Notes from the Library
September 2014
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking
I started reading Susan Cain's book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World the Can't Stop Talking earlier in the summer. It's been a leisurely, but enjoyable, read for me. I have taken the time to think about issues before diving back to the text. It may come as no surprise to anyone, but librarians are often introverts. We choose our field for the love of books and exploring big ideas in a vast ocean of resources and not because of natural skills for working with groups of people.
I've taken away a few big ideas from my reading so far. One is that we may be taking teamwork too far. Working on collaborative teams in the workplace has trickled down from higher education to elementary school. I see a definite need for balance. Learning to work with another person is a definite skill, but as educators we are equally responsible for fostering the motivation and creativity that comes from working alone.
I've taken away a few big ideas from my reading so far. One is that we may be taking teamwork too far. Working on collaborative teams in the workplace has trickled down from higher education to elementary school. I see a definite need for balance. Learning to work with another person is a definite skill, but as educators we are equally responsible for fostering the motivation and creativity that comes from working alone.
Susan Cain: The power of introverts
A Few of Sudley Students' Favorites!
Are you pursuing National Board Certification this year? I'm happy to answer questions about the process.
Visible Thinking Skill: Concept Maps
Concept maps are used for students to generate, sort, and support ideas related to a topic.
Begin with a topic, question or idea. Students generate supporting details or statements on post-it notes. Once the ideas are generated, students look at the ideas again and determine their significance. Ideas that are the strongest supports to the main idea are placed at the center. Less supportive ideas are placed farther away from the central idea. Lines can be drawn connecting ideas.
Concept Maps are great for history or current events, character development, a math review, rules/routines, class meetings, and looking at culture.
Consider these topics: What do quality students do when walking in the hall? Why did new settlers survive in Jamestown? (Opposing view: what made Jamestown a challenging settlement?), Strategies for complex addition, or Characteristics of (Main Character).
Begin with a topic, question or idea. Students generate supporting details or statements on post-it notes. Once the ideas are generated, students look at the ideas again and determine their significance. Ideas that are the strongest supports to the main idea are placed at the center. Less supportive ideas are placed farther away from the central idea. Lines can be drawn connecting ideas.
Concept Maps are great for history or current events, character development, a math review, rules/routines, class meetings, and looking at culture.
Consider these topics: What do quality students do when walking in the hall? Why did new settlers survive in Jamestown? (Opposing view: what made Jamestown a challenging settlement?), Strategies for complex addition, or Characteristics of (Main Character).