Terrific Tiles

Using the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner:  Manage and Organize, 2.1.2 Organize knowledge so that it is useful. 2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to analyze and organize information. and 3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use and assess.,  the American Association of School Librarians selected the web 2.0 application, Symbaloo . 

Symbaloo is a means of organizing a start-up page that contains all those web sites used most frequently at a glance; Your Personal Internet Desktop.  For education its function could be to organize a start-up page with links to all those resources for a particular project or special links for a specific class or grade.  It is free and very easy to use.

To register for a free account give your name, email address, generate a password and designate by checking a box whether you want a newsletter and if you accept the terms of use and privacy policy of the site.

To start click on a tile just to see the results.  Tiles can be dragged and dropped, added or deleted.  The center box is where applications such as searching in Google, checking your email or viewing the news will appear.  Those tiles are widget tiles.

If you are searching for a particular web site or subject just type it in the search box in the upper right hand corner.  If a particular web site is not listed as a result of a search, Symbaloo allows the user to create their own tile by typing in the URL. Text and tile color can be chosen as well as uploading an image for the tile.  Tiles can be as generic or personal as the user desires.

 A new webmix can be created for each subject and a user can toggle between them using the tabs.  To add a new webmix click on the +. 

There is a Share icon in the upper right hand corner.  When clicked it gives the creator two options: share with the world or share with friends.  Share with the world places your Symbaloo in the Symbaloo Gallery.  Share with friends means that the Symbaloo can be sent via email or posted to Facebook, Twitter or Hyves.  The application gives you a link to your specific Symbaloo that can be copied and pasted.  If you so desire the Symbaloo can be removed from the Gallery.  Even when shared it can be continually updated.

Without parental consent users need to be 16 years of age.  At the bottom of the page is a blog and help option. 

There is a companion web site better aimed toward educators--SymbalooEDU .  The pre-designed entry level webmix is more relative to the intended audience.  Read this announcement of the official launch in September of 2010.

Here is a link to the Symbaloo I have created for school.  It is a work in progress.

The Secret Is Out

There is no legend more popular at our storytelling sessions than that of The Wendigo.  Listeners lean in and draw closer, one to the other, as the tale of an evil, cannibalistic, supernatural being craving human flesh unfolds.  Whether giving voice to the classic Algernon Blackwood tale, the version collected as part of  Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark or a variation, The Night of the Sasquatch (author unknown), listeners are spellbound. 

Authors, Christoper Golden and Tim Lebbon , combine their award winning writing talents to bring this new title, The Secret Journeys of Jack London: Book 1:  The Wild, a first in a series, to readers yearning for an adventure unlike any before taken.

A two page conversational prologue spoken by an old man, a friend of London's, opens up endless possibilities for this tale and those to come.  Readers step through time to find Jack London seventeen years old aboard the steamer, Umatilla, with his brother-in-law, James Shepard.  The two are bound, as are thousands of others, for the Yukon Territory to claim their portion of the gold.

For Jack it is not only about the gold but the hunger he has for the wild; for seeking to find himself within those places that few men have ventured or tamed.  Who is Jack London?  he wondered, certain that this journey would bring him the answer.

This journey does indeed bring Jack more than most could survive or believe.  Losing Shepard to health concerns early on, two other good men, hope filling their hearts, join Jack as they battle desperation, white water rapids, ice, near death in the forest and the cloak of a treacherous winter as they make their way to Dawson, gateway to treasure.

Reaching Dawson the trio believe that the tide will turn as indeed it does; not in the way any of them could have possibly foreseen.  Terror in the form of human kidnappers, spirits of the forest and the legend of the North, that becomes larger than life, stalk them at every turn.  As the plot moves forward the tension is palpable as each new chapter begins and ends in another; all tied together without flaw.

This book is outstanding on numerous levels.  First and foremost it is a story of pure, no-holds-barred adventure in the old, classic style set within the boundaries of the Yukon during the Gold Rush.  The language employed by Golden and Lebbon brings the harshness of the land and the endeavours of the men and women during that time clearly and concisely within the grasp of readers.  What follows are only three examples.  My copy of this book was peppered by sticky notes by the time I finished.

The sky had been a crystalline blue when the Umatilla dropped anchor, but on the shore a light mist seemed to hang permanently above Dyea, and the plumes of chimney smoke from the settlement only added to the gauzy veil that obscured the eastward view. 

The thundering water formed a violently foaming, snaking ridge along the base of the canyon.  It was monstrous.  The ground shook, the air was heavy with the roar, and spray cooled Jack's skin like the touch of ghostly fingers. 

Like a predator stalking its tender prey, the storm broke silently over the head of the hillside and started shedding its load into the valley.

Secondly, as stated in the authors' note, due to research the history presented within these pages is just as it was with the exception of Jack London's age aligning with the time of the Gold Rush in the Yukon.  I have read other accounts of the Chilkoot Trail and the city of Dawson; the inhumanity that arose out of greed and hopelessness is stark in its realism and was portrayed so here.

Another aspect that I found engaging, as I believe my students will too, is Jack's musings about his life, how he responds to the wilderness in which he travels and the changes in personality that evolve as a result of the events that ensue.  One of my favorite passages that reflect these authors' takes on young Jack is:

He was thrilled to his primal core, and terrified as well, a blend of sensations that he had experienced before and would likely know again. His soul cried in exultation at the adventure ahead. One day, he knew, such yearning could be the death of him.

In this journey the authors have given Jack a spirit guide in the form of a wolf.  At times it is just a presence howling in the distance or the wisp of a shadow flashing through the trees.  When death stalks Jack, it is a living breathing protector. 

The illustrations of artist, Greg Roth, throughout this story enhance the feel of a classic read, historical adventure and the terror that lurks in the backdrop of northern realms.  Knowing that one should not judge a book by its cover, please feel free in the case of this tale, as the cover is truly a window into a breathtaking journey soon not forgotten.

Readers will be pleased to note that the movie rights have been purchased by Twentieth Century Fox.  Book Two: The Sea Wolves is to be released in February 2012.

I highly recommend The Secret Adventures of Jack London:  Book 1:  The Wild for upper middle school age and above.  It would be my hope that if they are not already familiar with books authored by Jack London that this will set them on the right track.

Twenty-Four Hours In Twitterville #4

With the closing chapter in the Harry Potter movies to be released in less than a week, there are numerous tweets about author, J. K. Rowling.  Via Shelf Awareness, The Daily Beast has a small article about statements made by Rowling at the premier in the U. K. of the last movie.  She hints that more Potter might be possible; after all she is the creator.

By following a tweet by Publishers Weekly, Digital Spy has ten interesting statements of facts about J. K. Rowling along with some great videos that fans may or may not know or have seen.

Richard Byrne of Free Technology For Teachers has a great post, Google Books For Educators-A How To Guide, with a tutorial for educators about finding free eBooks on Google Books and placing them on a virtual shelf for students to use.

Larry Ferlazzo of Larry Ferlazzo's Websites of the Day has an interesting post, The Best Ways to Use Photos In Lessons, about using photos to prompt creative and critical thinking as well as writing .  Web 2.0 formats which are best for this are listed.

At Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast Julie Danielson earlier this week conducted an interview with Kady MacDonald Denton the illustrator of the books by Bonnie Becker, A Birthday for Bear, A Bedtime for Bear and A Visitor for Bear.  The interview is in depth with wonderful questions and answers, loads of pictures, and a glimpse of the newest book in the Bear series, The Sniffles for Bear.  Personally, I can not wait to see this book when it is released this fall.

One of my favorite sources for book reviews is Booklist magazine.  This morning they tweeted about the cover of the July 2011 issue.  It is an illustration by Scott McKowen of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.  The illustration is beautiful.

Another outstanding source of not only reviews but articles pertinent to education and libraries is the School Library Journal.  They just announced at their site the winner of the 2011 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass.

Dogs Will Be Dogs

When you really stop to think about it, our lovable canine companions have us pretty well in tune to their daily schedule which runs like clockwork.  Who needs to set an alarm anymore?  I do not.  It's the same time each and every day for getting up for breakfast, going for a walk, breaking at lunch for another walk, dinner, another walk, and hello...isn't it time to go out again because aren't we going to bed now?

Author/illustrator Carter Goodrich must know this to be true for how else could he so thoroughly and completely convey this innate trait of dogs in his latest title, Say Hello to Zorro! 

Readers are initially introduced to Mister Bud, a lovable dog with everything just the way he likes it; his own house, bed, toys, dish and schedule.  This schedule is enumerated page by page, sometimes punctuated by a human response; "Okay...okay.", Take it easy....".  Mister Bud concludes this list by looking gruffly, straight at the reader and making no bones about no exceptions, whatsoever. 

But as they say about the best laid plans, er schedule, that is all about to change. One day at Greet and Make a Fuss Time, Mister Bud is astonished to have to say hello to Zorro.  The worst part is that he is moving in!  What!? Is this really happening?  It did not go well for these two...oh no...not one little bit until they discovered that they had something in common.  A lasting, lovable and laughable friendship is formed.  Spare text, at times only a couple words, sets the tone and spins this tale at exactly the right pace.

Carter Goodrich is gifted at using watercolor to depict expression and each little canine nuance with paws-itive panache.  The eight small portraits of our companions that decorate the endpapers foreshadow their daily escapades.  The unique presentation of the title page and publisher's information, beneath the two playing towel tug-of-war, on sides opposite on which they would normally appear, set the tone for change to come.  Before the story begins the page showing the two sitting side by side with their backs to the reader surrounded by circles of bibliographic information informs the reader that an unusual treat awaits.  Use of color and space delineate mood and story flow as does the different font type, size and color of the narrator, human and Mister Bud and Zorro.

The entire book is a delight in word and visuals but my two favorites are Wake-up Time showing a metal footboard, quilt and Mister Bud's long nose and eyes peering at the sleeper and  Nap time was more comfortable picturing a large, soft, yellow rug with a hint of a green strip beneath Mister Bud and Zorro at rest back to back.

The author promises that this is the first in a series.  Readers will hardly be able to wait.

Notable Notebook and Slide Show Partner

The American Association of School Librarians publication, Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, is the basis for their selection of The Top Websites for Teaching and Learning .  This is the third year that this selection has been made at the annual convention.   It is my goal to highlight those sites, that have not been done so yet in this blog, prior to the beginning of the new school year, 2011-2012, that I believe will be useful to my students, staff and parents.

Under the Media Sharing standards, 3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use and assess.  3.3.4 Create products that apply to authentic, real-world context.,  Nota is a web 2.0 application
that is more than deserving of recognition. 

In a nutshell this is what the creators of this free online tool say about it:  Nota is a unique, cutting-edge collaborative web platform that allows users to create, share and collaborate on presentations and virtually any other form of online material. Using Nota’s proprietary toolset, users can instantly integrate text, video, maps, clip art, photos from web album or on the local computer, or license-free images from Flickr, and material from an ever-expanding array of sources. Users can then instantly embed their work in Facebook or blogs, and can share and collaborate with friends.

Having spent several hours exploring and working on a Nota page(s) of my own this morning, I can say that it is easy to use and will have multiple uses in the classroom.

Registration is as simple as selecting a username, submitting an email address and choosing a password.  If users are under the age of 13, parents are asked to complete this process with them.  Log in and the option of editing a Nota page or creating a new notebook will appear.  After a name for a new notebook is typed in and the selection of making it Public or Private is determined, click the create button.  Please note that by choosing Private it means that only you and invited users can view the Nota pages.  Also be aware that multiple pages can be placed in a notebook.

On the right is a series of icons representing  tools to use on the page:  select, pen, erase, text, shapes, undo and redo.

 On the left is a large array of items that can be added:  Upload (from your computer or from a URL), FontArt (typing in text and have the font changed), Photo (a large database), Movie (upload from YouTube), Clipart, iSummit Clipart (more to be explored because I believe that the founders are Japanese), Notalink (link to other Notas), Wikipedia (embed search results), Map (Google) and a series of web albums, Flickr, Picasa and Facebook.  Gadgets such as a message board, access counter and web cam can be included on a Nota.

At the top of the work space the background color can be altered, users can choose whether the page is altered or comments can be left.  The page can be discarded from this point or a new page can be added.  When working on a specific Nota with multiple pages, the user is able to toggle between those pages to change or update.

I am currently working on a Nota, Graphic Novels, which is a work in progress.  It will be a listing of all those graphic novels, as single books or in a series, that we currently have in either the elementary or middle school collections.  Here is the link to Graphic Novels .

Photo Peach is a sister web site that features a web 2.0 application that is one of the most sophisticated in its simplicity.  The same username and password for Nota can be used here.

After log in simply upload photos from your computer, Facebook or Picasa.  The next screen that appears allows you to drag and drop to change their order, pull them to the right to delete them from the show or double-click on an individual photo to enlarge it.  Photos can be swapped from the delete side back to the original side.  When you have uploaded all the images that you desire a title, description and music can be added. 

Even after the slide show is completed the user can edit captions/photos, music/title, add photos, manage comments, delete the show or download it.  By clicking on icons on the side when previewing it can be shared on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, emailed or embedded in a blog or web site. 

Spring Beauty on PhotoPeach



 
Nota and PhotoPeach are two online tools whose ease of use and polished end results make them valuable to educators, their students and parents alike.

Where Are We? And How Did We Get Here?

Blurry-eyed I closed the cover of the book thinking, "How did I finish this so fast?".  What I really should have said was not a question but a statement, "I inhaled this book!"  No Passengers Beyond This Point, the newest title out by Newbery Honor winner, Gennifer Choldenko, takes readers on a journey to places yet unseen and into their own hearts.

I should have known that this book would captivate my interest and grab hold of my time when a prologue labeled, Black Crows, speaks of endless waiting for good things to happen but within the suddenness of seconds lost, bad leaps out with a shout from nowhere.  A seemingly normal day begins and then ends with dreams, hopes and normalcy shattered.  There are signs but one does not know to look until thinking too late to glance behind.

In less than two days, three siblings, India, Finn and Mouse, will be leaving the only home they have every known.  Their school teacher Mom tried to save it but the banks have foreclosed.  What is most shocking to them, besides the short notice, is that they are going to Colorado to live with Uncle Red whom they barely know.  Staying behind to finish the school year, their Mom will be living with other family in California.  As the words of the song say---"...leavin' on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again..."

Landing much too early to be Denver they find the airport strangely deserted.  A sign reading Tompkins clearly indicates that they should accompany an odd, baby-faced looking driver with a shocking pink taxi covered in white feathers.  Hesitant they enter the vehicle which does not take them to Fort Baker, Colorado but to Falling Bird, Not On A Map.

Upon entering Falling Bird crowds lining the streets cheer them as movies of their lives play on every possible surface.  Each is led to a dream home that mirrors their every desire.  Within a day though change is eminent, stringent rules dictate their future, each is being wooed, dropped and shuttled from one strange setting to another, choices needing to be made confuse them, time is running out and when it does, will our trio be together?  Where is home and which of them will be there? 

Choldenko has penned a fantasy that takes readers just off the edge of time and space; a realm where what might be resides.  Her characters', India, a teen longing to belong, have a best friend at all costs and rebelling against her Mom, Finn, the middle son ever the peacemaker, worrying and wanting to play basketball with the best of them and Mouse, the five-year-old sister a genius questioning all in her need to know accompanied by her friend, Bing, who may or may not be invisible, interactions so rich in dialogue and thought are what drive the storyline. 

It is their ties to one another that brings this novel to its blazing conclusion complete with an ending astonishing in its possibilities.  Educators and book club fans will be pleased with the discussion questions at the author's web site.

Enjoy this video as Gennifer Choldenko talks about No Passenger Beyond This Point, takes us into her home and we follow her out and about in San Francisco, the setting of Al Capone Does My Shirts.

Phew...

All readers have to do is look at the cover of author/illustrator, Paul Schmid's book, A Pet for Petunia, to know exactly what kind of pet this little waif has in mind.  And having had many near encounters walking with Xena through the neighborhood (Is our little neck of the woods in northern Michigan the National Headquarters?), I know, as my younger readers will too, just how unlikely this is to occur.

Within the turn of a few pages, it's crystal clear that Petunia loves everything about skunks; their cuteness, their cuddliness, their black-and-white-striped furriness.  Just imagine, a live one would be twice as nice as the stuffed pal she totes around.
          Petunia wants, wants, wants! a REAL pet skunk.

She triples her use of the magic word, Please, chatting about each and every task and activity she and Skunkie can and will do.  When her parents finally get a word in, they simply say, They stink. 

Her disbelief at that single statement explodes in a ranting dissertation that is filled with sentences so typical, I challenge any reader not to laugh.  Of course, this little bundle of sweetness has no choice but to leave the house for a walk in the woods.

And yes, there she meets a real, live skunk.  Oh, the joy of it.  Oh, the...  Within a whiff of time Petunia's attitude alters as does the direction of the path she is taking.  She makes a beeline for her bedroom at home where she rethinks her wants, finds acceptance in what she already has until she sees another something special that just might make the perfect pet.

Schmid's use of color, black, purple and touches of golden yellow, elevate the spare, lyrical text to an invitation; an invitation into the pure childhood innocence of Petunia's world.  When he chooses to use a purple background to frame the parent's earth-shattering statement and a background of darkened yellow as Petunia shouts out her tirade, in contrast to white throughout the rest of the book,  readers know that emotions have shifted.  Paul Schmid's illustrations take the less is more mindset giving reader more spirit, more laughter and much more fun.

Be sure to treat yourselves by reading this interview with Paul Schmid at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.