Making Time for Makerspaces

 This week's readings and lectures were particularly interesting to me.  I am a first year school librarian who walked into a bit of a mess of things to clean up.  For the majority of the summer, I spent time cleaning things out and had little time to prep for how I wanted things to run in my library.  As the weeks have progressed and some structure has been obtained, I have really been wanting to develop makerspaces for my students.  In fact, I found some tanagram shapes and puzzles that were not being used in our school's science lab and took those to use as a "center".  I also am using magnets and white boards for a spelling game.  These, of course, are just starting points for where I'd like to be.  One of my biggest concerns in starting up my makerspaces is figuring out how to run things time wise.  

I have my students for 45 minutes.  By the time they get in there and we get started, it's really more like 40 minutes.  I came upon this blog post that felt like it was something that I could really relate to.  In the post, "Mrs. J" gives a breakdown of how she checks books out and run makerspaces in 40 minute periods.  She also includes links for suggestions of some great makerspace center tools.  The thing that stuck out to me most was how she talks about her centers being "research centers".  Lauren Britton (2012) states, "Maker spaces promote learning through play; have the potential to demystify science, math, technology, and engineering".  In essence, students are researching and the learning is put in their own hands.  Using research centers as a part of makerspaces, students are able to develop the skills necessary to be  successful in their education and future careers.  While 40 minutes is not a long amount of time, there is plenty that can be accomplished by structuring a schedule and getting students in the swing of the schedule. 

Cyberbullying

"You're judging your insides by other people's outsides"(Envy-Seven Digital Deadly Sins).  Wow! As I sit and scroll through Facebook or listen to other peoples conversations about what they saw on so and so's Facebook, this quote is beaming in my head.  Social media sites are a great way to connect and network with others, but they also hold the key to so many other things.  It's so easy to look at what someone else has or what they look like in a post they make, and compare what we have or look like.  It's also easy to become frustrated, defeated, and depressed because we feel like we can't compare to what that post shows.  I think this statement is a reminder that things are not always what they seem to be, and growing envious of what "appears to be" is mentally destructive.  

Cyberbullying is something that I have recently become very interested in.  Social media outlets such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook typically seem to be the center of cyberbullying.  As an elementary teacher, it wouldn't appear that this would really be that much of an issue.  Sadly, it is.  While most of these social media outlets tend to have age restrictions, most younger children simply put an age that is "just old enough" in order to create their account.  Often times, parents of the children don't even realize their child has an account.  As a parent and teacher, the shear amount of social media sites that provide opportunities for cyberbullying are both alarming and frightening.  Cyberbullying.org includes a list of more than 50 of the most popular social media apps.  

Image from cyberbullying.org

With so many opportunities to engage in cyberbullying, how do we work to combat it? According to the National Crime Prevention Council approximately 160,000 children miss school on a daily basis because they are concerned about being bullying (Redmond).  Educating students about cyberbullying is the biggest step in combating the issue.  Students need to understand what cyberbullying is.  An important part of teaching elementary aged children about digital citizenship is teaching them proper online behaviors.  Giving scenarios for them to talk about in small groups is a great way to engage students in understanding behaviors that are and are not appropriate.  It is also important to teach young students what to do if they experience cyberbullying, whether as a bystander or a victim.  They need to know that it is important to immediately tell an adult that they trust.  This also means giving examples of people outside of their home that they could trust to tell such as their teacher or guidance counselor.  Educating students at an early age about cyberbullying is a giant step in preventing them from becoming a cyberbully in the future.    

For more information, check out cyberbullying.org.

Resources: 

Richard Byrne's Seven Digital Deadly Sins

Orech, J. (2012). How it's done: Incorporating digital citizenship into your everyday curriculum. Tech & Learning, 33(1), 16-18.

Redmond, J. Cyberbullying in Elementary School. Love to Know. https://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Cyberbullying_Elementary_School

McBee Elementary Reads: An Instagram Page

McBee Elementary is a small school located in South Carolina that is home to around 350 students in grades 4K-5.  Students are engaged in reading across all content areas.  As I was determining what social media platform would be best to use to promote literacy from the perspective of the school library, one platform felt most appropriate.  "This is the best way to capture the variety of literacies occurring in the library"(2017), states Jan Wilson in regards to taking and posting pictures.   With this in mind, Instagram felt like the right fit.  It's so easy to snap a few photos of books or students reading to keep parents and students updated on what the library has to offer and what students are doing in library.  With that being said, I created the McBee Elementary Library Instagram page: mcbeeelmreads. 

This page was very easy to create.  I was able to use my personal information that I use for my personal account to create this account.  I chose to do this since I will be the person running the page.  The profile image includes the school logo"Learners today. Leaders tomorrow."  I chose this image because it is the same image as the school Facebook page.  With permission from administration, I plan to link this Instagram page to the school Facebook page.  This will allow parents who are on Facebook but not Instagram to view the posts as well.  

Each month, I plan to post weekly reads that coordinate with the displays in the library.  This month, I have Halloween reads displayed.  We are also discussing genre, and the "genre of the month" is science fiction.  A post will come soon with science fiction picks for this month.  I also will post images of students reading and participating in activities within the library.  This page is also going to be a great way to promote events such as the book fair.  Posts will include a short blurb to explain the image.  This will be a great way to get information to parents from the perspective of the library.  

Like Twitter and Facebook, Instagram users are able to use "hashtags" to search for other posts using the same hashtag.  This year, our school literacy coach and myself have been brainstorming ways to promote literacy even more with our students in and out of school.  We began discussing using a hashtag for parents to post images of their children reading on social media platforms that would correlate with the school.  Choosing #mesreads, as included in the page biography, will connect this promotion of literacy. "Hashtags, especially those that are widely used in your community, are another great way to gain exposure and followers"(Wella, 2016).

Finally, privacy settings.  Being this is an account that includes images of elementary age children, it is a private account that requires the approval of the site administrator to view and follow the page.  As the librarian, I interact with all of the students in the school.  I know each of them and many of the upper grade children have instagram pages.  My plan would be to have any students who have instagram to share their usernames with me.  This would allow me to approve their follow request and know it is them.  This page will have information not only for parents, but for students as well so it is important that those with Instagram accounts have access to the page. 

References: 

Wetta, M. (2016). Instagram now: Engage young users with the image based social media tool. School Library Journal, 62(2), p. 30-32.

Wilson, J. (2017). Make your library more visible. School Library Journal, 62(12), p. 16. 

Bookshare

Inclusion is a crucial aspect of making sure that all students needs are met.  This means that students with special needs are given the same opportunities that their peers receive.  While this may take some extra work, it's crucial that this is done.  Bookshare is an online library that allows for students with disabilities such as dyslexia, blindness, and other reading barriers to customize a "library" that will be tailored to their particular needs. 

Bookshare  can be accessed by clicking the attached link.  The best part? Bookshare is free for US students and schools with the qualifying disabilities.  School librarians, special education teachers, and reading interventionists qualify to sign their students up.  By completing the application, you can begin to develop a library made by you for your students with disabilities.  Students with learning disabilities such as ADHD or intellectual disabilities do not automatically qualify.  Bookshare is intended for students who can not physically manipulate a book because of a visual impairment or other physical impairment.  For more information on qualification, visit the "Who Qualifies" page.  Check out this video to find out more about Bookshare and if it is right for you. 

Bookshare is available for use on devices such as Chromebooks, tablets, smartphones and other assistive technology devices.  There's no need to worry if you will be able to find enough titles for your students as Bookshare has 1,045,516 titles.

Getting Techy

Developing a 21st century ready graduate has to include ensuring students are technologically sound.  As the recent pandemic has shown major technology gaps between rural and urban schools, many rural districts are racing to get devices into the hands of their students.  The Google Chromebook by Lenovo is an affordable, dependable device that will provide opportunities to develop a sound technological foundation.  

The Chromebook has many features that make it ideal for elementary aged students:  

• Long battery life (up to 10 hours)
• Require little maintenance
• Small keyboards that are ideal for little hands
• Pre-loaded with numerous Google apps such as Google Docs, Slides, and Forms
• Touchscreen features
• Screen can be folded back to be set up in a tablet form

Extremely important in regards to rural schools with fewer funding opportunities, Chromebook are much cheaper than other competitors such as Apple products.  Lenovo Chromebooks can typically be purchased for around $200-$250. 

Chromebooks are going to allow our students the opportunity to explore learning in a whole new way.  Students are going to be able to collaborate with each other in new, creative ways.  While we don't want teaching to be solely in the hands of technology, we do need to use technology to boost our teaching.  If you're looking for some innovative ways to use Chromebooks in your classroom check out "10 Apps for Back to School".  

Be sure to check out this app if your looking for a way for your students to have more access to books:

 Epic provides access to ebooks and videos for students to explore.  The only down side to Epic is that students are not allowed access to it after school hours. Parents can set up an account for after school access. 

References: 

Kajeet. (2019). 5 reasons why chromebooks in the classroom benefit students. https://www.kajeet.net/5-reasons-why-chromebooks-in-the-classroom-benefits-students/

Kajeet. (2019). 10 apps for back to school. https://www.kajeet.net/10-apps-for-back-to-school/

Lenovo. (2021). Lenovo chromebook 3 (14"). https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/laptops/lenovo/lenovo-edu-chromebooks/ideapad-3-cb-14igl05/88ipsc31462

Book Creator

Elementary ELA teachers, are you looking for a creative way for your students to publish their writing?  Look no further than Book Creator.  Book Creator is an online tool that allows students to create their own online book.  This app is available for Apple products and is recently available to Chromebook users!  Teachers can use their school issued Google account to set up their library in Book Creator. 

I guess the big question is, how much does it cost?  Once set up, you can have up to 40 books in your library for free!  How can my students publish their writing for each of our units if there are only 40 free books available?  They are able to edit and add more to a published book at any time.  This would allow them to publish each of their writings within the same book to create a "portfolio" of their writing for the year!  Even more appealing, you can share students published books via email.  Allow parents to explore the writing their child has done all year.  

There are so many awesome features that students are sure to be excited to use.  Students can take pictures and videos to upload.  They can even use an annotating tool to draw their own images!  Students who want to create comic books/ graphic novels will be able to do so with comic templates and stickers.  Book creator is sure to take your students "final drafts" to a whole new level!

50 hand-picked fonts to choose from

Add images or take your own photos

Drop in video or music, or even record your voice

Use the pen tool to draw or annotate

For more tips and information on using Book Creator check out Julie Smith's post, Using Book Creator For the Web in the Elementary Classroom. 

As a new district to the 1:1 world and Chromebooks, check out The Techie Teacher for more innovative ways of using technology in the classroom.  Reach out to me as well because as studies show, collaboration and among teachers is the best way to ensure student success!

Let Me Fact Check That

 If I'm honest, this week's readings and podcasts really brought to my attention something that I was somewhat already aware of: my information diet is not the most healthy.  Let me explain myself a little more on why it isn't so healthy.  I'm not one to spend much time looking into the current news events.  Like many, and as mentioned in the podcast, I am guilty of mindlessly scrolling.  Most nights when I am getting my children to sleep, I catch myself mindlessly scrolling through Facebook and Instagram.  Social media is full of "self-proclaimed" newscasters.  These individuals share any and every article they come across as long as it fits their personal agenda, never checking the credibility of it.  I say that my information diet is not the most healthy not because I believe all of these stories, but because I rarely take the time to dig for myself.  Occasionally, I will Google the topic of articles that I see that catch my attention.  Unfortunately, a simple Google search can provide with articles that support both false and true claims too.  

As I think about the students that I teach, I know that many of them are getting their information from people at home that get all of their information from social media outlets.  I've heard many times "my mom saw on Facebook that...".  Reflecting on this, I realize that I need to work on my own information diet in order to enhance my teaching of information to children.  As a media specialist, it will be important that I teach children how to find information using credible sources.  I feel that in order to do this, I need to do a better job at exposing myself to various credible sources.  

When looking through the frameworks for information literacy,  the definition of information literacy really made me reconsider my information diet in regards to teaching students about how to find and share information.  "Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning." (Association of College and Research Libraries, p. 8).  Teaching children how to use information to develop knew knowledge means that they need to get their information from credible sources.  As a media specialist, I feel that it is my role to create information literate students who are able to find and share credible and factitious information.  

It looks like it's time for me to enhance my diet!

Resources: 

Gungor, M. (Host), McHargue, M (Host). (2017, March 7). Fake news and media literacy (Audio Podcast Episode). In The Liturgists Podcast.

Association of College and Research Libraries. (2015, February 2). Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education.