Find who your representatives are and their contact info.

 Perplexing to say the least:
     How can 8th graders excel or improve in the reading and writing of expository - facts & research,  which is half the STAAR test as well,  if our databases are being taken away by the state government next year?!

Please join the fight to retain our databases and our entire budget for technology!  Call, write an email, or letter to your state representatives, congressman and the governor.
Find out who your representatives are and their contact info. at:

The link is:  http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/




In Germany, they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist;

And then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist;

And then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew;

By the time they came for me, there was no one left to speak up.

-- Poem based on speeches by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892-1984)

Library Research Service| School Libraries | School Library Impact Studies

Library Research Service| School Libraries | School Library Impact Studies

Great article from Forbes.

Intelligent Investing

Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google

Mark Moran, 03.22.10, 03:00 PM EDT

The ubiquity and ease of Google searches could make kids' minds go soft without the ability to critique or contextualize the answers.

 A year ago The New York Times presented a multimedia, packaged gift to school librarians everywhere. With its profile of Brooklyn, N.Y., school librarian Stephanie Rosalia, at long last, a major newspaper had chronicled the 21st century school librarian’s role as Web curator and information literacy specialist.

The article made the Times’ "most e-mailed" list for days and was featured on more than 100 blogs, as educators and parents everywhere recognized the need for media specialists to guide students. In a School Library Journal article that deemed Rosalia "The New Poster Girl for School Libraries," Rosalia said she was "awestruck at how this article has struck a nerve all over the country with people who are not librarians." Yet she was also surprised by a school board director who was "absolutely clueless" about how important school librarians are to student success.

Cut to the present, and librarian blogs tell a different story. Many absolutely clueless administrators still believe that a search engine is an adequate substitute for a trained research teacher. With the nation's schools budget-strapped, librarians--and even libraries--are being cut from coast to coast. Even President Obama, whose creation of a National Information Literacy Awareness Month suggests he should know better, left additional funding for school libraries out of his FY 2011 budget proposal.

A mayor caring about schools is always good for a community.

Educational improvement demands holistic approach

A mayor caring about schools is always good for a community.

By Kathy Clay-Little / Express-News Columnist

01/29/2011

Page 1 of 1

The hugely successful San Antonio 2020 workshops concluded with Mayor Julián Castro announcing his intent to use his bully pulpit as mayor to elevate San Antonio's educational outcomes. The mayor said he would (some see it as threatening) get involved in school board elections and in the selection of superintendents.

Although the mayor and City Council have no jurisdiction over San Antonio's school systems, the idea of using their positions as bully pulpits to influence the city's educational system is gaining currency. A week before the mayor's declaration, East Side resident Chris Dawkins expressed his feelings that the District 2 City Council representative must get involved in education. Dawkins, who squelched the rumor that he is planning to run against Ivy Taylor for the District 2 seat, believes that when it comes to accountability and representing District 2, education has to be on the grading card.

He points out that the East Side of District 2 will see limited benefit from the military medical center growth at Fort Sam Houston because of the perception of poor-performing schools. Developers won't invest in building the kind of houses attractive to military personnel if the schools are below par, Dawkins reasons.

School boards set policy and superintendents implement policy, however, influencing elections, and school administrations are not the most critical keys to producing quality education.

The educational disparities in this city are organic, going back to the time of separate and unequal resources, and the conscious separation of rich and poor, of black, brown and white.

In his book, “Deep in the Heart of San Antonio,” former Trinity University Urban Studies professor Char Miller paints McCullough Avenue as the dividing line. Miller notes that students in Kenwood, west of McCullough, are in San Antonio Independent School District. Its high school, Edison High School, is over 90 percent Hispanic and only 75 per cent of the students graduate. Right across the street, students east of McCullough attend Alamo Heights High School where the student population is over 70 percent white; 96 percent of its graduates go to college.

The ugly past informs San Antonio's present and future, and city and civic leaders influencing school board elections and the selection of superintendents won't overcome what that legacy has wrought.

It is not unheard of for a mayor to become involved in education; the mayor or any civic or business leader serious about improving San Antonio's educational outcomes should start by considering Savannah, Ga., mayor Otis Johnson who made education a centerpiece of his administration. A good beginning would be to Google “Education Rituals in the Savannah Community” and read his 12-step plan. Johnson also gave Harlem Children's Zone founder Geoffrey Canada the concept of the Harlem Children's Zone.

Children in the Harlem Children's Zone are still being born out of wedlock and raised in poor, single-family homes in blighted neighborhoods; yet they are succeeding in school at unprecedented rates.

Impacting San Antonio's poorer educational systems demands a holistic approach in which churches, organizations, businesses, neighborhoods and individuals become engaged. When this happens, the right people will be elected and hired to lead the floundering districts, and change will come.

Kathy Clay-Little is publisher of African American Reflections.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Educational-improvement-demands-holistic-approach-981817.php#ixzz1CWx0LlR8

Free book trailers!!!

http://www.booktrailersforall.com/

Medina Mud Band Benefit for Inner City - 20 Years at Quihi!

Saturday, January 29 · 7:00pm - 11:00pm
Location	Quihi Dance Hall near Castroville - check directions below Castroville, TX
Created By	Inner City Development, Patti Radle
More Info	Come hear the Medina Mud Band, Flying A's, Flying Bourbon Brothers and others play at the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Texas. This is the 20th annual good-time celebration , silent auction, dance and fundraiser supporting Inner City Development, Inc. Kids welcome! Silent Auction! $8 per person / $15 per couple All proceeds benefit inner City Development, Inc. Feel free to bring food. Beer and set ups for sale. Quihi - hard to find since 1890! Directions from San Antonio: Take Hwy 90 to Castroville (about 10 miles past 1604) Stay on 90, cross river in Castroville, go through town At the top of the hill just past the Alsatian Inn, turn right on the road marked Quihi Then turn left immediately and go 8.3 miles to fork Take the left fork - you're nearly there! Go .3 miles and look for the dirt road Take a right - that's it!

Good article on what libraries do for us.

We've been hit with so much bad news in the media the last few days. I want to share with you an article that appeared in the Tyler newspaper this morning. Over 100,000 people live in the Tyler, and not all read the newspaper in print or online, but impact of articles like this one has to be great. I don't know if it is a coincidence, but how timely is this? Enjoy.

http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20110124/NEWS08/110129921
--
Sharon Gullett, MLS

The CHICANO MOVEMENT and the CONFLICT WITHINat U TSA

Thursday, February 10 · 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location	UTSA - DOWNTOWN CAMPUS - Buena Vista Building Meeting Assembly Room 1.338.

DAVID MONTEJANO a San Antonio native has worked in higher
education for 37 years, teaching undergraduate and graduate classes in political sociology, social change, race and ethnic relations, sociological and historical methods, social movements and borderlands history. An author of more than 24 books, chapters and journal articles, Montejano was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters in 1995, received the Pacific Coast Branch Award for Best First Book by the American Historical Association in 1989 and the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize in American History from the Organization of American Historians in 1988. He received his bachelor’s degrees in political science and sociology from UT Austin and his master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Yale University

Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life | THE READING BILL OF RIGHTS

Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life THE READING BILL OF RIGHTS

The Reading Bill of rights for the 21st century learner.

Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life | SCHOLASTIC GLOBAL LITERACY CAMPAIGN

Read Every Day. Lead a Better Life SCHOLASTIC GLOBAL LITERACY CAMPAIGN

Rededication of San Anto Cultural Arts' mural, "End Barrio Warfare"

Databases in SAPL databases available with library card

Student Databases in SAPL databases available with library card:(Descriptions from SAPL database page)

Gale Virtual Reference Library  
     Provides access to a wide variety of electronic reference titles in virtually any subject, including
      health, science, art, history, and biography.    

 Kids Search
        Kids Search is designed especially for youth in grades K-8 and serves as
         an interface for searching across multiple databases.    

 MAS Ultra -- School Edition        This comprehensive database, designed specifically for high school
         libraries, contains full text for more than 700 popular high school
         magazines.    

 MasterFILE Premier
            Designed specifically for public libraries, MasterFILE Premier contains
             full text for more than 1,900 periodicals covering general reference,
             business, health, education, general science, multicultural issues and
             much more.    

 Middle Search Plus
          Middle Search Plus contains full text for more than 140 popular, middle
          school magazines. All full text articles are assigned a reading level
          indicator (Lexiles).    

 Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
           A one-stop source for information on today's hottest social issues. OVRC
          features viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine, academic
           journal, and newspaper articles, primary source documents, statistics,
            images and podcasts, and links to websites.    

 Primary Search
           Contains full text for nearly 70 popular, elementary school magazines. All
            full text articles are assigned a reading level indicator (Lexiles).

      

 Student Research Center -Ebscohost
            The Student Research Center is designed especially for youth in grades
             6-12 and serves as an interface for searching across multiple databases.

SA Express News - via NewsBank

Newspaper Source
          Newspaper Source provides cover-to-cover full text for 35 national and international newspapers,
          including The Christian Science Monitor, USA Today, Also contains selective full text for 375
         regional (U.S.) newspapers, including The Chicago Tribune, The Detroit Free Press. In addition, full
         text television & radio news transcripts are provided from CBS News, CNN, . . .

 Verbalearn
            Build your vocabulary for standardized tests (SAT, ACT), for ESL classes.
            Download vocabulary lists as video files or MP3s for offline exercises.

 World History Collection™
           Offers a global look at history with content from Africa, Asia, North and
           South America, Europe and the Middle East. World History Collection
          contains cover-to-cover full text for more than 140 titles, including many
          peer-reviewed journals.    

 Funk and Wagnall’s Encyclopedia

 Learning Express Library
             Activities to sharpen: reasoning, math, reading, and writing, vocabulary, & science skills.

 Live Homework Help
             Free tutoring in a safe online environment by certified subject
            specialists. Subjects covered include: math, science, social studies and
             English. SAT preparation, skills review and help with essay writing is
             also provided. Tutors are available for students of all ages from
              kindergarten through adult learners. Spanish-speaking tutors are also available.    

 For Teachers & Staff:

  Professional Development Collection
               Designed for professional educators, provides a highly specialized collection of more than 550
               high-quality education journals, including more than 350 peer-reviewed titles.

    Safari Select
             free digital books on how-to for: computer programming, software and technology such as :
             iphone apps, etc.

Other databases offered:

NetLibrary - eaudiobooks and ebooks.

Twentieth-Century American Poetry

 Twentieth-Century English Poetry

Literature Resource Center - via Gale - contains: articles, biographies, news, etc.

 Literature Criticism Online - literature, poetry, etc.

Contemporary Authors
            Offers continuous access to current biographical and bibliographical data on more than 120,000
            modern authors.

 Dictionary of Literary Biography
             The essays of DLB outline the lives and careers of authors from all eras and genres and
             summarize the critical response to their work. Each DLB entry contains personal information
            (birth/death dates, nationality/ethnicity, principal genres, awards, family history,

Gale Encyclopedia of Science

 Information Science and Technology Abstracts -via EbscoHost

Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection -EbscoHost

 Science and Technology Collection      
       Over 800 leading full-text journals covering relevant aspects of the scientific and technical
       community

Religion & Philosophy Collection -EbscoHost

Legislative Day-help save Texas from falling into economic crisis

Legislative Day
Library funding is being cut drastically because of this Texas state government is cutting education funding. 20% of funding has been cut for each school district. The shame of it is the Texas state government has 9 billion in a rainy day fund that they are not touching & that could save our future. It can save us from ignorance & chaos & debt beyond measure -please stand up and help the future of Texas and America by standing up for our kid's by standing up for education.

Resources for Teachers: PBS - Point of View (POV) - Lessons using documentaries

The link is at: http://www.pbs.org/pov/educators/

Website with upcoming African American and other cultural events in San Antonio & Houston

Go to this link: http://www.mochasuite.com/

New Website and email service to keep informed of upcoming events in S.A!

Check out this new webiste with the new listing of upcoming events in S.A.!
   at: http://www.publicbeat.com/      Also on Facebook!

Intelligence -plus character, that is the true goal of education.

Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.
- Dr. Martin L. King

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-17-2003/martin-luther-king-and-the-arts/3633/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/episodes/january-17-2003/martin-luther-king-and-the-arts/3633/

Check out this video and audio clip of songs of the struggle as professors today discuss
the relevancy of MLK's life and heritage.

Celebrate MLK day!

   (A picture from the MLK museum in Atlanta, GA)
     Shall today be our day that we in these days of challenge begin to strive to remember and work for MLK's ultimate goal for all Americans and all of America: 'The beloved community'.
  We can reach his goal by educating our youth to think for themselves and to be life-long learners and active participants in our democracy and compassionate agents for positive change in our society.
Support the Education of our children and our future!
Live the dream!

Librarians: $300 available for celebrating Dia de los Ninos - Day of reading for children

If you are currently working in a library, here is your opportunity to apply for a mini-grant.
The Children’s Round Table (CRT) invites you to celebrate quince años (fifteen years) of the Día de los niños, Día de los libros literacy program for children. In celebration of fifteen years, CRT announces that 14 mini-grants in the amount of $300 each are available for libraries and schools hosting an exemplary Día event in 2011. Día Grants are made possible using CRT funds as well as general TLA funds. The deadline is January 28.
The application can be found under the Announcements tab --
http://www.txla.org/
If you are not currently working in a library, please feel free to pass this on to your librarian.

Analine Johnson
Librarian
Rodolfo Centeno Elementary
2710 La Pita Mangana Rd.
Laredo, Texas   78046
http://centeno.edublogs.org%3chttp//centeno.edublogs.org/>

Fully Loaded: Outfitting a teacher librarian for the 21st century. Here's what it takes.

Fully Loaded: Outfitting a teacher librarian for the 21st century. Here's what it takes.
Great list and links to useful websites and tech tools!!!

2010 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults!

2010 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults!

In addition to the 90 titles selected for the full list of Best Books for Young Adults, the 2010 committee has selected the following as the ten best books for young adults.

Brennan, Sarah Rees. Demon's Lexicon.

 Griffin, Paul.  The Orange Houses.

Herlong, M.H.  The Great Wide Sea.

Jinks, Catherine. The Reformed Vampire Support Group.

Napoli, Donna Jo.  Alligator Bayou.

Small, David. Stitches: A Memoir.

Stead, Rebecca.  When You Reach Me.

Stork, Francisco X.  Marcelo in the Real World.

Taylor, Laini. Lips Touch: Three Times.

Walker, Sally M.  Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland.

Under 21 Poetry Slam at Bubblehead -1/11

Check out Diamond perform her poem about 'Parents not listening'
-& Inside the Bubblehead on poetry slam nite.  Every 3rd Friday @ Bubblehead -7:30!

Under 21 Poetry Slam at Bubblehead in S.A.

Check out 'Fresh Ink' slam duo at Bubblehead 1/11.  Under 21 poetry slam every 3rd Friday at 7:30! -Open registration. Great poets and a great night! A team in being put together & will be competing in Brave New Voices.

Fully Loaded: Outfitting a teacher librarian for the 21st century. Here's what it takes.

Fully Loaded: Outfitting a teacher librarian for the 21st century. Here's what it takes.

In Memory Of Jaime Escalante Bolivian-born math teacher

San Antonio Under-21 Poetry Slam Open Mic this Friday night

It begins!!! San Antonio Under-21 Poetry Slam Open Mic this Friday night at Bubble Head, 1035 S. Presa! Show starts at 7:30 P.M., featuring FRESH INK, the Poetry Slam Club from John Jay High School. All young poets urged to come out and read. Send me a message to secure a spot. Official flyer coming tomorrow. Spread the word, San Antonio!

"100Palabras" OPENING RECEPTION

Thursday, January 13 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location	Guadalupe Gallery 723 S. Brazos St. San Antonio, TX
Created By	Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
More Info	You are invited to the opening reception of our latest exhibition that features the work of six local artists and six local writers exhibited side by side on the gallery walls. Join us as we explore this intriguing relationship between image and word. "100Palabras" OPENING RECEPTION THURSDAY, JANUARY 13 6-9 PM | FREE Guadalupe Gallery, 723 S. Brazos St., 78207