For more information on Book Clubs for Boys, click here.

It is always fun to come back to school when you have been away for a couple of days. When going through my overflowing mailbox, I was greeted with an email from my substitute teacher about how some guys in my broadcasting class cracked the case of one of the video cameras.

One boy was apparently trying to keep another outside of the classroom by blocking the door, a joke gone too far. In retaliation, the one being kept out of the room thought it would be a good idea to throw a book at his obstructor, whom just happened to be holding a video camera. Given the recounting of the events in essay format, my best guess is the guy tossing the book just had really bad aim. I’m sure he was trying to hit his classmate in the head, not the camera although he only tossed it at his legs. The camera was never dropped and they don’t really know how it got cracked. Odd how guys have such selective memories.

Well it is easier to get angry and yell about something like this, but I was really just saddened by their behavior. I told the sub that she could trust my guys, and they let me down. After determining that not all of them should be punished for the immaturity of a few, we spent some time discussing my Guys Read presentation. I wanted them to know that I was so proud of them that I shared their video demonstrating typical boy behavior, along with their reading abilities and interests. We are now talking about their reading challenges, so maybe I will get some even better feedback to share with you!

Forgotten Story

During my presentation I said that I had a funny story to tell about risky behavior and then I got sidetracked, missing an important point. During the filming of the opening of our show, the guys were learning how to use the equipment while learning about different camera angles and movement. The guys were anxious to get a closeup shot of a remote control car, with the camera moving towards the car. We use a basic AV cart for our dolly.

I guess I forgot to mention that you don’t really need to ride the cart if you are the camera operator. I must have neglected to mention the purpose of a tripod being put on the cart, with the camera mounted to that with the camera operator pushing the cart. To get the shot, the camera operator laid down on his belly, on the bottom of the AV cart and had his classmate push him, very quickly headfirst into some lockers. With a head and shoulder injury, I decided that was a wrap for the day. That just happened to be the same day the boys got in trouble for shoving each other into trash cans, but that is another story.

No doubt boys are risk takers, but a good story can help boys take risks in a more healthy way. Stories help boys walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Books help boys determine whether or not someone might be able to survive going over Niagra Falls in a barrel without having to try it themselves. Or at least that is the hope anyway.

Well I am exhausted from a busy day of networking with wonderful librarians. Sarah Weeks was so funny today at her presentation. I also loved hearing John Green speak. I thought he would have delivered a similar speech to the one he gave at CYPD in August, but it was quite a bit different (especially with the pop culture references). I’m definitely becoming a Nerd Fighters fan! His book Paper Towns was also voted the Top Teen Read of 2009 by teen voters (an online poll by YALSA), beating out Breaking Dawn and The Hunger Games. You go boy!

The craft handouts from CYPD are available on the wiki. I was hoping the instructions for the cool book purse would be on there, but I didn’t see them. I can’t believe that ILF is only in a few days!

http://www.cypd.pbworks.com

Upon registering for the conference today, I received a thumb drive from the Indiana State Library. I thought that was cool, but what is even cooler is that they put files on it from the presentations. This is amazing! I’m having fun tonight looking through the files from the presentations I didn’t get to attend. What a great idea!

So today got off to a slow start. I was optimistic about the keynote address when I was handed a CPS audience response device upon entering ballroom 500 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. While the presenter droned on about the history of information science, I sat staring at my clicker thinking this is how the 8th graders feel in history class, except they don’t have a button to push. I found myself distracted and pondering how an effective use of this technology might be used at my middle school. I think it could be a great assessment tool and I will definitely be looking into integrating this new technology into our school curriculum. The conference today really had slim pickins for library media specialists. I was disappointed in the offerings today, but I am hopeful tomorrow will be a better day. I am looking forward to the AIME luncheon.

Created by the Jordan School District of Sandy, Utah
Transforming Teaching through Technology

Learn more about integrating technology into your curriculum at their website:
http://t4.jordan.k12.ut.us/t4/content/view/221/35/