My biggest discovery was the immediate access to so much information without ever having to go to a library. Our school is rural, and we cannot afford a library or librarian, and with me being a new teacher with a new classroom, I had no supplies and little money to purchase anything with. Access to the state library should really help my 5th-8th grade students access articles and books for Reading and Writing class, and it should help my 7-8th grade students with history research.
Furthermore, being able to access Worldbook Encyclopedia; SIRS for the magazine articles, especially with readability levels; and SIRS Discovery for research and maps are all places that the students can access information, as can other teachers. Although I struggle with technology and anticipate a struggle in that area, I think the students will often be able to find information and help each other, as will teachers.
My husband and I are interested in the ancestry search, and I have already found out more than previous searches have illuminated.
One thing I will have to do is sort out all of this information. Sometimes I could access way more than I needed, and other times, I couldn't find enough, as in CAMIO and ArchiveGrid. If I plan to use these sources in the classroom, I need to practice with it all more and be sure of where I will send the students. I look forward to receiving the e-newsletter, using the Guide handouts more, and receiving more training.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Lesson 7 ArchiveGrid/CAMIO
I was finally able to access ArchiveGrid from our public library, but I was not ecstatic about the results. I found out that Sitting Bull lived from 1834?-1890 and that I could order a copy of the card with an envelope. Also, there were personal papers of Elmo Scott Watson, who I assume was a journalist. It showed 3 of 17 sources.
Next I tried researching women who took part in the American Revolution; the site said that there were other sources (700+), but I didn't know how to access them. What I saw listed under the 4 sources were letters, gravestones, photos, clippings, and scrapbooks. The sources/institutions were not listed. I filled out ordering information, but so far, I'm not sure what to do next.
With CAMIO, I had even worse results. I was able to see what they had for sources, but I was unable to find a place to type in my search because it wanted a user name and password, and neither the library one or the one on my state library card worked.
Next I tried researching women who took part in the American Revolution; the site said that there were other sources (700+), but I didn't know how to access them. What I saw listed under the 4 sources were letters, gravestones, photos, clippings, and scrapbooks. The sources/institutions were not listed. I filled out ordering information, but so far, I'm not sure what to do next.
With CAMIO, I had even worse results. I was able to see what they had for sources, but I was unable to find a place to type in my search because it wanted a user name and password, and neither the library one or the one on my state library card worked.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
L9 Heritage Quest, Sanborn Maps
In Heritage Quest, I researched my ancestors in the Revolutionary War documents, and found three. At first I only searched New York, where I knew they had originated, but when I searched "All," there were no more. I found the part they played in the colonial army, who they married, marriage licenses, the names of their children, when they died, pensions granted, judges, churches, and others involved, and more. When I sent the information to my mother, she gave me more history, and I think that once I can get on the AncestryLibrary, I can find out more. Since I only searched Revolutionary War documents, I think I could search other places in Heritage Quest.
In Sanborn Maps, I looked at Custer. The earliest map was 1891, yet so many things were already familiar. The three main streets were Crook, Custer, and Washington heading E-W and 4th-7th heading N-S; Custer had at some time been renamed to Rushmore Road, but after looking at the available maps, I didn't yet find when that was changed. I confirmed something I had read: that Custer and Crook street were made wider to accommodate the turning of a wagon pulled by oxen. Even then, it stated that those streets would be 120 ft., while others were 100 ft. Even on the earliest map, the court house, which is now a historic museum that houses the museum, was present. On the 1915 map, there was a movie theater, and even on the earlier maps, there were 2 grocery stores, as there are now. I had read that there were 10,000 people in Custer at one time (just before the gold rush) (today there are 1800), but I didn't see that many houses represented. To support all of the grocery, mercantile, and lumber yards, though, there would have had to have been more people. Maps were able to be enlarged and moved from east to west and from north to south.
In Sanborn Maps, I looked at Custer. The earliest map was 1891, yet so many things were already familiar. The three main streets were Crook, Custer, and Washington heading E-W and 4th-7th heading N-S; Custer had at some time been renamed to Rushmore Road, but after looking at the available maps, I didn't yet find when that was changed. I confirmed something I had read: that Custer and Crook street were made wider to accommodate the turning of a wagon pulled by oxen. Even then, it stated that those streets would be 120 ft., while others were 100 ft. Even on the earliest map, the court house, which is now a historic museum that houses the museum, was present. On the 1915 map, there was a movie theater, and even on the earlier maps, there were 2 grocery stores, as there are now. I had read that there were 10,000 people in Custer at one time (just before the gold rush) (today there are 1800), but I didn't see that many houses represented. To support all of the grocery, mercantile, and lumber yards, though, there would have had to have been more people. Maps were able to be enlarged and moved from east to west and from north to south.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Lesson 8 Learning Express Library
After setting up an account, I checked out the assessments for middle school reading and writing. I saved several assessments to my account and tried a reading assessment. My score wasn't what I thought I would get, but when I read the explanations, I could understand better what was needed in answering those types of questions. The Reading Comprehension course explained that it would take 1-2 hours; I appreciated this because I could see how I might like to incorporate these courses into my class. Taking these courses and assessments on a regular basis would prepare students for the many types of assessments they need to take in today's classrooms. In addition, paying close attention to the results would help a teacher guide instruction. Similar assessments and courses are also available for writing and math.
One thing I wondered was: Where are the courses and assessments for 5th graders? The elementary section went through grade 4, and the middle school section covered grades 6-8.
In the Job/Resume-writing section, the language was simple to understand and well-explained.
The e-books provided information that I wish I'd had at other times in my life when job-searching. I could send other adults there to improve their job situations. I could also see adults using these areas to improve reading, writing, vocabulary, and math skills--in fact, this year I was worried that I would have to teach middle school algebra, and this would have helped me. I think I can refer students to this area to practice in Math Builder, Vocabulary Builder, or Reading and Writing practice; I can see this being helpful for those who need more practice or for advanced students to practice in areas beyond their peers. I can also print off or refer parents to areas where they can provide help for their children, especially during the summer. Some parents may even want to improve their own skills:) Although the books are in PDF format, and students would have to write the answers on sheets of paper, the answers are provided at the end so that they can check after completion.
One thing I wondered was: Where are the courses and assessments for 5th graders? The elementary section went through grade 4, and the middle school section covered grades 6-8.
In the Job/Resume-writing section, the language was simple to understand and well-explained.
The e-books provided information that I wish I'd had at other times in my life when job-searching. I could send other adults there to improve their job situations. I could also see adults using these areas to improve reading, writing, vocabulary, and math skills--in fact, this year I was worried that I would have to teach middle school algebra, and this would have helped me. I think I can refer students to this area to practice in Math Builder, Vocabulary Builder, or Reading and Writing practice; I can see this being helpful for those who need more practice or for advanced students to practice in areas beyond their peers. I can also print off or refer parents to areas where they can provide help for their children, especially during the summer. Some parents may even want to improve their own skills:) Although the books are in PDF format, and students would have to write the answers on sheets of paper, the answers are provided at the end so that they can check after completion.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Lesson 1 World Book
First I looked up "moose" in World Book for Kids. The language was simple, sentences were short, and pictures helped to explain the topic. When I looked at the same subject in the Student version, the language was more precise, more scientific, and the sentences were longer and more complex. Compared to the number of pictures, the verbal explanations were far greater than in the Kids' version. Topics such as mating habits and links to deepen understanding created opportunities to expand knowledge appropriate to needs and ages of the students. Although many of the same facts were found at both sites, far more information and scientific terms subtly expanded student thinking so that a teacher could guide students appropriately.
Next, in World Book Advanced, I researched the country of Finland. My students who are presently studying geology in Science class and Geography during their Social Studies period would be interested in the maps, descriptions of the regions and the various climates in different parts of the country, where the people congregated to live and why, and how they find ways to live and support themselves. They would be interested in the ocean currents that warm the country, the arctic climate, the midnight sun and other phenomenon particular to that country.
Finally, I looked at American Government in World Book Discover. It inserted definitions, alternate terms, and explanations for challenging terms in parentheses. Sentences were briefer, language was simpler, yet explanations would be sufficient for grades 5-8. I was especially intrigued because I think that this would be a place I could send struggling learners to get information that would be comparable to that being read by their peers.
Next, in World Book Advanced, I researched the country of Finland. My students who are presently studying geology in Science class and Geography during their Social Studies period would be interested in the maps, descriptions of the regions and the various climates in different parts of the country, where the people congregated to live and why, and how they find ways to live and support themselves. They would be interested in the ocean currents that warm the country, the arctic climate, the midnight sun and other phenomenon particular to that country.
Finally, I looked at American Government in World Book Discover. It inserted definitions, alternate terms, and explanations for challenging terms in parentheses. Sentences were briefer, language was simpler, yet explanations would be sufficient for grades 5-8. I was especially intrigued because I think that this would be a place I could send struggling learners to get information that would be comparable to that being read by their peers.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Lesson 6 WorldCat & More
I had a lot of trouble with the advanced search in WorldCat; I must have been searching incorrectly. I had better luck with the basic search. In the advanced search, I searched for several books, and it always said that the book couldn't be found, yet I looked up the same books in the basic search and found them at over 1000 libraries.
The book I ended up searching for was Harry K. Wong's The First Days of School, which could be found at 1355 libraries. The first library listed was in Mountainview, CA. The class descriptor was LC:LB1775.2; Dewey:371.102. The call numbers, I believe, were ISBN: 0962936022 and 9780962936029. LCCN: 97-91202
Harry K. Wong also wrote several other books, including New Teacher Induction: How to Train, Support, and Retain New Teachers; Investigation of Plasma Instabilities..., and Biology: Ideas and Investigations in Science. When I clicked on the subject, I found several other books about teaching, including Growing Minds: On Becoming a Teacher, School Teacher: A Sociological Study, Encouraging reflective Practices in Education, and The Call to Teach.
In OAIster, I read portions of a book entitled A Brief History of South Dakota by Doane Robinson. I was able to read the entire book online, if I wished. I could also find or buy a copy, create a collection where I could save the book, bookmark it, rotate it, or go to specific pages. I'm thinking that this area will be very helpful to supplement my lessons in my classroom and possibly for the students to read on a topic. This is very handy, since we do not have a library at our school, and mine is a new classroom without a large collection of books at this time.
The book I ended up searching for was Harry K. Wong's The First Days of School, which could be found at 1355 libraries. The first library listed was in Mountainview, CA. The class descriptor was LC:LB1775.2; Dewey:371.102. The call numbers, I believe, were ISBN: 0962936022 and 9780962936029. LCCN: 97-91202
Harry K. Wong also wrote several other books, including New Teacher Induction: How to Train, Support, and Retain New Teachers; Investigation of Plasma Instabilities..., and Biology: Ideas and Investigations in Science. When I clicked on the subject, I found several other books about teaching, including Growing Minds: On Becoming a Teacher, School Teacher: A Sociological Study, Encouraging reflective Practices in Education, and The Call to Teach.
In OAIster, I read portions of a book entitled A Brief History of South Dakota by Doane Robinson. I was able to read the entire book online, if I wished. I could also find or buy a copy, create a collection where I could save the book, bookmark it, rotate it, or go to specific pages. I'm thinking that this area will be very helpful to supplement my lessons in my classroom and possibly for the students to read on a topic. This is very handy, since we do not have a library at our school, and mine is a new classroom without a large collection of books at this time.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Lesson 5 NetLibrary
In searching my topic of choice, I chose "Continental Congress." Everything that contained the word, continental came up, from "Continental Philosophy" to "Continental Divide" and "Continental Drift." It wasn't until #25-28 when I finally got to the "Continental Congress."
Then I put in "Revolutionary War," and all sorts of revolutions came up, even when sorted by title, and then very few had the words "revolutionary war" in the title. So I went back to "Continental Congress," where I had at least found some things. I created an account and saved several books that looked very helpful to an entire unit about the Revolutionary War period.
When researching "Constitution Day," nothing came up, so I just put in "Constitution." I found information about the Bill of Rights,m the articles of the Constitution, the Constitution of the Confederate States, and a Companion to the Constitution. I saved all of those, but I also found a modern day interpretation, which I felt was not appropriate to my students' age-group because it discussed abortion in much of it. The Companion to the Constitution was especially helpful because it was an interpretation put out by Brigham Young University.
When researching western history, I entered "Nebraska." First fictional books by Willa Cather were listed as well as other fiction. Much of the rest dealt with Native American concerns, which I will keep in mind when I supplement my westward expansion unit. The Lewis and Clark book was scrambled.
I do not think I will use NetLibrary as much as Proquest, GVRL, SIRS, or Worldbook because it wasn't as user-friendly. I may use it, however, if other information runs dry for some topics, but I will have to do more work before assigning students to that site. It was helpful for the details concerning the Constitution, so I can see a few places where it might be helpful.
Then I put in "Revolutionary War," and all sorts of revolutions came up, even when sorted by title, and then very few had the words "revolutionary war" in the title. So I went back to "Continental Congress," where I had at least found some things. I created an account and saved several books that looked very helpful to an entire unit about the Revolutionary War period.
When researching "Constitution Day," nothing came up, so I just put in "Constitution." I found information about the Bill of Rights,m the articles of the Constitution, the Constitution of the Confederate States, and a Companion to the Constitution. I saved all of those, but I also found a modern day interpretation, which I felt was not appropriate to my students' age-group because it discussed abortion in much of it. The Companion to the Constitution was especially helpful because it was an interpretation put out by Brigham Young University.
When researching western history, I entered "Nebraska." First fictional books by Willa Cather were listed as well as other fiction. Much of the rest dealt with Native American concerns, which I will keep in mind when I supplement my westward expansion unit. The Lewis and Clark book was scrambled.
I do not think I will use NetLibrary as much as Proquest, GVRL, SIRS, or Worldbook because it wasn't as user-friendly. I may use it, however, if other information runs dry for some topics, but I will have to do more work before assigning students to that site. It was helpful for the details concerning the Constitution, so I can see a few places where it might be helpful.
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