eBooks are here to stay.  Look for my eBook/eReader survey.  I suspect I'll always want to hold a book in my hand to read!

Links of Note

http://www.awesomestories.com/
http://www.myilibrary.org/IPS/websites.html
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meme
the definition of meme...what is knew in our culture and what is going on.
http://bookburger.typepad.com/

Online Writing Lab MLA Format

Style manuals change with the times. The writing lab at Purdue University is my first stop when checking how to cite a source. Of course Clovis High School library always keeps a copy of the latest version of the MLA Style Guide. We currently have the 7th edition.

Steps in the Research Process

•Develop a Topic

•Conduct preliminary research (presearch) to focus/narrow the topic. 

•Brainstorm keywords and phrases.

•Set a Goal--Develop Research Questions

•What I know

•What I think I know

•What I want to learn

•Essential Questions: Not a 'Yes' or "No' answer

•Find Resources

•Primary or Secondary Sources

•Formats where information can be found i.e.

•Book, Encyclopedia, Electronic Databases

•Internet: Evlauate web sites for Timeliness, Authority, Coverage, Objectivity.

•Conduct Research

•Note-taking--Cornell notes, Two column notes, stars-dashes-dots

•Paraphrase

•Summarize

•Direct Quote

•Write down needed citiation information (Bib cards)

•Use citation information to create works cited page in Easybib

•Organize Notes

•Use graphic organizers

•Check to see if you have enough information to answer the questions you developed in Step 2

•Create your final product

•Essay, report, PowerPoint, video, etc.

•Evaluate your final product

•Self assessment

•Peer editing

•Spelling and grammar check

 

Based on the Handy 5 Research Model

Dried Cherry and Almond Cookies with Vanilla Icing on the Food Network

Dried Cherry and Almond Cookies with Vanilla Icing on the Food Network

I just finished baking these delicious cookies. Time to sit down with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. Enjoy your weekend.

"Radiance" by Alyson Noel

"Radiance" by Alyson Noel
Life in the hereafter sounds beautiful and full of hope is this story of a 12-year old girl killed in a car accident. But she had to help other people 'cross the bridge' before she can move on. She's a Soul Catcher in this companion novel to The Immortals by the same author. 4-stars.

Dedication to the WWW

Dedication to keeping a web page current, fresh and new is critical to repeat visitors. As an educator it's easy to simply post current projects, class handouts, etc.
As a librarian I already have a page that links students to the library catalog as well as our ebooks and online databases. I can add other links to the page but I also want to direct students to what is relevant to our school library, books, and assignments. I don't want to have multiple web pages to keep up with or to expect our students or teachers to frequent. That being said, it is also important to have something for everyone.
Some students are avid readers and want to keep up with the newest books. Other students want to keep up with classroom tasks and assignments.
The World Wide Web is dynamic and changing as are those who surf that web. So if I have a web page now for one thing and next year that page is no longer relavant, I can easily remove that page and create a new one that meets the needs of my students--all 1500 of them. And that number and those individuals change every year!