All posts by John

General, School Media Specialist

Recommended App: LEGO Movie Maker

legoRecently, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) came out with their 25 Best Apps for Teaching & Learning for 2015. The apps were chosen because they foster innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration.

With the popularity of the recent LEGO movie, why not get your students creating their own LEGO movies? Now you can with the LEGO Movie Maker app. “Create your own stop-motion movie with this intuitive app that makes it easy to stage LEGOs and other objects, take multiple pictures and bring them to life as a sophisticated animation.” What a great tool to engage students in placing characters in book character scenes.

The app is FREE for iOS devices and AASL recommends it for All age group students. Check out the “How to make LEGO Stop Motion Videos with LEGO Movie Maker App” video below:

General, Public, School Media Specialist

The YA anti-heroine

Anna and Elsa of Arendelle by Yuurisans Katsucon 2014 Disney Frozen Cosplay“To me, mean, monstrous and even murderous girls are frequently far more alive – and believable – than their mealy-mouthed, “relatable” counterparts.”

Do you think there are too many like-able girl characters in YA fiction? Take a read from The Guardian about how mean girls are revitalising young adult fiction.

Do you have any great YA books with girls behaving badly? Add them to the list in the comments below!

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/nxk9mhr, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist

We’ve Learned

photo-1423666639041-f56000c27a9aJob openings

  • There is a Technology Assistant position at Zimmerman Elementary School (deadline: 10/8/2015). The job is in charge of maintaining technology and assisting staff and students with technology needs throughout the site, using a combination of PCs, Macintosh, iPads, Chromebooks and related systems.
  • The Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley is looking for a Library Consultant/Librarian. Details can be found on their website.
  • ECRL has several openings. In particular they have 5 Branch Library Assistant positions, a Branch Librarian II position in Pine City, and a Branch Librarian I position in Hinckley. Check out their website for all the openings.
  • GRRL currently has 2 openings. One is for a Computer Support Technician (open until filled), and the other is for a Library Aide in Sauk Centre (deadline: 10/7/2015).

New on the job

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (William Ivan), licensed under CC0 1.0
General, School Media Specialist

MDE Recognizes 36 Schools for Excellence in Behavioral Prevention Efforts

state_mnFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2015
State Recognizes 36 Schools for Excellence in Behavioral Prevention Efforts

ROSEVILLE – Today the Minnesota Department of Education recognized 36 schools for their successful work using Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS), a data-driven program that provides districts and individual schools throughout Minnesota with training and technical support to promote improvement in student behavior, especially for students with challenging social behaviors.

The schools receiving recognition as “Sustaining Exemplar Schools” are leaders in supporting positive behavior, improving school climate and increasing student achievement. “I want to congratulate these 36 schools for finding innovative ways to proactively address behavior,” said Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. “PBIS helps schools set clear expectations for students, teachers and families and new ways to address behavior issues. Each of these schools is leading the way for creating respectful and supportive school climates and the positive impact that work can have on student achievement.”

The 36 schools being recognized are:
• Woodson Kindergarten Center – Austin Public Schools
• Washburn Elementary – Bloomington Public Schools
• Indian Mounds Elementary School – Bloomington Public Schools
• Edward Neill Elementary School – Burnsville, Eagan, Savage School District
• Nicollet Junior High School – Burnsville, Eagan, Savage School District
• Sioux Trail Elementary – Burnsville, Eagan, Savage School District
• King Elementary School – Deer River Public School District*
• Lincoln Park Middle School – Duluth Public Schools
• Chanhassen High School – Eastern Carver County Schools
• Chaska Middle School West – Eastern Carver County Schools*
• West Education Center – Intermediate District 287
• Lindbergh Elementary School – Little Falls Community Schools
• Marshall Middle School – Marshall Public Schools
• Morrison County Learning Center – Mid-State Education District
• Bel Air Elementary School – Mounds View Public Schools*
• Sunnyside Elementary – Mounds View Public Schools*
• Turtle Lake Elementary School – Mounds View Public Schools*
• Valentine Hills Elementary School – Mounds View Public Schools*
• Pine Island Elementary – Pine Island Public Schools
• Pine Island Middle School – Pine Island Public Schools
• North Elementary – Princeton Public Schools*
• Princeton Middle School – Princeton Public Schools*
• Twin Oaks Middle School – Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools*
• Sonnesyn Elementary School – Robbinsdale Area Schools
• Oak Hill Community School – St. Cloud Area School District*
• Apollo High School – St. Cloud Area Schools
• Talahi Community School – St. Cloud Area Schools
• Westwood Elementary School – St. Cloud Area Schools*
• Farnsworth Aerospace Lower – St. Paul School Public Schools
• Four Seasons A+ Elementary School – St. Paul School Public Schools
• Galtier Community School – St. Paul School Public Schools
• Jackson Elementary – St. Paul Public Schools
• Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet – St. Paul Public Schools
• Saint Paul Music Academy – St. Paul Public Schools
• Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Junior High – Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Public School District
• Matoska International Elementary – White Bear Lake Area Schools

* Denotes school that has achieved Exemplar Recognition for at least two consecutive years.

Since its launch in 2005, PBIS has spread across the state and is currently being implemented by 523 Minnesota schools, or 27 percent of the state’s nearly 2,000 schools. To establish a PBIS program, 80 percent of a school’s teachers and staff need to agree to implement a more positive approach to discipline. Participating schools then receive intensive professional development, including instruction in how to monitor and track results. Data from participating schools show clear evidence of the program’s success, specifically in reduced number of behavioral incidents, fewer student suspensions and increased levels of student engagement.To be identified as a Sustaining Exemplar School, staff needed to submit an application that documented their work with PBIS, including, professional outcomes, a plan for sustaining the program and how they are giving back and sharing their practices with other schools throughout the state. Schools must also have been implementing PBIS for at least three years.Plans are underway to develop recognition for school districts in 2016.

General, Public

Windsor Public Library’s self-publishing machine is a hit

Being the first to try something is sometimes a gamble, but in this case it seems to have paid off. The Windsor Public Library was the first in Canada to invest in a self-publishing Espresso Book Machine in 2012. Now with 10,699 book published, and many smiling faces, that gamble has become a service that their users love.

The Espresso Book Machine produces professionally-bound paperback books into the hands of local authors. It even led to the birth of a writer’s group in the community. 98 per cent of the customers are self publishing, said Sue Perry, who helps run the machine. “There are children’s books, textbooks, memoirs, fiction novels, how-to manuals and genealogy books.”

Read the article about the Windsor Public Libraries self-publishing machine now.