I'm done!!

OK, you can't see me, but I'm dancing around the room!! I'm done my course!! I'm done my course!! It's the best Christmas present ever!!

Christmas

OMG, OMG, OMG, I'm almost finished my course!!! One more unit, and the Teacher Inquiry... Christmas IS coming!!!

School Libraries

I feel like I'm on a spaceship that is hurtling toward the sun! The spaceship is an analogy for the T-L course I'm attempting to finish, and the rapidly approaching deadline for the end of the course is represented by the sun. Boy, is it hot in here!!

As part of my coursework I was asked to find some research resources on school libraries. I posted this one in the Resource section of the WebCT, but will post it again here. It is an article written in 2004 about the results of a Canadian survey on information and communications technologies in schools. Here is the url:

http://www.statcan.ca/english/research/81-595-MIE/81-595-MIE2005028.pdf

I also wanted to post the url for the announcement that Dalton McGuinty made regarding increased funding for libraries and library staff in Ontario. Here it is:

http://www.accessola3.com/index.php?automodule=blog&cmd=showentry&blogid=9&eid=397

Let's hope we see some of that money, and fast!! D.

Favourite Childrens' Books

My goodness, has it been that long since I posted last?? I've been a little busy... I had a family funeral to attend at the end of November up north, and then got snowed in on the way back. So much for the week of November 26th - December 1st. Then I had elective surgery on Monday the 3rd of December, and ended up in ICU with complications -- I bit down on the breathing tube before it was removed, resulting in pulmonary edema (lungs filling with liquid). After they got my breathing under control, I was sent to ICU where I then developed hypernatremia (a sodium imbalance) which had an interesting effect on my behaviour -- I was confused, agitated and disoriented. Once the problem was corrected, I quickly got back to "normal" -- whatever that is! By this time, it was Wednesday morning -- I ate the first meal I'd had since Sunday dinner at lunchtime on Wednesday. After much more poking and prodding, follow-up appointments and scheduled blood work, I was allowed to go home late Thursday afternoon. So, needless to say, I've had a exciting week and a half!

The nice thing about being off work is I get to listen to and watch shows that I normally wouldn't have access to. This morning on CBC Radio, on Sounds like Canada, three guests compiled their list of favourite picture books. Next week they'll be talking about chapter books. I've provided three links below, one to the CBC and the other to the Toronto Public Library website. They've also published a list of favourites. The Hamilton Public Library has a similar website. One book that made two of the lists is Three Snow Bears, by Jan Brett, loosely based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Apparently the illustrations are marvelous, as they always are with Jan Brett. Here is what the cover looks like:


Happy shopping! D.

http://www.cbc.ca/soundslikecanada/

http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/new_arc_07nov21_first_best_07.jsp

http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/LibraryServices/HotTopics/booksforgiving2007.htm