December 29, 2010

Reading is Fun ~ Christmas Storytelling at Our School

What a thrill it was to have a Seabury graduate now teacher come to our library to work her storytelling magic with a group of alumni children!

The storytelling hour was part of a larger Christmas Keiki (children's) party, which included craft making and singing of Christmas carols, for kids of graduates.

I was happy to set the stage for Jos to work her magic.


Jos has collected children's books over the years, so I was interested to know which ones she had picked to tell. Both It's Christmas, David, and Snowmen at Night made the children giggle. Jos also read Polar Express (with bells for each child to help tell the story) and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

A nice little touch were the blank jigsaw puzzles Jos passed out to the children, so they could draw and color in their own snowman, as they listened to Snowmen at Night.


There's already talk about another storytelling event for next year, perhaps even a reader's theater, with more alumni teachers participating (Annie and Jennifer's names came up).

I'm always happy to provide the space to support readers coming up through the ranks. And the feeling that comes from reconnecting with alumni and their children via books and reading? -- Utter bliss ...

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For further reading:
Books boost kids’ behavioral health

December 26, 2010

December 19, 2010

Three Little Pigs iPad App Presents Pop-Up Book Of The Future (VIDEO)





This pop-up book app is dazzling, and perfect for the visual learner. There's no doubt that it offers more in the way of knowledge (the x-ray view).

But what about the kinestheti­c learner (aren't all toddlers kinestheti­c learners)?

A toddler can control the speed of a lo-fi pop-up book, look at it from different angles, finger-rea­d at his/her own pace minus the danger of setting off a distractin­g effect, i.e., use different parts of his/her brain to make as many connection­s as possible as he/she explores. There are other advantages that a child developmen­t specialist could enumerate more articulate­ly, I'm sure.

This would be a spectacula­r *additiona­l* experience­, not a replacemen­t. It's all about making connection­s, and the more connection­s the better, IMO.

Maybe I'll ask my child psychologi­st friend Heather what she thinks ...

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Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

12/20/10 update: See Dr. Heather's comment below, and my follow-up post on mauilibrarian2 in Olinda

December 12, 2010

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park



This trailer appeared in today's #tlchat Daily, and I have decided to purchase the book!

A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story, by Linda Sue Park, is the hard-hitting story of two 11-year-olds in Sudan. We read about Salva, who was a Sudanese lost boy in 1985 (and is now a family friend of the author), and Nya in 2008, who collects water for her community.

Though A Long Walk to Water is too short to offer as an independent reading choice for our students in the context of our academic curriculum, this compelling story is sure to pull in some of our world-minded students.

Here's the author's description of the book, on her website.

Interesting note: The book originated as a Breakfast Serial.

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December 7, 2010

For the love of books -- Kids say the darndest things!

What a great way to start my day!

Read this Quote of the Week posted by the National Middle School Association to my Facebook page this morning:

"Books are magical, stupendous, marvelous, wonderful, amazing, incredible, beautiful, and my best friends. —Leah, Grade 6" —Jane Vossler

with a link to purchase the book


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December 5, 2010

√ out FIGMENT -- A Website that Caters to Teenage Writers

"Write Yourself In!"

I'm MARVELING about Figment, a new website to be officially launched tomorrow, written up in the New York Times as a

Website for Teenagers with Literary Leanings
.
Figment is an outgrowth of the keitai shousetsu (cellphone novels), so popular in Japan. Wired.com documented the rise of the cellphone-novel culture in 2005 in "Cell Phones Put to Novel Use".

Figment describes itself as:

"an online community for reading and writing young-adult fiction, which can be accessed from any computer or mobile phone. Here you can write a haiku or work on a 90,000 word novel while riding the bus to school. You can read a serialized novel by a friend down the block or a short story by your favorite author. It’s a place to engage with peers, authors, and content."

Here's a minute-an-a-half intro, from the site:


Print publishers are keenly interested in cell-phone novel publishing, and for good reason, as noted in Figment's link to the LA Times Article: For Japan's cellphone novelist, proof of success is in the print.

The fact that there's a teacher/librarian blog on the site makes it crystal clear that Figment is aiming to make an impact on education. And adding to the credibility of Figment's seriousness of educational purpose are the credentials of its New Yorker-affiliated team.

Figment already has 2000+ fans on Facebook and 700+ followers on Twitter. I'm guessing Figment's popularity will grow exponentially, and spawn imitators (you can count on it).

I see enormous potential for Figment and I will be looking for ways our student writers at Seabury can participate!

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I just registered to receive updates from Figment. 

November 17, 2010

Global Education Conference 2010, the Shortie Awards, and "Once Upon a Time" Book Animation

The stars were perfectly aligned today as I entered the workshop "Youth Filmmaking: Connecting To The Classroom And The World" of the Global Education Conference 2010.

They were discussing Shortie, a festival of the "best youth-made films from around the world ... short films, big ideas, youth created." 

"Established in 2001, The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival recognizes original digital media productions created by student filmmakers, ages 7-18, and their teachers. The Shortie Awards focuses on nurturing imagination and celebrating stories from all over the world."

So, I went to the shortieawards.org screening room and the first film showing was "Once Upon a Time" a finalist in the animation category for 2010. 


A poignant animation about the life of a 
boy as moves his way to adulthood.

It was the perfect beginning to this school librarian's day!

Here's a description of the workshop from the conference:


"The increasing popularity of digital media tools allows us to communicate in a way we never have before. This allows for new opportunities! Digital media tools allow educators and students to communicate in unique, creative, and globally connecting ways. Learning through digital filmmaking teaches essential learning and communication skills while tapping student creativity and teaching the life skills involved in project-based learning. MHz Networks has been championing the practice of using student-created media as a tool for education, empowerment and connection. Working closely with the Department of Education and the schools of Northern Virginia, MHz Education created a curriculum for teaching filmmaking in the classroom as well as The Shortie Awards: International Film and News Festival. The Shortie Awards have received youth-made films from all over the world. Youth filmmaking is learning on so many levels. It is a way to learn about the world, through youth-made films from around the world, as well as a way to share your story and ideas with the world." 

This is my first experience participating in a completely virtual conference, and I'm still marveling at the technology. The conference continues through Thursday. It's well-worth the while of any educator interested in making global connections.


The conference is using Elluminate, a fantastic web-conference program which allows for full audience participation. The conference is all FREE.


Technology, filmmaking, and books converging -- yes, definitely a great start to my day.

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P.S. Check out  theshortieawards channel on YouTube.





 

October 29, 2010

The Dewey Decimal Rap, Sent by Laura

Seabury alum Laura sent me this great video.

If I needed to file it in our library, it would go under 782.42164 Music (Rap)



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You Are What You Read - Scholastic's New Social Networking Site!

What five books have most influenced YOUR life? What is YOUR Bookprint?

Yesterday, Scholastic Book Co. launched its "You Are What You Read" site, a place where readers across the globe can dialog about new books.

"You Are What You Read" is part of Scholastic's Read Every Day. Lead a Better life global campaign. The site is for all ages, and it's incredibly rich!

Here's a news story from PR Newswire that summarizes the COOL features of the site:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scholastic-launches-social-networking-site-you-are-what-you-readcom-106024583.html

THE STACKS for Kids has tabs for Books and Authors, Games, Blog, and Message Boards.

Here's an excerpt from the site:

What is a Bookprint?

"A Bookprint is the mark that a book leaves on our lives, shaping who we are and who we become. It is our textual lineage as described by Dr. Alfred Tatum, professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Our textual lineage is a reading and writing autobiography which shows that who you are is in part developed through the stories and information you’ve experienced."

What is Pass It On?

Pass It On is a component of You Are What You Read that allows you to share the reads of your life, whether it’s with a family member, a friend, or a complete stranger. Pass It On encourages you to share your favorite books with other people—whether by gifting them to someone you know, donating them to someone in need, or just leaving a copy on a park bench for someone else to enjoy. On the Pass It On page, you’ll be able to select a book, print out a bookplate for your book, and pass it on!

The Books Around the World Map shows where users who have added a book to their Bookprint, “Liked” a book and Passed On or received a book are located."


I think I know some kids and adults who might be interested in taking a look at this site.


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October 25, 2010

Do Kids Still Read Books? A Study

Check out the article
"New Study on Reading in the Digital Age"
, embedded below.

I especially like the part about the power of choice.

And the last 3 paragraphs? The times ♫they are a-changin'♫

*****************************************

New Study on Reading in the Digital Age

Scholastic surveyed 1,045 children age 6-17 and their parents (for a total of 2,090 respondents) in an online survey in the spring of 2010.
Highlights from the survey:
Reading Books in the Digital Age

* From age 6 – 17, the time kids spend reading books for fun declines while the time kids spend going online for fun and using a cell phone to text or talk increases.
* Parents express concern that the use of electronic and digital devices negatively affects the time kids spend reading books, doing physical activities, and engaging with family.
* Technology can be a positive motivator to get kids reading – over half of kids (age 9-17) say they are interested in reading an eBook, and a third of children age 9-17 say they would read more books for fun if they had access to eBooks on an electronic device.

The Value of Reading

* When asked, children and parents agree the most important reason to read books for fun is to open up the imagination, be inspired, and to a lesser degree, to gain new information.
* Eight in ten kids feel proud and have a sense of accomplishment when they finish reading a book.
* While nearly eight in ten kids read for fun at least weekly, one in five kids reads books for fun less than once a week.

Role and the Power of Choice

* There are several tactics that parents use to encourage their children to read – including making sure there are interesting books at home, limiting the use of technology, and suggesting books their children might like.
* The most critical motivator to get to get kids reading is the power of choice. Nine out of ten children say that they are more likely to finish book they choose themselves.
* Parents don’t try to overly influence their children toward choosing award winning books or classic literature. Nine out of 10 parents say “As long as my child is reading, I just want my child to read books he/she likes.”

About 25 percent of the children surveyed said they had already read a book on a digital device, including computers and e-readers. Fifty-seven percent between ages 9 and 17 said they were interested in doing so.

Francie Alexander, the chief academic officer at Scholastic, called the report “a call to action.”

“I didn’t realize how quickly kids had embraced this technology,” Ms. Alexander said, referring to computers and e-readers or other portable devices that can download books. “Clearly they see them as tools for reading — not just gaming, not just texting. They see them as an opportunity to read.”

Read the press release: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/node/378

Read the survey: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/themes/bare_bones/2010_KFRR.pdf

Read the New York Times story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/books/29kids.html?_r=1&hp

Original VOYA article
http://www.voya.com/2010/09/29/new-study
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October 17, 2010

Young Adults Provide a "Haven for Bookworms" Online

(avatar from tumblr.com)
The pioneering young adult officers of THE ULTIMATE YA READING GROUP span the globe, and they're sharing their love of reading in various electronic ways.

"WE PROVIDE A HAVEN FOR BOOKWORMS. YOU CAN:
—Chat with other fellow bookworms!
—Meet authors!
—Explore our Posted Items section!
—Check out the discussion board!
—Participate to win book(s) in our contests!"


The group's Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7300605683
has 1400 members as of this date (I just signed up)

They have a tumble-log
http://theultimateyareadinggroup.tumblr.com/
where they feature a young adult author every month


And you can follow the group on Twitter
https://twitter.com/UltimateYAGroup

We have many avid readers at our school. I wonder if any of them would be interested in joining this group.

. . . And how does starting a group of our own, that's Maui-based, sound? :D

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October 15, 2010

What Should I Read Next? 3 Quick-Search Sites!

The Book Seer
Here are 3 very cool QUICK-SEARCH sites for finding your next book to read.

Whichbook
Choose books according to what you want in a book, on a sliding scale. For example, funny to serious, conventional to unusual, optimistic to bleak, etc., as well as by character, plot, and setting.

What Should I Read Next
"Enter a book you like and the site will analyse our database of real readers'
favorite books (nearly 70,000 different titles so far, and more than a
million reader recommendations) to suggest what you could read next."

The Book Seer
Type in the title and author of the book you just read, and the Book Seer will come up with a list of suggestions from Amazon.

Book choosing via the Internet is easy and fun!

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October 1, 2010

Miss Davis Loves to Read!


Miss Davis LOVES to read and she's uploaded, yes, HUNDREDS of books to her iPad and her Kindle.

This photo was taken at today's Maui Independent Schools Organization (MISO) Conference, hosted by our school (we host every three years on a rotating schedule). Miss Davis' enthusiasm was so infectious that one participant remarked as she was leaving: "I'm not a techie, but I want an iPad!"

This workshop was called "Speed Apping -- Mobile Devices for Your Classroom". Co-presenters with Miss Davis were Mr. Turbeville and myself.

Here's a direct link to the web page Miss Davis created to support her presentation about ebooks: http://sites.google.com/a/seaburyhall.org/mobiledevices/kindle-ebooks.

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September 4, 2010

5 Places to Get FREE Books

Librarians LOVE the word free. This was sent to me by Seabury grad and friend Ben. Mahalo, Ben!

number1Project Gutenberg This is the oldest free book site on the internet.  Project Gutenberg contains over 30,000 books ranging from classics to public domain works.  The best part is the entire project is done by volunteers and donations through PayPal.
www.gutenberg.org
number2Bookmooch If you want to get your hands on a real free book, Bookmooch might be the place to look.  They work on a system of trading in your old books for someone else’s old books.  You acquire points by mailing out your books and when you accumulate enough points, you can request a new book.  It cleans your house and you get to recycle at the same time!
www.bookmooch.com
number3Daily Lit Most people I know complain that they don’t have “time to read”, yet, they will pour through hundreds of emails per day and think nothing of it.  Well, Daily Lit has come up with a solution if you are out of time.  They email you the book you want to read in short, consumable pieces. You don’t get more than you can read in a five minute email and eventually you have read a whole book!
www.dailylit.com
number4Wowio
 I like this web site for the simple reason that they include comic books in with the rest of their enormous library.  Another great feature of this site is the use of the pop up synopsis.  Hover your mouse over a book you want to read and you get an idea of what the book is about.
www.wowio.com
number5Librivox
 So you say you don’t have time to read at all?  How about have someone read it to you?  That’s what Librivox has done.  They have taken books and had volunteers read them and put them into an audio file for you to play on your mp3 player.
www.librivox.org
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August 17, 2010

Sixth Grade Book Reviews!

Our sixth graders read (at least) three books over the summer!

Their assignment was to choose their favorite, and write a book review about it.

Please enjoy their reviews found in the comment area. The students posted the comments themselves, with the guidance of their English teacher.


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August 3, 2010

First Book Order of the School Year -- Shopping is so much fun!

Starting the new school year by ordering three books, from American Indians in Children's Literature: Top Ten Books Recommended for High School. The list, along with a top ten list for middle school and one for elementary school was created by Debbie Reese, a professor at UIUC's American Indian Studies program.

  1. Night Flying Woman: An Ojibway Narrative by Ignatia Broker
  2. Men on the Moon: Collected Short Stories by Simon J. Ortiz
  3. Blue Horses Rush In: Poems and Stories by Luci Tapahonso, which will be useful for the Sophomore's post-colonial poetry project, I think.
Was about to order Waterlily By Ella C. Deloria too, but found that it's available in full text at Google Books!

Shopping for books for our library is so much fun.

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July 16, 2010

Top 100 eBooks Downloaded from Project Gutenberg -- An Ongoing Tally


THANKS to Seabury alum Ben Rogers '82, who sent this wonderful link to me, noting that he had read 75% of the books on the list!

"I used to hate the summer reading lists when they came out because although instructed to read 15 to 21, my mom always made me read the whole list...now I am thankful..."

How many on the list have YOU read?

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July 13, 2010

Bookmark That Book! A Cool Reading Rec Site


BOOKMARK THAT BOOK! 

You gotta LOVE reading if have your very own blog about the books you read!

I remember when David was a teeny guy running around our campus. Now he's a Middle School Director in DC, and still finds the time to read AND blog (so eloquently) about it. I love his 5-star system.

Kudos to David for spreading the good word about books and reading!

July 10, 2010

Fairy Tales, Clifford the Dog, and Grover


I love that BOOKS AND READING play a prominent part in this 1-minute PBS Kids Emmy-winning video! (Not to mention that Grover is my favorite Sesame Street character.)

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July 9, 2010

How DO We Build an Internet That Encourages Serious Learning?


"It could be that the real debate will not be books versus the Internet but how to build an Internet counterculture that will better attract people to serious learning."

So concludes sharp-minded Op-Ed NY Times columnist David Brooks, in "The Medium is the Medium".

Regarding the importance of books in children's lives, Brooks refers to:

"Free Books Block 'Summer Slide in Low-Income Students"

"Family scholarly culture and educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations

Brooks notes that the Internet keeps one well-informed. "But the literary world is still better at helping you become cultivated, mastering significant things of lasting import. To learn these sorts of things, you have to defer to greater minds than your own. You have to take the time to immerse yourself in a great writer’s world. You have to respect the authority of the teacher."

Here are some readers' reactions to Block's article:

http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/opinion/09brooks.html


So, my dear Watson, how DO we build an Internet that encourages serious learning?

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June 30, 2010

Library Lending for the Internet Age -- √ Check it Out!


Alternate link to video


Like it or not, the times they are a changin'! Internet Archive, the group that brought us The Way Back Machine to keep track of content on the Internet, is just starting to explore the idea of lending ebooks, via archive.org.

The first 2:24 minutes of the video above is a segment that explains the idea, and the article linked below offers food for thought on the subject, including the always hot topic of copyright infringement.

Libraries Have a Novel Idea by Geoffrey A. Fowler, of the Wall Street Journal

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June 22, 2010

BOOKS ~ The GOLDEN KEY


♪♩Summertime, and the readin' is easy ♪♩ ...

Stumbled on this timeless gem as I gather my resources to write an article for The Golden Key, a Hawaii school library journal.


Ballade of the Bookworme by Andrew Lang

Far in the Past I peer, and see
A Child upon the Nursery floor,
A Child with books upon his knee,
Who asks, like Oliver, for more!
The number of his years is IV,
And yet in Letters hath he skill,
How deep he dives in Fairy-lore!
The Books I loved, I love them still!
One gift the Fairies gave me: (Three
They commonly bestowed of yore)
The Love of Books, the Golden Key
That opens the Enchanted Door;
Behind it Bluebeard lurks, and o'er
And o'er doth Jack his Giants kill,
And there is all Aladdin's store,--
The Books I loved, I love them still!
Take all, but leave my Books to me!
These heavy creels of old we bore
We fill not now, nor wander free,
Nor wear the heart that once we wore;
Not now each River seems to pour
His waters from the Muses' hill;
Though something's gone from stream and shore,
The Books I loved, I love them still!

Image source: http://www.cedargrove.k12.nj.us/south/3eweb/bookworm2.gif
Poem source: The Literature Network

June 3, 2010

The New Yorker Picks 20 Young Writers Under 40

Beowulf Sheehan/PEN American Center
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
 
Anytime a reading list is created, there's potential for controversy -- why her/him? Why not (fill in the blank)?

In any case, here's The New Yorker's list of 20 authors, all under the age of 40, who show promise. You might find your next compelling read here!

The New Yorker Picks Young Writers Worth Watching

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May 26, 2010

Owning Cellphones vs. Owning Books -- WHAAAAH?!----

Kids More Likely to Own a Cellphone Than a Book, Study Finds

What an interesting comparison to make. What's a book anyway, and isn't it all about having access to reading materials, from a young age?

As the article notes, this kind of a study is full of logic holes. Just goes to show you that you shouldn't believe everything you read.

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May 2, 2010

If you don't read, what's wrong with you?

Our Spanish teacher Ms. Nabor LOVES to read! As we chatted about this in the library the other morning, ninth grader Nalu popped in to look for a book to read, and joined in the conversation.

This is what I learned from them.

Ms. Nabor usually has two books at her bedside: one for the morning, like an adventure to get her day started, and one for the evening, to lull her to sleep. The bedtime books may be books she's already read.

She likes series. She reads books by James Clavell over and over. And she likes Musashi. Right now, she's reading Comanche Moon from the Lonesome Dove series by McMurtry. She also likes Isabel Allende and J. K. Rowling. One of her all-time favorite books? The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne.

Nalu likes adventure stories like The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. He avoids reading scary stories at night. He likes to read BEFORE he does his homework, something his mom is not that crazy about.

Ms. Nabor and Nalu agree that EVERYONE should read.

How did Ms. Nabor come to love reading so much? Her parents encouraged reading, and books were a large part of her life. The "greatest thing ever" she notes is that she used to read World Books (yes, as in encyclopedias) for fun. And there was room for TV too, and there still is. She got hooked on reading fiction after she graduated from college.

Ms. Nabor reads at least a book a week "whenever I have free time" (she usually takes a book to the beach), and Nalu comes to the library searching for a new book to read a couple of times a week.

And talking about books can open up conversations between people, Ms. Nabor enthuses.

Her parting quote? "If you don’t read, what’s wrong with you?" -- I like that.

Thanks to Ms. Nabor and Nalu for giving me permission to tell the world that they're proud to be readers!

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April 20, 2010

Independent Reading Part 2: Why Ms. Sefton Loves to Blog

Sophomore English teacher Ms. Sefton uses blogs to elicit responses from her students regarding their independent reading choices. And she loves it!

Here are some responses from her students:
  • Dominic likes the fact that he can access the blog anywhere, and it's easier to organize. 
  • Jared likes it because typing is easier for him, and it saves paper.
  • Because the blog is public, Dylan puts more thought into what she writes.
  • Taylor adds that blogs are more in tune with what teenagers do on a daily basis.
Ms. Sefton started the blog during this fourth quarter, to try something new.

"The students have to go onto the blog to see what each day's assignment is. I like providing that mystery for them.

We have to adjust our assignments to the ever-evolving needs of the students. Computers are their favorite way to communicate. My objective is to make writing as relevant and engaging as possible."

Thanks, Ms. Sefton!

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April 12, 2010

Independent Reading Reinvigorates Reading!

What happens when students are allowed to choose the books they read for class? Our English teachers infused independent reading into their curriculum, and the results have been amazing!

Mr. Hodara, Department chair:
"The English department is increasing the opportunities for students to do independent reading as part of the English curriculum because both research and our own observation confirm that students are more motivated to read when they choose their books. Reading is the foundation for increased language development and improved writing and critical thinking skills. We find that when students read books they have chosen, they are more likely to  talk about their books and thus can teach their peers about the people and places they've read about. They then recommend books to each other and spontaneously form little reading communities. Independent reading has reinvigorated reading at Seabury Hall!"
 
Mrs. Martelles:
"What’s wonderful about Independent Reading Projects?  Everything!  The students get excited.  They get to choose their own books.  They get to discover their own meanings inside those books & focus on story moments that connect with them.  They get to express their understandings and perceptions in a variety of ways, whether the projects incorporate art, drama, music, essay, creative writing, poetry, photography, slideshow, or other vehicles of expression.   Independent Reading Projects put literary analysis into the students’ hands, because it’s their eye on their chosen books and their voice expressing their own discovered meanings--and that’s what literary analysis is all about."

Mr. Strohecker:
"I think it is important because it allows students to exercise their sensibilities as readers; they can choose books according to their own tastes instead of the officialdoms of the classroom and develop a reaction to it, whatever extraneous materials it includes, that makes living the literature possible."

Miss Davis:
"Readers come in all shapes and sizes. Some readers like science fiction and fantasy, while others go crazy for true life stories or adventure tales. Independent reading allows readers to pursue what interests and excites them. It strengthens the English department curriculum because it introduces students to a wider range of texts and it helps instill the daily habit of reading. If we want our students to become lifelong readers, then we need to expose them to great literature and give them opportunities to find books they can't wait to read."

Mr. Van Amburgh, always the clever one:

"It's good because...


Choice is power.

What we choose becomes us."

Thank you to the English department, for making reading a highly personal experience for our students!

Coming next, as a follow-up to this article: "Why Ms. Sefton Loves to Blog"

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April 2, 2010

"After the Fall", a Short Story Written by Seabury Alum Rebecca Serle '03


Now we know of two published authors from the Class of '03!

Rebecca Serle just learned that her short story made the long list for best online story of the year, according to storySouth, whose mission is "to showcase the best fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry that writers from the new south have to offer. Special emphasis is given to finding and promoting the works of promising new writers."

The stories are at Notable Stories of 2009 http://www.storysouth.com/millionwriters/millionwritersnotable_2009.html, including the full text of Rebecca's story:

It's 10-minutes of reading well-spent! It's at first funny, then thought-provoking, then heart-breaking.

We'll know by May 1 if Rebecca's story makes the top ten. I know I'll be voting for her...

Bravisima, Rebecca!

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April 1, 2010

E Pa'a Pono (Hold Fast) -- A Book Written by Seabury Alum Kawehi Wallace '03




Heitiare (Kawehi Wallace) Klammerer (Seabury '03), speaks about E Pa'a Pono, the book she wrote in Hawaiian. The book is available at ulukau.org and can be read either online or downloaded.

"The book was part of several other books that I took part in. E Pa'a Pono In particular is one that I authored, designed the layout and did the photography. The book project was a partnership with several community groups in the Ko'olauloa area headed by the Na Kamalei-K.E.E.P. Early Childhood Education Progam of Punalu'u. The project was to tell stories related to the Ko'olauloa area of O'ahu. The story E Pa'a Pono comes from the Kula Kaiapuni 'o Hau'ula.

Having been a teacher at Hau'ula Elementary, I was given an opportunity to put in a story idea for our Hawaiian Language Immersion Program (HLIP). I put in a story idea that showcased the Hawaiian language and its importance. The story also highlighted the local Halau Nalu or Surf Club which is made up of most of our keiki from HLIP. The Halau Nalu is just a great outlet for Hawaiian keikis as well as non-Hawaiian kids to learn the Hawaiian sport of surfing as well as practice language and culture.

Mainly the book is meant to show the importance of preserving our Hawaiian language. I believe it is the kuleana of all who love Hawai'i and who make Hawai'i their home.

I don't know how it is that people separate language from culture because they go hand in hand. As the 'olelo no'eau or Hawaiian proverb explains it best, "Ma ka 'olelo ke ola, ma ka 'olelo ka make". In language there is life and death.

E ola mau ka 'olelo Hawai'i."

Mahalo, Kawehi, for sharing your mana'o with us and for helping to preserve our Hawaiian language!

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(This article is also posted as "Telling Hawaiian Stories Online" in sister blog mauilibrarian2 in Charlotte, because of the technology connection.)

March 28, 2010

Guys Read!


Yes, Guys do read!

Miss Davis passed along this great book site for our boys to check out:

Thanks, Miss Davis!

And be sure check out (former SH teacher) Mr. Latendresse's lists too.

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March 20, 2010

Father and Daughter Bond by Years of Reading

Sarah Bott '80 sent me this wondrous article in today's N.Y. Times online about "The Streak", which started out as a bet between father and daughter and turned into so much more.


Generation B - Father and Daughter Bond by Years of Reading

And yes, Sarah is right. This article definitely does indeed warm the cockles of this librarian's heart.

Generation B = Smart. I like that. I like that a lot.

Mahalo, Sarah.

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March 17, 2010

YouTube Video on The Future of Publishing, by DK

This video speaks for itself. Via Seabury alum Devaki Murch '92. Thanks, Devaki!




From businessinsider.com: "Here's the note from YouTube: This video was prepared by the UK branch of Dorling Kindersley Books. Originally meant solely for a DK sales conference, the video was such a hit internally that it is now being shared externally. ..."

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March 3, 2010

Reading and Writing about Hawaii -- in an ezine

Seabury alum Frances Ort writes for an ezine called 360boom-ezine

I enthusiastically recommmend her latest article about whales, which includes a highly personal encounter (do NOT try this at home).

http://livingbetterlonger.net/whalesofmauipartone.html

http://livingbetterlonger.net/whalesofmauiparttwo.html

Enjoy!

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January 31, 2010

Mr. Asato's reading recs and other thoughts

Our history teacher Mr. Asato is living in Peru for a year, "teaching Economics online, exploring pre-Columbian archaeological sites, and learning a little Spanish. That, and trying my best not to disrupt U.S.-Peruvian diplomatic relations. :D " AND, he adds, he's reading as much as he can.

Mr. Asato keeps me and his other Facebook friends abreast of his reading recommendations on WeRead. Pictured is the latest book he recommended just today: Spice the History of a Temptation by Jack Turner. Mr. Asato's review is short and sweet -- "If you enjoy food, quality research, and history, you'll enjoy this book."

He notes: "The list of books that I have on WeRead are ones that I've read this past year, but there are others that I love--like Jared Diamond's Collapse and Guns, Germs and Steel. I also think Flow by Csíkszentmihályi is one of my all-time favorites about optimal performance (his follow up to Flow is also worth reading. In conjunction with Emotional Intelligence, these reads help one think about how to achieve one's best, whether in work or play (think gambaru! Something an elderly village lady--and my former student in Japan--taught me through her life). A People's History is also worth reading (RIP Zinn!)."

Mr. Asato apologizes needlessly: "Sorry that most of my reads are non-fiction. I think it's a bad habit, but I'm picky about fiction. I'll say, however, that My Antonia has touched me deeply. Reading Willa Cather's prose is like diving into a gorgeously rich pool of color, light and shadows; where a smile, an eye askance, or nod conveys as many possibilities for reflection as the breadth of Cather's Nebraskan plains offers the dreamy peripatetic a place to roam."

On an added personal note, Mr. Asato muses:

"You know, I think I blindly hit one of the historical/archaeological 'jackpots' living in Peru. I've read that there are over 100,000 huacas (pyramidal sacred structures) throughout Peru. One can see them everywhere in Northern Peru! Moreover, I've learned things that aren't even in the textbooks that will necessarily change how we view the development of human civilizations."

Thanks, Mr. Asato, for taking the time to share with the Seabury reading community your thoughts on reading and Peru!

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January 20, 2010

A Dialogue about this year's Newbery Medal Winner


More serendipitous dialogue, this time with a Seabury alum who was FAMOUS for reading morningnoonandnightnonstop, in the mid 90's (which is before, I was reminded today, our current sixth graders were born!).

The Reverend Joy Caires, now an Associate Rector at Church of Our Saviour in Akron, Ohio, leads a pre-teen reading club. They read a book a month and include fun activities like overnights and food!

This is what Joy posted this morning: "4.5.6 book club tonight! Our author just won the Newbery for our pick this month!, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (great book!)."

Joy's friend sent her the New York Times' January 18 article
Rebecca Stead Wins Newbery for a New York Children’s Novel, to which Joy replied: "Huzzah!"

We have two copies of Newbery Medal winner When You Reach Me on the New Books pyramid (pictured above) -- it's science fiction, mystery, and adventure rolled into one. And it's a quick read too. My guess is you're going to love it!

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January 19, 2010

Talking about Dialogue and Historical Novels


This morning, Rebecca Serle, Seabury alum writer who lives in New York City and owns Nurturing Narratives, posted For the Love of Libraries in her blog. She talks about the magic of libraries and the dialogue that happens there, in a variety of ways.

So when our history teacher Mrs. C. came in to the library this afternoon to recommend a book for purchase that had been recommended to her by a student, I thought to myself, now this is what Rebecca (pictured above) was talking about: books do indeed encourage dialogue, and oftentimes, the lines between student and teacher can (happily) become blurred in the process.

Mrs. C. loved the book! "It's a great historical novel that steps into the lives of women in the Middle East. I couldn't put it down!" The book has romance, mystery, and history (it takes place in 19th century Iran, then Persia). Mrs. C. would recommend the book for mature middle school readers and above, and she thinks that girls would probably enjoy it more than boys.

The title?
Anahita's Woven Riddle by Meghan Sayres

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Feel free to comment here about historical novels you would recommend.

January 15, 2010

Bestsellers We Love

Here are some best sellers that have been popular with our readers:

The Twilight series
Harry Potter series
The Da Vinci Code

Seabury alum Krish McIntosh Renauer writes: "Aunt Patricia gave me a book for Christmas. I finally picked it up 4 hours ago & I couldn't put it down. The Art of Racing in the Rain. Brilliant."

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Feel free to comment on bestsellers YOU like.

January 14, 2010

What's So Funny?

Our art teacher Ms. Huff reported today that she's in the middle of reading The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World and one of the reasons she just loves it is because it's FUNNY. Her daughter Vanessa let her borrow the book with a warning not to give it away, a sure sign, Ms. Huff says, that the book is GOOD.

I'll be ordering copies for the library, of course, so check out the New Links in the IPAC (available on campus only), or look for it on the New Books Pyramid, in the next week or so.

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Feel free to comment here on a book you think Seabury (and other) readers would enjoy, that's FUNNY.

Remember the Bookmobile?


To say that 1980 Seabury alum Sarah Bott is an avid reader is a HUGE understatement!

She sent me this photo, and this is what she relates about her small-kid experiences with the bookmobile on Maui. (This was when Kihei consisted of kiawe trees.)

"Living in what was then a very rural place (Kihei in the old days, about a mile uphill on Ohukai Rd, before school busses showed up), the Bookmobile was a huge deal for me. I checked out many books at a time and I doubt I ever missed the Bookmobile. It came every Wednesday, if I remember correctly. Everyone in my family read. I was reading Beverly Cleary books in 1st and 2nd grade largely because I had older brothers and sisters reading all the time. When I was in 5th grade at Kihei School, the librarian told my teacher (Mrs. Oishi) that I had at some point checked out every single book in the school library - they had me write down the entire list of books. (That didn't mean I had great grades, LOL - getting into Seabury was a struggle for me. But I did love to read.)"

Thanks, Sarah, for sharing your wonderful story.

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January 12, 2010

11 Nonfiction Reads that Read Like Fiction

Seabury (and other) readers would enjoy these books.

Two copies of each are on their way, so look for them on the New Books Pyramid sometime next week!

Chasing Lincoln's Killer
by James Swanson

The Hot Zone: A Terrifying Story (the ebola virus)
by Richard Preston

Left for Dead
by Peter Nelson and Hunter Scott

She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall (Columbine shootings)
by Misty Bernall

Sightings: The Gray Whale's Mysterious Journey
by Linda Hogan, Brenda Peterson

The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage
by Cliff Stoll

The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in Siberia
by Esther Hautzig

The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear Reactor
by Ken Silverstein

The Upstairs Room. A Dutch Jewish girl describes the two-and-one-half years she spent in hiding in the upstairs bedroom of a farmer's house during World War II.
by Johanna Reis

No Choirboy: Murder, Violence, and Teenagers on Death Row
by Susan Kuklin

And here's #11, thanks to Mr. Hodara (see his comment below):
The Last Days of the Incas
by Kim MacQuarrie

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Feel free to comment on a book you think Seabury (and other) readers would enjoy, in this category.