End-of-school-year, 2019-2020

This has been a school-year like no other. Congratulations to our departing eighth-graders, and best wishes for next school-year at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts.

21st Century Skills, videos highlights books in library

My latest project is a video series on YouTube, 21st Century Skills, books in SRCSA library. So far, three videos have been uploaded to YouTube, and a couple more are in production. I eventually want to highlight all 12 of the 21st Century Skills with applicable books that can be found in SRCSA library. Be  sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you are enjoying my videos.

Shelter-in-place amendment allows curbside library services

With a new amendment to the county’s order to shelter-in-place in effect as of 12:01 a.m. today, look for curbside service to soon begin at Sonoma County Library. According to a recent headline in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, our public library was awaiting the county’s OK to offer limited curbside services. But in the meantime, be sure to access the library’s digital content, which remains accessible 24 hours per day.

California K-12 Online Content Project, essential during COVID-19 pandemic

In correspondence this week to members of the California Senate and Assembly, I expressed my concern that the proposed California budget eliminates funding for the California K-12 Online Content Project.* Via email, I asked that this $3-million line item be returned to the state budget.

Read-aloud videos to be disabled after May 29

May 29 is official end-of-school-year for Santa Rosa City Schools, so if you want to view my read-aloud videos, be sure to do so by then.

Six Flags Read to Succeed: certificates are here

Today, I notified families of my school community that students’ certificates for Six Flags Read to Succeed had posted in my Coordinator’s account. This year, 34 students at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts earned a free ticket to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom by completing six hours of reading for fun.

School library reopening during COVID-19 : my thoughts

My thoughts turned this week to pondering how operations could resume at SRCSA library. This proposal that I’ve compiled incorporates social distancing and also addresses decontamination of resources due to COVID-19. Keep in mind, this report consists of my own thoughts, based upon information and best-practices gained through reading and viewing webinars. (Bibliography appears below.) This report should not be treated as authoritative or actionable; rather, I consider it to be a starting-point for dialogue about reopening my school library.

Six Flags Read to Succeed : Wrap-up video

Here is a short video wrap-up for Six Flags Read to Succeed at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. I counted 28 students who have earned a free ticket to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, by logging six hours of reading for fun. Be  sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel if you are enjoying my videos.

Science fiction and fantasy can help young readers cope

Here’s an interesting article, via The Conversation, which suggests that reading science fiction and fantasy can help young readers cope and make sense of the world, “especially with the stress and anxiety of living through the COVID-19 pandemic.” As a long-time reader of science fiction and fantasy, I appreciate this perspective by writer, Esther Jones, that “Rather than limiting readers’ capacity to deal with reality, exposure to outside-the-box creative stories may expand their ability to engage reality based on science.”

California Young Reader Medal : Digital resources for nominees

For my latest video: I’ve sourced nominees in the INTERMEDIATE, MIDDLE SCHOOL / JUNIOR HIGH, and YOUNG ADULT categories, California Young Reader Medal. Many are available as eBooks and/or Audiobooks through Sonoma County Library’s OverDrive. Students can use their Student OneCard to access these digital resources.

Book-Talk: Cover reveal for Lauren Tarshis’s latest book

Lauren Tarshis shared the cover-reveal this week, for the newest book in her popular “I Survived” series: I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018. Here’s the first “Book-Talk” in what I hope will be an ongoing series of videos.