No, this is NOT currency, not a type of luggage, but what I found out was a society of individuals that have a long-established history of finding.
What I found out about geocaching: (Thanks to P. Littleton).
Also, caches/events cannot be submitted from the geocaching app…you must use a computer/laptop to create an event on geocaching.com
I would highly recommend finding several caches BEFORE trying to hide any. This will give you more experience on places that caches are usually hidden, types of containers to use, quality of containers used, how caches are placed, etc.
5.1 includes “Before hiding your first cache, we encourage you to find at least 20 geocaches. Finding a variety of caches makes it easier to create an enjoyable experience for others.”
The first geocache in Delaware is in Trap Pond State Park. The first Multi-Cache in Delaware is in Chapel Branch Nature Area but is not at any post…..the 1st stage is relatively near post #13 and the final stage is relatively near post #31….hence the name “Lucky 13? Or Vice Versa?”.
Geocache must be 528 ft apart so there is room to place more.
Geocaching Events are a good way to meet local cachers.
Geocaching is usually done alone, with a friend/spouse or in small groups.
You will need to set-up a geocaching.com account to get started geocaching.
Similar to the post office, despite hail, sleet, and snow, Geocachers are diehard explorers – and this is what makes Geocaching so interesting and part of a dedicated group. In the future, many students that participated in the NRWC summer work study program wanted explore these possibilities further in creating more Geocache locations and events, as well as spreading this a activity among younger participants!
Upon finishing James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store– I realized how amazing reading and authors can be when you find the correct one. Before I repeat, let me share with you the initial review on the book – (loaded with the how I came into contact with this book info to the review!)
I remember the first time at Slippery Rock University I became educated on what authors brought magic to my door I had never heard of, let alone knew existed, through a World Literature course taught by Dr. DiMarco – who, yes I somehow was infatuated with her ability to bring such amazing treasures to my doorstep – (I also just initially feel head over heels for her, lol – so the magic of her literary merit resources – I will never forget).
NOT knowing (and I should have) James McBride as an author before attending his closing address, it made me feel like I was the only not in on a major secret. After listening to his closing address, and then speaking with him briefly, I realized, it is VITAL that librarians, and let me be clear, that certified librarians alongside individuals who are not certified, be a part of every school. The same lightbulb of discovery has a chance t go on when such a profession is found valuable by ever school in a district.
Evidence of the above claim was when Steve Inskeep and Traci Todd both visited schools and the impact they made on so many youth. Another example three days ago- right before break – a young lady in the high school – who had been bugging me for weeks about these books :
When I was able to kick my behind and move on getting them to her BEFORE break from our school library, SHE WAS SO EXCITED, as if it was the best present she ever received. (That was an amazing to lead into the Christmas break).
I digress…but the power that can be found in humanities, be it authors, events, the third space known as the school library for student, it all was emphasized with reading Mr. McBride’s book. It is all worth it, but you do not realize it until you come into touch with such an event, person, book, etc..
I found it ironic that Mr. McBride made this closing address when he had just come from bailing his church out from the night before being overcome with mud from rains, etc – ironic when you read this book and see a connection, sorry no spoilers.
Additionally, his laid back, cool response to the crazy opinions of the media, the press, and just people in general was well received, it was a welcome temperament we see surrounding us. He just was – James McBride, and I learned so much from just his insights into the world through his eyes and experiences.
The fact that he put into this book so much from her experiences at The Variety Club Camp for individuals with disabilities, in Worcester, PA also was a deep and meaningful inspiration, and you will know what I mean and be AMAZED if you take so much of his book internally when you read.
On November 2, 2023, there was an amendment to the House Interior Appropriations bill offered by Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA-10) that would have eliminated funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). It was rejected. When I think of the deeply connected values that Humanities bring to our world, that many are not aware of- instead of being angry and divisive, this is the chance to write to Representative Perry, and ALL our legislators and let them know, when there is NOT a bill to oppose, why the Humanities are so important. To me, this ties hand in hand with why I hope parents and community members can come together and see the value of school librarians, that are one step to these other amazing discoveries that fall under the umbrella of the Humanities.
In talking briefly with Mr. McBride it was obvious that his autograph
did not mean as much as what it represented – taking a fair, open-minded, rational, contemplative, and artistic view to all that we hear, see, experience, touch, feel, taste and live, In doing so, the material, initial reactions to each other will lead to deeper, more meaningful experiences. So much of that came out of his book, but emphasized the impact when we live those very rational, open minded fair actions among each other.
The focus of how Jewish, African American, and white communities interacted and influenced each other (more times in negative ways to each other than positive) and finding the younger generations more open to building bridges rather than walls said so much. Being able to capture this said even more. You leave James McBride’s novel with a realization of how much we can be grateful for, should be grateful for, and need to be grateful for. That might be the best Christmas that does not need to be wrapped, given all year.
“…Appreciate everyone for who they are…”
“Fiction allows your dream to come true.”
“The sum of your life is what we pay attention to.” – James McBride.
Door decorating contest- what can we do, What Can We Dooooo? Then it hit me – as we are putting together a renewed number of the WHS Girls Who Code Club students together – we wanted to try something different. a few weeks later, days and circuits and a closed circuit, chibi lights and – well – YES!
In ONE night ladies – AND one male student NOT a girl named Travis, all pitched in and put a STEAM idea together and wanted their window display to be just that, a display of what thinking outside of the box meant as the past week. CSED week came and went but DO NOT THINK for one nanosecond the Girls Who Code of Woodbridge High were sitting back on their laurels, lol.
When I asked who jumped out to them they said:
and we put together a plan for that door decorating contest that would put them outside of their comfort zone- ELECTRICITY and LIGHTS – and one one night – they threw themselves into the mix, Girls Who Code style. 🙂 Even more impressive was the way one lone programming individual, not a Girl, jumped in to support them – thank you Travis!
Along the same time, this article came out – and as a librarian, just having the chance to recently meet with representatives from every state in the U.S and hearing how often librarians are questioned about why their profession should be a profession, I realized this. Many do not realize school librarians and libraries, are connectors, just liked close circuit projects. What makes the light go on for students?
The spaces that exist in school librarians, allow young ladies to dream to put into existence those dreams, and to share those dream. Within the span on ONE day, we had students attacking puzzles and using those thinking skills amid a school day, designing and modifying 3D printer objects and using THOSE thinking skills, along with future engineers, coding gurus, science and math interested individuals and THJAT my friend is what librarians are all about- we need to remind people school libraries are HUBS of connectivity, and we need to support them just as the state if Illinois is – Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia Florida, Utah, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Ohio, we ALL have school librarians and school librarians that need support, a chance to grow the spaces their students needs to find, and spaces for students to continue to feel as if they can create, grow and share.
It seems as if given a chance, students can see what is in a snow globe like world, and break out and apply all to the world around them,
and make dreaming ideas a reality. Their comment about school librarians and libraries – that they did not KNOW that such things occurred in a library ring true as many do not HAVE school librarians and school libraries to see what can occur. Let’s change that for them now, which ultimately, can be the best present they could receive this year!
“We are our own best PR.” This resounded and carried with me from the recent AASL conference, from some amazing representatives of We Need Diverse Books, (Cornelius Minor, and some amazing authors in this closing presentation) in Tampa Bay. FLORIDA. Of all places where the misunderstanding of what librarians do to benefit the educational system, opposed to those who feel librarianship is a detriment.
As I graciously sat at the table of Giordino’s sharing the commonalities of issues that public libraries, as well as school libraries find themselves in- here is a preliminary list that had come up in discussion over the last four hours, from New Hampshire to Delaware, to Tennessee alone.
-Being asked to sign state agreements to what we would do as librarians that go against the very nature of librarians and librarianship
-The politicization of literacy, from restricting, removing, and censoring fights to the fights for being heard at local, state, and national levels of being recognized as a professional, who is certified to look out for the interests of patrons, not push political agendas.
-Encouraging librarians, parents, and community members to stand up and join together to promote literacy, respect differences, and find common ground where exposure to diverse topics is available, not being pressured to restrict.
-Protecting / and growing the organizations that help support the lack of support in librarianship – ALA, AASL, state library organization, and individual state school library organizations.
-Finding justification for certified librarians to perform librarian-based duties (weeding, collection development supporting school curriculum, supporting schools through initiatives that promote literacy and media skill knowledge
-The ability to inform the general public, community members, and business leaders how librarianship has changed, morphed, and grown into a ever flexible position that many are now aware of or how it benefits students in general.
-Not having to justify (or fight for) the reasoning for obtaining a Master’s of Information Science to adequately represent this field. Individuals with Master’s, (sometimes, 3 or 4) do not have the same training, education, and/or experiences that trained Certified Librarians have – despite the.number of years going through levels of various education, the TYPE and DETAIL of the Master’s of Information Science is a completely different set of rigorous requirements that deep dives into a warehouse of skills to best activate research, investigation, promotion, implementation, and facilitation of some of the strongest aspects of what the education realm needs currently.
This was just the tip of the iceberg but by ALA finding ways to bring all states (and stats) together, as we found out on on first night of just meeting each other, when states come together, their shared communications of hurdles help generate ideas and processes forward that can be the very tools we need to have legislators also willing to hear and understand.
Certainly as a past president of the Delaware Association of School Libraries, something has to be shown to be a movement FORWARD in educating students in what librarianship WAS and what it IS – and why this matters to anyone who listens to the radio, reads a newspaper, notices information on their phone, or enters a conversation that impcts their present and future status as a community member in some format.
Certainly as was states, librarianship has NEVER just appeared to do something secret or devious. Librarianship was never made to be politicized to be a scapegoat or blame name for what is claimed now as a medium for carrying a political agenda. Librarianship has ALWAYS stood for the means to increase openmindedness, freedom of literacy, freedom of choice, freedom of speech, to celebrate the freedoms the constitution provides to us – but not to be wielded to someone’s or something’s agenda, ever.
It is up to us as librarians to continue to invite, collaborate across borders, and share the very skills that are carried in being a librarian to show that we are a hub of disseminating ways to understand and promote literacy in order to reinforce the very concepts of our educational system. Be it private, charter or public school, be it public library, medical library, professional or special collection library at the heart of librarianship are the hearts of the community needs and the professional librarians that can plan accordingly to those needs. There never have been factions or agendas beyond that now, and we do need to educate and inform our communities possibilities, creativity, and opportunities exist at every corner. This has never changed, nor is this service closed to anyone. We indeed can do that and have been doing that under the title of a librarian and need to question why, this service, that has been a part of librarianship since the 19th century.
When we get into the spotlight – it is for promoting each other and the role of librarianship, and we can each do our part to shine the light of what librarianship in the correct form, means to the community, our state, the country.
Run? Several of our Woodbridge High students decided to do just that – dedicate a Sunday to supporting younger runners that may or may not have someone to run with on a Girls On the Run 5k event. Thanks to the collaboration of Phillis Wheatley, the mention of this event from a colleague, and the coordination from Carol Bean and Kim Chitty, and Carrie Townsend, this turned out to be a much (MUCH!) bigger deal than anyone expected.
Pulling up to the site on a VERY damp, OKAY, a LITTLE cold 🙂
drizzly Sunday in Dover, I was overtaken with HUNDREDS of young female runners in Tutu’s,
Moms and a TON of Dad’s being pulled by their young female runners, and HAD NO IDEA I had landed in the Delaware State Girls on the Run 5k – these young runners were AMAZING for taking on this challenge and from the assortment of hair paint, stickers that promoted their event that landed on their face, bandaids that decorated their faces, to the bobbly head gear, very soon, the drizzle and the rain coming down had NO claim on the excitement that was bubbling among all of these countless schools representing these young girls on race day.
Being paired up quickly with Phillis Wheatley runners, it was more than difficult to stay together when the start of the race was announced – within seconds all could be different with your placement. With that being said, as I ran I was completely taken in with what I saw and heard:
Dads pulling their young runners on the inclines
Moms encouraging their runners to slowly increase the length of their sprints.
Young runners pulling their Dads up those same hills
“Next year, I want my Dad to be able to be here!” and stories of how the young ladies either thought this was a million miles long (depending on the course to them, the steps and eventually miles up and down inclines COULD in fact feel like that over time!) to the amazing young runners that were done before anyone expected
I was completely enthralled in seeing individuals I recognized, among THRONGS of runners
and walkers – that represented our community. Mayor Genshaw and daughter a familiar employee of Petco with his daughter, and in the middle of it all, I was witnessing our Woodbridge students -Logan, Suzely, Jasmine, Charlie, and Kaileb – and they were inspiring these young runners, and I felt were being inspired themselves. Between them all we represented the Girls Who Code Club, the Riff Literary Magazine, Middle School Track and Cross Country, as well as obviously the Phillis Wheatley Girls on the Run team.
The feeling/vibe/rhythm of the event was amazing and no weather conditions could push down what I felt was the best run our WHS team has participated in this season. I was so so very proud of what each of these individuals did to take time on a Sunday to make it even more amazing, and the insights into what can be done with differing levels of schools, runners, students, and just awesome people in our community come together. One of the best Sundays one could expect, that can happen on ANY given Sunday 🙂
“When I started running we did nit have more than three of us, yet, here we are and we have a team three years later and I am a senior. The full circle moment today was that year when I found myself walking at this trail at Brandywine, a girl came running up to me and grabbed me and saiid “You are running with me” and we did!” Today, towards the finish, a girl ran up to me and said we’re running together!- and we did. It was full circle for me as an athlete and an senior.” Having this conversation with an amazing young runner from Indian River, who always went out of her way to come to our team and talk to us, and tell us she thought we were the nicest team, she ALWAYS made her way to our tent and included us in her day. It solidified for me, what makes a team is the individuals, no matter how many, and how they represent your team and school as a while.
Kudos to the WHS XC team – VERY pleased with the results from the first year for many of these runners.
First goal was to show gains from where they started. ALL showed major gains from the first day they set their steps on the trail to currently, ALL improved which is our first goal.
Second goal was to grow together and support each other as a team on and off the course – which they have done well.
Third goal was and is to grow together and mature in how they conduct themselves in front of others as an athlete, how they converse about the sport, among their athletes, etc.
They have come a long way in doing this and though there are still areas for improvement, the veterans continue to model this for the new runners. The new runners have begun to take in qualities of responsibility, humbleness, and believing in themselves. There is still areas for improvement as mentioned, for some on the latter two moreso, but this will develop, the future is bright.
The fourth goal was/is to not focus on the number of athletes but the quality of their presence at practices (to take them seriously as a meet), to be in the present and look for opportunities for improving their technique and running strategically at practice and at a meet, and finally to find every practice, every meet, a chance to push their teammates into a zone they have not broken yet. This is again, something that began to grow at practices and needs to be focused on moreso, but the gains made show in the times of the individual athletes ability to do the times they are putting in. I have seen athlete’s PR’s fall more and more in a season when they follow these above guidelines.
When oblivious of anything but themselves, times and success stagnate.
At the state meet, all athletes devoted themselves to the run, did not take the competition or meet lightly, and held themselves accountable for their performance. They did a GREAT job at what consider (and well as I) the toughest XC course in the state.
I hold myself and the athletes to a higher standard than winning with material awards, but how I feel as a runner among other runners, how I treat others as I want to be treated, striving to trade being humble and equating that to success, and representing the XC sport in its best light.
I can say at the state meet, I am proud of the way our athletes conducted themselves on and off the course, never blaming anything on anyone else, taking ownership of their run, and showing that XC is about commitment, celebrating the chance to share time and moments with others, and putting their own ego on the shelf to do their very best.
I always have been told, take the EGO aside, and put the “I go” attitude with others along the way, and you will be the most successful runner ever.
When we stop along the way of the season to eat together, heal together (despite feeling sick or getting sick, our runners often still participate) and instead of making excuses, the goal is for all team members to remove blame, remove negative comments about themselves and others, remove negative thought, and make space for one simple thing.
Run your best race as if there will not be another. This is the ultimate goal of passing down experience from our veteran runners to newer runners, and hence, will make the WHS XC team a better team.
I am so proud of the WHS XC team at the DIAA states, for many reasons that would normally go unnoticed and look forward to what they did right to carry on into their future years – still much to learn, but they have learned and done so much with the one season they have had.
Has there been frustration as coaches with a new dynamic of runners, ABSOLUTELY. We often hear among coaches the same frustrations, more time needed to focus on the task at hand, listen more, do not speak over me when I am talking, inappropriate words/conversations/focus (they are teens, so if you are not ready for that you are probably in the wrong line of work), more time management of running on their own, more time management and attention to grades, how they represent themselves in the classroom, how thew represent the team, how they represent themselves as an athlete/student/young man, young woman, putting regrets on the shelf and taking advantage of the PRESENT, putting the phrase “I am the best” aside and uplifting the phrase “I am better when my teammates are pushing me”, and maybe 25 more checklist items?
Yet, as a coach, unless we are willing to first magnify what athletes are doing RIGHT- to uplift them, and add one or two items along the way that they can improve, on, I fail as a coach.
I have MUCH more to aim for as a coach in areas of improvement, to not get frustrated and correct an athlete that does not cause them to feel bad; I want them to feel good about learning something – so again, I have much to improve on as a coach. What I do know is I am better for each athlete’s willingness to step forward, take a risk, and not worry about not having enough numbers and just bringing their best effort to the line. When they have bad days we deal with it, but we do not hold grudges, we resolve to learn and have a better day. Grudges create smudges, we do not need them.
The days when athletes told me “I can’t” and I reassure them they CAN – and they DO- hopefully this remains with them. I am more of a coach that wants them to come across these realizations themselves like a light bulb, with some light prodding in that direction, and I realize at times that a push is more needed, and so be it. I am still learning as well. But the success of any team is the ability to take the above 5 pieces of advice (and probably alot more) – and work with them and keep them in front of us every day.
Representing yourself as an athlete AND a student, representing your team, your county, AND your state is a HUGE ask for many runners than come into the program with alot of insecurities, trials of the magnitude we can only IMAGINE outside of school, as well as asking them to have faith in a unit of people they have never placed faith in before, let alone one or two people as coaches. And yet, setting that expectation is necessary for all to grow, as painful as it is along the way.
I am proud of the gains every single person, as well as the team, made on our team this year and am proud of what is possible when we consider, from coaches, to athletes, what we are capable of. This is something that is unique in Cross Country that not many sports have, We try to capitalize on taking time to walk and enjoy the surroundings we find ourselves in, eating ice cream, stopping for food and sometimes selfish rewards of sno cones, but all of that becomes even more valuable when we hold ourselves accountable top down, for the way we represent our lives –
Well done WHS XC, you grew and continue to grow as a team and individuals, and you have MUCH to be proud of!
It was awesome to see our team in the distance walking the course, as a speck. This helped me realize how small each of us are among so many, but how much impact we can each have as well individually, and together, no matter the number!
Charlie Hunt – 26:56 Placed 100. out of 143.
Irene Ernest – 29:00. Placed 122 out of 143.
Jasmine Swauger – 32:20. Placed 135th out of 143.
Matt Chisenhall – 22:14, placed 137th out of 181st overall.
True, I am only on the second session in detailing the results of the AASL Conference but, funny story on the very first day of AASL. As I disembarked from the flight at the Tampa Bay International airport, tried unsuccessfully to board a public bus and head to the Tampa Bay Convention Center, I decided to enlist for Lyft; I took in the amazing vastness of Tampa. The location of the Convention Center was ideal, overlooking the bay and the Center itself was amazing, bordered by a courtyard lively with music and food, and despite the steep stairs, it truly resembled a historical landmark.
I figured I would be the one and only individual this early to pick up registration items, and as I made my way up the stairs with my lone suitcase, I saw one other individual making their way, I approached the registration desk and as I checked in with my name, that same individual I had seen beside me? When she heard my name she turned her head and said/questioned Harry?
No kidding, beside me was the former Woodbridge Middle School Principal, now in Caroline County, Dr. Tara Downes! I will be honest, worn and tired from such an early flight, it took me about 10 seconds to reconfigure my brain and realize she was right beside me and who she was – but timing? How does that happen? What I would find out was I bumped into so many other librarians as well from my own state at this National Conference- and was so incredibly amazed at how it took a National Conference for us to bump into each other, lol. Did that happen to you too? I took that as a good start /omen for the start of this conference, and as the second session I attended was warm and inviting, and as we go into detail on the AASL Opening Session I had attended- coming soon!
Amazing experiences. Impacting community. Making the change you want to see in leaps and bounds. I had no idea what I was in store for when I attended the AASL Opening Session.
NPR had highlighted Nikkolas Smith back in 2020 so AASl definitely had the low down on this amazing individual WAAAAAAY before the conference. Pretty excited from the event already and realty the conference had not technically started yet, I was sure this was going to be a home run.
If not, a powerful TedTalk related to children of Watts, Los Angeles gives you a peek into the talent and generosity, as well as foresight, applied to the talent of Nikkolas Smith which is a small slice of what we received this day- what a great way to start the day but here is the coincidental aspect I often talk about about how much is related.
Recently attending Rally, the National Land Conservation Conference on Portland Oregon, Nikkolas Smith has done what I love to do, combined the various organizations and talents into several beneficial community projects. His garden concept – in Watts. (see 5:43 minutes into this video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyS4NNnwT-w). shows WHY and how, Environmental organizations, Artistic organizations, Humanity organizations, can all come together to create a community of treasured activities for youth, as well as all generations, IT IS ALL RELATED and connected and I have to say, more certified librarians, who specialize in connecting all these together are needed in every school, every community, every state. This is the secret ingredient of certified librarians that many people overlook and are unaware they could have – to maximize the power of their communities (school, neighborhoods, etc)..
His sketch of Nina Simone is one example of how perspectives can change evertything.
“It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the time in Wildlife Conservation, Environmentalism, immigration, and mass incarceration.” Smith has and is doing this so publicly, any conversation that results from art can usually lead to positive impacts and volunteerism, which I feel is a powerful talent an artist can possess from canvas to community.
anyone so afraid of an issue that a BANNING needs to take place, is worthy of questioning why, investigating and requesting the information to research and not ban. Period. The amazing perspectives that are maybe outside of a common point of view, is what makes people have the ability to grow, and obviously, some states care more about the politics of staying in a comfortable lane, than growing. That is a travesty the certified librarian does NOT represent nor should they ever.
I LOVE that as an artist, Nikkolas Smith sees himself as an ally to counter so much that is negative, close-minded, and wrong in the world today and is able to see constructive paths of what is right, open-minded, and spaces to grow. This is simply what the role of a library media specialist is, and being able to plug individuals into the countless paths that ca lead them to their ultimate path. Nikkolas Smith is one awesome example of this and where creativity can take you, especially when the artist become an ally.
When I moved away from a mesmerizing first workshop session that connected myself as well as my school to so many current event actions, I ventured into the AASL Welcoming session. (12:30- 1:30). I was intrigued that two rooms were used for this – and time was split between various rooms and we did indeed have a bingo card. While I am not a stranger to AASL, I was to an AASL Conference and was grateful for this amazing amassing of librarianship under one roof. In addition, you get to see the faces and personalities behind AASL.
Some awesome discoveries were revealed- an evening where classic movies were being shown in the city, amazing restaurants like Carmines and Colombia, author visits in the evening
and more- all became shared property helping us find the back alleys and main streets of attractions that glued us together as librarians and information curators. It was worthwhile just to meet a few people and learn some new names tied to the states we often see them attached to in AASL. In my case, believe it or not, I bumped into a colleague from my own state and talking about topics we never had, and we were in the same state!
The first AASL author session I went to, which was one of the first of a series of step in talks with AASL authors, was with Mona Kerby, drawing me to the topic of Collection Development as we were covering that area as part of my Florida State University graduate course.
Some GREAT tips were revealed from this session- three important companies to help you review selections you are thinking about for your collection and adding those at defaults in Follet to help you see selections from these companies was recommended. The big three were Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist – I agreed. While Kirkus at times can seem harsh, they are straight to the heart. I have found also using SLJ, I use a portion of them for graphic novels, but forcing myself to dive in and explore on my own new authors, new releases, etc. I love how Booklist highlights many new authors and releases that I have carved time to discover. If you can find three positive referrals for a selection you are considering, you are in – that is a winner.
The Mustie formula was referred to in using weeding- and goes hand in hand in managing your collection, as well as your collection development policy.
Some key steps in making a collection development plan and policy working for you, you need to do the following:
Define learner characteristics to see the audience you are serving from your collection.
Create a curriculum chart – which Ms.Kerby’s text help guide you through.
Use key selection services (Kirkus, Booklist, SLG).
Evaluate your collection by the school curriculum, the age, the quantity, the quality, and the diversity your collection represents. The report that Follett is able to generate also helps do this in a comprehensive manner for your collection.
Using the CREW guidelines, is yet another process of guiding your weeding.
In Delaware, we have an extensive guide to weeding and collection management as well:
The inner workings of Ms. Kerby’s book is just that, charts, specific tools that guide yout rhrough the process being listed of a comprehensive Collection Development Policy. But more than that, it allows the librarian to do more than talk about a Collection Development Policy, but to actually put together a real policy in the works for your library? – Priceless. This was a good start to discovering what the AASL Author talks were all about.
In attending this amazing session representing Echoes and Reflections, by speaker Kim Klett, being the actual first session of AASL, it seems as I mentioned in ties to Ms. Ruth Toor, this seems appropriate to have such a great resource such as Echoes and Reflections for curriculum.
What was shocking to me, and I find I keep discovering new aspects of the Holocaust despite the many workshops, seminars, and courses I have been part of in the Holocaust, I STILL learn new aspects of the manipulation that went into this whole movement against the Jewish people.
In light of the current confict between Israel and Palestine, this is even more timely to incorporate into the curriculum across the country. Such as:
To “sell” the idea of concentration camps, people were paid to get into concentration camps as wel as this was sold as a work place or resort – even some German soldiers were not truly informed about what these camps were. This truly blew my mind and shocked me, despite knowing so much about the Holocaust already.
It is amazing the lengths Germans took to “sell” this propoganda-filled sell of concentration camps:
In 1943 October, Denmark (look at 1943 on this timeline) wanted to see the camps, and so it took until June 23 1944, which showed a beautified camp. By the time the Red Cross came, Theresienstadt looked like an amazing place, images exist from film, and made it appear how the furor gave the Jewish people a city – so much propaganda at work. The beauty of this amazing site is additional resources like the interviews – such as this one of Eric Nash – which his one statement how there were coffee shops with no coffee- so much of a facade!
I also felt the examination of Prewar Jewish life and the existence of antisemitism is as important as we find other origins such as origins of slavery, displacement of indigenous tribes, so much carryover to other societal patterns based on examining history.
An example of this was how in January 1933 how many Jewish communities there actually were in GERMANY, let alone other European areas – as well as the massive number of Jewish positions all over Europe, and how the statistic of less than 1% of Jewish people made up the country – and yet targeted so much in World War II.
One of the powerful tools is how you can trace routes of immigration when people leaving and this led to the Henry Sinason interview.
In being able to define antisemitism – Echoes and Reflections is able to show the depth of these lessons and how they can change the thought process of the Holocaust- I LOVE these resources.
What is propaganda? – “Files or partly false info intended to shape people’s opinion and action that fulfills the propoganda’s intent.” Another great resource on this –
and such a powerful way to tie Rhetorical devices using modern examples of Vogue, teen, and other publications. The resources in Echoes and Reflections that lead students and teachers to this are powerful.
Resources such as a Campaign poster 1932 indicating that Germans last Hope was Hitler
Resources to the Holocaust museum, issues of scapegoating, name-calling, asking What rhetorical devices are the strongest?, all this propaganda in 1938 that referred to the book the Poisonous Mushroom and the analysis of posters among students is powerful. From a mother picking mushrooms and trying to convince readers that Jewish people are lying and thieving, Jews depicted as Christ killers , and what a good Aryan family looks like- there is much to be learned on how prejudice can be started.
In looking at the Esther Clifford interview yet another aspect of what was happening from a first hand account through Echoes and Reflections provides.
There are some great references and images to the Der sturmer newspaper at kiosks, where is a child is reading it, (showing how youth are being influenced by German propaganda) a tag line that said, “The Jews are our Misfortune” emphasizes the level of antisemitism and the lengths that were spent in this time. It was noteworthy of this quote and how relevant to today!
What is also important in the ghetto of Theresienstadt is what happens to the individuals AFTER the fascade was over. I feel this encourages students to not just tale face value information presented to them but to begin to feel empowered to ask questions before and after events as presented. This encourages the manipulation towards the truth about all media in many differing points in time, not just the one presented.
Further, the look at Thomas Fritta is an important one, as a voice pushing back against the Nazi propaganda that was being pushed out. The death of Fritta in 1944 is a sad one as the work he had done up to that time, was vital in pushing back against false narratives and the end of this period was so close to being ended, and yet he did not leave to see libreration.
Story Audience. Message. Style in the backdrop of all this information available to teachers and students alike. All of these can be looked at from the receiving and sending ends to show how reality is manipulated. The sophisticated organization and interactive elements of Echoes and Reflections puts you in a museum setting, wherever you are accessing this information. From the podcasts, to student activities, to educator alignments, it is vital to the question of asking this present day question, why didn’t antisemitism end?
The units written as lesson plans is ideal – and with over 10 student activities, room for adjustment of differentiation exists from the very beginning. Lessons are 90 minutes per session, and I do remember years ago being involved with an educator Holocaust seminar for several days, quite extensive, and being given for my school district, a complex collection of CD’s that held the voices, interviews, and looks into survivor’s accounts. Now, this is even more streamlined and organized, and more robust to help the educator present an even more complex picture, of how the past has caught up with us in some ways regarding so many issues. This is priceless, and was a priceless session offering a wealth of support for educators.
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