The Wheels on the Bus by Kevin Honeycutt

Ran across this on my fabulous library list-serve, LM-Net.  It is painfully accurate.  Kevin Honeycutt hits the nail on the head with his school funding allegory.  Read it here and see what you think...

http://web.me.com/khoneycuttessdack/kevinhoneycutt.org/Tradigital_Learning/Entries/2011/4/10.html

Speaking of the economy...

Unshelved rocks.  Today's just cracks me up....as you who know me know I actually LOVE "the teens" but I always find it a bit comical that I have most enjoyed the 2 groups who drive most teachers and librarians nuts--the kinders and the teens. 

At least I have a bit of humor--even dark humor--in these scary, scary times of slashing library programs and librarian jobs. 

sometimes that's all we can hang onto...as long as I can still find humor in it I think I'm okay...

If you don't subscribe to Unshelved, see the link below the cartoon and do so immediately!!!






http://www.unshelved.com/2011-3-24?utm_source=Overdue+Media&utm_campaign=942937371b-UA-127250-5&utm_medium=email

Book Fair

Oh my goodness, but it is book fair time once again.  For a week each fall and spring our library turns into a mini book store. 

Oh! the excitement! (hey!  there's the new book in that series I read!)
Oh! the anguish! (crud!  my parents only gave me $5.00!)

My wish list grows with each pass around the room...my daughter's grows quicker than that.  ;)

The students have steadily purchased fuzzy-topped pens and posters and books.  The girls ooh and ahh over the Justin Bieber collection.  The boys make the talking Zombie book "speak" over and over *and over* again.  The teachers pour over the cookbooks and adult bestseller list. 

This time sales seem a bit slower than usual.  The economic difficulties are definitely being felt by everyone.  And still...people want books...

Thank goodness our sanity hasn't completely left us.

Read on Gentle Readers, Read on
Mrs. S

Proud Mama

Check out my youngest over spring break. Yep, this library diva is one proud mama!

Exciting stuff when you see your little ones begin the life-long love of all things bookish. 

My older daughter is 8 and *excuse the braggy mom moment* but is already quite the reader.  She is a 2nd grader, but reads on a 5th grade level.  

So proud of my girls for so many reasons...not the least of which is they inherited/grabbed onto mama's love of reading!

Spring has Sprung

It is the Friday morning before Spring Break begins...ah, the joy of spring!






I have a quiet, quiet class of lovely 8th graders in here working on their literature project.  I have 2 boys working on GT products.  I hear the steady comforting hum of the computers in the background---white noise that I miss when they are turned off. 

This morning my coffee brewed to perfection.  With the addition of a goodly amount of French vanilla creamer and a touch of Splenda my work day began. 

I greeted over 75 kiddos in the library before school started.  Some come to play checkers, some to work or play games on the computers.  Others actually love to sit in one of our comfy couches or  ice cream scoop chairs and read.  We, of course, as a middle school do have the occasional kiddo or two who comes in to swagger & flirt & joke (sort of quietly), too.  I enjoy them all.  Even as I remind them to pull their pants up, tuck their shirts in, and keep their volume to a dull roar...I enjoy them.

I do so love my job.  Even the day before spring break.  Most especially today. 

Read on, Gentle Readers, Read on...

Mrs. S

photo from:http://www.nacogdochesazaleas.com/photos.php

Madame C.J. Walker

In honor of Black History Month, I thought I'd post some of my fave videos, etc. that I will be using in classes. I LOVE this one and know you will, too! What a pioneer for not only African Americans AND women AND those raised in poverty, but for business people of all backgrounds, as well. 

You can also check out the official Madame C.J. Walker website at:
http://www.madamcjwalker.com/ for tons of great info!

So there was this chicken...

I just love my job.  I get to work with the most fantastic people--both faculty and students--evah!

Here's a joke one of my teachers sent to me today...and believe me, I really needed a laugh this morning.

Corny, but very cute...enjoy.











A chicken walks into the library. It goes up to the circulation desk and says: "book, bok, bok, boook".



The librarian hands the chicken a book. It tucks it under his wing and runs out.


A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the first book into the return bin and goes back to the librarian saying: "book, bok, bok, bok, boook". Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out. The librarian shakes her head.


Within a few minutes, the chicken is back, returns the book and starts all over again: "boook, book, bok bok boook". The librarian gives him yet a third book, but this time as the chicken is running out the door, she follows it.


The chicken runs down the street, through the park and down to the riverbank. There, sitting on a lily pad is a big, green frog. The chicken holds up the book and shows it to the frog, saying: "Book, bok, bok, boook". The frog blinks, and croaks: "read-it, read-it, read-it".