Wiffiti

Wiffiti: "publishes real time messages to screens in thousands of locations from jumbotrons to jukeboxes, bars to bowling alleys and cafes to colleges. You can interact with Wiffiti from your mobile phone or the web."



If you want to share what you've been reading, following the directions at the top of the Wiffiti. (If you have a limited number of texts/month, use them responsibly.) Also, please keep your responses school appropriate!

Teachers, here are some ideas for use Wiffiti in the classroom:

• brainstorming
• receive answers to homework questions
• receive answers to in-class questions
• field trip or museum visit observations
• create sentences in foreign languages classes using target vocabulary or grammatical structure
• Imagine the possibilities!

Here is a nice disclaimer about cell phone use that I found on the JoeWoodOnline blog:

"I believe students can use cell phones as a learning tool. Think of a teacher you know who hates cell phones. If you post inappropriate or off-topic messages, you will be proving that person right and me wrong...and your phones will be disappearing forever in your pockets."

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by the Breaking the Spine blog, that spotlights upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Dark and Hollow Places

by Carrie Ryan

Publication Date: March 22, 2011

From Amazon.com:

"Annah knows she has a twin sister, but she forgot her long ago. Back when they went to play in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she and Elias lost her, and after that there was no going back to the village.
Life's been hard, but Elias has taken care of her, and living in the Dark City can help one to forget the horror of the Unconsecrated—if you try hard enough.
But when Elias disappears, Annah's world crumbles. To her, life isn't worth much more than the walking dead who roam the wasted world she lives in. It's not until she meets Catcher that she cares to start living again.
Yet Catcher has secrets. Dark, terrifying secrets that link him to a past she's longed to forget and to a future too deadly to consider.
Annah must decide: Can she continue to live a world covered in the blood of the living?
Or is death the answer to all her problems?"

What book are you waiting for?

You Are What You Read

You've all heard the expression "you are what you eat," right? Now Scholastic has put a new spin on it with their site You Are What You Read

FAQ » You Are What You Read: "Books play an important role in shaping who we are and who we will become. You Are What You Read is a place for readers all over the world to connect with each other through their shared “Bookprints,” as we celebrate the books that make us who we are today.

Once you sign up, you’ll be able to input your Bookprint – the five books that were the most special to you. You’ll then be able to connect with other kids who share the same books you like and discover new books to enjoy."

This is another social networking tool for readings and it is VERY cool! You can even compare your favorite books with "Names You Know," including celebrities such as Donovan McNabb, Tommy Hilfiger, Scarlett Johannson, Taylor Swift, and more!

Book Trailers

Here are booktrailers for some of the new books in the library:



From YouTube user cosproductions.



From YouTube user PenguinYoungReaders.



From YouTube user HenryHoltBYR.




From YouTube user Stephanie Kuehnert.

Glogster

I recently revamped the Library's Toolbox Pro page using Glogster, a tool for creating digital collages. The Library's page is located at http://www.elmiracityschools.com/shs/library

You can click on any of the pictures that are circled in pink when you mouse over them. For example, if you click on the Castle Learning Online picture, you will go directly to the site--no more typing in web addresses!

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Glogster EDU - 21st century multimedia tool for educators, teachers and students: "A web 2.0 platform that easily allows users to upload photos, videos, text, audio and more to create a unique online, interactive poster.
A new and creative digital outlet for educators to help keep students ENGAGED and make learning more fun!
A simple and easy interface designed to introduce basic concepts to students.
A series of teamwork mechanisms to allow users to publish and share their creations and to collaborate with other users on joint efforts.
A secure, private, safe platform that can be monitored directly by teachers.
A valuable learning tool that can be integrated with several core subjects including math, science, history, technology, art, photography, music and more.
A tool that fosters advancement of skills as students progress through grade levels.
A virtual, digital, educational platform that transcends age, gender, background, subject matter, grade level, school type, location, etc."

Book Review: The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid is by the author of the Percy Jackson series. For this new series, Rick Riordan brings the Egyptian gods to life.

Carter and Sadie Kane are siblings who have been raised separately since their mother's death under mysterious circumstances. Carter travels this world with his father, the famous Egyptologist Julius Kane. Sadie lives with her maternal grandparents in England.

The book starts with Julius and Carter visiting Sadie in London on Christmas Eve. Julius has arranged a special private tour of the British Museum. In an attempt to summon an Egyptian god, Julius apparently destroys the Rosetta Stone and unleashes five gods, including Set, the family's mortal enemy. Julius disappears, and Carter and Sadie are left to rescue their father. Along the way, they encounter additional gods in human form and learn a secret about their heritage. This is a very entertaining book. While reading, I learned a lot about the gods of Egypt. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

Good News About Reading!

Teens are still reading for pleasure.

This is not a surprise to me. I have had students (and staff) absolutely swarming (pun intended) the new book carts all this week, waiting for the books to be shelf-ready!

I love it!