Block+One+-+The+Nominees

toc =Block One - The Nominees=

Introduction
We decided to focus on teacher-librarians' love of reading and books as we delve into the new Web and its incredible tools. Hence the theme, **//Meet the Stars//**. When Carlene suggested this idea, it reminded me of two teachers who have started a blog, [|A Year of Reading], to discuss their favourite books and try to [|predict] the annual Newbery Award winners. Their venture led them into blogging regularly about books, reading and teaching.... where will it take you?

Block One Overview
In this block of learning, the focus is **collaboration** - with each other! As teacher-librarians we build relationships with our teachers and do not often have the time to communicate, network and connect with other teacher-librarians. One of the greatest joys of Web 2.0 is that we can learn with and from each other no matter where we are. The tool that we will use to collaborate is a [|wiki] which you will learn to use as you contribute to a list of resources about award winning books and authors.

Outcomes
Each learner will
 * Select and use Web-based applications effectively and productively
 * Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers employing a variety of digital environments and media
 * Develop strategies to guide inquiry effectively and efficiently
 * Locate, analyze, and organize information from a variety of sources
 * Report results through construction of online resource of book promotion sites

Achievement Indicators
Upon successful completion of this block of learning, each learner will have: >
 * contributed a minimum of five resources to the wiki.
 * linked resources correctly
 * accompanied each link with a 2 - 3 sentences description and recommendation of the site.

Learning Activities
Examine the list of potential award winning books and begin to read new books published between January and December of the preceding year. If you wish to incorporate students, this [|poster] can be displayed in the library and/or classroom.
 * Mock 2008 Newbery Award
 * Elementary
 * Middle
 * Secondary
 * Mock 2008 Willow Award
 * [|Shining]
 * [|Diamond]
 * [|Snow]

Search the Web to find booktalks, reviews, lesson plans, discussions, etc about at least one of the books (you will need to find 5 resources). Below are some sites that are worth examining.

Contribute to a collection of resources that will assist you in booktalks. No more creating in isolation! As you locate resources that you find worthwhile add them to the wiki page, Resource Links, on this wiki (information about wikis and how to use them are found further down on this page). Remember to add a brief description of the site. You may find sites that are not related to the books on the list. If you think they are sites that may be useful selection aids don't hesitate to add them to the wiki.
 * [|Bookwink]
 * [|Booktalks Quick and Simple]
 * [|Just One More Book]
 * [|Nancy Pearl's Book Reviews]
 * [|ALA]: Features information, news, events, and advocacy resources for teacher-librarians.
 * [|Children's Literature:]Features themed reviews, interviews with authors and illustrators, and teacher materials.
 * [|CM Magazine: Canadian Review of Materials]: An electronic journal of Canadiana of interest to children and young adults.
 * [|National Library of Canada:]Accounts of Canadian books, images, music and much more
 * [|Novelist K-8]An EBSCO Datatbase available from the Sasklearning Database Page Fiction database. Also includes Author Read-Alikes, Book Discussion Guides, Booktalks, Thematic Units, Picture Book Extenders, as well as specific teaching guides for using fiction in the classroom.
 * [|MonsterLibrarian] (horror books for adults, teens and kids)
 * [|Amazon Podcasts]

This list is not intended to be exhaustive; participants are strongly encouraged to locate and identify additional resources deemed valuable.

Learning Resources:
When you feel comfortable using the wiki please go to our introductions page and introduce yourself to the other participants.

**How to use a wiki:**
media type="youtube" key="-dnL00TdmLY" width="425" height="350"
 * 1) Watch the following short video that outlines the benefits and possibilities of a wiki:

2. Learn how to use wikispaces.com (the wiki used to create this collaborative online document) by watching the short video [|tutorials] from wikispaces to give you some background on how to use a wiki.

3. Read the information below about the three different ways to add content to a wiki. As you add your resources you may want to experiment with each. For example - you could start a whole new page to list the resources for the book you are reading. If you come across a great resources for a book that someone else is reading you could add the link and a description to their page. If you have some comments or thoughts on a particular book and want to know what others think you could start a discussion using the discussion tab.

You can **modify pages** that have already been created. Once you click the button you will have access to a tool bar much like that of a word processing program only smaller. This will allow you to edit the page that you are on. You can edit, modify,change and add to the information on the page. Click save when you are done and the changes will be visible to the world.

You can also **create new pages**: click on the //new page// link at the top of the menu bar on the left hand side. Give your page a name. Click the edit button and create your page. If you create a new page you should add it to the menu bar on the left so others can see it. Click the //edit navigation// link at the bottom of the left hand side-bar. For example.... You may want to create a separate page that contains all the information about a particular book from the lists.

You may want to **start a discussion** about the information that you have placed on a page. Use the **discussion tab** at the top of the page to begin a threaded discussion.

To get started using the resource links page you will need to join the wiki. Once you are officially a member of the site you will be able to make changes. We are not designing this part of the wiki but instead hope that the participants will build a site that is useful to them.

**More About Wikis**
[|How I use Wikis in the Classroom] from Vicki Davis of the [|Cool Cat Teacher Blog]. Vicki has organized her uses of wikis into five educational categories. The comments are also well worth reading as they offer other ideas of how to use wikis in the classroom. Eduwikis has many great links to educational uses of wikis -- well worth exploring!

Timeline
Participants are expected to complete this block, //The Nominees//, by September 15, 2007.

Block 1: The Nominees | Block 2: The Review | Block 3: You Oughta be in Pictures | Block 4: Lewis Theatre