Notes from the Learning Commons

We had a great discussion this week about the book Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard, and I wanted to share some of the great ideas with everyone. Each one of us has already been able to apply the concepts.

The premise is that we are each ruled by both an "Elephant", our emotional side, and its "Rider", our rational side. They each play an important role in effecting change in our lives. The Elephant generates the energy for change and the Rider plans and directs the change. "To change behavior, you've got to direct the Rider, motivate the Elephant, and shape the Path" (19). We have all identified ways that we could implement these ideas in both our personal and professional lives.

Focusing specifically on the Rider during the first part of the book, we learned how to:

1. Pursue bright spots

2. Script critical moves

3. Point to the destination

The trick with the Rider within each one of us is to identify what is working and do more of it, rather than fixate on what isn't working. We need to look for small solutions to big problems rather than waiting for a full scale solution, which can overwhelm and paralyze us. We need to picture a compelling destination, so that we don't get stuck in the "analyzing" phase, which can often be more comfortable than the "doing" phase.

If this sounds interesting and you would like to read more please see me, and I would be happy to get a book for you to join in reading for our second discussion time, on June 15th.

Are you looking for a new product design tool to use with your students? Need to create something for a club or assignment? A great tool to try is Canva.

Canva has beautiful templates and lots of choice, but is easy to use. This web based tool allows you to create posters, presentations, marketing materials and more.

If you would like a quick tutorial, or help implementing this with a class please don't hesitate to ask myself or Megan.

We have recently purchased a collection of eBooks to support curriculum areas. These ebooks are integrated directly into our library catalog, and can be used by both students and teachers. These are great tools for close reading and inquiry instruction. You can search them within our library catalog by looking up "ebooks", or simply search a useful subject heading to see if we have a title to support it. If not, never hesitate to ask me to add something to our collection!

When you click the link to open an ebook from the catalog you will be prompted to login. The information for first time login= lkgeorgehs/ book

On the first time using one of these eBooks from Sebco you will be prompted to create an account, students and teachers should use their school account information, and from that point forward they don't need to remember the other login information.

A few of the series available are:

In United States History

Exploring African Civilizations

Understanding Political Systems

Voices of Slavery

History's Great Structures

Shakespeare

Please encourage your students to submit any independent reading to count towards our "Race to Read" in celebration of this year's "school wide read", The Running Dream. Every 100 pages read will move their class runner 1 mile. The first class to reach the finish line (50 miles) will earn an ice cream party.

You can track their progress on the bulletin board directly outside the library, near the cafeteria.

Happy Reading!

Email: olsons@lkgeorge.org
Website: http://lakegeorgehslibrary.weebly.com/
Phone: 1230
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeGeorgeHSLibrary
Twitter: @LGLibraryLady