December 2020
In this issue...
Last Chance: Vermont Reads 2020
Don't miss out!
There's still time to participate in this year's Vermont Reads Experience. Here's what you need to know:
The book is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.
Ms. Binder has copies of the book - simply stop by the library to get your free copy of The Hate U Give
Read the book - this is the only part of the experience that is required!
If the book piques your interest, start reading, viewing, or listening to related stuff - there is a whole list of things to choose from
When group gatherings are once again possible, we'll set up a time to chat about the book as a group and eat some yummy snacks.
*This experience is open to anyone in the CSD community...students, parents, teachers (though only students will be entered into the drawing for Phoenix Books).
Students who read the book (and let Ms. Binder know that they've read it) are entered into a drawing for a gift certificate to Phoenix Books!
More Library Fun: Digital Puzzle
Got a little time on your hands? Need something relaxing to do for a few minutes. Go to our digital puzzle and virtually stick a few pieces to the board. Folks have been doing some sticking and a picture is now starting to form! Find a link on the homepage of the Library website or check it out here.
Let's see what we can build when we stick together.
Finding Your Next Great Read
Spotlight Lists
If you need a suggestion for a great book this December, check out our new "Spotlight Lists." See the (somewhat silly) 2-minute video below to learn how to view them from our library website and even remotely check out these titles.
Or link directly to the spotlight lists below:
New Books
We continue to add new books every month! See below for a slideshow (created by the incomparable Ms. Barnes) showcasing a selection of some of our new titles.
On Display
Ms. Barnes and I are always working on a rotation of window displays to whet your literary appetite. Featured window displays right now include Let it Snow, Great First Lines, Survivor Fiction and new titles (some with QR codes for easy remote checkout if desired). Inside the library you'll find a display of books read by Ms. Binder in 2020...keep an eye out in January when Ms. Barnes and I will be creating highlights of our personal 2020 reads for some fun new window displays, plus a women changemakers display in anticipation of our first woman Vice President!
So many great books to highlight, so little display space. :)
And as always, you can pop into the library any time to get some personal recommendations and assistance or fill out this simple form to have Ms. Binder or Ms. Barnes pull a few book options for you.
New books slideshow:
For Educators
Opportunities for Code Week
Check out the free screening of the critically-acclaimed documentary Coded Bias. Learn more about this opportunity for you and your students and watch the trailer here.
Share this video with students which explains the concept of algorithmic bias.
This video from the folks at Google does a good job of describing what is meant by Machine Learning Bias...(though it's made by Google so it also does a good job of promoting Google.)
Database Tip
I often hear from teachers who would like to access current news articles from a range of sources including publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, or The Economist.
While we do not have subscription access to any newspapers at this time, we do have access to Gale's News database through the Vermont Online Library which can provide access to most current and past articles for a wide range of national and international papers. Use the widget to the right to check it out.
Research Support & Classroom Collaborations
This month so far I've worked with Erin Brady's seminar students to familiarize them with some of our library research resources to support their Capstone projects, I'm helping Sue Rosato's students develop citation skills, and I'll be delivering some book talks to the tenth graders in Katie Lenox and Emma Gauding's classes as they make new choice reading selections. If you'd like me to visit your class please send me an email or stop by the library.
Additionally, if your students are getting ready to dive into a research project, please feel free to assign me the task of locating and sharing resources. I'm happy to create a libguide for your unit, or provide you with something like this choice board (right) for students to use.
Access major U.S. and international newspapers online to search articles instantly by title, headline, date, or other fields.
Above: Sample research choice board - Email me or stop by the library if you'd like me to create one for your students to support any unit.
District Librarians' Antiracism Book Discussion Group
We're closing in on the midway point in the year, and so I wanted to put in another plug for our little book discussion group which we began over the summer. So far we've read and discussed a handful of wonderful titles (see cover images below), and for our January meeting we're actually choosing to read one or all of the following three fiction titles:
Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
The CSD Librarians acknowledge that a book group is just a starting point, it is not the answer. Our goal with the book group is simply: to provide a safe space to learn more about how to discuss race and racism together, and with our students. We hope that in doing this, we will all build our proficiency when it comes to having these necessary and challenging conversations so that we can support our students in the 21st Century skill of Racial Literacy through what we teach, how we interact, and the conversations that we host in our classrooms and engage in throughout our halls.
Please send me an email or stop by the library if you'd like to join! And if you prefer to do this work on your own...check out the list of books, podcasts, websites, and other resources that CSD Librarians have curated to help us all build our skills as antiracist educators. You can find it on the "For Educators" page.
