Lifelong Learner

Library Day in the Life---Photo Essay

2011-01-26T06:34:00.052-05:00

Welcome to the Cub Run Elementary Library Media Center. I hope to be transparent as I share a window into my day as a librarian with 597 PreK-Grade 5 students. I arrive around 7 a.m. to prepare for the day. First I put up some new book displays. I make sure we have plenty of bear books on our school mascot, Cubby the Bear. We are a community of learners since opening our new school library in 2008.

Snow books ready for the students preparing for the prediction for a snow day on Wednesday.

Katie Kazoo Switcheroo book display is ready for book shoppers.

Super Bowl enthusiasts will love our football book collection.

Chart prepared to give students, teachers, and administrators the opportunity to cast predictions.

Service with a smile is my philosphy as teachers scurry through the library collecting books for curriculum needs.

With budget constraints, there are two and a half days when I am without a library clerk. I've rallied the fifth grade classes and created five S.T.A.R.S. (Student Technology and Research Specialists) teams to help with library tasks. My Monday team is energized and ready to roll with their carts to pick up books for the day.

The logo on their lab coats gives these student leaders added respect and value.

Here is what our S.T.A.R.S. return with in their carts.

Treasure Box rewards for all who bring in Box Tops for Education. This is a great way we have discovered to supplement our library budget that has been cut in half for the last two years.

Parent Volunteers have been generous with their help in the library. This kindergarten mom is my Monday guardian angel who helps with circulation tasks and shelving books.

I love hearing the friendly banter as students discuss their favorite football teams.

__________Drawing the line on their Super Bowl hopes

Even our Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) Dad gets involved in casting his vote.

8:25 a.m. Time for the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag

At 8:30 a.m. the first of two First Grade classes arrives for their library time.

Those eager faces look up at me with a sense of learning expectation. Will I be able to guide them in something passionate and worthwhile for their future success as citizens?

We virtually connect with Mo Willems as he gives us a humorous version of "Don't Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus".

Next we work on our fluency skills by doing a Readers' Theater script with Rebus name tags to assist our English Language Learners.

Scripts and Name Tags Prepared

Book Shopping Choices Galore

Connecting with Books

11:15 a.m. Book shelving waits while we focus on more innovative student learning outcomes.

The last half of Monday library lessons, we have our library clerk to assist the students while I focus on teaching.

iPads are fully charged and ready for students.

I'm intrigued by how focused the learners become when they do literacy lessons on the iPad. Kids DO want to learn, and I don't want to get in the way.

I'm pondering the possibility of doing action research to evaluate the comprehension levels of readers who use e-readers versus traditional paper books.

Spanish and Bilingual books take center stage for our many English Language Learners.

Corduroy greets children at the story steps area.

I work intentionally to stock our shelves with books of high interest to our diverse school population.

Mission Accomplished---One Child at a Time

Polar Bears and Penguins---Cool Picks!

Virginia Readers' Choice Reward for Reading

We are currently participating in our state's reading program.
Every year the Virginia Reading Council chooses ten books to read. In April we submit our votes and have a winning book for the school. It helps our students read a wide genre of books.

With eight classes scheduled for library lessons, the library cards are busy with check outs today.

My childhood photo mouse pad reminds me of early dreams of being a librarian.

1:15 p.m. Three fifth grade classes are scheduled to work on their Road Rally Research Movie Projects. Let the video taping roll. "Digital Media enables us to build more stages for our kids to express themselves." - Marco Torres

Editing the movie projects using iMovie. Teaching about proper copyright and citation creation is valuable learning time. Teachers need to stop saying, “Hand it in,” and start saying “Publish It.” Alan November

21st Century learners are welcome here. Standards for the 21st-Century Learner offer vision for teaching and learning to both guide and beckon our profession as education leaders. They both shape our library program and serve as a tool for me to use to shape the learning of students in our school.

Waldo hoovers over our eight iMac computers in the library. He is urging us on to think, grow, create and share our innovative learning projects.

The words of Ian Jukes, educator and futurist ring in my ears as I view the old way and the new way looms in the background. "We need to prepare students for THEIR future not OUR past."

3:00 p.m. Twwwaaannnnggg----line up. It's time to leave. How time flies.

3:35 p.m. I pause to reflect on the golden nuggets in our day today in the library. How did I better prepare our students for the future they face?

4:25 Hugs and encouragement to the after school tutoring learner.

Feeling weary at the end of this day. I reflect on a Mother Theresa quote: "Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired." Our diverse school population is needing me to be a genuine warm, encouraging presence in the library media center even when I feel exhausted.

4:30 p.m. Unplugging the laminator means the day in the elementary library media center is almost complete.

4:40 Turning off the lights on our day in the library I feel the passion for the many opportunities in the librarian position. We are a Title I school that has not passed Adequate Yearly Progress requirements in reading under the No Child Left Behind Legislation. The big question that looms in my mind is what have I done today to help boost our readers on to success not only on tests but in life? How can I be a guide on the side as our elementary students become producers and not just users? How effectively did I follow the guiding star: “To empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical producers and creators of information.”?

libraries past - libraries future

2010-05-12T06:29:00.000-04:00

Picnic Anyone?

2010-02-06T08:12:00.001-05:00

Picnic Anyone?
Originally uploaded by mjantzi@verizon.net

Fun times with coffee, books and family---Love this time of slowing down and enjoying life.

Audiobooks add to ELL Literacy Development

2009-05-04T21:43:00.001-04:00

Our first year as a learning community at Cub Run Elementary School is almost complete. It has been convincing to see how our English Language Learners have benefited from the use of audiobooks paired with novels. The audio and visual combination have enhanced their vocabulary and listening comprehension skills.

Next year I hope to circulate portable CD/cassette players so students will have access to these great learning resources in homes with limited media tools.

Thank You to My Personal Learning Network

2009-01-28T16:48:00.001-05:00

Globally "Standing By Each Other"

2008-11-13T06:51:00.002-05:00

Here is an amazing example of our global connectedness. We are able to sing together. What other peaceful possibilities are there?

I choose to DREAM BIG!

This song is going to carry me through my busiest day in the library media center.
I feel supported globally.

Historical Moments in our Land

2008-11-06T04:29:00.002-05:00

The Newseum shares all the covers of leading newspapers in the United States. It powerfully conveys the significance of our recent election.

I pray for President-elect Barack Obama as he already is preparing for the task at hand.

K-12 Online Conference is Engaging Lifelong Learners

2008-10-28T05:14:00.002-04:00

Thanks to David Warlick and Darren Kuropatwa for sharing this resource of visual pages. The K-12 Online Conference is offering many enriching speakers and inspiring concepts that we can apply in our classrooms.

Searchme

View in searchme: full | lite

Hopefully you will have time to listen to a few inspiring and innovative learners.

Side note:

Obama will be at a Rally in our town today. This feels like history in the making.
My library media center responsibilities are preventing me from attending this event.
It sounds like there will be a crowd attending to hear about his drive for change.

Communicating Environmental Ethics

2008-10-04T16:18:00.001-04:00

Find more videos like this on Inconvenient Youth

CRES Book Recommendations

2008-08-19T16:01:00.001-04:00

Enjoy our favorite books!

What is Reading Comprehension?

2008-07-05T08:48:00.004-04:00

| View | Upload your own

This past week I met with a sales representative for Accelerated Reading. It left me with a feeling of Big Business taking over our educational job of creating a lifelong passion for reading. The above slideshow resonates with my personal goal to take reading comprehension to a deeper level with my library media center visitors. When PreK-5 students come to the Cub Run LMC for literacy lessons, I hope to give them tools that will assist them in making sense of the text at a personal level.

Creepy Spider and Fly Eating Tree Frog

2008-05-09T11:57:00.002-04:00

Community vs Classroom

2008-05-08T08:41:00.002-04:00

Our Cub Run Elementary Library Media Center is still under construction. The mission is already alive and well.

Mission Statement:

to ensure that students and staff are lifelong readers and effective users of ideas and information in a print and digital world.

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I have such a deep passion for creating a sense of community in our schools versus just rote learning in our classrooms. The 21st century is calling me to guide elementary students on the global learning journey. With the connectivity that is available at our fingertips, I must not be afraid to open my students to the real learning opportunities that are currently available.

Best wishes to our journey of lifelong learning!

--mj

In Honor of Earth Day

2008-04-21T07:37:00.013-04:00

Last Tuesday, my third grade students hosted a Discovery Courtyard Walking Tour to celebrate wise use of our environment. It was a thrill to see the students taking ownership of our mini micro-habitats.

Parents and grandparents were treated to our "Secret Garden". Teams shared insights on the Prairie Grasslands Region, Solar Power Project, Desert Plateau Region, Woodlands Region, and Pond Ecosystem.

The Mountain View Elementary Discovery Courtyard has been a project in the making over the last eight years since the school opened in 2000. It has earned the National Wildlife Federation's Schoolyard Habitat honors. Students are eager to engage in outdoor learning projects in this Discovery Courtyard setting.

--mj

21st Century Library Media Center Here I Come!

2008-02-15T21:17:00.006-05:00

On Tuesday night, the Rockingham County School Board approved my new position as library media specialist for the new Cub Run Elementary School. It was an honoring experience to be the first hired staff member that the principal chose to make for this school. The library media center has become an essential learning hub of the 21st century school model. I instantly felt goosebumps as I read Joyce Valenza's well wishes warmly stated in my Facebook inbox. Her "Manifesto for 21st Century School Librarians" gives me focus and vision as I start getting bids from jobbers for the Opening Day Collection.
Doug Johnson posted a blog about "Not Your Grandma's Librarian" He made reference to the Scholastic Administrator article, "Meet Your New Library Media Specialist"

One of my Twitter friends, technolibrary, shared this great YouTube link.
Here's an innovative library media specialist that I can use as a role model.

Now it is time to begin plans for the creation of a warm exciting place for lifelong learning.

Get a Voki now!

I feel surrounded with such positive energizing professionals in my learning network.
Thanks for cheering me on in this new endeavor.

top photo taken on 2/11/08 by Margo Jantzi

Poetry Pizzazz using Voice Thread

2007-11-03T19:51:00.000-04:00

Our After School Enrichment students are enjoying using Voice Thread to post some of their favorite poems. It is great to use this tool as a way of collaborating between my two schools. Hey Jude has a collection of links for using Voice Thread on her del.icious account.

Marshall School Cutural Identity Voice Thread

Voice Thread Link to "Poetry Pizzazz"

Teachers Teaching Teachers on Ed Tech Talk about Voice Thread possibilities in the classroom. It features the co-founders of Voice Thread, Ben Papell and Steve Muth

Feel free to browse the poems my students have already featured. They would love to hear your thoughts and responses to their favorites.

---mj

Jigzone Experiment

2007-08-15T11:11:00.000-04:00

--mj

Meme 8 Random Facts

2007-08-09T20:09:00.000-04:00

As a glad you're feeling better campaign

for Jennifer Dorman, here goes my first attempt at a meme.

Photo credit: Claudecf

Some rights reserved. See here

First, the Rules:

Post these rules before you give your facts
List 8 random facts about yourself
At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged

Here are the eight facts:

1. I spent the summer of 1986 traveling with the Continental Singers. When our singing group was at the border to enter Romania, the guards took all our speakers and instruments. We had three concerts done all in acapella.

2. Growing up with seven brothers has helped me grow thick skin and a BIG heart.

3. I did my first geocaching today.

4. In middle school I played the accordian and received a trophy for my rendition of the Julida Polka.

5. My forensics speech that took me to the state finals was all about the Intelligence of Hogs.

6. My husband and I spent three weeks biking across the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.

7. I grew up in Michigan. Our Mennonite family raised sugar beets, navy beans, corn, alfalfa, beef cattle, and swine.

8. My favorite Bible verse is Micah 6:8, "God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

I'll tag anyone that reads my blog and has the time and inspiration to Meme 8 Random Facts.

Go for it!

--mj

Family Virtues and Values from Home

2007-07-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

My family photo from our reunion

I love the Desmond Tutu quote, "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

I see my seven brothers carrying on the family virtue of hard work and achievement. Our daughters are able to see the power of their roots when they visit their cousins. It is inspiring to see how we are finding niches of service in our various communities. I'm thankful for the gift of family connections and support.

--mj

Green Thoughts

2007-07-13T22:20:00.000-04:00

Environmental issues are getting a lot of media attention. A high school girl in our school district created a fabulous public service announcement about "Trail Etiquette".
I love her use of iMovie to share a powerful multimedia message. What a great way to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award.

Another reason I'm thinking so many green thoughts is that our daughter is traveling with the EMHS Discovery 2007 group. Their web site will give you an insight into their deeper learnings about land stewardship.

"That land is a community is the basic concept of ecology, but that land is to be loved and respected is an extension of ethics. ... A land ethic, then, reflects the existence of an ecological conscience, and this in turn reflects a conviction of individual responsibility for the health of land."

—Aldo Leopold in 'Land Ethic'

--mj

Collaboration with Claymation

2007-06-29T09:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to learn the beginning steps of creating a claymation movie using iMovie. The deepest joy came as I had a chance to collaborate with a fellow teacher at my school. We commented about working together more in the future. If we had more shared planning time during the school year, this would become a reality. My vision for the coming school year is to strive to collaborate more with classroom teachers. It is a tricky goal. At our elementary level, there are few moments that we can find for shared planning.

How have you found creative ways to collaborate in the school setting? I'm eager to hear ideas from others.

Literacy Learning using Digital Storytelling

2007-06-17T17:49:00.000-04:00

Embedded below is a movie clip of the digital stories that my First, Second and Third Graders created. I saw them edit and revise their storyboards and scripts since they knew they were going to have a real audience.

I like what Bud the Teacher said in his blog,

"The change comes when we begin to realize the power of sharing the information, of making the walls more transparent."

The Learning and Laptops blog features ninth grade honors students as they explored the BIG question, "What does literature say about human beings?"

Emotions come to the surface as I witness literacy learning at its most real and meaningful level.

mj--

Students Discovering Symmetry and Congruency in the School

2007-06-14T15:06:00.000-04:00

My first graders used their digital cameras and iMovie software to capture examples of symmetry and congruency in our school.

Pay Attention

2007-06-13T20:07:00.000-04:00

Please take a few minutes to watch the movie clip that I found on Teacher Tube: "Pay Attention". It motivates me to make sure that I create our students' curriculum that is appropriate to their current needs.

Teach Me More About...

* A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy
* Using Google in the Classroom - Google Tools Podcast, Google Docs Podcast, Internet Survival Tools
* Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
* Blogs (Social Software in the Classroom)
* Wikis
* Podcasts - Podcast Creation Guide (Apple), How to podcast
* Geocaching Games
* Google Earth
* Webquests
* E-Portfolios
* Virtual Manipulatives
* Cellphones in the Classroom
* iPods in the Classroom

The life long learner is open to making her classroom more appropriate for the students that walk through her classroom door this fall.

An additional nugget for reflection: Shift Happens

The enhanced, revised, expanded, etc. Did You Know/Shift Happens video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod:

--mj

Finished products: PSA using iMovie

2007-05-28T16:50:00.000-04:00

Here is what my students created using iMovie software.

Public Service Announcements

I enjoyed seeing the students apply their writing skills as they wrote drafts of their scripts.
Limiting the clips to 15 sec. caused a lot of discussion about what are the main ideas to cover in the message.

Attending the Northeast Discovery Educators Conference in Valley Forge was my place for inspiration. I love to integrate technology into our learning in real life ways.

Public Service Announcements

2007-02-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

My students are currently working on creating public service announcements. These are the topics that they have developed so far: 1. Bike Helmet Safety 2. Healthy Snacks 3. Seatbelt Safety 4. Internet Safety 5. Test Taking Tips 6. Environmental Awareness

It is exciting to see them type up their scripts and edit their storyboards. Now as we edit the video clips, we are trying to make them more clear, concise and convincing.

I'll be eager to see their finished products.

Warmly,
Margo

Grant Ideas Needed

2006-07-03T17:05:00.000-04:00

Today I researched possible grants for enhanced technology integration at the two schools where I work as a gifted ed. teacher. Does anyone out there know about possible sources of funding for technology tools and student projects?
If I'm going to reach my students' learning needs, I need to get funding to assist.

Please send me any ideas for public school grants.
MJ

LifeLongLearner...begins a new chapter

2006-07-02T15:36:00.000-04:00

Howdy out there.

I'm looking forward to using this site to interact with educators and students. What new thoughts and inspirations are on your minds?

I have more questions than answers:
How can I make learning real for my Challenge (Gifted Ed. students K-5)?
How can the integration of technology into the curriculum really make a difference?

I've just been at a five day Discovery Educator Network Regional Conference. Now I'm so inspired to incorporate new ideas and techniques into my lessons.
Thanks to Aaron Smith for his inspiring workshop on blogging.
Warmly,
Margo
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