (YP-FR F MOR)

It's Martha's bedtime, but first she has to say goodnight to all her cuddly friends: teddy, penguin, monkey and little mouse. They're all tucked in...but will there be room for Martha? This delightful, appealing story has colorful illustrations and an easy-to-read text in both English and French. C'est l'heure du coucher de Marthe, mais d'abord qu'elle a à dire bonsoir à tous ses amis en peluche: Teddy, pingouin, le singe et la petite souris. Ils sont tous rentré po...mais il y aura place pour Martha? Ce superbe histoire appel a des illustrations colorées et faciles à lire le texte en anglais et en français.

My house / Ma maison, By Berlitz Kids (YP-FR F BER)

This interactive book teaches child friendly words in two languages. Meet this fun family and take a tour of their home. Each room has flaps you can lift to discover a surprise underneath! The book includes colorful illustrations and plenty of useful words in both French and English. Ce livre interactif apprend aux enfants, paroles amicales dans les deux langues. Rencontrez-vous familial et visite guidée de leur maison. Chaque chambre dispose de volets que vous pouvez soulever pour découvrir une surprise en dessous! Le livre comprend des illustrations colorées et beaucoup de mots utiles en français et en anglais. 
 

Happy Independence Day!

Ah yes, America...it's that time again. July has swept over us, bringing with it sticky summer days, sweet summer nights, and an explosion of patriotism. If you can bear to unfurl yourself from those red, white and blue streamers and put down that veggie burger, we'd like to share with you some of our favorite "America, yay!" library materials...

Okay folks, step right up! First things first, you've got your history - U.S. history - and plenty of it! From that fateful summer of 1776 to the Civil Rights era, we've got your history needs covered, with titles such as America's Story (IM 973 BER) and Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong (973 LOE).  You'll also find an abundance of materials that put a more unique slant on American history, such as Building a Legacy: Women in Social Education 1784-1984 (372.89 CRO), A History of Black Achievement in America (IE 960.73 AMB), and The Latino Experience in United States History (IM 972 CAB).

When it comes to highlighting our unique nation, history is only the beginning.  We're going to let you in on a little secret...the SERC Library owns nearly 50 National Geographic videos!  These amazing documentaries manage to walk that elusive line between education and fun, and we think they'll be equally useful to a bright-eyed classroom as well as kids on summer vacation who need a little break from the sun.  There are geographical explorations of America's natural beauty, like The Pacific Edge (IM 970 NAT) and Let's Explore a Wetland (IM 591.52 NAT).  Then there are the sciences, from biology - Your Body: Muscular and Skeletal Systems (IM 612 NAT) - to chemistry - Solid, Liquid, Gas (IM 530.4 Nat) - to botany - What is a Leaf? (IM 581 NAT).  You'll also find videos on wartime history, dinosaurs, the four seasons, and geography.  Oh, and our personal favorite, Killer Whales: Wolves of the Sea (IM 597 NAT), which wins based on that title alone!

Of course, being SERC, we also have plenty of items that focus on education in America.  Some of our newest titles in this area are Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Face of Globalization (370.973 ZHA) and Immigrant Families in Contemporary Society (308.4 LAN).

In honor of our nation's birthday, we are offering a free eco-friendly SERC Library tote bag to the first commenter to guess what tune the following is set to: (yes, really!)

For my education degree
I love the SERC Library
From thee I bring:
Tests in rolling suitcases,
DVDs with fancy cases,
IMS, IEs and Young People's Books...
And membership is free!
                                                                                                                                  

21st Century Learning

We have heard the term 21st century skills but what does it mean for the classroom? Technology is moving along at a rapid pace! Using technology is one method of engaging students as they learn. These titles were written to help teachers incorporate a variety of technology which can help keep students excited about learning.

21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in our Times, By Bernie Trilling and Charles Fadel (370.73 TRI)
This 206 page book and companion DVD examine the 21st century skills needed as students become citizens of a global world. Topics include skills needed in the areas of learning, innovation, digital literacy, career and life skills and global education. Digital literacy is required!


The World is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education, By Curtis J. Bonk (331.334467 BON)
This 470 page book explores the exciting and ever-changing world of educational technology and how it has helped open the education world up to anyone with internet access. As more technologies have become available, people in even the most remote reaches of the world can access a wealth of online resources from a vast variety of educators. Communication and learning are now possible between a scientist on a ship in Antarctic waters, a child in a Philippine village and a student studying the environment in a U.S. middle school? Explore!

Teaching Vocabulary with Hypermedia, 6-12, By Susan O' Hara and Robert Pritchard (428.10712 OHA)
This 106 page book focuses on ways to engage students by teaching content area vocabulary using hypermedia and ways to teach studnets create their own hypermedia and virtual learning experiences. A hypermedia environment is one like the World Wide Web that links video, sound, graphics and text with learning. Now that's exciting!

National Educational Bosses Week

To children, the principal's office can be a scary place, reserved for punishment of the worst behavior. But to teachers, the principal's office is...well...still pretty scary! But there's no need to be so intimidated by your boss. Sure, principals and school administrators usually have a lot on their plate, which can sometimes make them seem unapproachable or difficult to connect with. But their bottom line is often the same as your bottom line: giving children the best education possible and facilitating a productive, challenging and ultimately rewarding learning environment. May 16th-22nd is National Educational Bosses Week. In honor of our staid leaders, why not check out some of the SERC Library's favorite books related to school leadership?

Rethinking teacher supervision and evaluation: How to work smart, build collaboration and close the achievement gap, by Kim Marshall (371.144 MAR)
This 258-page book introduces a holistic approach to teacher evaluation, emphasizing informal, quick visits to classrooms to build a rapport between principals and teachers and to allow for a real sense of familiarity to develop, rather than just relying on standardized tests and and metrics to measure performance.

Preparing principals for a changing world: Lessons from effective school leadership programs, by Linda Darling-Hammond (371.201207 DAR)
This 320-page book is a comprehensive resource for implementing effective school policies and programs. By examining a variety of nationwide programs, the author recommends pathways to an ideal educational environment.

Meeting the needs of students of all abilities, 2nd Ed., by Colleen A. Capper and Elise M. Frattura (371.9046 CAP)
This step-by-step 162-page book provides the foundation for school leaders who want to shift from costly special learning programs for a few learners to excellent, inclusive educational services for all students, including English language learners, students with learning disabilities,and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Teachers wanted: Attracting and retaining good teachers, by Daniel A. Heller (371.1 HEL)
The public school system in the United States faces a perpetual challenge in attracting and retaining well qualified teachers. In this handy 114-page book the author, a principal, provides an insider's view of the sources of this ongoing problem and powerful suggestions for resolving it.

Who is your favorite pop culture principal?

Best Evidence Encyclopedia

In your explorations of our blog you may have noticed a link in the sidebar to the Best Evidence Encyclopedia, which may have prompted you to wonder what kind of resource could be worthy of being so prominently featured to the illustrious readers of the SERC Library Blog? Well, let us assure you, dear patrons, the Best Evidence Encyclopedia is truly our cuppa' tea! This informative site rates and summarizes reviews for a variety of programs for use in K-12 education. The website is a product of the Johns Hopkins University School of Education's Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education (CDDRE), and is funded by the Institute of Education Sciences and the U.S. Department of Education. This is an excellent resource for principles, school administrators and teachers. Truly a no-nonsense source of information (unlike our blog, which contains just a teensy bit of nonsense!).