A Media Specialist’s Guide to the Internet…
Julie Greller hosts this comprehensive, yet fun, library blog! How can a library blog be fun? Well, when you find neat and motivating ideas to pass along to your fellow teachers, it’s fun! In particular, this blog gathers ideas for the school librarian from grades K-12. There are not enough blogs hosting elementary school library ideas, but this blog takes the prize with a K-5 tab to stay focused and organized! We cannot forget that our K-5 learners are 21st century learners too!
Teacher Librarian’s will enjoy each blog, with suggestions “You may also like…” to previous, topic related blogs. This makes the search process easier and user friendly without getting lost amongst the links. Resources are posted for the teacher librarian to use within their classroom as well. Research Information with an Interactive Spin allows the librarian to teach the research process in an engaging game like approach. Keeping with the “You may also like…” theme, this blog will guide you to Wow! 100 Interactive Games, Lessons, and Quizzes For Your Students. The teacher librarian can easily take this overwhelming list and compile a condensed list for each grade, level, or subject area.
A Media Specialist’s Guide to the Internet is not just a blog! Ms. Greller has compiled a list of free programs, games, software, etc., a reference page (as any good librarian should do J) with words to know and sites to look at, and a “New Teacher” page loaded with fresh ideas and how to survive tactics.
As a collaboration piece this blog can easily be accessed and utilized by both teacher librarians and teachers. The teacher librarian could introduce this blog to her fellow teachers as an opening to educational blogs. I am ashamed to admit, but before this blog assignment, as a teacher I would have never have thought to look up a blog for classroom ideas and lessons. Ms. Greller is filled to the brim with ideas, so if this blog is overwhelming to the teachers, the school librarian could easily take it upon herself to use the student curriculum and plug in the best ideas where she sees fit, thus a readymade resource for the teachers!
The Daring Librarian, Gwyneth Anne Bronwynne Jones, dares school librarians to seek the unknown and spark the interest of all students and teachers in her motivating, eye popping blog! A middle school librarian, blogger and self proclaimed geek, Ms. Jones compiles all the must haves and must dos for your school librarian. As soon as you “log in” to this blog, you will be sure to be hooked with its graphic novel feel and on the edge technology!
Readers will enjoy The Daring Librarian’s casual tone to posts and ideas. Easily scan new ideas on the main blog page, like how to set up a school facebook, or search blogs through a Google search box. To the right, readers can scan previous blog posts. The school librarian may love, or hate, the tone that The Daring Librarian portrays, but maybe that is why she is the Daring librarian! Sarcasm is wonderfully posted through new information that should not be missed (Rocketboom, Meme Molly, Me, & Google+). Library lessons are shared as well throughout this blog. School librarians may particularly like QR Code Quest: A Library Scavenger Hunt, an informational, move around the room, library lesson that can be adapted for all levels and all needs of students.
With so many positives in this blog, the school librarian has to be careful of their searches and readings. Some posts really have nothing to do with the school library field, unless you consider these types of blogs keeping up with the lingo of your students (Jersey Shore Gone Wilde).
As a collaborative piece, I see this blog as a means of collaboration amongst teacher librarians. The Daring Librarian is entertaining and educational at the same time. Teacher librarians can easily gather new ideas, resources, and lessons by visiting this blog. Personally, I enjoyed this blog because The Daring Librarian does not make it feel like you “have” to read this blog for school library ideas, but you want to!
NeverEndingSearch is managed by Joyce Valenza, a high school teacher librarian and technology writer. Ms. Valenza’s blog is hosted by School Library Journal and captures resources as far back as June 2007. This blog site compiles (almost) daily blogs including rich school library ideas and resources. It is also a blog that promotes continued learning in the school library and classroom.
NeverEndingSearch is a blog that allows school librarians and teachers to grab new and fascinating ideas and resources (9/11 Resources). The short, to the point blogs allow any busy teacher librarian to quickly scan Ms. Valenza’s ideas. NeverEndingSearch is visually appealing as well with YouTube clips, images, and links to new resources that teachers can easily use as their own (Back to School with the TL Café).
For the teacher librarian, NeverEndingSearch provides a boost of motivation (It was Shannon!) and updated information on the latest technology (Web 3.0: We have so much stuff!). This is also a blog spot that readily shares classroom resources to pass along to willing teachers (Wikispaces introduces Projects) during collaboration.
As a collaborative piece, this blog is a site I believe any teacher librarian can visit and find new ideas to pass onto their fellow teachers. I especially like the idea of sharing the new resources as a “Library Minute” at faculty meetings! This blog is not overwhelming in visuals and text either, so it could be a good resource, in general, to share with teachers as well.
I really like the sound of “The Daring Librarian”! Your analysis of all 6 blogs were thorough and helpful when trying to figure out what the blog was about! Thanks for sharing!
Jen,
I liked your choices of librarian blogs. Media Specialist’s Guide to the Internet was one of my favorites for the wealth of resources. I liked The Daring Librarian but I had a hard time reading the white text on black background. I usually skip over sites that are hard for me to read visually. I wonder how many people do the same thing? I was with you when you said you would not have used a blog to find ideas or resources for the classroom before this assignment. I too, did not know that they were full of information and ideas. I’m glad we had to step outside our comfort zone. I learned a lot!
Yes…you have to be carefull with the daring librarian as well and it’s content!