More Resource Books

After yesterday's post, I got in the mood to look at more resource books.

These are some library skills books that I already own:

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208 pages, $14.51 on Amazon

This is by far the best and most helpful book I've found.  LOVE it!!!  =)

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248 pages, $33.25 on Amazon

This was a textbook for me in one of my Masters classes. It has a lot of good info in it that I refer back to from time to time.

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176 pages, $14.22 on Amazon

I refer to this book when ordering books.  It is fantastic.  I also love the beginning of the book. I think I highlighted just about all of the first 30 pages.  Great book for any teacher or librarian to read.

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128 pages, $10.99 on Amazon

I use this book a lot with my Kinders and firsties.

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128 pages, $12.59 on Amazon

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57 pages, $13.47 on Amazon

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57 pages, $12.42 on Amazon

I didn't find this book to be very helpful.

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56 pages, $11.50 on Amazon

This book wasn't what I thought it would be. I was kind of disappointed.

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200 pages, $16.15 on Amazon

This book was a little more helpful, but still wasn't quite what I was looking for.

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135 pages, $15.45 on Amazon

I inherited this book.  I look at it from time to time, but haven't really utilized it that much.

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56 pages, $13.45 on Amazon

I haven't used this one yet, but it looks promising.

On my wishlist are

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159 pages, $11.59 on Amazon

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128 pages, $12.59 on Amazon

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128 pages, $12.33 on Amazon

I am debating about whether or not to get these:

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155 pages, $38.00 on Amazon

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224 pages, $38.41 on Amazon

   

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44, 33, 48 pages, $14.36 each on Amazon

   

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79 pages, $14.36 on Amazon        92 pages, $12.96 on Amazon

Do you use any of these?  What are your favorites?

*I'm an affiliate for things I've bought or used personally.  If you click through any referral links (if included), at no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you make a purchase.  Thank you for your support in this way.

Teacher Created Resources Books

Before I became a Media Specialist, I taught for five years in a computer lab.  I bought probably 20 books from TCR in those 5 years.  I got the ebook versions and still refer to them from time to time.  I am sure they have been updated since 2006, but I can still find something relevant to use.  Here are some of my favorites:

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304 pages, $18.02 on Amazon

Available in standard book, ebook, or enhanced ebook ($29.99)

   

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both are 144 pages, the first is $12.47 on Amazon and the second is $15.08 on Amazon

Available in standard book, ebook, or enhanced ebook ($21.99)

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144 pages

Currently not for sale  as new, but you can get it used on Amazon.  

This was one of my favorites.

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80 pages, buy it used on Amazon.

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96 pages, $14.99 for standard ebook, $19.99 for enhanced ebook

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144 pages, $15.99 for ebook, $20.99 for enhanced ebook

  

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both are 96 pages, the first is $11.69 on Amazon

and the second is $13.11 on Amazon

Available in standard book, ebook, or enhanced ebook ($19.99)

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144 pages, standard ebook $14.99, enhanced ebook $20.99

Or get it used on Amazon.

I actually got a Teacher Created Resources catalog in the mail yesterday, flipped through it and found some good stuff I might could use.  Here are some of the books I've been looking at online: 

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96 pages, $12.79 standard book on Amazon

$13.99 ebook, $18.99 enhanced ebook

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144 pages, $14.60 on Amazon

Available in standard book, ebook, or enhanced ebook ($23.99)

   

   

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112 pages each, $14.99

Available in standard book, ebook, or enhanced ebook ($19.99)

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96 pages, standard ebook $18.99, enhanced ebook $23.99

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80 pages, $12.81 on Amazon

Available in standard book, ebook, or enhanced ebook ($19.99)

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96 pages, $13.20 on Amazon

Available in standard book, ebook, or enhanced ebook ($19.99)

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144 pages, ebook $19.99, enhanced ebook $24.99

You can find the difference between the standard ebook and enhanced ebook here.

What are some resource books you refer to for your library/media lessons?

*I'm an affiliate for things I've bought or used personally.  If you click through any referral links (if included), at no cost to you, I will earn a commission if you make a purchase.  Thank you for your support in this way.

Cool Web 2.0 Tool

I don't know how it's been where you live, but we've been having nothing but rain for like 2 weeks.  I really don't know how there can be that much water vapor in the air.  Seriously. And I don't live anywhere near Seattle.  Crazy.

Speaking of crazy...I was going stir crazy with cabin fever, so I decided to paint my sons' bathroom.  We've had a ladybug theme since we moved in 11 years ago because that's what I had in my bachelorette apartment, so I though it was time to make it more masculine.

I like the end result.

Anyway, while blog surfing, I came across a neat web 2.0 tool and decided I could use it to help decorate the bathroom. It's called Clipping Magic and it works like PhotoShop (so I'm told), but it's free. I personally have never used PhotoShop, but I found this website super easy to use.

I simply uploaded a few pictures of items from the boys' bathroom: a couple of wash cloths, a toothbrush holder and the embellishment on the bottom of a towel.  

And I used the tools at the top of the page to remove the background or to keep certain areas.  

Then I downloaded the end product, copied and pasted it into PowerPoint, printed them off and made these pictures to hang in the bathroom.

I even added my boys' picture and a picture of their dog into the "windows" of the submarine.

I think Clipping Magic could be fun to use in the library or classroom.  You could take pictures of students and paste them onto different backgrounds.  You could then save those pictures and upload them to fun iPad apps and record students' book reviews or have them type a poem over that picture in PowerPoint.  You could create interesting posters for the classroom and media center.  There are so many possibilities!

Check out Clipping Magic and see for yourself!  What would you do with this cool tool?

Update: As of July 2014 (when I last went to use Clipping Magic), this site has now gone to a subscription.

If you use this site frequently, it might be worth the investment.  As for me, I don't use it all that often, so I was a bit disappointed that it went to a subscription basis.

It's Me!

Nikki of Melonheadz Illustrating was having a sale on her clipart sets yesterday, so I just had to buy a few sets including her build a teacher set.  You've probably seen her stuff all over bloggie world.  She makes these really cute figures of teachers.  I couldn't resist buying the set to create my own.  What do you think?

You can get your own set and make your own teacher character from her etsy shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/melonheadzdoodles

And you can check out her teacher shops for great clipart, too:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Melonheadz
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/melonheadzdoodles

She has a lot of great sets, including a library bundle. =)

You can follow her on her blog so you won't miss any of her new bundles and she gives away free graphics sometimes:
http://melonheadzillustrating.blogspot.com/

Such cute stuff!  My mind swims with all the product ideas I could create with her graphics. Check it out and see for yourself.

Read, White, and Blue Sale

I've been working really hard putting together new items for my TpT store. And to not only celebrate all that work, but also our country's birthday, I'm having a sale!

It's a Read,White, and Blue Sale!  LOL

From July 3-5 you can get 20% off all priced items in my TpT store, including these newly added items:

• Get Wild About Reading Media Center Pack
• Wild Safari Classroom Passes Pack
• Wild Safari Group/Table Signs
• Super Reeder Library/Media Center Pack
• Super Hero Classroom Passes Pack
• Super Hero Group/Table Signs
• Super Hero Punch Card Pack
• Super Hero Punch Card Sampler

So stop on by my TpT store and check out all the new stuff. You might find something you like.  =)

Calling All Super Readers!

I had so much fun creating the "Wild About Reading" Library/Media Center pack that I decided to create another one with a "Super Reader" theme! How could I resist with all the cute clipart out there?

This pack includes 105 pages full of great stuff to decorate your media center including

• 8 "Super Reader" signs (4 with "in our Media Center" and 4 with "in our library," different orientations and different backgrounds)
• 2 volunteer recruitment posters (one that says "library" and one that says "media center"
• 2 check out signs
• 1 "Return Books Here" sign
• 8 library/media center passes with space to write teachers' names
• 2 pass reminder signs
• 2 schedule signs (one for a media center, one for a library)
• "Super Reader of the Month" signs for 2nd-5th grades 
• "Check Out These Super Readers!" bulletin board strips
• 12 chevron month signs that can be used to display the "Super Reader of the Month"
• Punch card pack that includes 3 sets of 10 different colored punch cards(so you can change colors each month) with spots for 5 books or other items. The sets come in multicolored as well as 8 of the same color.  After completing reading each item, students get their card punched with a hole punch or you can initial each circle. Once the card is complete, the card can be redeemed for a small prize.
• "Hall of Fame" letters for AR recognition or for other reading recognition
• 8 Group/Table signs
• 12 different "Search Slip" signs to decorate search slip baskets/containers
• Adopt a Book sign (You can read about my Adopt a Book shelf here)
• Super Hero blank 13 month calendar with spaces for notes

The signs in this pack can be made into posters if you have access to a poster maker.

So if you're looking for a new theme for your media center, maybe this will hit the spot.  You can find the pack here on my TpT store.

Hope you enjoy!