World Folk Art and Fables Week, March 22-28

The end of March ushers in not only the first peek of springtime, but also an international celebration of cultural history with World Folk Art and Fables Week. From ancient Rome to the dynasties of China to the native tribes of the Americas, folk stories are a fundamental part of our human history, and indeed they are one of the few commonalities shared by all cultures. The most wonderful thing about fables is the way that they seamlessly weave together entertainment and education, sweeping you up into a web of human tradition and spirit while also leaving you with valuable lessons. We're all familiar with Aesop's Fables, but there are thousands of lesser known tales of equal value, including some that can be found right here in the SERC Library!

Native American Animal Stories, Told by Joseph Bruchac (YP F BRU)
Though this 136-page book is located in our Young People's collection, the stories and illustrations within will entertain those of all ages. With 24 legends from tribes such as the Hopi, Mohawk, Tlingit and Dakota Sioux, as well as maps, tribal nation descriptions, and a glossary, this book will enrich your understanding of Native American history and legend.



The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales, told by Virginia Hamilton (YP F HAM)
This award-winning 178-page anthology presents a wealth of stories. Divided into categories like animal tales, fantasy, supernatural, and slave tales of freedom, the literature presented here will excite you, inspire you, amuse you...and maybe even scare you!



Golden Tales: Myths, Legends, and Folktales from Latin America, by Lulu Delacre (YP F DEL)
This 80-page book is filled with exciting tales from countries such as Bolivia, Mexico, and Cuba. But it is the gorgeous full color oil painting illustrations that really bring this book to life, along with all of its heroes, monsters, and fantastical creatures.



Afterwards: Folk and Fairy Tales with Mathematical Ever Afters, by Peggy Kaye (IM 372.7044 KAY)
This two-part series intersperses math lessons with classic stories to enhance children's understanding of the material, with one book designated for grades 1-2 and the other for grades 3-4. From measuring the growth of Rapunzel's hair to arranging Baba Yaga's dinner table to outwitting the trickster Anansi himself, these books are a unique way for teachers to combine math and literature.



Working Together: Building Children's Social Skills Through Folk Literature, by Gwendolyn Cartledge & James Kleefeld (IM 303.32 CAR)
This unique multimedia kit uses folktales from around the world to teach social skills to children in grades 3-6. It includes dozens of activities designed to enhance vital skills, including time management, respecting others, negotiation conflict and speaking positively. The kit comes with 5 audiotapes and 31 posters to aid with the lessons.


The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories, edited by William J. Bennett (FAM 808.8038 BEN)
We placed this book into our Family collection because there are few things that can bind a family together like shared stories and memories. In this colossal 832-page volume the author uses well-known tales to illustrate 10 key tenets of the human condition, such as demonstrating compassion with "The Little Match Girl" and courage with "Chicken Little", along with scores of others ranging from Greek myths to the Gettysburg Address. Why not take a cue from the simpler times these stories convey and turn off the television in favor of sharing a story or two with your own family?

Edutopia: The George Lucas Educational Foundation

For a comprehensive and innovative look at the world of education, check out Edutopia, a leading online resource for educators and parents. Founded by George Lucas, the Edutopia Foundation strives to connect learning with the rapid advancements in technology and society. Their website, www.edutopia.org, is infused with the idea of crafting our children into lifelong learners. Some of the many resources you'll find there include videos, blogs, archives of their bimonthly magazine, and special reports on topics such as autism, financial literacy, and green education. One of their most popular features is what they call Edutopia Groups. These are online communities one can join to network and collaborate with peers all over the globe, ranging from broad subject matter ("Middle School") to groups on specific curriculum programs and best practices. There is even a group called "Stuff my Students Say", for teachers (or anyone!) who wants a little laugh. We think Edutopia is such a great resource here at the SERC Library that we've even added a news feed of their latest headlines to the sidebar of our blog! So be sure to take a look and add them to your own bookmarks. And remember, we must endeavor to make education relevant, ground-breaking and yes, even fun, as we move into this new decade and beyond. Or in the words of George Lucas' beloved character Yoda, "Always in motion is the future".

Thicker than water: Essays by adult siblings of people with disabilities FAM 362.4043 MEY

This book is a collection of 36 essays written by adult siblings of people with disabilities. Their essays describe how their lives have been shaped by their relationships with their siblings. This wonderful book can enlighten siblings, parents, caregivers and communities.

National Day of Action to Defend Education

With the state of the economy today, it should hardly come as a surprise that tuition and fees are skyrocketing at colleges and universities across the country. Here in Connecticut, the foundation of our higher education system, the Connecticut Community Colleges, are increasing tuition and fees by 6.4 percent as of the Fall 2010 semester. The four smaller public universities, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Central, will see a 6.3 percent increase, while UCONN students are facing a 5.9 percent hike (though an increase as high as 7.5 percent was initially proposed). However just because this news is, unfortunately, expected, does not mean it is willingly accepted. Today, March 4th, has been designated as a National Day of Action. At schools around the nation there are protests scheduled, with both students and school employees exercising their voice in this important matter, which is too often kept buried.

It is not too late to get involved! Local Connecticut events include a panel discussion and march at Yale, a rally by UCONN students at the state capitol, and a referendum at Southern's student center this evening. Also, notable for being one of the only efforts at a non-college level in the country, Hartford Public High School is holding a petition drive today. For contact information and event details, as well as national news about the day, visit www.defendeducation.org and click on Events & Contacts. And keep in mind that even if you can't participate today, there are plenty of other ways to get involved in ensuring that our basic right to education in this country does not become a privilege only the wealthy can obtain. The Defend Education website, as well as their Google group and Facebook group, are a great place to find resources on how to help. To read the articles in which the statistics from this post were pulled, visit:

UCONN Trustees Increase Tuition, Room, Board, Fees (Courant.com)

Connecticut Community College Tuition, Fees to Increase 6.4 Percent (Courant.com)

Students, Professors to Protest Education Cutbacks (CNN.com)

Only YOU Can Prevent Cyber Danger!

With the rapid pace at which technology is becoming embedded into our daily routines, it is not surprising that children are being introduced to it at younger ages than ever before. Gone are the days when seeing a teenager with a cell phone was an anomaly limited to only the wealthy and status-seeking. Today we all have cell phones and computers and a whole host of other gadgets designed to keep us connected. These tools are indeed wonderful, and are undeniably helpful when it comes to education. However, it is important to teach our children about proper safety, as well as to familiarize ourselves with the various ways in which we can help them to enjoy technology appropriately.

The government recently issued a report entitled "Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online". This 54-page document is immensely informative, with sections addressing how to talk to children and teenagers of all ages about internet safety, how to take advantage of parental controls, how to handle social networking sites, comprehensive explanations of "Net speak" for those who may not be familiar with it, and more. This report is a great way for teachers and parents to feel empowered when it comes to talking to their kids about Net safety, which is especially important considering this subject is often overlooked in schools. According to a new study released by the National Cyber Security Alliance, only 35 percent of the school districts studied require any sort of cyber safety education, despite over 90 percent of teachers and administrators being in favor of including it in the curriculum. The study also highlights the growing debate over who is ultimately responsible for discussing the subject with children, with the majority of teachers saying it should be parents and the majority of school administrators saying it should be teachers. The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that it needs to be made a priority. Even the government thinks so, as evidenced by President Obama's Cyberspace Policy Review, which proposes putting a K-12 cyber education program in place on a national level. Luckily, with the help of this report, you can take responsibility for teaching your kids about technology and security today, whether you're a parent, teacher, or friend.





Access the report here, and an article about the NCSA study here.

Day of Remembrance

On this day in 1942, President Roosevelt signed executive order 9066 which authorized the military to relocate over 120,000 Japanese Americans from their homes to internment centers or relocation camps. In Canada, similar evacuation orders were established with over 22,000 people confined.

The SERC Library has a broad and comprehensive collection on multicultural education and diversity for a wide variety of cultural groups. If you would like to teach your children more about this period of American history we have the following items available for loan.

The Journey: Japanese Americans, Racism and Renewal - In this 40-page children's book, artist Sheila Hamanaka relives the history of the Japanese Americans and of her own family. During World War II, while her uncle was fighting in the American army, her parents were imprisoned, and her grandfather died in a U.S. concentration camp. The author/artist has created an extraordinary visual monument to the Japanese Americans, supplementing her original creation with prose that is unique and powerful. Grades 4 and up.

A Kid's Guide to Asian American History: More than 70 Activities - This 224-page resource by Valerie Petrillo offers over 70 activities that teach about the people, experiences and events that have shaped Asian American history. It has information on the culture, people, and history from various Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It includes a section on Japanese internment camps. Grades 3-7.

Baseball Saved Us - In this 32-page children's book by Ken Mochizuki, a Japanese American boy learns to play baseball when he and his family are forced to live in an internment camp during World War II. In first person narrative, he tells how baseball gave all the boys a purpose while enduring injustice and humiliation and how their ability to play helps them after the war is over. Available in English and Spanish. Ages 8-11.

The Shadow of Hate: A History of Intolerance in America - This educational kit from Teaching Tolerance, with a 40-minute videotape, 128-page text, and 36-page teacher's guide focuses on events from three centuries in order to explore the history of intolerance in America and our country's ongoing struggle to live up to its ideals of liberty, equality, and justice. Through documentary footage and eyewitness reports, students are given a powerful perspective on historical events from the ordinary people who lived through them. Some of the events covered are the enslavement of African Americans, the Salem witch trials, the mistreatment of Native Americans, antisemitism, and the internment of Japanese Americans. Grades 6-12.

Please visit the SERC Library to look at these titles and more. Membership is free and we have a generous 3-week loan period.

Artwork by Henry Fukuhara, "Symbols of Manzanar, 2008"