Here are some of the Library Media and academic support projects I have been working on.  These are "print" resources - the links on the right will steer you to many of the Web-based and multi-media resources I have created and maintain.  One of the main advantages that today's technology offers is the ability to create professional looking resources - most school districts are full of creative, talented people that are experts in their content areas.  I have resources here for Academic Support, Information and Technology Literacy, Recreational Reading,and LMS Professionals.

Creating resources "in-house" offers many advantages over purchasing them from academic publishing houses.  Perhaps the greatest of which is that, together, we can create and maintain support materials that are specifically designed four our student's needs and our own teaching styles.  These documents are posted as .pdf files - you will need Acrobat Reader to view them.  Be sure to also check out my Online Library Media Center, Library Media Portfolio, and Business Education Portfolio for more examples of my work.

Academic Support

Podcasts for Learning (www.podcastsforlearning.org).  A podcast is a collection of digital media files which is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for downloading and playback on personal computers or portable media players. They are available to use 24/7, on-demand.  Think of them as radio or TV shows that you can sign up for and watch when it is convenient for you.  A powerful educational tool, learn more about finding podcasts, podcasts for teachers, what you need, getting started, RSS feeds, promoting podcasts, tips & tricks, and podcasting resources.

Early Literacy Web.  Getting a child ready to read is important - a gift that lasts a lifetime. Studies show that the most important thing we can do to help our children succeed in school is to prepare them to read BEFORE they start school.  The American Library Association has identified 6 skills that children need to be ready to read.  I have put together resources for each: Storytime Readings, Additional Links About Early Literacy Links, Books for Babies (0-2), Books for Talkers (2-4), Books for Pre-Readers (4-6), and Print Resources About Early Literacy.

Barlow Park Media Center.  This is my library media center and the Website I have created to support it.  Barlow Park Elementary School is K-2 building - I have never had so much fun in school; this is a joyful place.  These children are fun to work with, excited about school, and enthusiastic about learning.  I hope we can find ways to nurture this and help these children keep positive attitudes throughout their experiences in school.

Mr.  B's Algebra Skill Certificates.  I created these handouts to help students see the step-by-step processes that are used to solve algebra problems.  The bright, colorful presentations were helpful to many students.  Perhaps even more important, they function as my class notes so that students can use them as resources when they take higher-level math classes.

Mr. B's Algebra Tech-Connect.  These are the newsletters I created to support my Beginning Algebra class at the University of Wisconsin.  Together, these handouts present all of the basic concepts of Algebra.  Perhaps even more important, each is full of suggestions for on-line help.

Mr. B's Computer Integration.  This is the oldest part of my portfolio, dating back to 2003.  People were just beginning to talk about integrating technology across the curriculum.  I was teaching computer classes and I routinely saw the student that was failing every other class do well in computer classes.  That's when I decided that today's technology is a powerful learning tool and that the best way to increase academic achievement across diverse learners is to create an environment where students can use their computer skills to extend learning in their schoolwork.  Note:  These projects are not posted as printable, downloadable files - I will email them to anyone that wants to use them in class (free of charge!).  Please feel free to contact me at webmaster@clubtnt.org. 

Mr. B's Origami Reviews.  Here is an idea for a simple, manipulative review.  I started out creating "Brain Development" origami projects for the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families' Better Badger Baby Bus Tour.  Kids, parents, and educators enjoy working with those, so I created some more:

• Counting Numbers.  This one reviews some important concepts about numbers that become the foundation of higher level math classes.
• Fraction Basics.  Origami is a great way to review fractions because in the process of making this project, a piece of paper is repeatedly folded in quarters and halves.
• Origami Review Template.  Here is a blank version of my origami review - I created it in Quark so that I could use them with our VOICES newspaper School Matters column (MS Word doesn't support the tilted text boxes).  This version can be filled out by hand or I can use the original Quark file as a template to easily create others.  If you have any ideas for reviews you would like to see, please let me know (webmaster@clubtnt.org)  Thanks!

KWL Worksheet.  If the key to learning is to identify what students' know and extend that knowledge, then "Know, Want to Learn, and Learn" activities provide an excellent anticipatory set and reflection for class lessons.  Here is a form I created and use to help students get ready for a lesson.

Your Move.  This project integrates and reinforces research skills, social-studies, economics, and career choices.  Students are asked to research economics of different countries, identify factors and trends within each economy, and apply that research to a decision making process based on career choices.

[Academic Support] [Information and Technology Literacy]
[Recreational Reading] [Resources for LMS Professionals]
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Information and Technology Literacy

American Symbols Project.  Here is a write up of a fun, creative lesson.  One of the main advantages of computer technology is the ability to edit and revise writing - this is probably the key to teaching writing skills to diverse learners.  Here, students choose an American symbol, write an academic style research paper, and then edit and revise that paper into a technical or business style Web page.

Art and Technology.  To many, these topics seem unrelated - that is the point of this project - to point out the ways that art and technology are related.  Today's professional artists in all media use technology in a variety of ways.  Perhaps even more important - both art and technology engage students in active learning.  This project was created to help document the role that art and technology play in the curriculum of an elementary school. 

Bibliography and Research.  Introducing students to the research process and documenting sources represent important skills.  Bibliographies are traditionally a part of academic research papers.  They also can be valuable projects in and of themselves - identifying a topic, locating appropriate resources, summarizing information from those sources, and documenting those sources in a specified format actually is the foundation of virtually any quest for knowledge.  Here are some ways that students can be introduced to this process.

• Big 6™ Research Process. This is a system of research that includes self-reflection to encourage students to think about the quality of their work.  It is an excellent model that is widely used in primary and middle schools across the country.  The process can be used for all age groups - this handout is designed for older primary students on up.
• My First Bibliography.  Here is a worksheet with "coupons" that students clip and fill out to document resources.  It is designed to be used by primary students, perhaps up to the 3rd or 4th grade.
• Bibliography Basics:  Books, Encyclopedias, Magazines, and Web Resources.  These worksheets are designed for older students, perhaps up to the 7th grade.  The idea is to present a "fill-in-the-blank" tool to help students to remember to keep track of the resources that they identify and use. 
• MLA Style Bibliographies:  Databases and Encyclopedia. Note:  I have a complete set of similar handouts including books, periodicals, electronic, and other types of formats.  I will post the complete set soon.  The concept of a "fill-in-the-blank bibliography form is very effective for all age groups.  Have you ever forgotten an important piece of information when documenting sources?  This format is designed to make it easy to see when an entry is complete.

Catalog Lesson Plan.  Above is a slideshow of a lesson plan based on Wisconsin Model Academic Standards for Information and Technology Literacy.  Click HERE for a printable copy of this Catalog Lesson Plan that teaches the basics of using online catalogs.  Demonstrating the value of subject headings is important.  This slide show (above) was designed to share with other educators, but the "teacher talk" sections could be easily removed and then the presentation would be ready to use with middle and high school students.

Classification and Cataloging.  To get the most out of a library, users need to understand how resources are physically organized on the shelves (classification) and how they are intellectually organized in the catalog.  This handout explains both concepts.

The Dewey Decimal System.  Virtually all smaller libraries (anything but a post-secondary research library or professional collection) are organized on the shelves (classified) by the Dewey Decimal system.  Knowing where different types of materials are shelves makes it easy to "browse the shelves" and locate resources of interest.

Evaluating Websites.  Designed for high school students, this is an example of a format I created to help check Websites for appropriateness for a research project.  This format would also provide an excellent tool for a school's faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to review and share ideas for online resources.

Evaluating Websites:  Good Designs.  The way a Website is organized is important.  Even if the content is good, a poor presentation greatly diminishes a Web page's usefulness.  Comparing and contrasing Web designs is also an important part of learning Webmaster skills. 

Evaluating Websites:  Internet Detective.  Here is another activity that encourages students to evaluate the appropriateness of online resources.  This handout explains a simple evaluation process and then uses a simple set of checkpoints to help students determine the suitability of a given Website for an information need.  The format in this handout is simpler than the one presented above and would be appropriate from middle school students on up.

The Hidden Web.  Increasingly, more and more information is moving out of the "public web" and being put in specialty databases.  Because the Internet represents a dynamic, fluid resource, keeping up on how information is organized is important.  This handout explains the difference between the "open web" and the "hidden web" and provides examples of each.

Information and Technology Literacy:  Assessment.  This is an academic style research paper that identifies and reviews how information literacy, research skills, technology skills, and academic content can be assessed.  It reviews different models and suggests that a Library Media Specialist can be a valuable partner in the process.

Internet Scavenger Hunt.  I created a set of handouts to challenge students to apply their Internet search skills.  This is the first in a series - these "scavenger hunts" are a lot of fun to create and even more fun to share with students.

Mr. B's Computer Projects.  This is the oldest part of my portfolio - created in 2003 when I was teaching Business Education and computer classes based on MS Office.  Because the district I worked in did not have any resources to us as a "text," I created each and every lesson and activity from scratch.  Note:  These projects are not posted as printable, downloadable files - I will email them to anyone that wants to use them in class (free of charge!).  Please feel free to contact me at webmaster@clubtnt.org. 

News Layouts with MS Word.  Once students are comfortable working with graphics, the sky is the limit!   I particularly like sharing news layout style formats with students - they are fun, colorful, and allow students to express themselves.  They key to creating professional-style newsletters with MS WORD is NOT TO USE THE COLUMN FEATURE!  Instead, create columns with linked text boxes.  This allows more flexibility to present each "article" in a manner that flows smoothly.  It also prepares students to work with MS Publisher, PageMaker, Quark, or InDesign.  These specialty publishing applications require "placeholders" for all the elements on a page.  By introducing students to this concept in MS WORD, we get them ready to learn to work with professional printing software.  Please look at this handout to see what I mean.

Purdy News.  I spent some time in an elementary school where one of the 5th grade teachers was creating a "news show" that was broadcast on the local cable channel and in the school with the morning announcements.  This paper outlines the project and identifies the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards that the activity meets.  I helped this teacher take advantage of the fact the district owned a specialty printer that would print large, poster sized cue cards.  This helped the students better prepare for each filming session, ensuring that the content for the show was clearly presented for the "on-air" personalities when they were being filmed.

Purdy News Unit Plan.  This is formal presentation of the Purdy News activity presented above.

Research Process:  Taking Tumeric?  Here is an example of how the research process can be applied to a given information need.  This type of reflective activity can be used to help students organize and evaluate search strategies.

Website Report.  Students have a lot of fun when you ask them to review Websites.  Its an important lesson in information and technology literacy too.  This report-style activity encourages students to find Webs of interest and then write short reports (including graphics) that evaluate the Website.

[Academic Support] [Information and Technology Literacy]
[Recreational Reading] [Resources for LMS Professionals]
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Recreational Reading

In many ways, this is the most rewarding part of being a Library Media Specialist.  The power of choice is an important tool in helping students build reading skills - motivated readers will work their way through a book that is written above their current reading level.  Reading is fundamental - one of the most satisfying ways to help a student is to connect them with literature they will enjoy reading. 

Its a "match-making process.  The key is to give readers choices that reasonably meet their recreational interests and needs and then to trust students to make good choices based on those suggestions.

Folk Tale or Fairy Tale?  The key to building an appreciation of literature is to teach children to compare and contrast genres.  The best way to start, is by teaching simple definitions for traditional literatures.

• Folk Tales. Stories about everyday life that teach lessons or explain something. Animals are often in the stories, and they may even talk or act like people, but these stories are not about “magic.” Folk tales sound like they could happen. They tell us something about life.with kindergarten or first graders, is to read them stories and share accompanying illustrations, 
• Fairy Tales. Old stories of magical events often passed down by word of mouth. Fairy tales present good characters and overcoming evil. Good always wins.

This activity is a simple worksheet that guides students to compare and contrast stories and then decide whether it is a folk tale or a fairy tale.  Of course, "kids-spelling" is appropriate when using this with young children.  You can carefully help children spell all of the words, but for our purposes, if they spell what they write and can phonetically read it to themselves, that's all that matters.

Fun Reads:  School Favorites (.ppt format).  This is a slide show that presents some popular books for all age groups.  I also have it online as an HTML format, PowerPoint Web (Note:  you need to view with Internet Explorer to view).  I will post it as a flash animation soon so that it is more fully compatable with different platforms and browsers.

Happy Birthday!  The key to effective reading promotions is to work with both students and the adults that are able to talk to youth about reading.  This handout promotes birthday themed picture books, including the timeless Happy Birthday To You book by Dr. Seuss, and is designed to share reading suggestions with teachers, families, and others that a youth might consult with to read.  It is also presents the life of Dr. Seuss and contains a complete bibliography of his work.

Picture Book Activity:  Mama Cat Has Three Kittens.  One of my favorite picture book authors and illustrators is Denise Flemming - her beautiful pulp painting techniques create images that are vibrant and striking.  She has a wonderful talent for creating stories that create anticipation as to "what will happen next."  Here is a summary of her work and her popular book about some kittens.  I also have included a lesson plan and activity to use this book in a classroom.

Read Any Good Books Lately?  I created this handout in collaboration with a Language Arts teacher.  We wanted a simple format to share reading suggestions.  One idea is to use these to create bulletin boards.  I have another version of this handout that just presents the Book Talk Forms, 2 per Page.  This format could be printed on heavier card-stock and cut into a 5.5" X 8.5" cards that could be kept organized in a file for future use.  Teachers often find they end up finishing a given lesson or activity a few minutes early.  These "book talk" forms would allow a teacher to use that time to promote recreational reading.

Spotlight On:  Suzanne Fisher-Staples.  This "newsletter" style handout highlights the award-winning author, Suzanne Fisher-Staples.  She has written some multi-cultural, realistic fiction books that present human dignity in the face of adversity.  As a Library Media Specialist, I would create bulletin boards with these types of resources and make these "newsletters" available to students, faculty, staff, parents, and any other interested stakeholder.

TNT Book Club.  As the Webmaster and Media Specialists for CLUB TNT (My Madison 14), felt it was important to include resources to share reading suggestions.  Periodically, we include "book talks" in the show.  Encouraging teenagers to continue to read is important.

TNT Book Club Book Marks.  We give these out to students on our filming set and when we have booths at events.  Promoting recreational reading is increasingly an important part of CLUB TNT.

TNT Book Club Book Talks.  This is a handout that we keep on the filming sets and give out when we have booths at events in Madison.  The idea is to present reading suggestions in a bright, colorful, "newsletter" style format.  We encourage participants to share ideas and have been building up a small collection of these.

TNT Book Club:  Favorite Authors A-L and Favorite Authors M-Z.  Here are some of the authors that repeatedly show up on the "favorites" lists of young adult readers.  We keep these handouts on our filming sets and make them available when we have booths at various events.

[Academic Support] [Information and Technology Literacy]
[Recreational Reading] [Resources for LMS Professionals]
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Resources for Library Media Professionals

3 Year Plan.  All school districts need technology plans that provide the framework for building and maintaining effective library media programs.  Here is a plan that I wrote in collaboration with a the Library Media Department at Janesville School District.  It reflects DPI's suggested format and includes and assessment, objective, goals, and analysis of what Janesville is achieving in their school district.

Challenged Materials.  This project represents and in-depth analysis of how to handle a "challenged book".  Intellectual freedom is important and so are the values and expectations of a school district.  The key is to select materials that fulfill the stated mission of a given library.  It is also important to have a formal procedure in place BEFORE there is a challenge to any book.  If material is carefully selected to support the mission of a library, then a challenge is handled by presenting the facts to a panel that be responsible for the decision.  I believe that, as a professional Library Media Specialist, my duty is to trust this process to work and to fully identify the reasons that a book is an appropriate selection.  This case-study documents how that process works, using a frequently challenged children's book, Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts, by Edna Barth.  This analysis looks at all aspects of a challenge and resources that are used to document a book's value to a library.

Community Needs Analysis.  Collection development is the process of making sure the information needs of the people that might use a given collection are met in a timely and economical manner, including those persons that are currently active users and everyone within the library’s area of service. It is important to remember the needs of those that are currently not using a library’s service.  The first thing any library media specialist must do is assess the demographics of their community.  This is an example for Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

District Analysis.  In order to create technology and facility plans, I created an analysis of the Janesville Library Media programs.

Facility Plan.  This is an analysis and write-up of the facilities plan for a high school in Janesville.  It was created in collaboration with the Library Media Department and Technology specialists in that district.

MARC Records.  As part of my work with professional cataloging, I created an extensive portfolio of resources and examples of "best practices" in cataloging.  The standard format for catalog databases is MARC (Machine-Readable Cataloging).  This document summarizes commonly used field.  Most of my Catalog Portfolio is not in a Web-compatible format, but I will be happy to review or share it with anyone that contacts me (webmaster@clubtnt.org). 

MARC Records Included in My Catalog Portfolio.  These are the MARC fields that I emphasized in my Catalog Portfolio.  Modern cataloging software allows professional records to be created with this type of in-depth understanding of MARC.  I worked hard to master MARC because I believe that the key to getting the most out of professional technology is to fully understand the information and data that it is comprised of.

My Library Media Porfolio.  Here is a set of Web pages I created to organize the resources I created to identify "best practices" that represents today's Library Media Specialist.  you will find links for reference, building library media collections, cataloging, children's literature, young adolescent literature (YA Lit), library media skills, library media center administration, copyright issues, resources for library media specialists, lesson plans, and more.

Needs Assessment and Resource Selection.  Working in collaboration with training specialists at the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families and the Dwight Foster Public Library in Fort Atkinson, I created the analyses of resources that would be appropriate to enhance the delivery of the Brain Matters program that I have created with Jeanne Erickson.  There is more to this project - I have not posted the Appendixes yet - please contact me if you want to know more about our Brain Matters program or the resources that I use to supplement this analyses.

Reference Services Assessment.  This is a checklist, part of a larger project, that evaluates the quality of reference service.  I have just posted this assessment because I believe if provides a fairly comprehensive summary of the key points to providing high-quality reference service.  For more, please check out the extensive resources I maintain at my My Library Media Porfolio and the resources for reference.

[Academic Support] [Information and Technology Literacy]
[Recreational Reading] [Resources for LMS Professionals]