A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
With alternating protagonists twenty years apart, Nya spends her days in the Sudan fetching water many times a day and twenty years earlier Salva is embroiled in the Sudanese Civil War, searching for his family, trying to survive as one of the Lost Boys and walking to Ethiopia and Kenya. Award winning author Linda Sue Park has crafted a fictionalized account of Salva Dut's story and what an admirable job. For upper elementary students, I think this is a must read for all students and the reluctant readers in junior and senior high would enjoy this piece of history that is still fraught with turmoil, genocide and cultural clashes. I think what Salva Dut shows so admirably is that his upbringing helped guide him to be positive and accepting of others. His uncle was able to motivate Salva by giving one thing at a time to strive for; this Salva used when he became a leader of the lost boys and he encouraged the boys for a year and a half to keep walking to make their way to Kenya. Salva continues to want to help others and this is where Nya's story blends with Salva's. A highly recommended read.
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Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill and knew I wanted to read this book! Gill's humor just moves his books along and you have to love a character (protagonist) with the name of Bug Smoot. She is a fiesty eighteen year old who drives a classic cadillac (was her grandfather's before he died) to deliver pizzas for a particularly nasty Vinnie. Bug is a mixed race; her mom was Tejana and her dad was black and she was referred to as coyote by everyone. But Bug has a smart comeback for everyone and when she finds her rent is due and the landlord wants it by 5 o'clock and there is a man (devil) in her car and he has come to repossess the car and her soul in 72 hours; Bug really has too much going on. With lots of help from Pesto, the manager at the car wash, with maybe a love interest too, you will laugh as Bug Smoot tries to outwit the devil and lots of other paranormal goings on. Bug and Pesto are so enjoyable while Vinnie and the devil are just plain evil. But Bug Smoot doesn't back down so 72 hours just flies by with sooooo much going on. I loved this humorous book, enjoyed learning about ElPaso and how to kick demon butt.
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City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book! Clary and Jace are still my favorites, even though I loved Jem and Will from
but Cassandra Clare is the author of this wonderful Infernal Devices so she won't mind me paying homage to her protagonists in both books.
There was so much adventure, drama, secrets, lies and I just wanted to keep reading the book and not work!!!
I really detested Sebastian and I hated when he tried to reach Clary by working on the "sister" angle. It really irked me to see Sebastian and Jace getting along, ew! It was so good to see more of Simon and Isabella, Alec and Magnus, Jordan and Maya. Clare does such a superb job with her characters, their worlds and all of the action going on, I really hated to see it end, but I am so happy to just wait for another one of Cassandra Clare's books. Love, love, love this book.
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Keep Holding On by Susane Colasanti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Susane Colasanti has written a very telling novel about teens and bullying. Noelle's life is bad; bullied by Carly and Ashley and Warner; neglected by her mother and hooking up with Matt behind a secret wall at school. But Noelle struggles to "keep holding on" and hopes to have more food and clothes and friends some day. This is a gripping story because the bullying is very explicit and difficult to read. Even Noelle watches as others are bullied and wants to help them but knows it would spell doom for her. Noelle's life was once better, but after her mother's boyfriend dies; they have no home to live in; her mom does not have a good job and as life gets harder for her mother, Noelle is the one who suffers. Sometimes there is no food, no toiletries, and stopped up toilets and broken showers. Carly calls her "rotten eggs" because they one time Noelle can;t find any clothes to wear, she is forced to wear clothes that stink. All of this daily horror has Noelle so afraid; she can't let anyone know! But she does have a few things that begin to make her life tolerable; her friend, Sherae, who does not abandon her; Simon who offers her a job editing the school newspaper (which gets her out of the torment of 5th period lunch in the cafeteria) and Julian who really likes her. I know my students will love this book and the bullying aspects of this book will create sensitivity on the part of the readers and have students think twice and stop picking on each other and accept them for who they are. Highly recommended
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The Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
With alternating chapters of prose and comics, Cecil Castellucci has woven a gripping tale of sisters, young love, a summer of changes and jealousy that will rip two sisters apart. Tessa and her younger sister Lulu have always hung around together and been very close. But this summer, Tessa is old enough to go to the carnival alone and not be embarrassed about what her parents look like, say and do. But Tessa will not be allowed to just hang out with her best friend, Celina. If Tessa wants to go to the carnival with her best friend, Celina---younger sister Lulu must come too. Tessa has had a crush on Charlie forever and this will be the night that they hold hands or kiss--Tessa can feel it. When she gets separated from Charlie in line, it is Lulu who goes into the sideshow with Charlie and emerges holding hands. This is the beginning of Lulu's first relationship and Tessa's mounting jealousy toward her sister. But Castellucci doesn't just paint these sisters black and white----there is irrational feelings and moods---Tessa loves her sister, and wants the best for her---just not with Charlie. When strange boy Jasper seems to keep popping up, Tessa begins a secret relationship with Jasper (made easier by the fact that he lives next door to Celina---where the sisters spend so much time)and as the summer rolls on---Tessa really cares for Jasper but still is angry with her sister because not only did she steal her secret crush; Lulu has gotten taller and needs more clothes and shoes. Her mother keeps buying Lulu new things but not Tessa. I really liked the allusion to Medusa, who turns anyone who looks at her to stone. You can see the inner turmoil of Tessa through Medusa's hair of snakes. Tessa hates herself for feeling this way; but she just can't help it. What will happen to the sisters, Charlie and the secret boy, Jasper? You must read this, I was totally unprepared for the climax---even though there were hints, signs, etc. As always, I love Cecil's books, now I love Nate Powell's graphic illustrations, I was left with such a tragic feeling...
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The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This companion novel to
is totally gripping and as much as I totally loved it, the torture many of the characters went through was beyond what any child or adult during a time of war should have to endure!!! I disliked thoroughly what Mahlia, Mouse and any of the child soldiers were put through minute by minute, never knowing if they could be killed even by their own friends, war maggots and/or leaders. Seeing Tool back in this book was awesome, he is so unbelievable and there were many times you just were not sure he would survive this time. The characters of the doctor, Mahlia, Mouse, Tool and Ocho were very well drawn and author Bacigalupi did a terrifyingly good job with the evil characters and there was never a short supply of them. I lost hope alot, can you imagine what it was like for the characters in the Drowned Cities. Mahlia's hope was always being buoyed by recalling her Chinese mother and her teachings about survival because if she didn't constantly think about a better way; she could just abandon hope with all the violence she sees surrounding her. Mahlia is now one of my favorite heroes and so is Tool (I loved him in Ship Breaker too!) with his augment status and his allegiance to no one but himself. Two of my favorite quotes, Dr mahfouz is explaining why the troops keep fighting, "Whe people fight for ideals, no price is too high, and no fight can be surrendered. They aren't fighting for money, or power, or control. Not really. They fight to destroy their enemies. Soeven if they destroy everyhting around them, it is worth it, because they know that they'll have destroyed the traitors."
The boat man they took captive on being forced to take Mahlia, Mouse and Tool down river. "Children with guns, We aren't even people to you."
Highly recommended, just know it is very difficult to read...you will keep thinking about this book again and again and cringing again and again. Unfortunately the author did his research on the child soldiers and what they are forced to endure...
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This title is really the case study for a wider topic on Remote Apps.
For me this is one of the most exciting (tech) influences on mobile learning ... the interconnectivity between devices.
I have two folders on my iPad [Remote1 and Remote2] which are full of Apps that enable connectivity between the iPad and other devices ... and that connectivity can be both ways.
See the two screen shots below.
This topic could probably be a mini ebook in its own right ... so I've taken the easy route and did a screencast myself ... but just on the iPad
[I used the App Display Recorder ($1.99) to make this screencast which then uploaded to YouTube]
I highlight just one App .... "LogMeIn" ... there is a free version athttp://itunes.apple.com/us/app/logmein/id479229407?mt=8 but I'm using the pro version called "Ignition" which costs over US$100 http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ignition/id299616801?mt=8
... and just in case you think I'm rich ... when the LogMeIn [Ingition] App first came out it had less funtionality and was only a few dollars ... and when they upgraded they auto upgraded early adopters to the full version ... (phew).
This gendre of Apps provide the functionality to mirror a screen from e.g. Laptop (Windoz or Mac) to the iPad with the iPad touch screen having full interactivity ... so control your laptop/desktop from the other side of the room ... or the other side of the world. Note that I'm not talking about mirroring the iPad screen to another machine or projector ... that's in another blog post/book chapter
If you are wondering which one to try first ... maybe give Splashtop ($4.99) a spinhttp://itunes.apple.com/us/app/splashtop-remote-desktop-for/id382509315?mt=8
Case Study : Using the iPad as a Graphics Tablet
To illustrate one possible use of these Apps see the video below which I made to answer the question in a Ning forum (thanks Juliana) ... "Can an iPad be used as a graphics tablet" for screencasting on a desktop/laptop.
Health Warning ... this video was made very late one night with assistance from my cats ... I used a hand-held Flip Camera.
More mobile learning resources on shambles.NET at http://shambles.net/ICT/#mobile
Screencasting info at http://www.shambles.net/pages/staff/screencast/
This Blog was originally posted on the Blog "Shamblesguru's iPad"
Have fun ....
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I'm a BIG evangelist for screencasting ... on all devices ... IMHO it's an essential skill to go into every teachers and learners digital toolbox.
On the iPad we are spoilt for choice, many are free ... if you are looking for a suggestion on where to start then download Educreation (free) ... it is similar to having a single interactive whiteboard screen that you can put images on, draw, type and talk ... with it all being recorded for use later .. often the resulting video can be uploaded to e.g. YouTube.
Another of the Apps in my collection below that deserves extra attention is Coach's Eye ($4.99) this App is designed for P.E./Sports staff to video sports actions and then play video back immediately with the option of writing on the screen and annotating the action ... a MUST for your P.E. colleagues.
But there is now a new guy (app) on the block ... Display Recorder ($1.99) ... this does something that no App has done before (unless you had a jail broken iPad/iPhone) ... and that is to record anything that is happening on your iPad ... with no restriction that it needs to stay on one screen.
One of my more requested teacher prof.dev. workshops is all about Screencasting, below is the interactive visuals I use in the workshop.
If you'd like me to do it in your school then please drop me an email.
to be an academic librarian is a very challenging work. Specifically when the institution will pursue the said voluntary accreditation. Many paper works and documents to be prepared. Like one year plan and five yrs plan development. Manual book of the library. Library committee papers, etc.
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Liz is a great photographer, a senior with a loyal boyfriend, and best friend forever in Kate since they were six years old. But all of this changes when their once a month slumber party is marred with a fight. Liz accuses Kate of being too comfortable and never taking a chance, their argument ends in Liz angry and stomping up to her room, leaving Kate in the basement. What happens next is open to interpretation. This novel in verse reminded me of the Alex Flinn book, Fade to Black where the reader is not sure who is telling the truth...this is what happens in Exposed and Liz's lens of the world changes, and she begins to lose her moral compass. A great read for girls, reluctant readers, and anyone who likes novels in verse.
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Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well this book was steamy, I could not put it down! I loved Magnus Bane, Will, Jem and Tessa. But even more, the lesser characters of Sophie, Gideon, Jessamine, and the rivalry amongst the Nephilium as Tessa, Charlotte, Henry, Jem and Will race against time and the clockwork army. The tension builds as Will confides to Magnus his secret. Tessa is torn between her feelings for Jem and Will. There are many tense moments and surprises: Nate, Tessa's brother returns and is as dastardly evil as before; Tessa and Sophie are trained by the Wayland Brothers and this training helps them and Will finds out his family is alive. Clare's secondinstallment of the Infernal Devices does not disappoint and I can't wait to see what happens with Tessa and the men in her life. Tessa still seeks the answer to who she is and the ending was totally awesome. Bring on Book Three!
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Dead to You by Lisa McMann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
OMG I am not really sure about the ending, I can't stop thinking about it, so that makes it all the more compelling. Ethan was abducted when he was 6 years old and 9 years later is reunited with his family; mom, dad, Blake and litle siter, Gracie (who was so cute with her lisp- Efon for Ethan and momsters for monsters- SO CUTE!) He has no memory of his early life and it is not easy going from his life with Eleanor...to a normal family and lots of rules (that resulted after Ethan was abducted) This is a thin book with short chapters, I was succked in and reluctant readers will love this book, but I am still reeling about the ending. You have to read it yourself and decide!
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Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I couldn't stop laughing with and at Jack Gantos in this sweetly humorous book! After playing with his father's old Japanese army souvenirs and firing a loaded rifle (he had no idea it was loaded)Jack is grounded for the summer by his mother. He will remain in his room all summer reading history books except to go help old Miss Volker around her house. What ends up happening is that Jack writes Miss Volker's dictated obituaries, types them up, and runs them to the newspaper to be published. Miss Volker is bent on delivering her promise to Eleanor Roosevelt to euolgize all the original Norvelt inhabitants. There is a lively cast of characters and the summer days of Jack Gantos in Norvelt, PA just fly by. Mr. Spizz is trying to romance Miss Volker, who wants none of it. Jack's mom makes meals for the elderly and barters for goods and services, rather than pay cash. "She always used the newspaper for place mats because she didn't like to waste anything/" Jack's Dad has a job, buys a plane, has Jack dig a huge hole for a bomb shelter and starts moving the old empty Norvelt homes to new destinations. Jack's best friend, Bunny Huffer, doesn't take too kindly to Jack's house prison sentence because it really impedes their baseball games. Her father is the mortician and she has lots of dead person jokes that crack Jack up. I especially enjoyed Jack's nosebleeds and Miss Volker's attempts to stop the bleeding. This is a great boy book, reluctant reader and girls will enjoy Jack Gantos' characters in this historical, humorous, small town semi-true-fiction story. It has all the elements of a great read. Highly recommended!
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Insurgent by Veronica Roth
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
Well I think I enjoyed this just as much as Divergent! I was hanging on to every word, I wanted to just grab any free moment to read what was going to happen next, each chapter a thrilling adventure in Tris' divergent world. There were so many surprises (Caleb and Peter)and I really loved the Four/Tobias and Beatrice/Tris relationship as it continued and Tris' awareness of her surroundings was very visual and she seemed to like the smell of "wet pavement". I have some favorite quotes- this one sums up Tris "Sometimes I feel like I am collecting the lessons each faction has to give me, and storing them in my mind like a guidebook for moving through the world. There is always something to learn, always something that is important to understand." And the definition of Insurgent; "A person who acts in opposition to the established authority, who is not necessarily regarded as belligerent." Finally, this book was all about choices and how those choices could define you, destroy you and free you. I found Tris and Tobias to be so brave in the face of such an uncertain world; but they were forging ahead for a good world. Soooo good, I highly recommend this book!
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I have an iPad2 and a New iPad ... and a very happy nephew who has inherited my iPad1.
This Blog is designed to share the Apps that I have on my iPad ... not only the Apps but also to show how they have been organised in folders. This is more difficult than I thought it would be as many Apps could be in multiple folders .... e.g. "digital storytelling" or "creating eBooks" or "eportfolio."
I'm hoping that you will offer suggestions and share your own expriences using the "comments" following each Post ... is anything missing or should be in a different folder or ...
There are over 1,000 Apps in 150 folders on my iPad at the moment ... so it's going to take a little time to get through them all.
There is an additional reason for creating the Blog ... and that is to supplement the eBook that I first published in February 2012 "An Eductors iPad".
The Final Four by Paul Volponi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love all of Paul Volponi's books and this is no exception! He gets the suspense and excitement just right in this book about basketball and 4 overtimes in a game that will totally drive you crazy with anticipation. Who will win this Final Four game between the Michigan State Spartans (Malcolm McBride and Michael Jordan) against the Troy University Trojans (Roko Bacic and Crispin Rice)is anyone's guess as we follow the story through the four main characters, (and there are so many more other memorable characters in this book!) newspaper stories, and news reporting by sportscasters. I so enjoyed Malcolm; he was easy to dislike with all his bravado, but he was a consummate player, who had a close-knit family, ethics that kept him away from the drug infested streets, parties and trouble. Volponi's trash-talking between the basketball players was cruel and amusing and created a dynamic that fueled the tension on the court. Roko's story was heartrending with his flight from Croatia and the loss of his uncle. But you knew he was going to do whatever it took to survive, be a leader, and be just like his uncle. I enjoyed the dynamics between Michael Jordan and Malcolm and loved his Reaction Paper: Basketball is Life! Crispin Rice's spur of the moment proposal teaches him (and his team) about living in the moment and the Troy of Hope good luck won't make them a winning team, but looking out for each other during the game is their winning strategy. I will be getting multiple copies of this book for our library and I know my reluctant readers, especially those that love basketball will be fighting for this book!
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I finally was able to sit down and watch the archived webinar Back to School Ideas. I loved it and wish I had seen it at the beginning of the year. I loved the idea that LibrarianTiff shared about creating Tuesday Tech videos for teachers. I think I would like to do something like this next year. I will need to learn to use video software though. The Daring Librarians had a really great idea of using the library's Twitter account to have students create 140 character book reviews. I might try that old school, with posters to decorate the library since not all of my students have access to technology at home. I will have to watch for this webinar in September for some great ideas for next year.
I have finally had the chance to sit down and view the archive of the Photostory 3 webinar. I must say that I am glad I finally was able to watch it and I wish I had seen it earlier. I have used Photostory before, but this webinar gave me some great ideas to pass on to my teachers. I really loved the idea about creating some stock solid color powerpoint slides as jpegs that students can use as backgrounds. I might even save some stock photos as well so that students do not have to spend a lot of time looking for basic images. I can not wait until I have time to view more of these webinars on basic technology tools. They are a great way to remind me about how to use the tools and new tricks to share with my teachers.
What if you could find a learning management system that would allow you to take polls, post assignments and links, create online quizzes, and upload files for free? Better yet, what if you could find an online resource that would actively engage students to become independent, lifelong learners? Edmodo is that site! Edmodo is a secure worldwide learning environment where teachers and students can collaborative and learn from each other.
Almost 800 educators are connected in a nationwide Edmodo group, the "Common Core Conversation," to discuss what their schools, districts, and states are doing to address the new Common Core Standards in the k-12 classrooms.
Help us reach 1,000 innovative educators. Join the Common Core Conversation at http://www.edmodo.com. The group code is gy48aa.
Kristina Holzweiss, The Laptop Lieberrian
lieberrian@yahoo.com
Fear by Michael Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book #5 in the Gone Series delves into the fear that invades each characters' life in the FAYZ in Perdid Beach; a fear of each other, fear of the parents who wait on the other side of the barrier hoping to find out anything about their children and now there is something happening to the barrier that surround them. It begins to turn black and move upward to the top of the barrier; blocking out light, stopping the fishing, the farming and the daily life activities the kids have been working on to eke out a living. Diana is pregnant and has left Caine and joined Sam and his boys. Lana is still curing everyone and living with Sanjit and his family on top of the hill. Astrid returns as a much different character in the previous books; she is lean, mean and has learned to live off the land and always carries a gun. Ork has become more sensitive but Drake and Brittney are still vying in the same body. Penny is used by Caine to punish Cigar; she tortures him and he almost dies. Once again, Grant does a tremendous job of terrorizing every child in the FAYZ and leaves this book and characters ripe for #6!
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