"It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers." -- Judy Blume
Censorship refers to the act of examining books, plays, videos, or other materials in order to suppress parts thought to be objectionable on moral, political, or other grounds. The issue is of particular importance to young readers, as a majority of challenges reported each year are to books, videos or other materials in schools or school libraries. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict material, based on the objections of a person or group, and is much more than an expression of an individual's or group's point of view; rather, it is an attempt to remove material from either the curriculum or the library, and as a result, threatens to restrict the access of others. A banning is the actual removal of the material from the classroom or library. (Source: American Library Association http://www.ala.org/bbooks/challeng.html)
Want to learn more? Visit the links below:
The 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 (How many have you read?)
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bbwlinks/100mostfrequently.htm
Banned Book Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.htm
Established by the American Library Association in 1982 and observed annually during the last week in September, Banned Book Week serves as a reminder of the importance of our freedom to read. Visit this ALA site first to learn more about issues relating to censorship.
Banned Books and Censorship: Information and Resources
http://libraries.luc.edu/about/exhibits/banned/index.shtml
Censored, by George Suttle
http://GeorgeSuttle.com/censorship/censors-all.shtml
This site features loads of links to general resources, information about censorship of books and other media, free expression and U.S. law, and much more.
The Censorship Pages
http://www.booksatoz.com/censorship/
This site, created and maintained by Books AtoZ, features extensive links to articles, information and quotations about censorship.
The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression
(Who received this year's Jefferson Muzzles?)
http://www.tjcenter.org/
ARTICLES ABOUT CENSORSHIP
Common Sense and Censorship: Thoughts About Young Adult Literature, by Kelly Burgess
http://teenagerstoday.com/resources/articles/censorship.htm
"Other Days, Other Ways: American Book Censorship 1918-1945", by James J. Martin, originally published in THE JOURNAL OF HISTORICAL REVIEW, vol. 10: no. 2, pp. 133-141.
http://ihr.org/jhr/v10/v10p133_Martin.html
QUOTATIONS ABOUT CENSORSHIP
Anti-Censorship Page: Quotes on Freedom of Speech and Censorship
http://cgd.best.vwh.net/home/anticens.htm
Nonstop English: Quotations about Censorship
http://www.nonstopenglish.com/reading/quotations/k_Censorship.asp
Welcome to the Quote Garden! Quotations about Censorship
http://www.quotegarden.com/censorship.html
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Monday, May 09, 2005
Get Graphic! Engage Student Readers With Graphic Novels
Graphic novels, which integrate high-quality sequential art and well-written and engaging text, are an effective way to foster students' enjoyment of reading. Highly popular with reluctant readers, graphic novels are also extremely helpful in the improvement of language and literacy development, as the illustrations offer important contextual clues that aid in students' understanding of the written narrative.
Here at the Collins Middle School Instructional Media Center, we have recently introduced a graphic novel and nonfiction book collection, made possible thanks to the generous support of the Foundation for Salem Public Education. Our collection features such classics as Shakespeare's MACBETH and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, GRAPHIC CLASSICS: MARK TWAIN and EDGAR ALLAN POE, and many terrific new fiction titles, as well as important nonfiction books and memoirs, including PERSEPOLIS: THE STORY OF A CHILDHOOD, by Marjane Satrapi, and MAUS: A SURVIVOR'S TALE, by Art Spiegelman. Response to this new collection by both students and teachers has been extremely positive. This year's summer reading list will include graphic novels among the many choices available to students.
Looking for more information about graphic novels, and ways to incorporate them into your curriculum? These resources may be helpful:
"A Novel Approach: Using Graphic Novels to Attract Reluctant Readers", by Philip Crawford, LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION, Feb. 2004.
http://www.linworth.com/PDF/LMC_Feb04_Crawford.pdf
This article offers an excellent introduction to graphic novels and the ways in which teachers can use them to motivate reluctant readers and develop students' language and literacy skills. It also includes an annotated list of recommended titles, including grade-level suggestions.
Thought Bubbles, by Philip Crawford
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/kqweb/kqreviews/crawford/thoughtbubbles.htm
These terrific bimonthly articles about all aspects of graphic novels and nonfiction works, incorporating them in the classroom, and using them to motivate readers and develop literacy skills, should be considered essential reading.
No Flying, No Tights
http://www.noflyingnotights.com/
This terrific site, created and maintained by Robin Brenner, features annotated lists of recommended graphic novels organized by type (picture and chapter books) and genre (superheroes, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, action and adventure, humor, and realism), as well as recommended nonfiction titles, for kids ("Sidekicks"), teens ("No Flying, No Tights"), and older teens and adults ("The Lair").
Recommended Graphic Novels for Public Libraries, selected and annotated by Steve Raiteri.
http://my.voyager.net/~sraiteri/graphicnovels.htm
This article includes an extensive list of recommended superhero, science fiction, fantasy, comedy and Japanese Manga titles.
"Spotlight on Graphic Novels". Booklist. March 15, 2005.
This issue features articles, annotated title lists, and the "Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth". If you're just beginning to build your library's graphic novel collection, this resource will be invaluable as you get started.
Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud. NY: HarperCollins, 1993.
Anyone interested in learning more about the history of comics - "juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer" - as well as how they are created, read, and understood, should begin his research with McCloud's wonderfully accessible book, written, of course, in comic book-style. To learn more about the author and his work, visit his web site:
http://www.scottmccloud.com/
Here at the Collins Middle School Instructional Media Center, we have recently introduced a graphic novel and nonfiction book collection, made possible thanks to the generous support of the Foundation for Salem Public Education. Our collection features such classics as Shakespeare's MACBETH and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, GRAPHIC CLASSICS: MARK TWAIN and EDGAR ALLAN POE, and many terrific new fiction titles, as well as important nonfiction books and memoirs, including PERSEPOLIS: THE STORY OF A CHILDHOOD, by Marjane Satrapi, and MAUS: A SURVIVOR'S TALE, by Art Spiegelman. Response to this new collection by both students and teachers has been extremely positive. This year's summer reading list will include graphic novels among the many choices available to students.
Looking for more information about graphic novels, and ways to incorporate them into your curriculum? These resources may be helpful:
"A Novel Approach: Using Graphic Novels to Attract Reluctant Readers", by Philip Crawford, LIBRARY MEDIA CONNECTION, Feb. 2004.
http://www.linworth.com/PDF/LMC_Feb04_Crawford.pdf
This article offers an excellent introduction to graphic novels and the ways in which teachers can use them to motivate reluctant readers and develop students' language and literacy skills. It also includes an annotated list of recommended titles, including grade-level suggestions.
Thought Bubbles, by Philip Crawford
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/kqweb/kqreviews/crawford/thoughtbubbles.htm
These terrific bimonthly articles about all aspects of graphic novels and nonfiction works, incorporating them in the classroom, and using them to motivate readers and develop literacy skills, should be considered essential reading.
No Flying, No Tights
http://www.noflyingnotights.com/
This terrific site, created and maintained by Robin Brenner, features annotated lists of recommended graphic novels organized by type (picture and chapter books) and genre (superheroes, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, action and adventure, humor, and realism), as well as recommended nonfiction titles, for kids ("Sidekicks"), teens ("No Flying, No Tights"), and older teens and adults ("The Lair").
Recommended Graphic Novels for Public Libraries, selected and annotated by Steve Raiteri.
http://my.voyager.net/~sraiteri/graphicnovels.htm
This article includes an extensive list of recommended superhero, science fiction, fantasy, comedy and Japanese Manga titles.
"Spotlight on Graphic Novels". Booklist. March 15, 2005.
This issue features articles, annotated title lists, and the "Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth". If you're just beginning to build your library's graphic novel collection, this resource will be invaluable as you get started.
Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud. NY: HarperCollins, 1993.
Anyone interested in learning more about the history of comics - "juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence, intended to convey information and/or to produce an aesthetic response in the viewer" - as well as how they are created, read, and understood, should begin his research with McCloud's wonderfully accessible book, written, of course, in comic book-style. To learn more about the author and his work, visit his web site:
http://www.scottmccloud.com/
Sunday, April 03, 2005
April is Poetry Month
"Poetry: the best words in the best order." -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Celebrate Poetry Month! Learn more about this wonderful art form, and find a poem that inspires or motivates you, by visiting the links below.
American Literature: Poetry
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761596671/American_Literature_Poetry.html
Read this informative article to learn about the origins, development and different forms of American poetry, from the 1600s to the present.
National Poetry Month
http://www.poets.org/npm/
http://www.poets.org/npm/faq.cfm#1 (FAQs about National Poetry Month)
The Academy of American Poets: Find a Poet
http://www.poets.org/poets/index.cfm
Search the Academy's growing database (it currently includes more than 450 poets) for biographies, photos, and other information.
The Academy of American Poets: Find a Poem
http://www.poets.org/poems/search.cfm
Search the Academy's companion database of poems (1,200 and growing) by keyword for poem text, or browse lists of titles and/or first lines.
Slam Poetry
http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Slam_poetry
Poetry? A competitive event? Learn more about this form of performance poetry, in which the delivery is as important as the quality of the poetry itself.
Background on Slam Poetry
http://www.slamnation.com/info/backgrnd.htm
Read about the history of the Poetry Slam as a competitive performance event, and learn the rules, too, by reading this brief article, and checking out some of the links available at this site.
SITES FOR TEACHERS
Teach Now! National Poetry Month
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/k_2theme/poetry.htm
Education World: Poetry Month
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/poetrymonth.shtml
Modern American Poetry
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/index.htm
Poetry Forms and Terminology
http://thewordshop.tripod.com/forms.html
Glossary of Poetic Terms
http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display_rpo/terminology.cfm#acrostic
FAVORITE POETS
Shel Silverstein
http://shelsilverstein.com/html/home.html
Edward Lear
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/lear.htm
Selected Poetry of Edward Lear (1812-1888)
http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/poet200.html
Dr. Seuss: Seussville
http://www.seussville.com/
The Academy of American Poets: Robert Frost
http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=196
Emily Dickinson: The Complete Poems
http://www.bartleby.com/113/
Modern American Poetry: Emily Dickinson's Life
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/dickinson/bio.htm
Nobelprize.org: T. S. Eliot
http://nobelprize.org/literature/laureates/1948/eliot-bio.html
Modern American Poetry: T. S. Eliot's Life and Career
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/eliot/life.htm
The Literature Network: William Shakespeare
http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/
Visitors to this site will find a biography of Shakespeare, and links to the full text of his tragedies, histories, comedies, and selected poetry.
Shakespeare of Stratford
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/
"Search Oxford Shakespeare"
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/shakespeare/poetry/
Langston Hughes
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/hughes.htm
Celebrate Poetry Month! Learn more about this wonderful art form, and find a poem that inspires or motivates you, by visiting the links below.
American Literature: Poetry
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761596671/American_Literature_Poetry.html
Read this informative article to learn about the origins, development and different forms of American poetry, from the 1600s to the present.
National Poetry Month
http://www.poets.org/npm/
http://www.poets.org/npm/faq.cfm#1 (FAQs about National Poetry Month)
The Academy of American Poets: Find a Poet
http://www.poets.org/poets/index.cfm
Search the Academy's growing database (it currently includes more than 450 poets) for biographies, photos, and other information.
The Academy of American Poets: Find a Poem
http://www.poets.org/poems/search.cfm
Search the Academy's companion database of poems (1,200 and growing) by keyword for poem text, or browse lists of titles and/or first lines.
Slam Poetry
http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Slam_poetry
Poetry? A competitive event? Learn more about this form of performance poetry, in which the delivery is as important as the quality of the poetry itself.
Background on Slam Poetry
http://www.slamnation.com/info/backgrnd.htm
Read about the history of the Poetry Slam as a competitive performance event, and learn the rules, too, by reading this brief article, and checking out some of the links available at this site.
SITES FOR TEACHERS
Teach Now! National Poetry Month
http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/k_2theme/poetry.htm
Education World: Poetry Month
http://www.educationworld.com/a_special/poetrymonth.shtml
Modern American Poetry
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/index.htm
Poetry Forms and Terminology
http://thewordshop.tripod.com/forms.html
Glossary of Poetic Terms
http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display_rpo/terminology.cfm#acrostic
FAVORITE POETS
Shel Silverstein
http://shelsilverstein.com/html/home.html
Edward Lear
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/lear.htm
Selected Poetry of Edward Lear (1812-1888)
http://eir.library.utoronto.ca/rpo/display/poet200.html
Dr. Seuss: Seussville
http://www.seussville.com/
The Academy of American Poets: Robert Frost
http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=196
Emily Dickinson: The Complete Poems
http://www.bartleby.com/113/
Modern American Poetry: Emily Dickinson's Life
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/dickinson/bio.htm
Nobelprize.org: T. S. Eliot
http://nobelprize.org/literature/laureates/1948/eliot-bio.html
Modern American Poetry: T. S. Eliot's Life and Career
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/eliot/life.htm
The Literature Network: William Shakespeare
http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/
Visitors to this site will find a biography of Shakespeare, and links to the full text of his tragedies, histories, comedies, and selected poetry.
Shakespeare of Stratford
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/
"Search Oxford Shakespeare"
http://education.yahoo.com/reference/shakespeare/poetry/
Langston Hughes
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/hughes.htm
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Blogs and Blogging
Is it a journal, a log, a diary, a personal website? Just what is a blog, anyway? And what is a blogger? Visit the links below to learn more about this interesting way of learning, sharing, and communicating with others.
BLOGGING BASICS
Weblog: from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog (entry for "weblog")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki (entry for "wiki")
What's a wiki? A communal, public blog, or open forum, that allows anyone to add and modify content. This entry, from Wikipedia, a popular example of the wiki, offers readers a history of blogging, an explanation of the many types of blogs (personal, news, political, legal, advice, etc.), a glossary of blogging terms, and a lengthy list of links to related sites.
Blog Glossary
http://www.samizdata.net/blog/glossary.html
The blog culture has spawned an entirely new vocabulary. Bleg, blawg, blogathy, blogerati - find out what these and many more blog-related terms mean at this entertaining and informative site.
A Brief History of Weblogs, by Mallory Jensen
http://www.cjr.org/issues/2003/5/blog-jensen.asp
Blogging101: History, Parts, Read/Write, Find, Create, Readings, by Anton Zuiker
http://www.unc.edu/~zuiker/blogging101/index.html
Emerging Trends: Educational Blogging, by Robert Whelan, ITS Faculty Technology Center, New York University
http://www.nyu.edu/its/ftc/ls/blog.html
This interesting article features a discussion of the benefits of blogs in regular education and with ESL students, who can use blogs to develop their reading, research and writing skills, and collaborate with others.
FREE BLOGGING SITES
Blogger.com
http://www.blogger.com/start
Blog-City
http://www.blog-city.com/bc/
Bubbler.com
http://www.bubbler.com/index.shtml
myblogsite
http://www.myblogsite.com/?sid=GOOGLEblog
Squarespace
http://www.squarespace.com/?partnerTag=google&planTag=blgnetwork
INTERESTING BLOGS, ABOUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS
NEWS, POLITICS AND LAW
Best of the Blogs
http://www.bestoftheblogs.com/
Democracy for America
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/
instapundit.com
http://www.instapundit.com/
PrawfsBlawg: a Group of Young Legal Turkeys Offering Their Thoughts on Law and the Things That Really Matter in Life
http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/
Right Wing News
http://www.rightwingnews.com/
Slate
http://www.slate.com/
BOOKS, AUTHOR BIOS AND INTERVIEWS, AND MORE
Beatrice.com
http://beatrice.com/
Bookreporter.com
http://www.bookreporter.com/
Moorishgirl.com
http://www.moorishgirl.com/
Girlfriend Cyber Circuit
http://gcc.blog-city.com/
BLOGGING BASICS
Weblog: from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog (entry for "weblog")
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki (entry for "wiki")
What's a wiki? A communal, public blog, or open forum, that allows anyone to add and modify content. This entry, from Wikipedia, a popular example of the wiki, offers readers a history of blogging, an explanation of the many types of blogs (personal, news, political, legal, advice, etc.), a glossary of blogging terms, and a lengthy list of links to related sites.
Blog Glossary
http://www.samizdata.net/blog/glossary.html
The blog culture has spawned an entirely new vocabulary. Bleg, blawg, blogathy, blogerati - find out what these and many more blog-related terms mean at this entertaining and informative site.
A Brief History of Weblogs, by Mallory Jensen
http://www.cjr.org/issues/2003/5/blog-jensen.asp
Blogging101: History, Parts, Read/Write, Find, Create, Readings, by Anton Zuiker
http://www.unc.edu/~zuiker/blogging101/index.html
Emerging Trends: Educational Blogging, by Robert Whelan, ITS Faculty Technology Center, New York University
http://www.nyu.edu/its/ftc/ls/blog.html
This interesting article features a discussion of the benefits of blogs in regular education and with ESL students, who can use blogs to develop their reading, research and writing skills, and collaborate with others.
FREE BLOGGING SITES
Blogger.com
http://www.blogger.com/start
Blog-City
http://www.blog-city.com/bc/
Bubbler.com
http://www.bubbler.com/index.shtml
myblogsite
http://www.myblogsite.com/?sid=GOOGLEblog
Squarespace
http://www.squarespace.com/?partnerTag=google&planTag=blgnetwork
INTERESTING BLOGS, ABOUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS
NEWS, POLITICS AND LAW
Best of the Blogs
http://www.bestoftheblogs.com/
Democracy for America
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/
instapundit.com
http://www.instapundit.com/
PrawfsBlawg: a Group of Young Legal Turkeys Offering Their Thoughts on Law and the Things That Really Matter in Life
http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/
Right Wing News
http://www.rightwingnews.com/
Slate
http://www.slate.com/
BOOKS, AUTHOR BIOS AND INTERVIEWS, AND MORE
Beatrice.com
http://beatrice.com/
Bookreporter.com
http://www.bookreporter.com/
Moorishgirl.com
http://www.moorishgirl.com/
Girlfriend Cyber Circuit
http://gcc.blog-city.com/
Resources for Readers
SELECTED AUTHORS OF INTEREST TO CMS STUDENTS:
Douglas Adams
http://www.douglasadams.com/
Judy Blume
http://www.judyblume.com/
Dan Brown
http://www.danbrown.com/
Gennifer Choldenko
http://www.choldenko.com/
Matt Christopher
http://www.mattchristopher.com/
Angela Johnson
http://authors.aalbc.com/angela.htm
Walter Dean Myers
http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-myers-walterdean.asp
Mary Pope Osborne
http://www.marypopeosborne.com/
Gary Paulsen
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/
Dave Pelzer
http://www.davepelzer.com/
Louise Rennison
http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-rennison-louise.asp
Ann Rice
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/annerice/author.html
http://www.annerice.com/index.htm
J. K. Rowling
http://www.jkrowling.com/
Lemony Snicket
http://www.lemonysnicket.com/index.cfm
Danielle Steel
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/steel/
J. R. R. Tolkien
About Tolkien
http://www.tolkien.co.uk/frame.asp
http://www.tolkiensociety.org/tolkien/index.html
Tolkien Timeline
http://gollum.usask.ca/tolkien/
SELECTED WEB SITES AND OTHER FULL-TEXT RESOURCES
ALEX Awards
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/alexawards/alexawards.htm
The ALEX Awards are named for Margaret Alexander Edward, who worked for many years as a young adult specialist at Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Library. They are given each year to ten well-written, readable books written for adults, selected from genres that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
Best Books for Young Adults
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/bestbooksyoung.htm
Best Books for Young Adults includes "significant adult and young adult" fiction and nonfiction books selected from the current year's publications and recommended for young adult readers ages 12 through 18.
Biography Resource Center (You'll need the library barcode supplied by the IMC to access this terrific database.)
http://mblc.state.ma.us/cgi-bin/remote.pl?db=infotrac
The Caldecott Medal Home Page
http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html
Named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, the Caldecott Medal has been awarded annually since 1938 to "the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." This site also features a complete list of all Caldecott Medal winners and honor books from 1938 to the present.
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site
http://www.carolhurst.com
Hurst's rich site features book reviews listed by title, author and grade level, literature tie-ins to all areas of the language arts, math, U.S. and world history curricula, and suggested titles for all sorts of themes in children's literature, as well as wonderful profiles of children's and young adult authors.
The Children's Literature Web Guide
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/
Visit this helpful site for information about authors, titles, award-winning books, resources for teachers, children's literature online discussion groups, and much more.
Coretta Scott King Award
http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookawards/abouttheawarda/cskabout.htm
This award is presented annually to "authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream."
Graphic Novels for Librarians: A Guide
http://tasisnet.tasis.com/
This site, created by librarian Susan Salpini, features lots of helpful information about graphic novels, including an explanation of Manga (done primarily in black and white, these graphic novels are usually first published in weekly or monthly magazines, with a particular audience in mind), as well as tips on cataloging, a glossary, and an extensive bibilography.
Guys Read
http://www.guysread.com
This "web-based literacy program", created by author Jon Scieszka to help boys find books they will enjoy, features a searchable (readers can search by author, title, or subject in which they are interested) database of titles for "young guys", "middle guys", and "older guys", as well as links to many author web sites.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/margaretaedwards/margaretedwards.htm
The Margaret A. Edwards Award was established in 1988, and honors an author's lifetime achievement for his or her body of work, and its collective popularity over time.
The Newbery Medal Home Page
http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html
Named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery, the Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association's Association for Library Service to Children to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."
NOBLE Web Catalog
http://www.noblenet.org
Search the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) online catalog to locate books, videos, and other materials at the Salem Public Library, as well as at 26 other public and college libraries.
NoveList
http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?authtype=uid
NoveList is an outstanding resource through which readers can learn about books and authors. This searchable database includes information, including descriptions, suggested reading levels, reviews from high quality magazines and journals, and links to related full-text articles and author web sites, about picture books, children's chapter books, young adult novels, and books for adult readers. NoveList is updated monthly, and adds about 10,000 new fiction records, along with descriptions, reviews, and other information, to the database each year.
The Printz Award
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz/
The Michael L. Printz Award honors a work of fiction, nonfiction, poetry or an anthology that "exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature."
Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists!
http://tln.lib.mi.us/~amutch/jen/
Visit this site, created for teens, to find a terrific collection of booklists organized by subject. Examples of reading lists currently available include: "Boy Meets Book"; "Coolest Classics"; "Fanging Around: Teen Vampire Fiction with Byte"; "Historical Fiction for Hipsters: Stories from the Past That Won't Make You Snore"; "Short Cuts: Teen Short Story Collections You Might Actually Want to Read"; and "Word UP! Poetry Both by and for Teenagers."
The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
http://www.scottodell.com/sosoaward.html
Established in 1982 by this fine author to encourage other writers to focus on historical fiction, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is given annually to "a meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults."
Douglas Adams
http://www.douglasadams.com/
Judy Blume
http://www.judyblume.com/
Dan Brown
http://www.danbrown.com/
Gennifer Choldenko
http://www.choldenko.com/
Matt Christopher
http://www.mattchristopher.com/
Angela Johnson
http://authors.aalbc.com/angela.htm
Walter Dean Myers
http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-myers-walterdean.asp
Mary Pope Osborne
http://www.marypopeosborne.com/
Gary Paulsen
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/
Dave Pelzer
http://www.davepelzer.com/
Louise Rennison
http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-rennison-louise.asp
Ann Rice
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/annerice/author.html
http://www.annerice.com/index.htm
J. K. Rowling
http://www.jkrowling.com/
Lemony Snicket
http://www.lemonysnicket.com/index.cfm
Danielle Steel
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/steel/
J. R. R. Tolkien
About Tolkien
http://www.tolkien.co.uk/frame.asp
http://www.tolkiensociety.org/tolkien/index.html
Tolkien Timeline
http://gollum.usask.ca/tolkien/
SELECTED WEB SITES AND OTHER FULL-TEXT RESOURCES
ALEX Awards
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/alexawards/alexawards.htm
The ALEX Awards are named for Margaret Alexander Edward, who worked for many years as a young adult specialist at Baltimore's Enoch Pratt Library. They are given each year to ten well-written, readable books written for adults, selected from genres that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
Best Books for Young Adults
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/bestbooksyoung.htm
Best Books for Young Adults includes "significant adult and young adult" fiction and nonfiction books selected from the current year's publications and recommended for young adult readers ages 12 through 18.
Biography Resource Center (You'll need the library barcode supplied by the IMC to access this terrific database.)
http://mblc.state.ma.us/cgi-bin/remote.pl?db=infotrac
The Caldecott Medal Home Page
http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html
Named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, the Caldecott Medal has been awarded annually since 1938 to "the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children." This site also features a complete list of all Caldecott Medal winners and honor books from 1938 to the present.
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site
http://www.carolhurst.com
Hurst's rich site features book reviews listed by title, author and grade level, literature tie-ins to all areas of the language arts, math, U.S. and world history curricula, and suggested titles for all sorts of themes in children's literature, as well as wonderful profiles of children's and young adult authors.
The Children's Literature Web Guide
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/
Visit this helpful site for information about authors, titles, award-winning books, resources for teachers, children's literature online discussion groups, and much more.
Coretta Scott King Award
http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookawards/abouttheawarda/cskabout.htm
This award is presented annually to "authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream."
Graphic Novels for Librarians: A Guide
http://tasisnet.tasis.com/
This site, created by librarian Susan Salpini, features lots of helpful information about graphic novels, including an explanation of Manga (done primarily in black and white, these graphic novels are usually first published in weekly or monthly magazines, with a particular audience in mind), as well as tips on cataloging, a glossary, and an extensive bibilography.
Guys Read
http://www.guysread.com
This "web-based literacy program", created by author Jon Scieszka to help boys find books they will enjoy, features a searchable (readers can search by author, title, or subject in which they are interested) database of titles for "young guys", "middle guys", and "older guys", as well as links to many author web sites.
Margaret A. Edwards Award
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/margaretaedwards/margaretedwards.htm
The Margaret A. Edwards Award was established in 1988, and honors an author's lifetime achievement for his or her body of work, and its collective popularity over time.
The Newbery Medal Home Page
http://www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html
Named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery, the Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association's Association for Library Service to Children to the author of "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."
NOBLE Web Catalog
http://www.noblenet.org
Search the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) online catalog to locate books, videos, and other materials at the Salem Public Library, as well as at 26 other public and college libraries.
NoveList
http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?authtype=uid
NoveList is an outstanding resource through which readers can learn about books and authors. This searchable database includes information, including descriptions, suggested reading levels, reviews from high quality magazines and journals, and links to related full-text articles and author web sites, about picture books, children's chapter books, young adult novels, and books for adult readers. NoveList is updated monthly, and adds about 10,000 new fiction records, along with descriptions, reviews, and other information, to the database each year.
The Printz Award
http://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz/
The Michael L. Printz Award honors a work of fiction, nonfiction, poetry or an anthology that "exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature."
Reading Rants! Out of the Ordinary Teen Booklists!
http://tln.lib.mi.us/~amutch/jen/
Visit this site, created for teens, to find a terrific collection of booklists organized by subject. Examples of reading lists currently available include: "Boy Meets Book"; "Coolest Classics"; "Fanging Around: Teen Vampire Fiction with Byte"; "Historical Fiction for Hipsters: Stories from the Past That Won't Make You Snore"; "Short Cuts: Teen Short Story Collections You Might Actually Want to Read"; and "Word UP! Poetry Both by and for Teenagers."
The Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
http://www.scottodell.com/sosoaward.html
Established in 1982 by this fine author to encourage other writers to focus on historical fiction, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is given annually to "a meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults."
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Selected Teacher Resources
LESSON PLANS, WEBQUESTS, WORKSHEETS, ETC.
Best Webquests.com
http://www.bestwebquests.com
Created by Tom March, this searchable database of webquests allows users to search by title, description, author information, age level, and "attributes that make this WebQuest special". Each WebQuest considered by Best WebQuests.com for addition to its database is examined with the following criteria in mind: engaging opening/writing; the question/task; background for everyone; roles/expertise; use of the web; transformative thinking; real world feedback; and conclusion.
Education World
http://www.educationworld.com
This comprehensive educator's resource features a wealth of information, organized into the following "categories": Lesson Planning; Professional Development; Administrator's Desk; Technology Integration; School Issues; and "More Resources".
Educator's Reference Desk: Lesson Plans
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/index.shtml
Use this site to access an extensive list of Resource Guides and Lesson Plans, or to search the ERIC Database from 1966 to the present, using the simple or advanced search features, and limiting your search to journal articles or full-text ERIC digests.
Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html
This outstanding and comprehensive collection of easy-to-use, imaginative and entertaining educational web sites and games is among the best of the web's resources available today.
Homework Spot
http://homeworkspot.com
This free homework information portal features many of the best K-12 homework-related sites, collected in one "spot" by a team of educators, librarians and journalists.
iWebQuest
http://iwebquest.com
This site features a helpful introduction to webquests, and offers selected examples of what iWebQuest's educators consider to be some of the best webquests available today, as well as selected hotlists, treasure hunts, and web pages.
Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/
Arguably the most helpful and practical single web resource available to educators today, Schrock's comprehensive site includes Resources, Information, Slide Shows, Lesson Ideas, and upcoming Workshops offered by Schrock. Among this site's many strengths is the Teacher Helpers section, featuring information and templates about Assessment and Rubrics, Critical Evaluation, Webquests, and more.
Lesson Plan Central: an Educator's Guide to Lessons, Worksheets, Web Links, and More...
http://lessonplancentral.com/
Find lesson plans, webquests, worksheets, clipart and more at this site, either by keyword searching or by browsing lists of links to great resources organized by subject.
Marcopolo
http://www.marcopolo-education.org
Marcopolo provides high quality "standards-based Internet content and professional development to K-12 teachers and students throughout the United States." Teacher resources include lesson plans and other activities for students, as well as reviewed web sites. Users can search for educational resources using simple keyword or advanced Boolean search features, and limiting by subject area and/or grade level.
The Math Website
http://www.themathwebsite.com/
Middle School.Net: for Teachers by Teachers
http://www.middleschool.net
Visit this site to find links to curriculum resources in all content areas, technology resources, lesson plans and tutorials, reference materials, and professional development resources, as well as information for administrators and school leaders, and support staff.
Mr. Donn's Ancient History Page
http://members.aol.com/donnandlee/
This terrific resource features an extensive collection of ancient history lesson plans and activities, as well as a nice collection of maps and information about holidays and festivals in each of the major civilizations. This resource will be extremely helpful to grade six teachers, with its focus on Ancient Mesopotamia, India, China, Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Puzzlemaker.com
http://www.puzzlemaker.com
Educators will enjoy this easy-to-use puzzle generation tool, which allows users to create computer-generated mazes, and word search, criss-cross, math square, number block, cryptogram, fallen phrase, and letter tile puzzles. Puzzlemaker.com also features a great archive of categorization, lateral thinking, logic, number and math play, reasoning, spatial awareness, and word and letter play brain boosters, as well as a clip art gallery.
Quia.com
http://www.quia.com
Quia (Quintessential Instructional Archive) features a directory of thousands of online activities and quizzes organized into 50 subjects, including world language, math, science, literature, history, and more, for all age levels, a template for 16 different types of online activities, and tools for creating online quizzes with up to eight question types.
TeAch-nology
http://www.teachnology.com
This site provides educators with free access to thousands of lesson plans, printable worksheets, reviewed web sites, rubrics, educational games, and much more.
Tramline's Virtual Field Trips
http://www.tramline.com
This site features both a terrific collection of virtual field trips appropriate for grades K-12, and forms and templates allowing teachers to create web tours of their own.
The WebQuest Page
http://webquest.sdsu.edu
The WebQuest model was developed in 1995 at San Diego State University by Bernie Dodge and Tom March (see Best Webquests.com, above). Dodge's WebQuest Page is an invaluable resource featuring both rated ("Top" and "Middling") and unrated ("New" - teachers are invited to evaluate these) webquests in all content areas for grades K-12, a searchable database of articles and unpublished papers about webquests, the WebQuest News blog, FAQs, and much, much more.
K-12 Resources for Music Educators
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/staffpages/shirk/k12.music.html
Visit this page for comprehensive lists of useful sites for band, vocal/choral, orchestra, and classroom music teachers, as well as MIDI and music technology resource links, and music-related newsgroups.
Web Sites and Resources for Teachers
http://www.sitesforteachers.com/resources_sharp/
This resource offers educators links to lesson plans, instructional materials, and online activities and projects about language arts, social studies, math, science, art, music, languages, and physical education, as well as virtual tours/trips to museums and countries around the world.
Best Webquests.com
http://www.bestwebquests.com
Created by Tom March, this searchable database of webquests allows users to search by title, description, author information, age level, and "attributes that make this WebQuest special". Each WebQuest considered by Best WebQuests.com for addition to its database is examined with the following criteria in mind: engaging opening/writing; the question/task; background for everyone; roles/expertise; use of the web; transformative thinking; real world feedback; and conclusion.
Education World
http://www.educationworld.com
This comprehensive educator's resource features a wealth of information, organized into the following "categories": Lesson Planning; Professional Development; Administrator's Desk; Technology Integration; School Issues; and "More Resources".
Educator's Reference Desk: Lesson Plans
http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/index.shtml
Use this site to access an extensive list of Resource Guides and Lesson Plans, or to search the ERIC Database from 1966 to the present, using the simple or advanced search features, and limiting your search to journal articles or full-text ERIC digests.
Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html
This outstanding and comprehensive collection of easy-to-use, imaginative and entertaining educational web sites and games is among the best of the web's resources available today.
Homework Spot
http://homeworkspot.com
This free homework information portal features many of the best K-12 homework-related sites, collected in one "spot" by a team of educators, librarians and journalists.
iWebQuest
http://iwebquest.com
This site features a helpful introduction to webquests, and offers selected examples of what iWebQuest's educators consider to be some of the best webquests available today, as well as selected hotlists, treasure hunts, and web pages.
Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/
Arguably the most helpful and practical single web resource available to educators today, Schrock's comprehensive site includes Resources, Information, Slide Shows, Lesson Ideas, and upcoming Workshops offered by Schrock. Among this site's many strengths is the Teacher Helpers section, featuring information and templates about Assessment and Rubrics, Critical Evaluation, Webquests, and more.
Lesson Plan Central: an Educator's Guide to Lessons, Worksheets, Web Links, and More...
http://lessonplancentral.com/
Find lesson plans, webquests, worksheets, clipart and more at this site, either by keyword searching or by browsing lists of links to great resources organized by subject.
Marcopolo
http://www.marcopolo-education.org
Marcopolo provides high quality "standards-based Internet content and professional development to K-12 teachers and students throughout the United States." Teacher resources include lesson plans and other activities for students, as well as reviewed web sites. Users can search for educational resources using simple keyword or advanced Boolean search features, and limiting by subject area and/or grade level.
The Math Website
http://www.themathwebsite.com/
Middle School.Net: for Teachers by Teachers
http://www.middleschool.net
Visit this site to find links to curriculum resources in all content areas, technology resources, lesson plans and tutorials, reference materials, and professional development resources, as well as information for administrators and school leaders, and support staff.
Mr. Donn's Ancient History Page
http://members.aol.com/donnandlee/
This terrific resource features an extensive collection of ancient history lesson plans and activities, as well as a nice collection of maps and information about holidays and festivals in each of the major civilizations. This resource will be extremely helpful to grade six teachers, with its focus on Ancient Mesopotamia, India, China, Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Puzzlemaker.com
http://www.puzzlemaker.com
Educators will enjoy this easy-to-use puzzle generation tool, which allows users to create computer-generated mazes, and word search, criss-cross, math square, number block, cryptogram, fallen phrase, and letter tile puzzles. Puzzlemaker.com also features a great archive of categorization, lateral thinking, logic, number and math play, reasoning, spatial awareness, and word and letter play brain boosters, as well as a clip art gallery.
Quia.com
http://www.quia.com
Quia (Quintessential Instructional Archive) features a directory of thousands of online activities and quizzes organized into 50 subjects, including world language, math, science, literature, history, and more, for all age levels, a template for 16 different types of online activities, and tools for creating online quizzes with up to eight question types.
TeAch-nology
http://www.teachnology.com
This site provides educators with free access to thousands of lesson plans, printable worksheets, reviewed web sites, rubrics, educational games, and much more.
Tramline's Virtual Field Trips
http://www.tramline.com
This site features both a terrific collection of virtual field trips appropriate for grades K-12, and forms and templates allowing teachers to create web tours of their own.
The WebQuest Page
http://webquest.sdsu.edu
The WebQuest model was developed in 1995 at San Diego State University by Bernie Dodge and Tom March (see Best Webquests.com, above). Dodge's WebQuest Page is an invaluable resource featuring both rated ("Top" and "Middling") and unrated ("New" - teachers are invited to evaluate these) webquests in all content areas for grades K-12, a searchable database of articles and unpublished papers about webquests, the WebQuest News blog, FAQs, and much, much more.
K-12 Resources for Music Educators
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/resources/staffpages/shirk/k12.music.html
Visit this page for comprehensive lists of useful sites for band, vocal/choral, orchestra, and classroom music teachers, as well as MIDI and music technology resource links, and music-related newsgroups.
Web Sites and Resources for Teachers
http://www.sitesforteachers.com/resources_sharp/
This resource offers educators links to lesson plans, instructional materials, and online activities and projects about language arts, social studies, math, science, art, music, languages, and physical education, as well as virtual tours/trips to museums and countries around the world.
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