“The Google Game,”published over two years ago, remains one of the most popular articles on our Web site. This month, in “Return of the Google Game,” the author revisits ways to teach online searching to kids, with some new tips.
School librarian Amanda Fowler already knows books. But she's apparently a whiz at puzzles, too—as well as keeping a cool head in front of millions of TV viewers. In a Wheel of Fortune appearance on April 25, the Mooreville, MS, librarian flattened two opponents, correctly guessing puzzles that bore the movie title Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! and the name of the Italian delicacy "pasta primavera." Speaking of pasta, Fowler won a trip to Rome as part of her $19,100 cash gross. She divulged more delicious details to SLJ.
So! An all-expenses-paid trip to Rome! How are you feeling? Yes, ma'am, I’m excited about it. My husband Lee is a huge history buff, and I am as well, so we’re really, really excited. read more...
Although today’s teens are constantly text messaging, IMing, and emailing, don’t accuse them of writing. According to a new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project and the National Commission on Writing, teens believe that writing only takes place in school and on paper—not on cell phones, Web sites, or blogs. The study's phone survey of 700 youths, ages 12 to 17, and their parents found that young people engage at least occasionally in some form of electronic personal communication, but 60 percent of teens don't think of these electronic texts as "writing."read more...
Online publishers—and that includes educators and librarians who regularly write or blog for the Web—may now receive a free subscription to the online Encyclopedia Britannica.
"This program is intended for people who publish with some regularity on the Internet, be they bloggers, webmasters, or writers," advises the April 29 announcement by Britannicanet.com. read more...
It’s springtime, and birdsong is returning to backyards, fields, and rooftops everywhere. Take advantage of nature’s classroom—the National Audobon Society has some great ideas for indoor and outdoor programs. For a cool online audio experience, visit the Birdsong Links site to hear birds from around the world. Whether of the barnyard or wild variety, the feathered friends in these titles will certainly catch the attention of young listeners and readers.
KELLEY, Ellen A. My Life as a Chicken. illus. by Michael Slack. Harcourt. 2007. RTE $16. ISBN 978-0-15-205306-2. K-Gr 3— Life on the egg farm is boring and methodical and looking increasingly dangerous, so Pauline Poulet decides to run away. read more...
Mark Twain wrote “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” in 1865. Today, each third week of May, the residents of Calaveras County, CA, hold a frog jumping contest and festival. Celebrate frogs in your county, too, by reading Mark Twain’s story and then encouraging kids to visit Froghoo! (a Yahoo!-type directory that contains tons of links to sites about frogs).
Younger kids will find lots of frog facts and fun online activities (including some great printables as well as Java and Shockwave games) in the “Fun Stuff and Events” section. (Two sites in particular—“Froggyville” and “Frogland”—are not to be missed!) Teens will find links to information on frog biology and how the changing environment is affecting frog populations worldwide, and teachers will find lots of classroom ideas, frog activities, virtual frog dissections, and classroom printables in the “Educational Resources” section. — Gail Junion-Metz
The Board of Library Trustees is looking for a visionary, creative leader, who believes and models customer service - and is able to articulate this view - to fill its Director's position, soon to be open due to retirement. Cleveland Heights-University Heights is one of Ohio's best-regarded public library systems. The library has an annual operating budget of $8.5M, with specialized funds for staff development, building repair and technology; 107 FTE dedicated staff; collection of over 400,000 items; and circulation last year of over 1.8 million. read more...
To see all positions available through the SLJ Career Center, click here...
School librarian Amanda Fowler already knows books. But she's apparently a whiz at puzzles, too—as well as keeping a cool head in front of millions of TV viewers. In a Wheel of Fortune appearance on April 25, the Mooreville, MS, librarian flattened two opponents, correctly guessing puzzles that bore the movie title Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! and the name of the Italian delicacy "pasta primavera." Speaking of pasta, Fowler won a trip to Rome as part of her $19,100 cash gross. She divulged more delicious details to SLJ. 
