Sunday Reading suggestions

With snow swirling again, pull up a cuppa something warm, settle into your comfy chair and click through to read a few articles on local government, interesting free tools used in schools and deceptive ingredients in common branded foods.

Boston Fed Highlights Regional Consolidation as Opportunity for Local Governments to Reduce Costs, Improve Service Quality

from Boston Fed News

New research from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's New England Public Policy Center is prompting state and municipal officials to take a second look at a familiar proposal: regional consolidation. Motivated by the prospect of continuing strain on local government finances, this research examines the extent to which joint service provision could potentially reduce costs.

Student Oral Reports with School Hallway Dioramas via AudioBoo

by Wesley Fryer

I took the following photographs today in the hallway at Independence Elementary School in Yukon, Oklahoma. The GT teacher, Dawn Dukes, has helped students create audio narrations (powered by AudioBoo) linked via QR codes for independent study projects students completed recently. It’s a high-tech museum-like audio tour, in the hallways of IES in Yukon. What a great use of educational technology tools to help students practice their oral language skills as required by the Common Core State Standards! It’s especially cool since the library at IES has iPod Touches for students to check out, pre-loaded with QR Code reader apps like i-Nigma so students can listen to their peers share their reports

Food Babe Investigates: How Food Companies Exploit Americans with Ingredients Banned in Other Countries

by Food Babe

Thoughts of outrage, unfairness, disbelief, and ultimately grief consumed me while I was doing this investigation. A list of ingredients that are banned across the globe but still allowed for use here in the American food supply recently made news. While I have written about some of those ingredients before, this list inspired me to look a little deeper and find out how pervasive this issue is for us. Are these banned ingredients contributing to the higher mortality and disease rates in the U.S.? . . . → Read More: Food Babe Investigates: How Food Companies Exploit Americans with Ingredients Banned in Other Countries

"Roads go ever ever on"

Students at Horace Mann are about to embark on a journey!

Turns out, the posters were written in runes, which appear in the book. (Tolkien based his fictional language off ancient Norse runes.) 

The enormous success of last year’s read-a-thon, during which 250 students devoured Suzanne Collins’ "The Hunger Games," prompted teachers to plan another one.
Those who opt to take part in the challenge have a set amount of time to read "The Hobbit," Tolkien’s epic fantasy tale about a skittish hobbit who, swayed by a learned and powerful wizard, joins a hearty company of dwarves on a quest for stolen riches. 

After tackling the dense, 19-chapter novel, they must prove they’ve followed the story all the way to its conclusion — in the shadow of the Lonely Mountain — by answering a few questions about the plot.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x781379724/Franklin-students-to-tackle-Tolkien#ixzz29AmZwl6y

I heartily endorse this book choice! I first read The Hobbit when I was in high school as it had just become available (yes, that dates myself). I proceeded to read and re-read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy dozens of times beginning each re-read with The Hobbit. While the Hunger Games is a decent story, The Hobbit is so much richer.

The students will come to find:

Roads go ever ever on,
Over rock and under tree,
By caves where never sun has shone,
By streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
And through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone,
And under mountains in the moon. 

Roads go ever ever on
Under cloud and under star,
Yet feet that wandering have gone
Turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
And horror in the halls of stone
Look at last on meadows green
And trees and hills they long have known.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road_Goes_Ever_On_(song)

In the News: malware, budget, reading

Remember to check computer for malware today

by Lolita C. Baldor

Patrick signs $32.5 billion state budget

by Associated Press

Summer Reading: It's not just for kids anymore

by Joe O'Connell/Daily News staff

Franklin Library: Summer Reading Registration

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Summer Reading Registration

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 5/30/12

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In the News: Hunger Games, alarm system, ticks

‘Hunger Games’ recreated at Franklin school

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Alarm raised about new rules for public safety radio system

by David Riley

State warns residents about tick-borne diseases

by Staff reports

History Mystery

Yes, indeed, inside the cover of a book there are worlds to explore!



What book are you reading this summer?

In the News - summer classes, summer reading

Registration open for Dean College summer classes

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin summer reading lists available

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Live reporting - FHS Summer Reading

2. Guests/Presentations
c. FHS Summer Reading – Peter Light, Chris Schmidt

multiple attempts to get reading for the summer with some good involvement
after multiple tries, they put together a committee with students and other faculty representatives

the hours of work put in included surveying other schools, the middles schools, etc.
the program should be fair and inclusive and successful so we are not having a conversation again on this next year

life long readers include the joy of reading

students need choice, the wrong thing is to say this is the book you are going to read

create a program that will be sustainable over time
encourage students to read widely

Corey would tell it like it was, if it wasn't going to work, he would let us know

create a student friendly listing of books, an online annotated bibliography include links to Amazon, etc.
we may not be able to offer everything that is in the library

category listing includes "banned books" designed to catch the eye and interest

listing of books and students for their respective assignments provided to the teachers who will be prepared to do their assessment review

summer reading would be included on the Q1 report card

designated period - peer review discussion and self assessment will account for 50% , teacher/coordinator assessment would account for the remaining 50%.

Different assessment possibilities, i.e. paper, audio, visual, or artistic product
each would include a summary of the book, etc.

working to finish the rubric in March, collect book recommendations and get rolling for this summer


Franklin, MA

Read WAITING FOR "SUPERMAN" and Help Schools

R E A D  T H E  B O O K, H E L P  A  C L A S S R O O M Read Waiting for "Superman": How We Can Save America's Failing Public Schools -- the companion book to the acclaimed documentary Each book includes a $15 gift card from DonorsChoose.org to use to help a classroom in need The American public school system is in crisis, failing millions of students, producing as many drop-outs as graduates, and threatening our economic future. Educators, parents, political leaders, business people, and concerned citizens are determined to save our educational system. Waiting for "Superman": How We Can Save America's Failing Public Schools offers powerful insights from some of those at the leading edge of educational innovation, including: Bill and Melinda Gates, whose foundation's groundbreaking work reshapes how schools select, train, support, and reward teachers Geoffrey Canada, leader of the Harlem Children's Zone, which is demonstrating that kids from even the most challenging backgrounds can learn Michelle Rhee, the remarkable chancellor of the Washington, D.C. public schools, who is challenging tradition as she brings reform to a troubled system Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, who is working to make her union a major force for change on behalf of students Bill Strickland, founder of the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, who explains how an effective school can bring hope to an entire depressed neighborhood Eric Schwarz, creator of the Citizen Schools movement, who discusses the vital role ordinary people are playing in transforming America's schools Jay Mathews, the nation's leading education reporter, who recounts the lessons he's learned about how excellent schools are really built Eric Hanushek, renowned educational researcher, who has documented the impact that great teachers have on kids' achievements Davis Guggenheim and Lesley Chilcott, filmmakers who describe the emotional impact of following the children's stories in their film Waiting for "Superman" is an inspiring call to action and includes special chapters that provide resources, ideas, and hands-on suggestions for improving the schools in your own community as well as throughout the nation. For parents, teachers, and concerned citizens alike, Waiting for "Superman" is an essential guide to the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing America's schools. Available in paperback or as an e-book   You are receiving this email from Participant Media. You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails. Participant Media, is a company that seeks to entertain audiences first, then to invite them to participate in making a difference. Participant's films include THE COVE, THE SOLOIST, FOOD, INC., AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, and more. TakePart.com is the official  online hub for Participant Media's Social Action campaign. Participant Media Privacy Policy Participant Media Terms and Conditions

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I love my white shoes

Reading is so important. Do you have good reading habits for your kids to pick up?

Cute girls



Author version



Kindergarten version

Our example to our children, to our families, and to the world around us is constant. The question is not whether or not anyone is watching, the question is what are they learning as they watch. -- Kirk Weisler

Franklin, MA

If you've already read Dark Tide

The Dark Tide was the book selected for the "Franklin Reads" program in 2008.

And from the Library newsletter:

Introducing One Book Two Communities. “Franklin Reads” is three years old. We are pleased to expand this program to include the Community of Medway. Book selection is in progress and we invite you all to participate in this exciting adventure.

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

If you've already read Dark Tide

via Universal Hub by adamg on 7/14/10

Stephen Puleo, author of the definitive work on our very own Molasses Flood, has a new book out on the history of Boston between 1850 and 1890: A City So Grand.
Chris Klein reviews the book, says it's a great read, but left him melancholy:

... Back then, Bostonians literally moved mountains to resculpt the city, filling in waterways and creating the Back Bay. Puleo writes that the Great Coliseum, 500 feet long and 300 feet wide, that held 50,000 people for the Great Peace Jubilee was built in just 90 days. 90 days!

Boston still plays a leading role in science, technology, and education. In the last 20 years, Boston has had some notable achievements such as the cleanup of Boston Harbor and the Big Dig, but even while the Big Dig was an engineering marvel it was a long, protracted project and not necessarily a source of pride. These days, we can't even stage an event such as the Parade of Tall Ships without constant bickering and political infighting. There's a huge hole festering in Downtown Crossing where the old Filene's building, a Boston institution, once stood. I fear that it's becoming a symbol of a can't-do spirit in the city. Could Boston build the Great Coliseum in just 90 days today? I doubt it. ...

read more

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How many words in The Cat in the Hat?

On the importance of words:

Simpson’s interpretation is more complex than the story I’ll tell here, but basically he looks at the numbers of words in a piece of literature (for example) and then convenes the number of different words, deducing the actual and then relative density of word usage, which is pretty interesting (and verifies that pit-of-the-stomach feeling about which authors use more words in smaller space).

The study referred to calculated that Dr Seuss used only 236 words used to write The Cat In the Hat.

Read more about this study and review the listing of the 236 words here

Did you read The Cat in the Hat or any other Dr Seuss book yesterday?
You can always find one to read today!

"This book's gonna be a good book"

Every once in awhile, the beat catches you.

You get caught up in it!

"I have my book
Do you have yours?
What are you reading?"

...

"This book's gonna be a good book
to read!"



Enjoy!

What are you reading?


Thanks to the Teen Literacy Tips for the link

Davis Thayer Reading Challenge

Saw this sign out walking this morning:



Yea for reading!
Go Davis Thayer readers!

Dark Tide - Book Review

I had published my short form book review of Dark Tide previously.

My long form of Dark Tide was published Tuesday as part of the month long Love Affair with Books on the Joyful Jubilant Learning blog.

You have my permission, indeed encouragement to click on over, read it and participate in the conversation.

Dark Tide is the focal point for On the Same Page at the Franklin Library this year.