Monday, Monday

Happy Birthday Penny & Karen!

Well, Laura and I started the day off with a call from Mirah canceling her visit. I don't know about you Laura, but I was relieved. Although, after Penny's suggestion, I rescheduled a 3rd grade class that I was supposed to have at her visiting time. It worked out beautifully however, because 1st quarter grades were due today, so I could get those finished up. Big shocker that I would put them off to the last minute huh?

Christy, we'll have to get together for lunch. I would love to hear all about your new job. I can imagine that apartment life is getting a little crowded. Good luck getting your house sold. Any chance that the renters would want to buy?

Lori Jo, wowzers!! It sounds like you have a library jobby job for next year. Keep me posted!

I'm looking forward to a semi short week. We have conferences Thursday afternoon/evening and Friday. The general policy is you only need to be in the building when you have a conference. So far, I have none.....yipee!!

Take care- Mary Ann

Checking In

Hello ladies! How is everyone? From the posts it sounds like everyone is busy. Lori Jo, hope the news is good on the library job! MaryAnn, I think you will love public school, but I can understand how you would miss your current library.

Things are crazy here as usual. I love my job in Spring Hill though! The library (the entire building actually) is beautiful and I've been working hard to get the students in their. My predecessor was not well-liked by anyone (funny how the stories started to come out after a few weeks) and so anything I do looks amazing--so I guess I should thank her! She is still in the district (3-5 grades). We're pretty sure they're trying to get rid of her.

Brady's job is going well and the kids are great. Ellie is in kindergarten and was Student of the Month this month. Her class is only 20 students and her teacher is great. Aidan is in a home-based Montessori preschool and loves it! He has progressed a lot this year now that there are more kids his age around. Mya stays home with Brady's parents for now. We are looking for a place for her a few days a week--they're are spoiling her!!

Our home in Rose Hill hasn't sold, but we are renting it until April so that's helping out financially. The 3-bedroom apt in Olathe seems to get smaller by the day:) But we are together again and doing well so will count our blessings.

Finishing up SLIM this spring--hating my classes. Getting to the point where I know no one and the workload this semester has been wild! Anyway, sorry to post a book, but thought I'd better catch everyone up. Let me know if you guys get up to KC. Would love to see you! And enjoy the rapidly approaching holidays!! Cristy Bolton

Happy Birthday Karen and Penny! We miss our SLIM SISTA TIME!

Big News..but Not Official!

Almost time to celebrate...but not officially. I heard it from the boss today. The next board meeting (the third Monday in November) will be the night he will be notify the board of ed. of the impending retirements, my move to the library and ask permission to adverstise the opening of my position, math teacher and counselor. It will become official after that point. However, our nosy counselor walked into our discussion so I still don't know what changes he was talking about??? Don't worry, I will keep you posted.
Wanting to shout YES! WAHOO! but want it official..still holding my breath.
Miss all of you!

Hey Ladies

So, apparently I'm the only one whose been a total slacker on our blog!! It's been fun to read the recent posts and catch up. It sounds like everyone's year is zipping right along.

Lori Jo, have you heard anything back from your principal?? I'm curious as to what kind of "changes" he's thinking about.

I'm getting ready to look at assignment #3 for the internship hoop that we must get through....I'm curious to hear Mirah's feedback for assignment #2. I'm with you Courtney, this class sucks!! I can't wait until it's over. Mirah is coming out for her visit with me on the 29th. After a few emails with Penny, I think I'm going to try to reschedule a 45minute 3rd grade class that I have at that time. I really don't want Mirah observing me teach if at all possible.

So ladies, after much encouragement from you all, I have started looking into the possibility of moving to public school next year. I have filled out an online application with the Shawnee Mission School District, and I'm getting my transcripts and license copies put together to send in so they can create a file on me. I don't know what's going to happen, or if any openings will even come open, but I'm just going to try and go for it. As you know, I have very mixed feelings about leaving, but I'm trying to look at the big picture.

I hope that all is well with everyone. If anyone is planning a KC trip this fall, please let me know. I would love to have a few drinks and catch up with my SLIM Sistas!!!
-Mary Ann

I've got issues

To any of you who used freewebs to create your portfolio (aren't you glad you're done...this is a pain in my ASS) I am linking my artifacts into my webpages. When I go to view my results, I can't see any of what I just linked? I haven't played with it too much, but what the heck can I do?

Assignment confusion, AGAIN!

Ugh...I have never in my life been more confused by the assignments, then w/ this class.

Question: What is our 'portfolio notebook'? Mira states in assignment#2, paragraph#3, 'Separate from your information needs assessment, create a section in your portfolio notebook titled, "Collection Analysis and Evaluation." The first section in this document should be "clientele." So, what is this portfolio notebook she talks about?

Thanks for the help. I feel like such a dummy this semester....

Possibly Good News?

Okay ladies, my librarian Ruth showed up with her engagement ring on Monday! They are getting married in July. Of course, I ask the principal, "hey, did you see Ruth yet?" He said, "no, why?" So I told him and he said he figured she would be getting one because she turned in her letter that stated it was her intention to retire at the end of this school year. The math teacher turned in one too. That way they get the $1,500 notification by November 1 money for early retirement. He says, "you still want to move over to the library right?"...I said, "I'm willing to jump through a hoop and do a backwards cartwheel to be in the library next year." Of course, this might have been the wrong thing to say...because he says, "well, I have already talked to the supt. about my intention of moving you over...but there's some changes I need to think about and we may need to figure out for next year. I guess we'll need to meet on it." WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF does that mean? I'm guessing other assigned duties or teaching a class too. Does anyone have any pointers about this mystery meeting that may be coming up? Court told me to throw out there: they would need to pay me for a plan period and hire a para if they wanted me to teach too. Any other smart things I coud say? I haven't emailed Carol yet, but I need to.

readergirlz

You have got to check this site out! http://groups.myspace.com/readergirlz. For the month of October they are interviewing a different author every night (see the list below). I think if you are at the high school level, this would be great.

The link is to the google groups site and you can link to their website from there.

The Readergilz purpose is: "Readergirlz is about celebrating books featuring strong female characters, connecting girls with stories that will change the way they see themselves, and inspiring girls to have the guts to make history of their own."



Week One 1. Meg Cabot 2. Tiffany Trent 3. Brent Hartinger 4. Lorie Ann Grover 5. K.L. Going 6. Nikki Grimes

Week Two7. Ellen Hopkins 8. Justina Chen Headley 9. Chris Crutcher 10. Ann Brashares 11. Sarah Mlynowski 12. Cecil Castellucci 13. Kirby Larson

Week Three 14. Tanya Lee Stone 15. John Green 16. Sara Zarr 17. Deb Caletti 18. Rachel Cohn 19. Kirsten Miller 20. Mitali Perkins

Week Four 21. Sonya Sones 22. Lisa Yee 23. Carolyn Mackler 24. E. Lockhart 25. Janet Lee Carey 26. Gaby Triana 27. Lauren Myracle

Week Five28. Holly Black 29. Cynthia Leitich Smith 30. Dia Calhoun 31. Stephenie Meyer (Her chat is at Midnight, Eastern, on Halloween!)

Hey SLIMERS!!!

Wanted to share a few of my "slim sista" photos!! What a bunch of good looking librarians!

Tandem Tent Sale!!

Oh my goodness ladies--did any of you attend the Tandem Tent sale this last week and weekend?? I spent over $600 in a matter of 2 hours. Every book is $2.50- hardback. Some of problems but most are just overstock. Great way to cheaply add to your collection.

My First Book Fair

Well I just set up my first book fair. Can I just say HOLLY SHIT!!! I did not realize what an undertaking this would be. There is sooooo much shit to put out. I have to have the book fair in my library so needless to say there is limited space, yet the pile of boxes was going on forever!! But here is the part I wanted to share with all my book buddies! At the KASL conference yesterday I was chatting with fellow librarains and one suggested having Scholastic send you two empty crates with your bookfair to put all the boxed books in. GREAT idea just a little late for me this time around.
Also at the conference I ran into Shirley, Katie, and Megan and this poor poor girl who is just starting the SLIM program. Oh what a road she has ahead. :)

District VI Fall Workshop

Even though I am still a wanna a be, I went to the District VI KASL workshop. Yeah, I pretended it was to keep up on all things library, but ya know I was really checking out the librarians - feeling out the possiblities of future openings. Besides a couple of nuns that looked like they on their last leg, it looks like I may be out of luck for a while.

Anyway, I did learn some interesting things. Tri-Conference will now be called Kansas Library Conference and is a joint effort between KLA & KASL. There is some bitter blood between the two over negotiations of the conference but I guess it's all been work out. Marth House emphasized that KASL members mark their membership on the conference registration so KASL gets all the money alloted for them.

Jackie Lakin has a book out called Soldier Girl. It looked interesting. Here's a blurb:

Soldier Girl by J. McMahon Lakin
“Soldier Girl” is the story of Lindy Harrison who at the age of five along with her mother leaves the McLeod family farm in Osawatomie, Kansas to join her father who is a white officer with the Buffalo Soldiers of the Tenth Cavalry Regiment. The story follows the character development of Lindy as she learns about fort life as the daughter of a white officer serving with Buffalo Soldiers in Kansas and Oklahoma at the beginning of the Indian Wars (1867-1875). Many of the officers including Colonel Benjamin Grierson founded the Ninth and Tenth regiments to prove African Americans were good soldiers in peacetime after the War Between the States. Lindy's support as she adjusts to becoming a soldier is her Grandpa McLeod who corresponds regularly with her and Sergeant Pick, a Buffalo Soldier assigned to the Tenth.

I saw a copy of the Handy 5, 2nd ed. and my lesson plan from 851 was in there! I am assuming Lisa's was too as there was one that had to do with 4th grade in Lansing. I don't remember the others, I knew mine and seeing Lansing made me think of Lisa. I saw one I thought may have been Penny's and maybe one that was Lori Jo's but I can't remember details. Anyway, we might be famous girls, even if we aren't named. Les thought it was cool at least.

And those of you, here in Kansas, who are in a library now, which is everyone but me and Lori Jo :( might want to consider signing up for the KASL mentor program is you haven't already. There is info on the KASL website www.skyways.org/kasl.

AND I ALMOST FORGOT! There was a short workshop on book repair. I have a handout I can copy and send to those who want it. That was one thing I didn't learn at ESU and in a school library is very important. If you've been to a workshop or already know some about book repair, you may know what's in the handout. There were some good tips I didn't know though. Actually the only thing I knew was not to use Scotch tape on the books.

So even though I had to spend a Saturday doing something other than "nothing", it wasn't too bad.

Greetings from Denver!

Hello my fellow SLIM Sistas! I am alive! And kicking, I might add! I finally got my email issues and password issues dealt with today. I think I have been on the computer since 9:00am. But, all is now well!

I wish I could say I miss being in school, but I definitely do not. I am however greatly missing all of you. Unfortunately, I got roped into taking an online/webcam course on technology at my new school, but thank god I do not have to do an internship class. I still have yet to see my Colorado Teaching License. It was supposedly sent to my Kansas address, but it has yet to show up here in Denver! Oh well, I have to add my Teacher-Librarian endorsement to it anyway after I take yet another standardized test so I am qualified. HA HA!

I had a great time catching up on all of the old posts. I am glad to hear that you are all doing well. I am busy but loving our new life in Denver. I love my new job although it has definitely been stressful and challenging at times. I am working with my third library schedule since my first two were not working out at all. I will now see K-5 (10 classes) in a fixed schedule once a week. However, the Middle School will now be on a flexible schedule. A fixed schedule for Middle School was NOT working. So, wish me luck as I start my new schedule next week!

My new school has a wonderful and supportive staff. We have students that are first or second generation from 55 countries around the world which creates a pretty amazing environment. However, I cannot pronounce half of their names which has made some students cry and others get quite mad at me. (Sara--You are not alone with making students cry!) The teachers are really want a collaborative librarian. The trick is getting it to work with my schedule and their curriculum. However, I am not complaining. The job is going well!

Enough of me blabbing on! I hope you are all doing well! Miss you guys! When are you coming to visit me in Denver? ROAD TRIP!

Hello All

Hey Gals, I finally have a new, wonderfully fast computer that makes catching up on all of the posts I have missed fun. Sorry for being AWOL for so long.
Sara, congrats! That is so exciting!
Lori, that is awesome that she has a coutdown calender and that you get to spend so much more time in there.
Penny, how is it going since your classes started?
Karen and Laura, we missed you at the internship meeting.

Well, MY JOB IS FREAKIN AWESOME!!!!! I absolultely love it. Don't get me wrong, I am not constantly collaborating, but thanks to all the changes I have made, the library is now the place to be to work. It isn't the hangout...that gives the wrong connotation. It is the place that kids come to work (we still have some giggles and smiles). Kids are realizing that I know the books and are coming to me for recommendations. The best part is that so many are telling me how much they love the new stuff. Maybe I did learn something at school all those years.

Internship girls...haven't even started the September assignment yet! Oh well! Too busy running a hoppin library :)

Later ~Courtney

Counting the Days

Yesterday in the library I noticed my friend Sarah looking at the school calendar. She had the days numbered counting down the days until school is out. I joked...Geez, Sarah! Are already looking forward to summer 2008? She looked up and said...Oh no! This isn't my calendar, it's Ruth's countdown to retirement. As you can imagine, I had a smile on my face the whole rest of the day.

Sorry it took me so long to get this done. Here are a few pictures of our cruise. We had a great time!! Swimming with the stingrays was so unbelievable. We also swam with Dolphins but they were in captivity so not as cool. The stingrays as you can see in the picture...you are just out in the middle of the ocean on a sandbar and the stingrays are just swimming around because they know that you are going to feed them. They actually get aggressive and brush up against your legs. It freaked Hannah out and she headed back to the boat rather quickly. The fam shot is in Mexico. Very depressing place but beautiful.

ready or not

School has definitely started. I made my first student cry...I told her she wasn't standing in the right place and she lost it....first grade. I can make em melt huh? I am just completely worn slick. I think it's a sign of age.......I just don't have as much umph as I did last year. I have noticed though that teachers are asking me for more help/collaboration/advice than last year. That's good. I also think that doing both my practicum and capstone is going to kill me. The capstone seems like a GIGANTIC waste of time. Just clarifying.....do I need to read any of the assigned reading in order to pass the class or is my only grade going to be on my portfolio? Sorry, do I sound a bit pessimistic? November can't get here soon enough...that's when I'll be done...then I"ll need the biggest slippery nipple you can find(extra slippery)! Start looking.

Karen....good luck with your high maintenance cherub. Guess if she's the only one then you could potentially type out step by step instructions for her....you know-try to side step some of the questions ;)

Lesson plans!!!

I just found some really great lesson plans. (I had a little extra time to do some more lesson plan searches.) The standards are already listed but I would like to add a few others and modify. Can anyone give me directions on how to edit PDF documents? Here's the link:

http://hanover.k12.va.us/instruction/media/LessonPlanBook.htm

Capstone

Okay ladies, I'm supposed to be doing my first assignment in capstone this semester. I looked over the new and old syllabus and they are virtually the same. It says you have to read the book and get a good understanding of web portfolios. Okay, truth be told I haaate text books and don't really want to read this one......do you all recommend that I read, or can I just look at your old web portfolios and be able to complete my own.

We have a wedding date....Oct. 4, 2008! Set your calendars now for the social event of the midwest! (well, it's my dream at least)