Mindshift Weblinks

Below are a few articles gleaned from the MindShift web site - which is all about teaching ideas, strategies, technology and so on.  It covers a huge range of ideas - and even though it is American, there may still be food for thought in some of the articles.  Please see the link to the main website below if you would like to browse the ideas and the site is also part of my  blog list on the main page of our blog itself.

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/

The links below are one that caught my attention enough to share with you - most of them are things that have cropped up in discussions in various places recently - especially the ones about Google, internet searching and taking notes - and how our brain appears to work with these tasks.  

Personally, I still write notes out longhand - mainly because I find that I tend to remember more.  And I find it harder to memorise things anywhere near as well as I used to - and I don't believe it is because I am getting old.  I think it is because our brain is no longer being hard wired to perform that task - Google and technology do that for us.  

 http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/02/08/how-has-google-affected-the-way-students-learn/

 http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/08/18/taking-notes-is-the-pen-still-mightier-than-the-keyboard/

 http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/04/03/internet-searches-may-make-you-think-youre-smarter-than-you-are/

 http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/07/01/what-sports-teaches-kids-about-bigger-roles-in-life/

Enjoy your weekend - and be sure to include lots of reading.  Most research indicates that it relaxes your mind and lowers blood pressure.  Include a good cup of coffee in that prescription as well, and lots of time away from devices.

Samurai Sword Display

There is an awesome new display in the Library that is generating quite some interest with the staff and students.  Aside from providing the space to show it off, it isn't part of the Library - but definitely come and have a look.  It is certainly very impressive.The Year 8s did a great job.

SCALE SAMURAI SWORDS
Year 8 students have been studying feudal governments in Japan in SOSE classes (Studies of Society and Environment). As part of that work students became interested in the armour and weaponry of Japanese Samurai.

In their maths class some of the students produced replicas of Samurai swords.  They made full sized wooden models of the Katana (long sword), Wakizashi (short sword) and Tanto (dagger). The dimensions were based on internet information about average sizes for these weapons.
 Following this, the students calculated lengths of half sized and one third sized models. The models were mounted on boards and are displayed in the library for viewing.

Congratulations to Dylan, Jaken, Joseph, Maclloyd, Angus, Jackson, Nemiah, Rickane and Elvis for completing the work without injury

Da Vinci Exhibition

From Saturday 2nd April through to Sunday 1st May, the 
DA VINCI MACHINES EXHIBITION will be open to the community.

"Delve into the mind of a genius with an award-winning interactive exhibition for all ages. More than 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci conceived of possibilities beyond the understanding of others - and now replicas of his amazing machines will be brought to life at the Civic Centre.  Visitors can explore these interactive exhibits and working machines, and be inspired by Leonardo's vision.  Who knows?
Maybe you will be the one to crack the Da Vinci code??
Opening hours are Monday to Sunday from 8am through to 4pm."


This exhibition has been sponsored by local businesses and individuals - and Tennant Creek is one of the few places in the NT where it will be seen. 

Sounds like something too good to miss! What a great opportunity for a small remote town such as ours.

Another Dystopian title added

It seems that stories about Dystopian societies are all the go with the teens at the moment .. Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner and the like.

So to keep the readers of the school happy - we have a new title on the shelf and ready for loan - 'Matched' by Ally Condie.  This is the first in a trilogy and having read it myself, it is certainly a thought-provoking book.    

Imagine living in a world where everything is decided for you: what you eat, where you live, when you die, who you love, even which poems, stories and paintings are worth keeping. The Officials who run Cassia’s society leave nothing up to choice. It makes for a more equal and controlled world. A better world. A less cluttered world. A calmer and less complicated world.
But what happens when someone starts to question the choices made for them - and worse still, wants to make their own choices?

What do you do? How do you deal with it?

Just something to think about

While looking for websites with Library activities, resources and all sorts of other stuff that may be handy for you all - I came across this site.  

http://momastery.com/blog/2014/01/30/share-schools/

The article stopped me in my tracks and I just wanted to share it with you all and to remind you all of just how awesome you are! 
And to say, both as a mother and a grandmother - THANK YOU!

How's this for unexpected stat's?

I was rather startled to log on to the 'blog this morning and see that over the weekend it had been viewed about 170 times!  Especially as we don't have that many staff here and even allowing for me emailing it to you all regularly!

So I checked the stat's to see whereabouts it had been accessed and viewed - surprise again!  Take a look ...

Pageviews by Countries

Entry	Pageviews
France	158
Australia	22
United States	14
Ukraine	2
Germany	1
Poland	1

Days to celebrate StoryTelling and Poetry

Just out of interest, there are a couple of special days coming up in March which can be used to celebrate reading - along with the oral art form of storytelling. 

March 20th is World Storytelling Day, which started in Sweden in about 1991 and had spread to the rest of the world by about 2004.  It is significant because it is the first global celebration of oral storytelling and has been important in helping to forge links within communities and between generations. 
Each year usually has a theme - in 2016 the theme will be Strong Women and 2017 will be Transformation.

This then slides effortlessly into World Poetry Day on March 21st - which then glides on into April as National Poetry Month, including Poem in your Pocket Day on April 21st. Poetry is best when shared, so find a way to share your favourites.

Four: A Divergent Collection

With the upcoming release of the second movie in this series, there is renewed interest in reading, or in some cases, re-reading this series.

New to our Library today is a short story collection focusing on 'Four' - one of the main characters in the series.  These stories take the reader back before the start of the 'Divergent' series, and give an insight into his motivations and plans. 

If anyone wants it - I will have to put it on hold for them ... as it has just been borrowed by a very excited student, who has left with a huge smile.  

Makes it all worthwhile, methinks!