Van Meter Library VOICE

The 6th Graders Amazing "I Am A Digital Citizen" Animoto's

2012-01-17T21:40:00.000-08:00

I teach a class to all of our 6th graders at Van Meter called Technology Literacy. To start off the class each quarter, we talk about being a digital citizen.

They took our conversation and their knowledge to create some pretty amazing Animoto's.

Today they shared them with our class. We were so impressed by the work of all the groups.

We couldn't wait to share them with you too.

Celebrate World Read Aloud Day on March 7th...."Change the World, Story by Story"

2012-01-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

(Cross-posted at Two Libraries One Voice)

On March 7, 2012 we will be celebrating World Read Aloud Day with the world.

The theme this year says it all....

Change the World, Story by Story

This amazing day is sponsored by LitWorlds, whose mission is, "to use the power of story to cultivate literacy skills in the world's most vulnerable children through Education, Advocacy and Innovation."

Through social media such as Skype, Twitter, and Facebook we will come together once again to celebrate the power of words and magic of literacy.

Last year we celebrated by connecting with 13 other classrooms and 9 authors throughout the day. It was one of the best days and one we will never forget. So when LitWorld announced WRAD 2012, we just couldn't wait to start planning.

We have created the "Change the World, Story by Story" wiki. If you would like to join us on March 7th, please join the wiki and sign up on the "Skype Schedule and Projects" page. We will post different resources and artifacts as well on the wiki.

John created these beautiful posters and they are decorating our hallways.

Shannon created this banner for the wiki and it could also be used as a bookmark for WRAD.

We are also VERY excited to announce that we have been invited by LitWorlds to be WRADvocates. As WRADvocates our role is to be the "Ambassador for World Read Aloud Day" is our area by spreading the word through social media, celebrations, and connections that we will make.

As we look ahead to the year and all of the events in front of us, World Read Aloud Day is definitely one that will bring excitement, fun, and new friendships to our students and school communities.

And we hope that you will want to bring this to yours too by joining us on March 7th.

Your happy is never too loud...

2012-01-03T15:12:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Day, we went to the movies.

We saw "We Bought a Zoo" directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Matt Damon as the dad Benjamin Mee; Scarlett Johansson as Kelly, the young veterinarian at the zoo; Colin Ford as Dylan, his son; and adorable Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Rosie, his daughter.

The movie is based on the true story of Ben buying and moving to the zoo with his children. His wife died 6 months earlier, his son was struggling, and his daughters love of life and the things around her led him to easily make the decision to take on this new adventure.

Not only did I love the story of how they turned the zoo around and created a new family with the people who worked there but I also hung onto so many of the words. They stood out to me because they carried a message of hope, one that makes you ask yourself questions such as....are you living the life you want, does your life have purpose, are you getting what you want from it?

In the beginning little Rosie says to her Dad while looking out the window at the neighbors having fun, "Their happy is too loud."

That really stuck out to me because there is nothing better in life than loud happy.....think about that for a minute.

Later in the movie, Ben and Dylan are talking about life. Listen to this clip and think about the words that he says.

I love this...."All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it."

Have you ever had anyone tell you that? What would happen if you took a chance today and did something wild, completely out of the ordinary?

And how about this.....Have you ever told someone else that?

photographymojo.com

Throughout the movie, Ben talks about his wife and her love for living, for the little things in life. He tells how she loved flying red kites and....

abetterbagofgroceries.com

blueberry Pop-Tarts.

She loved the little things.

What are the little things that you love? Have you ever been asked that? Have you ever asked someone else what little things they love?

I love the little things too. This movie reminded me that I need to share them with others.

I love seeing my daughter, Brianna, standing in the field talking to her horse forever.

and how she thought it would be fun to get this sock monkey calendar for our house. Her thought behind it, "Every time I walk by it, I will smile and laugh." So do I.....sock monkeys are funny.

I love finding illustrations of red headed girls with butterflies and

finding complete happiness in the joy my youngest Hagan had when he wore his pajamas to school on Polar Express day.

I love eating ice cream with Swedish fish, caramel, way too many sprinkles, and whipped cream. I love listening to music and dancing in the kitchen (and even in the library). I love getting dirty. I love coloring. I love finding old books with my name wrote in the front by my Mom. I love that she let us write in the front of them too.

I love the smell of fall, pink flowers, Colorado, Monet, coffee, and babies. I love being in new places. I love going to church, and taking walks.

I love being with my family and friends. I love holding my sisters hand and remembering the day we got matching tattoos on our wrists. I love seeing my brother be a Dad to his three little ones. I love seeing Brianna play horse monopoly with my Dad and hearing laughter fill the room.

I love looking at pictures of my son, Brady. I love him more than air.

As the students at Van Meter come back to school in a couple of days, I want them to remember that the little things they love and that their voices have meaning. I wrote quotes on the chalkboard coming into the library today. I want them to take in these words....

Listen. Listen to you. Listen to the sounds around you....even if there are none. Just listen.

Be seen....let even one person see who you are and then....

Really see them.

You are so worth the living that chance holds.

Create your own change. Be a change.

Love. Be loved.

Have a voice.

And always remember.....

Be happy.

Your happy is never too loud.

This is what I will give the people around me when they come back this week.

And remember myself, as we start a new year.

Connecting In Our "Somewhat Virtual" Book Club

2011-12-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago something a little difference took place during our book club at Van Meter. Two of my students, Collin and Paxton, sat in my office and Sebastian, another one of mine, Skyped in sick from home. But these weren't the only ones that were there to discuss Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause that day. There were also students Skyping in from Jane Lofton's library at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California and Joyce Valenza's library at Springfield Township High School in Philadelphia.

This was the second time that the "Somewhat Virtual Book Club" met this year. A month ago we read and discussed The Hunger Games. We have plans to pick up that conversation when the movie comes out in the spring.

As I sat there and watched how much my students enjoyed the book discussion with their new friends over 1000 miles away, I smiled as I thought that this new book club started as a simple conversation between Joyce and I. I love how it now includes five teacher librarians and their amazing students around the country.

Yesterday, Jane posted on her blog Mira Costa HS Library Blog. Thank you, Jane for sharing our story and for letting me share it on the Van Meter Library VOICE too.

I cannot wait to see all of you again in January when we discuss Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. My group has plans to not only see the movie Hugo together but we are going to meet at the Barnes & Noble coffee shop during the next book club.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Connecting Our Library Club Across the Country

December 10, 2011

One great activity that has been occurring at the Mira Costa Library has been the growth and development of TLC: The Library Club, now in its second year. Last school year when we established the club, it was primarily a group to support library programs, and the club met every other week. I very much appreciated the help the students offered with our D.J. MacHale author visit, with library displays, contests, PR, and more. They also conducted a very successful book drive and sent the collected books to a shelter. This Fall, the students took the initiative to expand our club by meeting weekly and incorporating more discussions of books in addition to supporting the library.

Then, in October, we had the opportunity to expand our club beyond our school when I responded to a generous open invitation from Joyce Valenza, Teacher Librarian at Springfield Township High School in Pennsylvania, to join several school library clubs in a virtual book club discussion of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games. Despite some technical difficulties with my computer and the challenges of time differences, our club members were able to join the group for approximately a half hour of a lively discussion of this engaging book. And, they are looking forward to “Round 2,” when we have revisit Hunger Games after the movie comes out in March.

TLC Members discussing Blood and Chocolate

On December 1, we had our second virtual book discussion about Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. Two of the other schools – Springfield Township HS in Pennsylvania, led by Teacher Librarian Joyce Valenza, and Van Meter in Iowa, led by Shannon Miller – were able to attend this session, and one student who was ill even Skyped in from home. The students enjoyed a very lively debate about the different characters and clearly had very divergent views about how sympathetic they were. I was so impressed by their insightful comments and their ability to disagree with each other while always remaining polite and considerate.

We are now reading Brian Selznick’s The Invention of Hugo Cabret and plan to compare it to the new Hugo film in January.

To bring the groups together, we have been experimenting with different platforms, including Google + Hangouts and Skype. These are some of the tools that we teacher librarians have been using for webinars, virtual conferences, and professional organization meetings. Communicating across the miles in this way has also offered our students an opportunity to practice virtual meeting skills they are sure to be using in many other contexts.

I know that I have been enjoying the opportunity to communicate across the miles – and connect and plan with talented Teacher Librarians Joyce Valenza, Shannon Miller, Michelle Luhtala, Colette Cassinelli, and Amy Lott - at least as much as our students.

Imagine....

2011-12-09T23:39:00.000-08:00

Imagine all the people living life in peace
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world

Imagine by John Lennon

Something special happens when my National Honor Society students get together with their friends known as the King Dreamers.

This friendship started three years ago when we went to King Elementary in Des Moines to meet an amazing group of fourth graders involved in the I Have a Dream Foundation. Through this foundation these children are given opportunities they might not have otherwise. And by developing a friendship with the Dreamers over the last three years, we have been given so many gifts from them as well.

The Dreamers came to Van Meter this week for our annual holiday party. We shared food, played board games, created snowflakes to decorate the library, and had fun sharing holiday and music sites on the laptops. For the last part of our party, we invited the Van Meter 5th graders to the secondary library to meet the Dreamers and have a little fun with them as well.

However, all of those activities were not what stood out to me and others who were observing the young people that day. As I looked around the library, I saw walls that had been taken down, friendships that picked up where they had left off, and an equality that had developed between all of them over the last three years.

Laughter filled the room. Smiles were on every face. Voices were heard. And they were all sharing a space that fostered these wonderful relationships.

This to me is very important as an educator. We have given these students time to grow together and learn so many things from one another. And this is something that they none of them will ever forget.

And just imagine what it would be like if every one of our young people could take part in experiences such as this.

Just imagine what it would be like for us.

My 2011 Edublog Award Nominations

2011-12-02T20:47:00.000-08:00

Every day I am inspired and influenced by so many in my life. Being connected on Twitter and through other social networks, my own personal network has grown greatly over the last three years. I have been inspired, motivated, and have become a better teacher, librarian, and person because of all of you.

I wish I could give everyone an EduBlog award....it is not always easy to narrow down my choices for the EduBlog Awards.

But these are the ones that made the greatest impact on my life this year....in more ways than one.

Best Ed. Tech/Resource Sharing Blog...Blogging About the Web 2.0 Connected Classroom @web20classroom

Best Individual Blog....Watch. Read. Connect. from @mrschureads

Best Group Blog....She's the First Van Meter @STF_vanmeter

Best Educational Use of Audio/Video/Visual/Podcast.....Flocabulary @Flocabulary

Best Student Blog....Hagan's World of Awesome @haganemiller

Most Influential Blog Post....#You Matter.....Two World-Changing Words @angelamaiers

Best Twitter Hashtag #youmatter

Best Librarian/Library Blog The Daring Librarian @gwynethjones

Best School Administrator Blog... Burlington High School Principal's Blog @bhsprincipal

Best open PD/unconference/webinar series.....TL Virtual Cafe

Lifetime Achievement.....Joyce Valenza @joycevalenza

I just want to thank all of my connections I have made. You have made a difference in not just my life, but in the lives of my students.

And for that I am thankful.

FlipSnack's from Hailey's Science Classroom

2011-11-20T16:03:00.000-08:00

I always love it when new teachers come to Van Meter. And our students love it too.

This year we have a brand new junior high and high school science teacher. Her name is Hailey Beneke and she graduated from the University of Northern Iowa. From day one, Hailey has been motivated and excited to try new things and integrate technology into the science curriculum.

A couple of weeks ago, Hailey came to me with a question about inserting PDF's into FlipSnack. FlipSnack is a Web 2.0 tool that I came across at the beginning of the school year. It lets one turn PDF documents into Flash page flip digital publications. Once your FlipSnack is created it can be shared online and even embedded into a website or blog.

Hailey had her 7th graders create FlipSnack's about cells. They created their pages first using Tux Paint, a free online drawing program that our students have on their MacBooks. Once their pages were created, the students took a screen shot and saved the pages as a PDF ready to use in FlipSnack.

Here are a few of the FlipSnacks her students created.....

Thank you for sharing these with me, Hailey. Our students are lucky to have such an ambitious, creative new teacher.

Just Be....Inspired

2011-11-13T22:09:00.000-08:00

I have always been one to be inspired by the things around me. As an artist, as a teacher, as someone who hears and sees the world and all that it holds.

Inspired by nature, by art work, by architecture, by churches that I sit in, by light, by music, by sadness, and by happiness.

I sometimes question this....what inspires others? Does everyone take the opportunity each day to be inspired?

As I started writing this post, I looked up the definition of Inspire on Dictionary.com. Inspire can mean the following...to fill with an animating or exalting influence; to produce a feeling or thought; and to animate, as an influence, feeling, or thought.

Over the last few months, I have been filled more than ever with these feelings and thoughts that the definition holds. I have been influenced, moved, and inspired like never before.

The reason I have been so inspired....the people that I have surrounded myself with. The people who have come into my life and have made a difference. It is not just the "things" that inspire me.....I am inspired by others.

I am inspired by.....

....my beautiful daughter Brianna as she had her senior pictures taken in the pasture with her horse. I stood there in tears not because I was sad she was growing up, but that I held this incredible feeling of being inspired by her on that day. Her strength, her confidence to face the world, her happiness.

I am inspired by the friendships that I have in my life. I am inspired by friends like Kristina and Brianna because they are strong, caring, intelligent, and I am never without them. I am inspired by their love.

I am inspired by and so proud of my wonderful 8th graders who founded the first high school chapter of She's the First last spring. Over the last 6 months they have raised over $1,000 to put our Kisa Scholar Neema through two years of secondary school in Tanzania. Every day I watch as this group not only gets stronger together, but each individual girl gains so much of her own identity. And now, as they form a relationship with Neema, I am inspired by what they are gaining from each other and the new relationship that is unfolding.

I am inspired by Neema Amos. She wrote to us that she wants to go to University to become a teacher. She is so thankful, gracious, and filled with love for the girls in Van Meter that are giving her the opportunity to have the life that she dreams of. Everyone should be inspired by her.

And I am inspired by the students that I am so lucky to work with everyday. Their energy, creativity, intelligence, and love for life inspires me to take it in and share it with the world.

So I give you this charge....

Open your eyes, listen, let it all in. Be inspired by the world around you.

The little things. The big things.

People. Music. Art. Words. Love.

If you just take a seat or a little step back and give yourself a chance to just be.....

You will be inspired too.

Today The Students Made Their Mark....On Each Other, The World, and ME!

2011-09-07T22:07:00.000-07:00

Today I read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds to the 5th graders in the elementary library.

John Schu, my teaching partner in Oak Brook, Illinois, and I are getting ready to celebrate International Dot Day on September 15th. I have been sharing The Dot with the students by reading it aloud and watching the video on BookFlix. We have had wonderful conversations about leaving your mark on the world, being unique, creative, and having a VOICE.

I had been thinking about ways to decorate for Dot Day. I put up the new display in the library and taped up the Dot Day image from above, but I needed something really "WOW" in the hallways.

I needed to make my mark for this event.

Suddenly, I had an idea!

Why was I just reading The Dot to just the elementary students? What about all of the young people upstairs? If they were to also hear The Dot, then I could have them create their own mark and help me decorate for this very special day.

So when my seventh grade advisory group came in before lunch (and my She's the First chapter....and of course the several other kids that trickle into the library each day), I had them sit down on the floor as I read The Dot to all of them.

We had a meaningful conversation about being ourselves, being proud of what we create, and how to make our mark on the world.

They agreed! It would be very fun to create their marks and celebrate Dot Day by sharing their work in the hallways of Van Meter.

We quickly gathered up paints, brushes, and bowls from the art room. I tore off really long pieces of white paper from the roll in the office.

And we headed outside for a space big enough to make this happen.

They took the paper and formed three groups as they painted dots.

I loved seeing them work in groups that were not only different in age, but also with people they usually didn't hang out with. In this project, it didn't matter if they were working next to their best friend or the person they usually sat by in class.

In this project, the only thing that mattered was they were working together to make their mark.

When it was time for lunch, they carried the art work into the elementary library to dry.

After lunch, I had a group of girls in 7th and 8th grade come back to find me. I had told them we needed to really make our mark on the library doors and art room.

They decided to create huge, beautiful dots which turned out to be unbelievable pieces of art work. Twelve girls worked together to create these dots that will hang on the doors tomorrow celebrating Dot Day.

Together with the amazing banners, I cannot think of a better way to celebrate not only Dot Day, but the uniqueness, creativity, and VOICE of our students at Van Meter.

This is not what I had planned to do today. I didn't have it on my Google Calendar. I didn't gather the supplies beforehand.

But you know what, this was one of those days that aren't planned, that aren't laid out step by step.

It was one of those moments that happens to every teacher. Those moments that we take just as much, if not more, from our students and learn a valuable lesson from what is happening around us. It was so much fun for me to stand back and see this happen today. Within 25 minutes, a group of kids who met in the library everyday from 11:30 to 11:55am opened up, worked together and created something that they were proud of.

They made their mark. Not just on the paper or in Van Meter. But on each other.

And most of all, on the world.

I hope you join all of us to celebrate Dot Day and make your mark too!

School Library Journal's Trailee Awards....Nomination Deadline Extended to 9/15

2011-09-04T23:01:00.000-07:00

Did you miss the August 31 deadline to nominate your favorite book trailer? Fear not! The deadline has been extended. You have until September 15 to submit your favorite book trailer in any of these six categories:

Publisher/Author for elementary readers (PreK-6)

Publisher/Author for secondary readers (7-12 grade)

Student created for elementary readers (PreK-6 grade)

Student created for secondary readers (7-12 grade)

Adult (anyone over 18) created for PreK-12 grade

Educator/Librarian created for PreK-12 grade

According to School Library Journal's website, anyone is eligible to suggest a video for consideration that was originally posted between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.

To recommend a trailer, send an email to SLJbooktrailers@gmail.com in a mp4 format. Please do not send actual video files via email-they will not be accepted. Include the name of the video, the url of where the video is available online, the video's creator(s), the book's author and the title of the book featured in the video, along with publisher and copyright date. Also describe in no more than 150 words how the trailer draws in potential readers.

Submissions will be judged by a committee of six librarians who will verify that the entry meets the all the necessary criteria

"From Small Beginnings Come Great Things"......and What a Start It Is!

2011-08-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago we started a new school year. My daughter Brianna is a senior and little Hagan is a first grader. Before it even started I knew that it was going to hold exciting changes, many firsts, and a few lasts too. However, I had no idea that so many small things would bring such an amazing start to this school year.

Just as this quote says.....

“From small beginnings come great things.”

And just take a look at what is going to make this one of the greatest years yet! These are a few of those special moments that I won't forget as we go through the school year.

I loved seeing the 8th graders for the first time in the library for their bi-weekly checkout time. It is so much fun to talk to them about new books, favorite authors, and classics that they should read.

It is always scary and exciting for the 6th graders to join the older students in the secondary on the first day,but by the second day my technology literacy class was presenting Wordles they created confidently.

On that first Thursday back, a group of six of our students were being trained by JDL Productions for Governor Brandstad's Student Roundtable at the Iowa State Fair. Our students, including Meg Enos who is in this photo, did the video taping and production for this very special event. I was so proud as I watched them learn alongside JDL's crew that Thursday after school. And excited for them as I followed the tweets coming from the fair grounds the very next day.

I smiled as two of my 8th grade friends, Ben and Isaac, read the book The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray to our first graders.

I loved creating this display in the secondary library with Brianna (who is my teaching cadet) for Banned Books Week the week of September 24-October 1st. The conversations that have started because of this display are exciting to listen to and have sparked lots of reading at Van Meter.

The Mac lab has been moved down to the elementary and a few new ones were added to complete this space. The kids were so excited to see that they were going to learn on all Mac's this year. The 3rd-5th graders signed into their Destiny accounts and caught up in "My Quest."

Mrs. Merical's class was excited to hear that she was one of the characters in The Grey Griffin's, The Brimstone Key in a book talk that I did on their first visit to the library.

I cried as the amazing 8th graders, who started the Van Meter She's The First chapter, told Tammy Tibbetts, founder of She's the First, that they had raised over $1,000 to sponsor a Kisa Scholar in Tanzania. After winning the Connecting People Shorty Award last spring, Tammy and I connected on Twitter and we quickly put the first secondary school chapter of She's the First into action. The ambition, love, and friendship that have went into their fundraising efforts is so awesome! These girls are 12 and 13 years old.....never underestimate the power of a young persons VOICE.

After John Schu and I discussed Follow That Peach, which is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Roald Dahl's book James and the Giant Peach, we kicked off a global project connecting five schools. I created the new blog A Peachy Project to showcase the projects that we are going to do over the next few months.

I met with the three 3rd grade teachers, Eldonna Skahill, Jennifer Stephens, and Ann Volk one afternoon. We planned social studies, science, math, literacy, technology, and library activities.

For the introductory project, the 3rd created "paper peaches" to send to the first school on the journey. They had a wonderful time filling out their location and a reason they loved Roald Dahl's book.....which wasn't hard for any of them.

The peaches are all ready to go and will take off for Sarah Ducharme's school in Budapest this coming Monday.

I created a QR Code Scavenger Hunt for my 6th grade technology literacy class.

They found answers to questions involving the library itself and online, created a Voki for one of the questions, raced their partners in a typing game, and became more familiar on how to be a successful secondary student.

We used the iPads to scan the QR codes and they worked in a Google Doc on their MacBook to record their answers and work.

The 6th graders turned the library into a place for investigation and discovery.

Since the internet was down on Friday, I couldn't have the K-2nd graders do the QR Code scavenger hunt to find the gingerbread man. I had to quickly come up with an activity in a few minutes so I copied the adorable little coloring sheet from the back of this poster.

I told the little ones that they were able to create a gingerbread man any way they would like to. All of them were so excited....They were able to SHINE by creating something all of their own from a simple coloring sheet that everyone had.

And the loft OPENED this week too. We are calling the students who get to go into the loft each week the "Little Library Lizards". I even let them work up in the loft....it is a very special new place in our library.

I loved this activity. It was so fun to watch them create and then share their very own gingerbread man.

And the small things didn't stop over the weekend.

Two of my NHS (National Honor Society) students called me at 7:30am to tell me they needed the paint for the pawprints they were making in driveways for our fall fundraiser.

I went to the Van Meter Farmer's Market to see the girls selling muffins, cookies, and drinks. During their phone conversation with Tammy the other day, they learned that they could sponsor the second year of education for the young woman in Tansania. Well guess what.....they are already on their way!

So as you can see, all of these small beginnings created some pretty wonderful things over the first few weeks.

I happen to think I have the best job being the "Librarian Girl".

And the very best part.....I get to make a difference in the lives of others and they get to make a difference in mine as well.

John Schu and I Are Excited To Be NEW FableVision Learning Ambassadors!

2011-08-13T22:19:00.000-07:00

This was posted tonight on John Schu and I's blog Two Libraries One Voice.

John and I love this statement found on Fablevision's blog The LiveWire. These are all qualities that we hope to bring to our library and instill in the students and teachers we work with everyday.

So when Terry Shay, Lead Ambassador for FableVision Learning, asked us to be part of the Fablevision family this last week by being FableVision Learning Ambassadors, we were thrilled!

Peter H. Reynolds and his wonderful team at FableVision Learning are committed to helping all learners reach their full potential.

As the FableVision Learning site states, "We're on a mission to make every classroom a center of innovation and creativity. Our software, professional development, and films help teachers inspire kids to develop essential 21st century skills and move their lives, and world, to a better place."

We would like to start out our FableVision Learning Ambassadorship by sharing some of our favorite FableVision resources with you.

Through the amazing books Peter writes and illustrates.....

to the software that Fablevision Learning creates...

to the educational resources from free classroom mini-posters, FableVision clip art, 17 Tips for a Creative Life-Long Learning Journey, a guide to Sparking the Creative Spirit....there is something for everyone to make a difference in a child's life.

The LiveWire Blog is a great place to read about all the wonderful happenings, thoughts, new books and resources from FableVision Learning.

FableVision Learning Place is a website your students will LOVE to visit. There is a library, post office, school, cafe, Fable TV, Fable Museum, Fable Radio and more.

On The North Star page you can read the story, share, and find wonderful activities to go along with this book.

On September 15, 2011 we will be celebrating International Dot Day together and with others around the world. Peter's classic book THE DOT was released on September 15, 2003. THE DOT has inspired readers to "Make your mark and see where this will take you." This will be a special day to celebrate one of our favorite books and also the unique qualities of all of us and impact we have on the world.

When I was in Boston a few weeks ago for November Learning BLC Conference, I attended a reception that Peter and his colleagues hosted at FableVision Studio. It was so inspiring to see the studio, meet other authors and creative developers, and of course visit with Peter, his brother Paul, and the lovely Nicole Maher again. Also, I met them all at ISTE in Philadelphia earlier in the summer so it was nice to catch up.

So as we head into this new adventure and a brand new school year, we hope to spread the same things that Peter and FableVision do each day.

Let your students be heard. Let them create. Let them make their mark on the world. Let them be themselves.

That is how you can make a difference in the lives of children, teachers, families and the world.

And just as this beautiful poster says....."Working together we can make this the best year yet!"

You can follow FableVision Learning on Twitter at @FableLearn and the FableVision Learning Facebook page.

Don't Stop Believing...That We Can Make A Difference!

2011-06-18T18:33:00.001-07:00

Last year I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen Gagnon , who is a 4th grade teacher in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at Strathum Elementary. Our mutual friend Patrick Larkin introduced Stephen and I on Twitter. Throughout the school year, Stephen and I connected his students with the 4th graders at Van Meter in Staci Braun, Cindi Burnes and Jenny Stephens classrooms.

These connections happened in the classroom and in the library at Van Meter. I loved the day that his students taught ours about World Math Day (this is a post about connecting that day).

They even played on the World Maths Day website against one another which was a great learning experience for all of the students....and the teachers too.

One of my very favorite connections was when Mr. G's class had a "So You Think You Got Talent" show for us in the library computer lab. When his class started singing and dancing I told our 4th graders, "Get up and dance too!" It was so much fun for everyone.

As the year continued, I started to connect with Stephen's class each day through Twitter. Stephen started a Twitter for his class called @mrgclass and I connected with his students through this account.

The students (especially Faith) would send me weather updates every morning and compare the weather at Portsmouth to Van Meter. I loved getting the Twitter updates and making that daily connection with the students. They called this project "Race To Summer" and each student gathered weather data for the two locations.

Last week his students took all of the weather data that they had been collecting over the last few months and created impressive graphs. They shared their predictions, outcomes and even photos of their graphs. I was so proud of what they had accomplished and created.

After I wrote a post about our connections on the Edmodo blog entitled The Little Things That Make A Difference, I was so honored to receive several tweets like this from Mr. G's class. They mean just as much to me and I saw them as other students of mine as well.

Mr. G's class gets out of school for the summer next week. We really wanted to connect another time before the break. Last Friday they invited me to watch another GREAT talent show. I couldn't wait!

At the end of the performances, they surprised me with a special song they had practiced just for me. As I sat in my kitchen watching the students at Strathum Elementary do an incredible job singing Journey's Don't Stop Believing, I got tears in my eyes.

When they finished singing, the kids yelled out "Thank you, Mrs. Miller." I was sad to tell them goodbye for the summer. I told them how they could connect with me over the summer and that I couldn't wait to see them in the fall.

I was so happy to also receive a VoiceThread from Mr. G's class. Everyone of them left me a little message. I just love listening to what the connections with our students, authors and others meant to them. The connections, relationships and projects made a difference in their year, learning and lives.

This is definitely one year that Mr. G's class will not forget. Stephen is one of the most amazing teachers that I have ever meant. He has given his students a VOICE through their classroom Twitter, Skype and several experiences such as the ones I have described in this post. I am the lucky one to have been invited into his classroom.

Image created by Gwyneth Jones, The Daring Librarian

As I prepare for ISTE next week in Philadelphia, these students come to my mind often. During the SIGMS Forum There Is No Better Time: A Dawning Era For School Librarians, they will be part of how I describe how we can all Be A Change for our students, schools and throughout the world.

For when one receives a tweet like this.....

we know that we can make a difference.

And that a class of 4th graders 1000 miles away can make a difference in your life too.

This is one year that I will never forget.

LitWorld Presents....From Harlem to Kenya: Spark a LitSummer

2011-06-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite organizations that helps promotes literacy and education around the world is LitWorlds. When I became connected to LitWorld during the last year, I fell in love with their passion for wanting to give EVERYONE in the world the right to read.

The LitWorld Web site states, "LitWorld's mission is to use the power of story to cultivate literacy skills in the world's most vulnerable children. LitWorld works with teachers, families and children to create resilience building reading and experiences which serve to connect and fortify communities."

"Words Changing Worlds"......says it all! And what a mission that is!

This Summer, LitWorld is bringing the power of story to hundreds of young people from Kenya to Harlem, and they need your help! LitWorld is calling out to the community to help by donating books and school supplies as they embark on two important summer missions:

KENYA:

On July 8, 2011, members of the LitWorld team are headed to Kenya to visit our partners at the Children of Kibera Foundation. LitWorld works very closely with the Children of Kibera Foundation’s Red Rose School, where we run programs such as the Girls Clubs for Literacy Project. The Red Rose School is a beacon of hope for the children of Kibera, and is a positive learning environment providing education for children who are HIV/AIDS orphans.

HARLEM:

Starting this summer, LitWorld will set up the Story Power Camp project, a summer reading enrichment program for the youth of the Children’s Village, Polo Grounds Community Center. The Story Power Camp aims to engage young people in reading and writing through fun, interactive activities, while encouraging each participant to boldly share their personal stories. The Children's Village works in partnership with families to help society's most vulnerable children so that they become educationally proficient, economically productive and socially responsible members of their communities.

To contribute, view their wishlist via Amazon here (donations are being accepted until 6/30/2011): http://tinyurl.com/litworlddrive

Thank you everyone for learning about and support LitWorld. Together we can all make a difference!

Hagan's Summer of Awesome.....My Son's New Blog

2011-05-29T00:02:00.000-07:00

I love the weekends. One of my favorite things to do is to get coffee at my favorite coffee shop.

One of the best parts of coffee shops on the weekends is the conversations I get to have with my own kids.

On Saturday, my 6 year old Hagan and I were waiting for coffee and he started telling me a story about where he was going to read this summer. He said, "I am going to bring a book on the horseback ride in Estes Park. Will you take a picture of me reading?" This little story made me smile because Hagan is excited about the summer reading program that John Schu and I have planned for our kids at Brook Creek and Van Meter.

In Silly Summerstakes, John and I have asked our students to send in photographs of them reading and writing in silly, fun, and unique places. All of the teachers have put up colored posters in their classrooms and they hang throughout the school hallways. The students received a letter to go home and we have been discussing this program in the library over the last few weeks. I know that our students are very excited to connect with John's students at Brook Creek and to share with their friends at Van Meter too.

After Hagan told me one idea he then came up with several more equally amazing places to read, write, and for him.....draw. :) I told him that he should start his own blog and he just loved this idea.

The best part of the conversation was when I asked him what we should call the blog.

"Hagan's Summer of Awesome, Mom," with the sweetest smile on his face.

I hope you enjoy Hagan's new blog as he shares stories of playing, reading, writing, drawing, and traveling through the summer. He is a very funny little guy so I am sure this will be one entertaining journey.

You can also follow Hagan on Twitter at @haganemiller.

The Students Aren't Waiting

2011-05-18T03:48:00.000-07:00

This post appeared on the Edmodo blog May 17, 2011.

Last Saturday, Will Richardson posted “There are Some People Who Don’t Wait”on his blog, weblogg-ed. The post was about teachers who don’t wait…who jump right in, who take a chance, who embrace change in education and the lives of young people.

Will wrote,

“... I couldn’t help thinking about the many teachers who I have met over the years who haven’t waited. People like Shelley Blake-Plock and Dolores Gende and Anne Smith and Kathy Cassidy and Brian Crosby and Shannon Miller and Shelley Wright and Jabiz Raisdana and a whole slew of others who had some type of hunger overcome them, something that made them jump right in and really change the way they thought about teaching and learning and classrooms.”

As I continued to read, the next part of Will’s post said it all.

“For some, I know, what’s happened over the past decade or so has simply afforded a way for them to do more of what they always believed, to give kids the reins and let them learn about learning.”

I love that line! “To give kids the reins and let them learn about learning.” This is the perfect description of what needs to happen in education. We should be empowering our students to drive their education and to have a voice in where it takes them.

He went on to state,

“They’ve put kids ahead of the system, redefined themselves as learners first, teachers second, found the courage of their convictions and made learning, not test scores, the focus.”

As I read Will’s post, I was not only honored to be mentioned, but also smiled as I thought about what had happened the day before at Van Meter. I had moved over for the students…I became a learner and watched as the students took charge of their learning experiences that day. I watched a group of 7th grade girls take an idea and resources that I had given them, embrace it as their own, and figure out how they were going to make a difference in not only their lives, but also in the life of another person and throughout the world.

I could go on now to tell this wonderful story, but why do that when this is the story of my students? I will let them tell you how they are not waiting either.

“After Mrs. Miller won the Connecting People Shorty Award, she was featured on the Girls Who Rock blog. She shared the blog and also told us about another connection called She’s the First. She asked if we would be interested in learning more about the organization and told us how we could get involved. Mrs. Miller planned a Skype before school last Friday with two awesome Notre Dame students, Casey Kraft and Monica Townsend. They are in charge of setting up school chapters of She’s the First.”

“We learned about ways we could make a difference and had a great time brainstorming ideas with Casey, Monica, and our group. It was so fun to meet them and talk about starting our very own chapter at Van Meter. Most of all, we couldn’t wait to start making a difference in the education and life of another girl who really needed us.

“After the Skype, a couple of us had an idea. That afternoon was Kid’s Club in our elementary school. All of the students K-5 would be gathered in the activity center for a celebration of talent. We asked Mrs. Miller if we could ask Mrs. Merical, who is in charge of this production, and the elementary principal, if we could tell everyone about She’s the First at Kid’s Club. Mrs. Miller was excited and gave us a pass to go share the idea with the them.. They said YES, so we were on our way to planning our first fund raiser for She’s the First Van Meter. We only had a couple of hours so we worked fast.”

“With only a few weeks of school left, it had to be an easy project. We found some containers in the art room and created She’s the One buckets for each classroom.”

“We knew from the beginning that we must work together as a group for this to be successful. “

“We wrote up a little speech and picked four of us to present. We were going to tell the students, teachers, and school community about how we could all make a difference in the world.”

“Here is our speech that we gave at Kid’s Club. Our mission and goals will be clear after you read this,

“Education… What does that word mean to you? Well in third world countries like Sudan or Guatemala education means opportunity for young girls. Across the world 130 million kids are not enrolled in school and 70% of those kids are girls. An extra year of primary school can increase a girls wage by 10% a year of secondary school adds to wages anywhere from 20% to 25%. She’s the First not only enables girls to earn more, it also empowers them to do the impossible. Overcome poverty and become successful. “She said she could do it so she did.”

That’s the She’s the First motto.

We are the first secondary chapter ever. So we picked a school we would like to send the girl we are sponsoring. This school is located in Tanzania and is a very unique school not only because of giving girls in poverty an education but because it also incorporates technology in everyday learning.

What does that school having technology mean to us? Well since they would be able to have technology we would be able to Skype the girl we are sending to school about once a month. To send one girl to this school would cost us $1,000 each year.

What can you do to help? Well you can donate money to help support a girl pursue her education. Every teacher well be given a She’s the First container to keep in their classroom to raise money. At the end of the year we will collect the money and the class who raised the most by the last day of school will get She’s the First signature tie dye cupcakes. If you ever want to check out more of what She’s the First does go to www.shesthefirst.org and follow us on Twitter at @STF_vanmeter. You can also find us on our “She’s the First Van Meter” Edmodo group. This will be a great place for all of us to communicate and share ideas with each other and our new friend in Tanzania.”

“Even though we are 12 and 13 years old, WE can make a difference. We are empowered to be leaders and teachers, not just students. We are involved in our learning through collaborating and connecting with others. We are empowered to create great things and to have a voice. We are not waiting for someone to tell us how to do this. We can all change the world! One person at a time…we can make a difference.”

As you can see, these students also “had some type of hunger overcome them, something that made them jump right in and really change the way they thought about teaching and learning and classrooms.” Just think what this will teach them about learning and what it will bring to their lives. We need to embrace the change that our students can create. We need to encourage, support, and guide them along the way. We need to let them know that they are making a difference.

And remember…

We can all make a difference in education.

We can make a difference in the lives of our students and empower them to do amazing things.

And never, ever be the one who is waiting

Shannon McClintock Miller is the district teacher librarian and technology specialist at Van Meter School in Iowa. You can find her on Twitter at @shannonmmiller and blogging at Van Meter Library Voicehttp://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/

Richardson, Will. “Weblogg-ed » “There Are Some People Who Don’t Wait”.” Weblogg-ed. Web. 17 May 2011. .

The Incredible Premiere of the Epic Romeo and Juliet Project

2011-04-30T12:33:00.001-07:00

Today I went to Van Meter School to see a play that our students wrote, directed, produced, and advertised. The play is Romeo and Juliet. However, this one was very different than any I had seen before. The freshman at Van Meter and their incredible teacher Shawn Hyer have been working on this play for several weeks to create a modernized version of Romeo and Juliet.

And to make it even more unique....The Epic Romeo and Juliet Project was created with the freshman at Grosse Pointe South in Detroit and their amazing teacher Nick Provenzano. Nick and I met last year at ISTE 2010 in Denver, Colorado. We had a great conversation and brainstormed about several different things. One of the projects....a virtual, collaborative, modern Romeo and Juliet.

For weeks, I have watched the students write, film, collaborate, create, and connect to produce this incredible project. I know that it was stressful and crazy at times, but WOW was it worth it! As I sat in the activity center at Van Meter today, I was so proud of what everyone had accomplished.

Nick, Shawn, and all of the students at #VMGPS (the hashtag where you can follow our collaborative work).....You are rock stars! Thank you for inviting us all to share in your journey.

If you missed the premiere of The Epic Romeo and Juliet Project, you can VIEW IT HERE.

Raising Their Voice from the Edmodo Blog

2011-04-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

This was my second post on the Edmodo blog as the VOICE of the Library. It is entitled Raising Their Voice.

Last week I had the honor to present with Julia Albaugh and Emma Durflinger at the Iowa 1:1 Conference in Des Moines. I have collaborated with both of them before and have helped them prepare for other presentations as well. When I spoke at the Follett User Conference in March, Julia, Emma, and two others Skyped into my session and told the attendees how social media is used in education and how they have developed their own voice.

Yesterday, on Emma’s blog, We Talk, she posted about “Presenting” :

“Presenting is something I do for fun and for school purposes. I have just lately presented at the 1:1 conference in Iowa. I have also presented at many other places. I got involved with this last year when I was in 5th grade. My father Mr. Deron Durflinger and my mother Mrs. Amanda Durflinger said that I could start presenting and creating a blog after I got their permission. I love presenting. It makes me feel good because I can teach the teachers in multiple ways. It has made me smarter with Web 2.0 tools and made me more experienced. I LOVE PRESENTING!!!”

Does she sound like a person who is passionate about presenting and teaching others? Does this person want to make a difference? Does this sound like a 6th grader?

And how about this quote from Julia, who is a senior...

“Mrs. Miller has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, getting me involved in National Honor Society. She also has helped me have a voice, through my PLN, and through Twitter. She is always so supportive, and helpful.”

Do you encourage your students to connect to their passions? To use their voice?

I became a teacher because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people. I wanted to empower them to have a voice through creating, collaborating, and connecting. I was inspired by one of my teachers and she changed my life forever.

Art has been my passion since I was a little girl. My Mom always supported my love for art. In the summer she would get my sister Heather and me giant refrigerator boxes and let us paint on them in the grass. She would buy us endless art supplies and save every possible paper roll, piece of tissue paper, and little crafty items so we could create. She took me to art classes in a city close by. She loved sharing our work with others and put it up in our house. Mom let me create, be messy, and express myself.

When I was in 6th grade a new teacher came to my school. She was young, super cool, and best of all....she was the art teacher. Ms. D, as we all called her, quickly realized the passion and talent that I had and began to spend extra time with me. She would give me books to look through, let me dig through her amazing portfolios, and was never the first one to end one of our conversations.

I will never forget the day that we were given the assignment to draw our hand. Most people took their paper and drew it life size or perhaps a little smaller. I sat off by myself, took the biggest piece of paper I could find, a new piece of charcoal, and drew my hand so large that it almost spilled off of the paper. Ms. D came over and stood by me. At first, I wondered if she was upset I took the big paper or perhaps that I used charcoal instead of the pencil. She lifted up my paper and looked at what I had drawn. She “really” looked at it. And then she looked at me with a big smile on her face and I knew from that day on she would become not just my teacher, but also my mentor, friend, and fellow artist.

As I went through junior high and into high school, Ms. D, along with my family and friends, encouraged my passion for art and continued to find opportunities for me to express myself. I spent every moment I could before, during, and after school in the art room. I entered art and photography shows. I worked on other projects throughout the building and created art during the summer for 4-H projects with Ms. D’s guidance and encouragement. I got accepted into the Design College at Iowa State University and planned for a career in art. She expected a lot from me in all of my classes and extracurricular activities. And most of all....as a person.

Ms. D made a difference in my life and the lives of so many within our school. She came to Shellsburg and created a change. She encouraged us to have a voice, to connect to our passions, and to express ourselves in different ways. By being a passionate artist and teacher, Ms. D showed me that I could also be a change and make a difference in the world.

Now that I am a teacher, I have over 600 students and others in classrooms around the world who make a difference in my life every day. I love seeing the excitement in their faces when they create something wonderful, teach a new concept or Web 2.0 tool to a friend or teacher, or when they have over 100 adults in the room hanging onto their every word because they are the voice of our future.

As you walk into the library, you will see this quote by Mahatma Gandhi on my wall:

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

We can all be that change. Today, I want you to “really” look at your students’ work. I want you to “really” listen.

Today, let your students have choices, let them teach your class something new, let them give you ideas, let them present with you, let them be heard.

And most of all...let them know that you think they can be the change that we need in our world. Let them know that they have a voice.

My dear friend and mentor, Diane Cordell, who has enjoyed watching Emma and other students at Van Meter develop a voice, wrote in the post Emma and the Perfect Storm on her blog Journeys, “Emma isn't merely posting chatty Twitter updates. She is using her connectivity to stretch her wings and expand her horizons but with adult supervision and parental permission. Emma is learning to ride the winds of change.”

As we give our students the chance to develop their passions and voice, we are giving ourselves that same chance: to find meaning, to have a voice, to be the change.

References:

Cordell, Diane. "Emma and the Perfect Storm." Journeys. 21 Apr. 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. .

Durflinger, Emma. We Talk. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. .

Bring a Dream to Life Today!

2011-04-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

If you have a dream, make it a reality and change the lives of others.

Today is the Dreams to Life celebration!

The Van Meter National Honor Society has been planning this celebration for months and it is finally here. At 4:00pm at Drake University in Des Moines 5th graders from the I Have a Dream program, the board and staff of the I Have a Dream Foundation, Van Meter faculty, NHS members, families and others will gather together to celebrate the Dreamers. There will be a silent auction and the Dreamers along with their Van Meter friends will be sharing projects they created together.

Please visit the RandomKid website to support this amazing project that will bring so much to the lives of the Dreamers. Together we can all make a difference.

I have reposted a post explaining our passion for this projects and the impact that it has made on so many people.

Be A Dreamer Too on November 24, 2010.

Last week the King Dreamers came to visit Van Meter School for the first time. The Van Meter National Honor Society have become mentors and friends to this amazing group of 5th graders. The Dreamers are part of the I Have a Dream Foundation which adopts classrooms of inner-city, high risk kids in first grade, providing tutoring, mentoring, and personal support along the way. Upon successful completion of high school, financial assistance for college is guaranteed to each Dreamer.I posted A Story of Hope last February on the Van Meter Library VOICE, which tells how our journey started with the Dreamers last year.

We usually travel to King Elementary in Des Moines, but this year we have decided to host the Dreamers at least once a month for connecting, creating, collaboration, and a lot of FUN! With this being the first visit to Van Meter, our students showed the Dreamers around our school and introduced them to Mr. Durflinger, Mrs. Arentsen, Mrs. Wesselmann, the Van Meter cheer squad, and a few of our other teachers and students.

It was inspiring to walk around the library and computer lab to see all of them talking and working together. There were groups of kids that were Skyping across the room to one another and using Photo Booth to take crazy pictures to share. One Dreamer was using Google Earth to show their Van Meter friend where they lived in Des Moines. On the far side of the library, The Cupid Shuffle video was being watched on YouTube while two Dreamers danced for their Van Meter friends. After looking at instruments in the band room, two friends were creating their own music using Garage Band. It was so special to see how their interests and differences were coming together and the friendships were developing even more than last year.

I recently contacted Random Kid and Youth Venture to figure out how the King Dreamers and Van Meter NHS members can raise money to purchase iMacs, Flip video cameras, and other technology for their space at King Elementary. After Thanksgiving, Danny Heggen from Youth Venture is coming to speak with the NHS members to brainstorm ideas of how we are going to make this dream a reality. On December 15th at our Christmas party, we are going to be able to share this plan with the Dreamers. Together they will make this dream come true and it will give the Dreamers a chance to make a difference in their own lives too.

The King Dreamers and the Van Meter National Honor Society members inspire me every time we get together. I am thankful to have the chance to work with and know each and every one of them. They are a gift in my life and in each others. I am very thankful for what they have taught me.

Yesterday I heard Imagine by John Lennon. The lyrics in this song say it so well....

You may say I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one.

I hope someday you will join us,

and the World will live as one.

The moments I spend with the Dreamers and NHS members, make me realize how we can change the world. It is moments like this when I think about the difference anyone can can make regardless of who you are, where you are from, or what resources you have.
We have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

If you have a dream, make it a reality and change the lives of others. Be a dreamer too!

If Nothing Ever Changed, There'd Be No Butterflies....My Trip To Merton

2011-03-20T11:33:00.000-07:00

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

~Author Unknown

Over my spring break, I visited Merton Community School District in Wisconsin for two days. Merton is a school community that I am already very passionate about because of the connections that Van Meter has made between classrooms, students and teachers.

Last fall, teacher Chris Reuter and I met on Twitter after I sent a tweet out looking for special education teachers to connect with. Chris responded saying that he could speak with the special education teachers at Merton and see if they were interested. Later that week I connected with Mark Flynn, superintendent, and Lisa Morowski, elementary technology teacher. We jumped right in and connected several classrooms in different grade levels with fun activities using Web 2.0 and social media.

And that was just the start of something very special between our schools. It wasn't just about the learning taking place. Our connections were also about the relationships and friendships.

I loved what I saw at Merton. The classrooms are full of life spilling out creativity, energy and amazing relationships between the teachers and students. I was invited into each classroom where everyone was so gracious and thankful that I was visiting.

I love how the students at Merton feel comfortable connecting and learning with one another and their teachers. Couches and other comfortable furniture ia a common scene throughout Merton. In Sarah Kasprowicz's 5th and 6th grade classroom the students enjoy sitting on the couch while collaborating about their next group project. This really added to the feel of community within the classrooms.

One of my favorite rooms was Mary Shannon's 5K classroom. Being an artist and in love with creativity, I was in heaven!

The first thing I saw was this amazing sculpture made out of recyclable materials and LOTS of packing tape. A little boy with crazy curly hair told me all about how they built a spaceship and had me look into different tubes or "spy scopes". Right next to this sculture was a cardboard box on the floor. When I was in the room the first day, two kids were in there talking all about constellations and what they had learned. I wanted to stay here all day. And Miss Shannon....amazing herself.

In Chris Reuter's classroom, the 6th graders were watching a video clip about Chernobyl. He told me that they were learning about something else, but when Chernobyl came up in the conversation the lesson took a turn. He quickly found a video on Safari Montage and engaged the students in a backchannel on their netbooks while watching the video. The students were engaged and enjoying the backchannel conversation.

Chris and I have worked together this year in connecting not only his 5th and 6th graders, but other teachers as well. His students are currently working on Voice Threads with the 6th graders at Van Meter. I hope that this relationship between the students continues to grow. Chris, Sarah, Julie Gilbert, and the other 5th and 6th grade teachers at Merton amazed me on how they work together and are bringing rich experiences to their students and community.

The highlight of the two days happened in Catherine McMahon's 4K classroom. Catherine has been connecting with Christa McClintock's kindergarteners at Van Meter throughout the year. My son Hagan is a student in Christa's room and she just happens to also be my cousin. So I have a little bit of a personal connection to these children at Merton as well. I couldn't wait to meet his Merton friends and take a photograph of them holding the gingerbread Hagan had created during their two month, multi-curricular unit Christa and Catherine did this year. (You can read about and see their incredible Gingerbread Tours here.)

As they were playing on the carpet I sat down next to two students and asked them about the basket of iTouches sitting next to their couch. A little girl asked if I wanted to see her use one and I said yes. As she went to get one of the iTouches, two more students went and got them out of the basket too. She came over, sat on my lap and started telling me all about the 100 different apps they have, how they have their very own cart, and the "cool" math game that is her favorite. The boy sitting next to us showed me his favorite game which involved dressing up people in all type of clothes. They could hardly wait to show me what was next.

It only took a few minutes for three more students to join us. Another girl came up and asked if she could play too. The little girl on my lap said, "Sure you can play a matching game with me." She quickly went to that app and they started playing the game together, taking turns and helping one another remember which squares matched.

I have seen Hagan and other children use iTouches before but never in a classroom setting like this. It was evident that they were comfortable and felt successful using the technology. When it was time to come to the Smart Board for a group activity, the students put the iTouches carefully back into the little basket and made sure they were all organized. Two of the girls looked at each other once they were organized and one said, "Bye bye, iTouch." It was priceless.

During these two days I brought ideas and thoughts to Merton. We spoke about change. We spoke about the similarities and differences between our schools. We spoke about 21st century learners and the type of environment we will need to create for them. Not only did I give them ideas for change, they gave me so many ideas too. I cannot wait to go to school on Monday to tell everyone at Van Meter what I learned. This will help us change and grow too.

So as you walk by something beautiful like a clay butterfly, spaceship made out of milk jugs and paper towel rolls, an iTouch in the hand of a five year old, or a student teaching an adult how to edit a movie on their laptop, remember these words once again...

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.

Change can bring incredible opportunities to our students, teachers, and communities. Embrace change and look for ways to support and enhance what it brings to your school. From these changes, we will create the spaces, opportunities and relationships that our young people need.

Thank you Merton. You are a very special place....with a whole lot of butterflies.

It Was Definitely a New Leaf in Learning....Follett Software User Conference

2011-03-13T22:28:00.001-07:00

On March 9th after a busy day of connecting with several schools and six authors for World Read Aloud Day, I flew to Chicago for an exciting event. I was going to the first Follett Software User Conference being held at the Fairmont Chicago Millenium Park. Over the last few months I had connected with many people from Follett and others who were attending the conference, so I was very excited to get to Chicago.

The morning of March 10th Don Tapscott opened with an inspiring keynote speech. As I participated in the #FSC11 Twitter stream, a few of my favorite quotes to share were, "We need our students to LOVE learning. We need to be PASSIONATE, creative learners ourselves" and "School should be like summer camp. It should be fun." Everyone in the audience left the ballroom knowing we could all create a change in education and in the future of our young people.

The day was filled with breakout sessions covering a variety of themes such as Data Driven Decision Making, Curriculum & Instruction, IT/Technology Leadership, Library & Resource Management and Product Support Center.

I was asked to present at the conference about social media being used in education. I was very excited to share my story about how I am using social media with the students, teachers, and school community at Van Meter. I told stories about the connections at schools such as Merton in Wisconsin and Grosse Pointe South in Detroit.

There were two highlights for me in the session. First, my friend John Schu traveled from his school in Oak Brook to join me that afternoon. John and I met at the School Library Journal Summit last October in Chicago and have become amazing friends and teaching partners since. This was only the second time we had met in person but collaborate and communicate almost everyday. Also, we have used Skype, Twitter, Edmodo, YouTube, Animoto, Blogger and other resources to connect our students to several incredible projects over the last few months.

John and I created the Two Libraries One Voice blog to share our experiences with students, teachers, parents and others. During the presentation, we spoke about not just our relationship but the one that we have created with our students and schools. He even brought a whole envelope of the sweetest hand made cards that his students created that morning. It was so nice having him there with me to share our incredible connection.

I didn't want to be the only one to share Van Meter's story, so I Skyped in four of our students from Iowa so everyone could hear their voices too. Julia, Michael, Maddy, and Emma told stories of using social media and how it had changed their education and lives. They spoke about how social media gave them a voice and a place to connect to their passions. I was proud as I listened to them tell their stories.

The day before the conference they videotaped one another and created a short iMovie just in case Skype failed us the day of the conference.

Below you can find the SlideShare of my presentation.

Social Media in Education

After a day of learning and connecting, everyone headed to Aria in the hotel for a Tweet Up. Brandi Heinz and Carly Anne Molstad greeted John and I with fun t-shirts and conversation. They did a great job coordinating the Tweet Up and getting everyone together to continue the connections.

The next morning offered more breakout sessions about a variety of topics. I loved Elaine Roberts, Director of Professional Development for Follett Software, presentation about project based learning. We had a great conversation about the topic which lead to many ideas for all of us in the session.

The highlight was when she Skyped in Ginger Lewman's students at the Turning Point Learning Center in Emporia, Kansas. The students were excited to show us a Viking Ship which they created together and a phonograph powered by a Lego's robotic piece. They reminded me of my students at Van Meter and definitely had a voice in their education and future too.

At lunch Susan Patrick, President and CEO of the International Association for K-12 Online learning (iNACOL), spoke about the future of education and importance of global online learning. After listening to the keynote, I was anxious to go back to Van Meter armed with new ideas about online learning within our school.

The Follett Software User Conference was by far one of the best learning experiences I have been part of during my career. The people at Follett are incredible and really made sure they created an experience all of the attendees would enjoy.

As I left the conference on Saturday, I picked up my program to pack it in my bag. On the back it said, "Thank you for attending A New Leaf in Learning Follett Software User Conference". I smiled as I looked at the logo they had developed. The different colored leaves on the tree represents not only the various types of knowledge we gained but also the lasting connections we were lucky enough to make throughout those three days. When a variety of people come together for a common conversation, we all leave richer and more diverse than before. To me, this was the best part.

Thank you Follett for bringing us together. I look forward to coming back next year.

How Two Schools in Two States Celebrated Read Across America Day Together

2011-03-02T20:38:00.000-08:00

Theodor Seuss Geisel (AKA Dr. Seuss) was born on March 2, 1904. On March 2, schools, bookshops, and libraries celebrate the power of reading and Dr. Seuss's birthday.

It is also the day we celebrate NEA's Read Across America Day! As the NEA site states, "NEA's national reading celebration takes places each year on or near March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too."

So that is exactly what we decided to do at Van Meter and Oak Brook schools this year.

Shannon's kindergarten students (from Christa McClintock's classroom) and John's third graders (from Mrs. Sompolski's classroom) connected on the morning of Dr. Seuss's 107th birthday in their libraries to celebrate this very special day. After introductions and a little sharing about what the students knew about Dr. Seuss the celebration began.

John's students took turns reading pages from Dr. Seuss's ABC while Christa held up the book in Van Meter for the students to see. It was fun to hear all of the students say their ABC's together too.

They played Seuss Bingo as a group with Shannon and John calling out words such as, "Brook Forest, Van Meter, Fun, The Foot Book, and Read Across America." The students marked their Seuss cards and yelled "BINGO" from both schools.

The students read the NEA Reader's Oath together.

At the end of the Skype celebration, the two schools stood up and sang Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss. To watch the smiles on their faces and to see the excitement throughout the libraries was very special for everyone.

As the children ate their cupcakes in Van Meter and cookies in Oak Brook, this line from the Reader's Oath came to mind....

"I'll read to myself, I'll read to a crowd. It makes no difference, if it's silent or loud."

What a difference reading together made within these two schools and in the lives of the children on this day. This is a celebration of reading with new and old friends that they will always remember.

A Day of Connecting At Van Meter

2011-02-26T21:04:00.001-08:00

Last Thursday was a day of exciting connections at Van Meter.

It all started out at 8:00am before school even started in Shawn Hyer's room. His 7th grade reading class Skyped with Christina Spiezio's 7th graders in New Jersey. They had fun exchanging conversations about the differences between Iowa and New Jersey, books, and made plans for future connections. They are starting a project working together in Edmodo talking about current event articles on Tween Tribune and other sites. I was lucky enough to met Christina and her teaching partner Chuck Poole at #NTCamp Philly last summer. Chuck's students have connected with our 6th graders this year too. Shawn's other class of 7th graders connected in the afternoon with more of Christina's students.

My friend Stephen Gagnon, a 4th grade teacher in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at Strathum Elementary, told me about World Maths Day. On this site, students can play other students from around the world. On March 1st for 48 hours there is a competition for students ages 5-18. Stephen's students have completed thousands of practice problems within the last few weeks at school and home. Since his students are so great at the World Maths Day site we thought it would be fun to have Mr. G's students teach our students about it too. They Skyped in for almost a hour to Cindi Byrne's 4th grade classroom at Van Meter. They introduced themselves, talked about their schools, learned about World Math Day and the site, and at the end after everyone signed into the site, they even played each other. It was such a fun experience for all of the kids.

After the connection with Mr. G's students, the 4th graders went to the elementary computer lab to hear an amazing presentation by Paula Naugle's 4th graders in New Orleans. She contacted me about her students presenting their Mardi Gras projects to our students. They presented to Staci Braun's and Mrs. Byrnes classes. The students in New Orleans showed masks, items from the parades, photographs, told personal stories, and even did a dance at the end. It was so amazing! Our kids asked great questions to their new friends too.

I have been working with Eric Trudo's advanced computer class on a social media unit. After introducing various social networking tools and telling the class about Twitter, which is my favorite, I thought it would be beneficial for them to hear from another educator too. I asked my wonderful friend Steven Anderson @web20classroom to Skyped with Eric's class. Steven spoke to the students about Twitter and other social media tools. He also spoke about his PLN and the power of the connections that he makes every single day through social networks. The students really enjoyed hearing his story and our conversation about the connections we make to enrich the lives of students and teachers within our schools.

All of these connections started when we met each other on Twitter. We collaborate together, share resources, discuss education, and help one another out. We invite these people into our classrooms to teach our students and encourage relationships between our classrooms and schools. Through these connections we are teaching our students about the power of connections, the importance of communication, and the value of friendship.

And this is just one day at Van Meter. I cannot wait to see who "visits" our classrooms and students next.

Calling All Daring Librarian Superheros by Gwyneth Jones

2011-02-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

ONE of my SUPERHERO LIBRARIAN Besties....Gwyneth Jones, The Daring Librarian, wrote this AMAZING post on February 3, 2011. I just had to repost it on the Van Meter VOICE! :)

____________________

Shamelessly I will report on this - Why Shameless? (capitol S) Because, of course, this is the answer to my every fevered redheaded dream to be nominated for a special Superhero lunchbox! So just even reporting it makes me feel all squirmy & excited & dreaming of it! And of course if any of my dear gentle good readers think ...no..even I can't go that far! (let's try subliminal persuasion)

Librarian League of Superheros
I do fervently believe - like the Justice League - there are MANY Superhero Librarians out there! We are a Tribe! And some of them have even blogged about this exciting contest! I have been a superhero fan (Go Marvel & Stan Lee!) since I was a kid! And Beyond!
Who are Your Librarian Superheroes?
My Librarian Superheroes are part of the Big Red Machine ©iansinger ie: Joyce Valenza &Shannon Miller! Two librarians who are my compatriot at arms, my right and left hand chickies and perpetual inspirations....two librarians who invigorate their schools and connect with their communities. Yeah, like that. They're that cool.Zing!
Also, the superhero public librarian the everDivine Digital Branch Manager, Chattahoochee Valley Libraries- Librarian By Day Bobbi Newman is an inspiration to me and a champion of Transliteracy (yeah, that rhymed!), the Amazing Canadian Velvety Stephen Abram - ofStephen's Lighthouse, let's not forget Jennifer LaGarde - Library Girl, and of course K-M The Librarian!
A Super Social Media Experiment!
To nominate your favourite librarian superhero - you must do so via the Facebook page! There you can see the transparent nomination process & get to know other super cool librarians, too!

The Deets: (totally stolen from Bobbi's blog!)

1. How to Enter the Contest:

1. Are You a Librarian Superhero (“Contest”) will begin on or around 8:00 am EST on Monday, January 31, 2011 and will end on or around 5:00 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011. All Contest times will be measured by the Sponsor’s computer system clock.

2. Gale/Cengage Learning (“Cengage Learning,” “Gale/Cengage Learning” or the “Sponsor”) is not responsible for miss-delivered, undelivered, illegible, incomplete or late entries, network outages, lack/loss of signal, untagged messages, or any other technological difficulties that may prevent submission.

3. To participate:

Visit the Are You a Librarian Superhero Facebook Web pagewww.gale.com/superhero
Post your nomination for an outstanding librarian (each a “Nominee”) on our wall, including:
the Nominee’s name; where they work; and what makes them exceptional.
Include how this person makes a difference for the community and patrons, and how the library is improved because of their process or presence (each posting, an “Entry” and each participant posting a Nominee, an “Entrant”).

4. Multiple Entries will not increase the odds of winning.

5. Entries received after official end of the contest on the final day will not be accepted.

3. Selection of Winners

1. You need not be present at ALA’s Annual Meeting to win.

2. All Entries will be reviewed by a panel of Cengage Learning employees. Selection of 10 semi-finalists will be made, and presented to a panel consisting of Cengage Learning employees and several, independent librarians. (The actual identity of the semi-finalists will be withheld from the judges to maintain impartiality.)

3. Entrants who nominate a semi-finalist will be contacted via Facebook for complete contact information and a photo of the Nominee. Entrants and their Nominees who do not provide complete contact information and Nominees for whom a photo is not provided will be eliminated from the Contest and the Sponsor may replace such Nominees as semi-finalists, in its sole discretion.

4. Judging Criteria (the following is an approximation and while the judges will seek to apply the following criteria as closely as practicable, winners are chosen in the judges’ sole discretion based on their judgment):

1. 20% – Showing leadership skills to forward the cause of the library, its patrons and the community.

2. 20% – Embracing new technologies to keep the library accessible and relevant to users.

3. 20% – Creating an environment that supports learning and fun, exploration and personal expansion.

4. 20% – Exhibiting determination, enthusiasm and the quest for sharing knowledge beyond the reach of their peers.

5. 20% – Insisting on play, engagement and pushing the boundaries.

5. Four Nominee librarian winners will be selected, with their likeness being used to inspire a cartoon superhero, personifying the traits included in their nomination.

6. Winners will be notified via phone the week of March 21, 2011.

4. Prizes:

1. Winners will have a cartoon created in their likeness and printed on materials by Gale/Cengage Learning, including (but not limited to) a metal lunchbox!!!!!!! (with an approximate value of US$20), trading cards (with approximate value of US$300 and signage (of deminimus value).

For those still stuck on an island without Social Media guarded by sharks with laser beam helmets and can't get to Facebook you can email your submission here library.superhero@cengage.com ....but better yet, break free & escape from the locked net monster & dare to join this Facebook page!

As Bobbi said in her blog, there are more prizes these are just the coolest of the cool! Zap!

In Related Superhero news:

THE COLBERT REPORT Wags Finger at British Superman
"In his latest "Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger" segment featured on last night's episode of The Colbert Report, Colbert wagged said finger at Zack Snyder, director of the upcoming Superman film from Warner Bros., forcasting British actor Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent. "Superman is American," remarked Colbert. "His name is Super Man, not Smashing Gent."

From there, the commentary quickly resembled something found recently on message board postings against the idea of a British Superman. "And let's remember," said Colbert, "his spaceship crash-landed in Smallville, Kansas, not Uppington-Upon-Tweed-Wee-Chestershire. For God's sake, the man gets his power from the sun. How can he be British? They don't have a sun."

Other remarks included comments about Superman flying up to rooftops to inspect chimneys, using his X-Ray Vision to examine what's in a Shepherd's Pie, and flying on the the right side of the road. Colbert's most cutting remarks came at the end when he advised British people to claim Batman supporting character Alfred Pennyworth if they wanted a superhero of their own. Said Colbert, "He's got a British accent and he does everything the rich American tells him to. That's something you can relate to." This was accompanied by a picture of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair with former President George W. Bush." - Charles Skaggs

The full commentary can be found at the Colbert Nation site here.

Photo Credits:
Bobbi Newman Librarian by Day Flickr Group: Librarian Superheroes of the Worldand MySpace
Gale/Cengage - Press release
Joyce/Shannon photo by Gwyneth Jones
K-M Librarian

A New Club at Van Meter....Club Click!

2011-01-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

This post is from Diane Cordell's personal blog, Journeys.

One of the benefits of semi-retirement is having a flexible schedule that leaves time for interesting new ventures.

Shannon Miller is an online acquaintance who became a friend when we got to connect in real life at the SLJ Leadership Conference this fall. She and I decided to collaborate on a project: we would become co-advisers for her school photography club - Shannon, from the school library media center in Van Meter, Iowa; and me, from my home in upstate New York.

We Skype at times that fit into her students' schedules, keeping in mind the one hour time difference as we plan. Although an Internet problem forced us to cancel one meeting, Shannon, some Van Meter students (in grades 6 - 12), and I have managed to make a good start on organizing Club Click. School administrators have given their approval, an explanatory letter went home to parents, and we have about 20 enthusiastic members.

The Van Meter students are respectful, creative, and fun to interact with. Some have moved ahead quickly on their own: Kylee (who is old enough to have her own Flickr account) has been building an impressive collection of photographs. Alissa includes lovely photos in her blog postings.

And then there's Emma, who not only has a blog of her own, and aTwitter account (with her parents' knowledge and approval), but also has volunteered to set up and administer the official club blog, Club Click (which is being maintained by Emma Durflinger and other members of Club Click), which will feature students and their photographic work.

Our Club Click Flickr group has more adult than student uploads right now, but that will change as Shannon and I determine the best way to allow younger members to share their photos.

In our Skype sessions, we've discussed some of the possible directions in which the club might move, from choosing themes to constructively critiquing each other's work to community service projects. I talked about the importance of tagging, and displayed some of the tools available on Flickr. Shannon and I have been stashing relevant resources in diigo; we want to offer students as many options as possible to feed their obvious enthusiasm for taking, editing, and sharing photographs.

For most Club Click members, this will be a fun hobby. For some, it may grow to be a lifelong passion. Either way, it's a privilege to be part of the adventure.

"I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure the same as life itself and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing. To me, that makes photography more exciting." -Harry Callahan

"What is art but a way of seeing?" -Thomas Berger

"Skyping with Van Meter" by dmcordell
"Some Flickr options" by dmcordell

Dreams to Life Celebration!

2010-12-18T12:14:00.000-08:00

Dream to Life Presentation in Slideshare

On December 15th, the library was a very special place to be at Van Meter. It had been decorated with a painted banner, homemade paper snowflakes, Christmas lights, and red table clothes. The students were so happy and excited as they got the space ready for a very special event that was going to take place after school.

Around 3:00pm, a few of these guests walked into the library. There were board members from the I Have a Dream Foundation, the mayor of Van Meter, the president of the Van Meter school board, and other friends of the Dreamers.

Soon our special guests arrived! The King Dreamers from Des Moines were here for a holiday celebration. Several of the Dreamers gave their Van Meter friends high fives, hugs, and smiles, while others just went to the tables to sit down.

But today the Dreamers were here for something more than just a holiday celebration!

Everyone had been invited to hear the announcement of the Dreams to Life campaign the Van Meter National Honor Society has created with the help of Youth Venture.

Julia Albaugh, Dani Hubbard, and Andrew Flaherty prepared an amazing presentation to tell everyone what the Dreams to Life campaign was all about. The mission of Dreams to Life is to put technology into the hands of the King Dreamers and other children in the Des Moines area. It is important to the Van Meter NHS chapter that others have the same opportunities through technology, creativity, and innovation that we have been given. In order to make these dreams a reality, the Van Meter NHS chapter along with the King Dreamers will develop and carry out fund raising events and educational opportunities.

During the presentation, the King Dreamers received three Flip video cameras as gifts to start capturing moments to use in the projects which will be created throughout the year. This will give the Dreamers a real opportunity to bring their lives into the work created with the Van Meter NHS members. It will also give them a chance to teach other students and teachers about new technology and let their voices be heard.

Every time we see our King Dreamer friends we all leave feeling blessed and so lucky to know each and every one of them. They bring smiles to our faces, laughter to our group, and friendships that we will have for a lifetime.

The lessons that we learn with our these friends are more important than anything we can learn in the classroom. These are the moments that we will have forever in our hearts.

Thank you King Dreamers for bringing so much to our lives! We love all of you.

The Edublog Awards Meets the Geek Tribe!

2010-12-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

Posted by joycevalenza on December 5th, 2010 on the Neverending Search Blog from School Library Journal

Yesterday, the Edublogs folks announced the short list for the seventh annual Edublogs Awards. As I examined the list, I began to realize how far we’ve come as a tribe. It probably started just over a year ago when we first got together as a group to prepare for AASL Charlotte.

This morning Gwyneth and Shannon and I Skyped about our upcoming Educon2.3 session, but the conversation kept returning to the presence teacher librarians have developed in the larger edtechosphere.

Awards are really nice. Personal recognition is really nice. But you can’t help but notice that it has been a year of serious accomplishment and dramatic school library creep across the board. My hope (always) is that a rising tide lifts all boats.

So explore ALL the wonderful contributors who made a difference and were nominated for anEdublogs Award. But also take a good long celebratory look at this Google Doc and see what a difference our own Geek Tribe has made. And then vote for your favorites!

The three of us starred all the library/librarian-connected projects we recognized. Please add stars to any we may have missed. (23 blogs in the official category of best librarian/ library blogs were nominated this time around!)

Congratulations all. Great work, tribe!

And as Gwyneth says, let’s embrace & welcome our new voices and recruit new Geek Tribe members! And no matter who wins the Edublog awards — really, we all win!

We are stronger when we share!

~ Gwyneth – Joyce – Shannon -

When Students Also Teach from Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk Blog

2010-12-02T20:39:00.001-08:00

This appeared on Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk Blog on December 1, 2010.

In response to a blog post last week, Shannon Miller, Library Media Specialist in Van Meter, Iowa, sent me a personal e-mail. She has graciously allowed me to use the e-mail as a guest blog post...

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your post Dear Students, Please Lead a Thoughtful Revolution.

These few lines are just awesome and so RIGHT ON.....
If you want to see this kind of revolution that will use technology to help make your schools more effective and meaningful to you - not just the same old, same old with a few bells and whistles - you will need to be the ones who lead the revolution.
Technology alone won't create change. I am less and less convinced that adults will be able to fundamentally change how school is done.
I think it will be up to you...
We are a 1:1 laptop school at Van Meter (Iowa) and it is amazing how things have changed. And you are so right....It is not the technology alone. The thinking has changed. The playing field has leveled....not just with students, but with teachers. The teachers are not the only teachers anymore...the students are also the teachers. And this is okay. This is the really powerful transformation that we have all been lucky enough to be part of. We are part of an environment filled with respect, creativity, collaboration, connecting, thinking, learning, and one of CHANGE. At Van Meter, we want students to find their PASSION. Through this transformation we encourage them to think, lead, and serve. To be part of something bigger...outside of the walls of their school and into the world. This is where every one of our students are going to make a difference and mark on the world in their very own way.
This year I have been fortunate enough to teach a very special group of young people in a PLN/Web 2.0 course that I developed with Bill Brannick from Philly. I have a group of students in Van Meter and we have connected with a group of students at Bill's school too. Our blog, The Student PLN Connect, is one place that we have connected our students and a place for them to be heard. On the side of the blog you will see all of our students blogs. We connect through Skype, Twitter, and email throughout the week. The students are
just finishing a collaborative project that they have been working on with a partner in the other school. By offering this experience to these students and to see the powerful connections has been amazing. My daughter, Brianna, is a student in the class. To see her Skyping and talking with her friend Reanne in Philly while working on a research project together 1,000 miles apart is so incredible. This experience is teaching both of the girls valuable skills and giving them a sense of how powerful connections can be.
And the element I love the best....the chance for our young people to have a VOICE in their education. For them to make a difference in the world. Today we Skyped for a few minutes with our classmates in Philly.
Earlier in the day I had sent them the link to your post and asked them all to read it, discuss, and reflect. I just got done reading the comments that they left. I am so proud of each one of our students in #vanmeterbpchs.
They are our future and we need to let them be heard!
Shannon
Shannon McClintock Miller
Van Meter Community School District Teacher Librarian, Technology Specialist, and National Honor Society Chapter Advisor
Inspiring!

And a few reactions from students to the post...
My name is Reanne _______. I am a junior at Archbishop Prendergast. I have to say I am in total agreement with you. I believe that is the purpose of our Web 2.0/PLN class, preparing a group of student leaders for the revolution that is occurring! I think that all students entering in to a 1:1 community SHOULD read this post so they can grasp the gravity of the situation.
The purpose of technology in education is to further our knowledge in the right way. We aren't learning to use netbooks so we can check our facebook during class- it's so we can better our understanding of the availability of tools and people on the internet and be able to use that in a learning environment.
I agree that 1 to 1 will allow us to be more creative and publish our own ideas. It helps us to be self directed learns and find new tools that will enable people to do more things. Also 1 to 1 will help kids with technology and teach them to use different tools, websites and plenty of more things. This will allow both students and teachers to connect with other students and teacher from different schools, they can collaborate on ideas and new tools.
I am from Van Meter, and our school has a 1:1 program. We've had [laptops] for two years now and I think this was the best change for our school. Having computers was a big step for our small school of 600 students. We embraced the change though, we are now teaching our teachers how to use the technology. Our computers are tools, but it isn't just about the computers. Having them has been great but the computers are doing more than just eliminating text books. They are changing the way we are thinking here at Van Meter. I know I have been thinking differently I am using social media like Twitter, to connect with people. I recently connected with the mayor of our town. He is going to help me with my interest of public relations. I hope the more I learn about communication, and public relations the easier it will be in college, and in the business world. Without these computers and new methods of teaching I would not be as motivated, and I would not be this interested in my schooling. I think we have such an advantage over kids that don't have a 1:1 program. We are expanding our knowledge further than just a text book, and what our teachers can teach us. It truly is a revolution, a revolution for the better.
I am a student at a 1:1 school. We have laptops for grades 6 to 12. There are about 600 people in the whole school grades K-12, so it isn't a very big school, but even in our little school changes are happening because of technology. We now do more projects that we used to, and students have more responsibility. Like anything there are pros and cons to this. Not all of the students are as responsible as they should be, and, as with all technology, there are problems that can set everyone back. Although, I do think that the good things outnumber the bad things.We have access to more information, and have so many great tools available at our fingertips. It is a change, and some people don't like change, but I believe it is a change for the better.
Excellent post! It truly portrays the core ideals of the social and education revolution that we are defiantly entering. Our society is moving into a more technologically involved community in both our school, workplaces, and homes. If we are not ready, if we are stubborn and do not move forward, and if we refuse to get involved into the revolution, we will fall behind in this global society that we have entered. Thank you Doug for writing this article. I am a student in a web 2.0 class at MBAPCHS and it has allowed me to learn more about social media, creating my pln, and learning how to sift through information than I could have alone. Very cool video as well! It is awesome to think how much better education would be if this tool was universal. Your article is an inspiration to students and educators everywhere and I hope that many get a chance to read your article and take what you wrote to heart to utilize these ideas in their environment. If one day every classroom, student, and educator were able to utilize these tools, this education revolution would be in full motion forward into the future!
So why do things like this happen in little VanMeter, IA, but not universally? Inspired leadership? Supportive communities? Alignment of the stars? Dumb luck? Inquring minds want to know. - Doug

Be a Dreamer Too!

2010-11-24T10:52:00.001-08:00

Last week the King Dreamers came to visit Van Meter School for the first time. The Van Meter National Honor Society have become mentors and friends to this amazing group of 5th graders. The Dreamers are part of the I Have a Dream Foundation which adopts classrooms of inner-city, high risk kids in first grade, providing tutoring, mentoring, and personal support along the way. Upon successful completion of high school, financial assistance for college is guaranteed to each Dreamer. I posted A Story of Hope last February on the Van Meter Library VOICE, which tells how our journey started with the Dreamers last year.

Yesterday I heard Imagine by John Lennon. The lyrics in this song say it so well....

You may say I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one.

I hope someday you will join us,

and the World will live as one.

I NEED YOUR HELP....Please Vote! :)

2010-10-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

Please go here to VOTE for LOOK HOW DESTINY HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE AND CONNECTED US AT VAN METER SCHOOL!

I have entered a contest entitled TELL YOUR STORY from Follett.

At Van Meter School there are so many incredible ways that Destiny Library Manager has made a difference and connected our students, teachers, and school community to books, online resources, multimedia services, and each other. Destiny has brought our students and teachers together by connecting and sharing through book reviews, ratings, and talks. Teachers, students, and families have access to important information about each book in our collection; are able to reserve books; build resource lists of books and online resources; and view the Van Meter Destiny homepage with various websites for research, community resources, learning, creating, and fun.

With all of our students in grades 6-12 having their own MacBooks, they have our library and other resources at their finger tips at all times, which is extremely valuable. Destiny gives students the tools that they need to be successful and work towards their full potential. All of these elements Destiny has brought to Van Meter, teaches and enforces valuable 21st century skills that are essential for all children. Most importantly it is one more step in bringing the school, families, and the community together to support and encourage the education of all children.

Thanks so much for your support and vote!

The Start of Something Great...Connecting Students 1000 Miles Apart...The Student PLN Connect

2010-09-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

Today this was posted on our new class blog The Student PLN Connect for #vanmeterbpchs.

Once upon a time, a superintendent, principal, and teacher librarian from a small town in Iowa called Van Meter met a very cool principal from Philadelphia on Twitter. After a little tweeting, the principal from Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School came to Van Meter with his superintendent, technology director, and one teacher. They learned about the 1:1 laptop program, connected with others, watched kids be creative and excited about learning, and most of all...experienced the Walking Taco.

This was the start of something amazing between these two schools.

And the start of something great for me as a teacher, learner, and most of all a person.

My name is Shannon McClintock Miller and I am the district teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa that was lucky enough to be the one in this story. And let me tell you how the story continued.

Last year I developed and taught a PLN course to eight students the second semester. I watched these students find their passions and connect with others through social networking and other resources. Throughout that semester, I thought a lot about ways to create a network for our students in which they could express their creativity, thoughts, and ideas. Someplace that would foster a desire to move outside of the walls of our school and into the world to take their learning to a whole new level.

As the semester continued and the students connected to others, I also connected with my new friend Bill Brannick, principal at this terrific school in Philly. We discussed education, kids, and my PLN course. We talked about ways to get his school involved and decided to connect the two schools virtually and online to create an unique experience for all of us. Over the summer, Bill and I Skyped and worked in a Google Doc writing the course description and expectations. When I went to Philly for #ntcamp in July, we were able to talk face to face and this got me even more excited for school to start. I knew that we were onto something very special.

Our school years have now started at both places. Our classrooms have came together through Skype, Twitter (#vanmeterbpchs), Facebook (Van Meter/BPCHS Connect), and now through newly created student blogs (you can find everyones blog on the right hand side of this post). We have invited several creators of web 2.0 tools into our class in the last few weeks. We learned about Diigo from Maggie, had fun creating a Juxio with Will, and started a Van Meter/BPCHS PLN Webmix in Symbalooo with Kimmie. And we were lucky enough to have Tom Whitby, creator of Educator's PLN Ning and #edchat speak with the students about developing and the importance of their PLN. And it is only September 22nd....I can't wait to see what happens in the next eight months!

This summer I traveled to ISTE in Denver, Colorado. When I got home I wrote this blog post on VOICE called, Are Students Part of My PLN Too? . My students are such an special and important part of my PLN and now I have another group of students in Philly that are just as wonderful!

This might be just the start of something special but just wait....this is definitely going to be one group of kids that will show the world what they are capable of not just inside the walls of their schools, but outside too!

Creating a Change in the Van Meter School Libraries!

2010-09-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

I created this video "Be the Change You Want To See In Schools" for a presentation to the Iowa Association of School Libraries on September 15th.