I got some satisfaction…

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Lana

…the Rolling Stones might not have, but this week, I did!

Walking in to the Elementary Library on Monday July 29th was pretty scary… it was like ‘fallout’ after an attack. Shelves, boxes, projectors, computers, desks and of course books, thousands, actually tens of thousands of books… and none of them where they were supposed to be.

In my dreams, I’d kind of envisioned walking (strutting?) into the library on my first day back with everything kind of, well, finished… ready to go, a place for everything and everything in its place. I’d imagined Joji and Stella choosing to stay in the library over the Summer, organizing everything, ‘watering’ the books so to speak, nurturing them, keeping the pages turning so they don’t get dusty or moldy. I also knew we were having the whole library painted, so on top of regular book maintenance, I knew they’d also put everything back where it should be, magically get rid of the paint smell, and probably have some fresh flowers on display too…. On my return, all I’d have to do was swan around looking important… straighten some books, throw a few on display and chat about my Summer!

I WAS WRONG! I should have known all was not going to plan when Stella e mailed me over the break to say she’d broken her ankle on her honeymoon in Scotland (as you do) and so wouldn’t be in the first week I was back! OUCH… and I don’t mean the ankle… What was I do to without my trusty right hand?

Long story short, I convinced her that wheelchair or no wheelchair… I NEEDED her and staying home on the couch (resting for heaven’s sake!) was not an option.

The next issue was that Joji missed her flight/was late/booked something incorrectly… WHATEVER! and wouldn’t be joining us for the first few days… now my left AND right hand were out of action… what to do?

Well, here is where my catchy title comes in… I got some satisfaction by getting on with it and getting things back to normal. I pushed/shoved/moved… I stacked/unpacked/sorted… I delegated/suggested/insisted… all with the help of my trusty right hand Stella… wheeling herself around, translating as needed, and doing everything she possibly could to help in her impaired state!

I have photos to follow, some before and after shots, however for now, I just feel so elated to have thing looking sort of/kind of/a little back to normal!

Come step by and say hello x

Am I ready to start blogging again?

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Lana

Hi Readers

When I was a fifth grade classroom teacher, another lifetime ago, I discovered blogging…Well, the whole world did! I don’t mean that I personally discovered blogging, I mean I discovered that I liked to blog, I loved to reach out, and share what I was doing with anyone who took the time to check in with me and see what I’d posted. I’ve always been a show off; I was proud of what I was doing, and wanted people to know about it.

I changed paths a year ago and became the Elementary Librarian of Shanghai American School and when I did that, I knew that blogging was going to be a fantastic way to reach an even wider audience sharing one of my passions=books! However, for reasons I’m just beginning to grasp after 6 weeks of relaxation… the blogging never really took off in my first year as a librarian. I’m realizing that as a homeroom teacher I had an automatic audience of parents and students who checked in almost daily to see what I was posting… however in my new role I didn’t feel that pressure/urgency, so that is probably the main reason my blogging dropped off… way off. Another reason (excuse?) was that I was so much busier in the first year than I thought I’d be… in so many different ways than I’d ever imagined. Every way was a wonderful way, busy ordering books (what joy?) busy learning to manage wonderful staff (how lucky am I?) busy navigating budgets and finance departments and spread sheets (not my favorite part of the job, but again, I know I am fortunate to have such a wonderful budget to work with) busy recommending books to students. I was too busy to blog about my job, because I was DOING my job, and it was all new, and everything was for the first time and and and…

I didn’t think I could be busier in this role than I had been in my homeroom teacher role, but I’d underestimated the multitude of demands faced on a daily basis when you’re on call for over 40 teachers and around 400 students, oh and did I mention the parents? Like I mentioned, it was all good busy…GREAT busy in fact. I was relishing the book talk, the camaraderie developed in the heart of the school; the main thoroughfare of our bustling community and the new networks being created; however, something was missing, and that was blogging and reaching a wider audience, and MORE importantly, sharing all of the new knowledge with those I was catering too every day in a more formal way.

So… a goal for this school year, a SMART goal, a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) is to blog twice a week (at least).
I hope to develop some book lists, some recommended reading lists, and improve on my blogroll. I learn from so many others around the world, I’d like to share their words, and not recreate the wheel. Starting now!
Following is a post geared to elementary teachers, from a blog I believe my good friend and close colleague, Amy Hossack recommended to me, Imagination Soup. So now readers, I recommend it to you and hope you enjoy what it has to offer, including this post on the best back to school books, nearly all of which are on our shelves, ready to be checked out by YOU! Melissa Taylor (Imagination Soup) also has plenty of great ideas for older readers such as this post on new chapter books for bigger kids.

I look forward to being proud of this blog, being able to recommend it to my students, teachers and parents and the world beyond as being current, informative and dynamic.

Earth Week Activities

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Lana

This week, our whole school has been banding together to raise money for new solar panels for our roof tops, in the name of EARTH WEEK. To aid our fundraising efforts, students are encouraged to contribute at least 10 rmb per child; if we do that, we should reach our goal of 14,250 rmb, which will then be matched by administration, and we will be able to have solar panels installed to help ease our global footprint.

Many of our teachers, have agreed to get a mowhawk hair cut…IF the 14,250 is raised. They want to urge the students on by providing some entertainment for all… let’s see who will go through with the deal…Mr. Toa? Mr. Martin? Mr. McCuaig?

Please drop your money in the glass jar outside the Elementary Library and if you’d like more information… check out these links…

Jane Goodall Speaks…

Middle School Presents…

Here is the schedule for our Earth Week Activities

Three more sleeps…

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Lana

…yes, correct, there ARE three more sleeps ’til Spring Break, but it is more than Spring Break I am excited about this week.

There are just three sleeps until our third visiting author visit for the school year. Ji-li Jiang, acclaimed author of Red Scarf Girl, will be presenting to our 4th grade students at 8.30 am, and our 5th grade students at 10.45 am.

Ji-li is flat out this week speaking at other international schools across Shanghai including Concordia, Dulwich, Western International School and Suzhou Singapore International School, as well as at Puxi campus tomorrow. She will be sharing slides and stories with us, as well as taking us through the stories of Red Scarf Girl (5th grade) and The Magical Monkey King: Mischief in Heaven (4th grade).

The students may have the opportunity to purchase Ms. Jiang’s books, as I know she was trying to bring some copies of books that are hard to get here, like Red Scarf Girl. The books will cost 50 rmb and I recommend you leaving the money with Ms. Stella, Ms. Joji or I as soon as possible as whatever she has with her will most likely sell out quickly.

We also have Red Scarf Girl on our kindles, ipads and as an audiobook on the ipods too.

Like I said… three more sleeps…

Books 2 Eat-The Grand Finale

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Lana

With over twenty five entries, forty students involved, and parents streaming through the library this morning, there is no doubt that our final Books 2 Eat celebration has been a success. If you haven’t seen our Pre K, K and 1st Grade entries from week one, go here and if you’d like to see what the 2nd and 3rd grade dished up… check this out!

Congratulations to student participants from every 4th and 5th grade class, an achievement within itself, your creations are causing huge oooohs and aaahs all through the library. A special well done to Mrs. Rekate’s class for having ten students involved in baking for Books 2 Eat today, you just beat Ms. Happer with her eight entries two weeks ago.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=124984

Books to Eat Week Two=Keep the sugar coming!

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Lana

Apart from me cutting up the cakes too early, meaning a couple of classes did not get to see the amazing finished products… today went really well.

Congratulations to Chantelle, Riley, Benjamin, Lizzie, Benjo, D’Arcy, Seo Yeon, Rigel, Connor, Marco, Sydney, Martina, Sofia and Charlotte for your amazing baking and creative skills as seen below. There was plenty of oohing and aahing from parents, teachers and students as they walked through the Elementary Library today; people were impressed with your efforts, well done.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=124984

Books to Eat Week One=Success!

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Lana

Congratulations to Blake, Bauer, Cindy, Stephanie, Ethan, Connor, Charley, August, Ava, Yean, Yasmin, Saskia, Vivian and Andy from Prek K, K and 1st Grade who all registered in our first ever Books To Eat competition at Pudong Elementary. Special thanks go to Mrs Happer’s class who had an amazing 8 entries, including one for Green Eggs and Ham that the whole class participated in.

All day long groups of students, parents and teachers streamed through the library, oohing and aahing over these students’ creations. I was so impressed to have so many entries, considering this was the first time we tried to do something like this. Now that the bigger kids have seen what the younger ones can do, I’m sure that the competition will be fierce for next Friday’s 2nd and 3rd grade Books to Eat Celebration.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=124984

Kids… it’s time to eat your books!

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Lana

Hey there Pre K, K and 1st graders.

Tomorrow is the very first Books to Eat competition in the ES Library, and YOU ARE UP!

Thank you to the students, teachers and parents who have already sent in a registration form. We are excited to see your edible creations this Friday. If you have something to contribute, please bring it in to the Elementary Library first thing in the morning tomorrow, Friday March 1st. The cakes will be judged throughout the day, and eaten in the afternoon! Yummy!

Bring in: the cake/creation and the book that goes with it please.

Books to Eat

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Lana

My favorite event of the year begins in one week; the Shanghai Literary Festival.

Unfortunately, they won’t be running their regular Books to Eat Competition, so we are going to run our own. The competition involves participants baking something, most often a cake, or something sweet, based on a book.

*Entering is voluntary.

*There will be three divisions:

Friday March 1st: open to all PreK, K and 1st grade students, teachers and specialists

Friday March 8th:open to all 2nd and 3rd grade students, teachers and specialists

Friday March 15th: open to all 4th and 5th grade students, teachers and specialists

In years past, several of our SAS students have had success winning prizes in categories including tastiest, most creative and people’s choice. We will have many, many categories for our students to achieve success in, nobody will go away empty handed. Some examples for your creation include:

Princess and the Pea
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Paper Bag Princess
Trucks
James and the Giant Peach

Please consider getting creative with your child, this really is a fun way to celebrate literature, you are only limited by your imagination. Please include a copy of your book with your cake, see pictures below.

Registration forms are available from the ES library and are due by 3 pm the Tuesday before your Friday cake competition. Children will be asked to put

*their name and class

*book title and author’s name

Cakes and their accompanying books must be delivered to the ES Library as soon as your child arrives on Friday morning. They will be judged before morning recess, viewed throughout the day, and available for eating after 2 pm!

Some of the awards given will be for taste, so IF you don’t want your cake to be eaten, please make sure you let me know personally via e mail: kimbra.power@saschina.org as part of the idea is for the students to have a lot of fun with this, and everybody loves eating cake! Therefore, please do NOT use nuts, or nut products in any of your creations.

Below are some photos of last years entries, and here is a link to some great photos of other Books to Eat competitions around the world. Google books to eat and check out what is out there.

the barefoot librarian

Kimbra Power

Category Archives: library