How To Prepare for a Virtual Author Visit

• Make sure you have access to multiple copies of most of the author's works.
• Read and discuss the author's works well in advance of the virtual visit.
• Collect questions for the author ahead of time.
• Discuss netiquette and discussion procedures with the students.
• Check and double check that all equipment and necessary software is working.
• Use a projector to broadcast the computer screen or webcam so all students can see the communication.
• If connecting via e-mail, bulletin board, or virtual chat, be sure students read all posts before asking follow-up questions.
• Monitor the time and allow students to ask impromptu questions if there is enough time. 

Resource: Johnson, D. (2009). The Joys of Children's Literature. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co., Boston, MA. 

Top 10 Internet Websites

1. American Library Association (ALA) - www.ala.org - The ALA website houses an expansive amount of information and resources for teachers and librarians.  

2. Barahona Center - www.csusm.edu/csb - This site promotes literacy in Spanish and English.

3. The Children's Literature Web Guide - www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown - This site contains a discussion board and numerous links about children's literature.

4. The Cooperative Children's Book Center - www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/default.asp - The site houses information and links on authors/illustrators, awards, bibliographies, and book lists. 

5. Database of Awards-Winning Children's Literature - www.dawcl.com - This site is geared toward librarians or teachers.

6. Carol Hurst's Literature Site - www.carolhurst.com - Carol is a former teacher and this site is a collection of reviews of great books for kids and ideas of how to use them in the classroom. 

7. Multicultural Children's Literature - www.multiculturalchildrenslit.com - This site contains links to annotated bibliographies of children's multicultural book appropriate for the elementary grades.

8. Picturing Books: A Website About Picturebooks - http://picturingbooks.imaginarylands.org - This website contains information about picture books and interactive section for kids.

9. Kay Vandergrift's Site - www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/index.html - The purpose of this site is to set forth a triad of literacy theory, research, and teaching based on a continuing dialogue grounded in the theory and research of both literature and teaching that is focused on the particular problems of the field of children's literature. 

10. ReadWriteThink - www.readwritethink.org - I love this website.  This website focuses on providing educators and students with access to the highest-quality practices and resources in reading and language arts instruction through free, Internet-based content. 

Some Great Books for Classroom Library

Picturebooks - 

A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson

The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida

Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart

Chapter Books - 

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen

Sing Down the Moon by Scott O`Dell

Historical Fiction Series - 

Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieska

Great Episodes by various authors

Boston Jane series by Jennifer Holm

Ellis Island by Joan Nixion

Sick again...

I've been trying to get rid of this cold now for days, but nothing seems to be working!! I had to miss class yesterday because my migraine was so bad.  I hope to kick this thing for good SOON!! 

For Play Development class today, I had to observe a 4 year old child for three hours at her learning center.  I really enjoyed playing with her and she taught me a lot and gave me pointers on how to be a better teacher - she told me to be a good teacher I have to "let them have long recesses and bring lots of snacks."  I told her I would keep in that in mind once I become a teacher... I'm really excited for my next observation in two weeks!