Summer Reading 2013

It's summer reading time! That's when we get to catch up on what's new and exciting in publishing. Our summer reading list is primarily recreational. It's purpose is to connect our learners with resources they may enjoy.

We keep the list pretty short - at about fifty books so as not to overwhelm. We are mindful of genre, "boy books", "girl books", and themes in diversity. We focus on contemporary publications - the last two years or so, but we also include a few classics. We aim for balance between young adult and adult literature. 

Keeping in mind that our library users include young teens and adults, our list is thematically comprehensive. Not every book is for every library user. Selection is part of the reading proces and we encourage young readers to be reflective about their choices - to contextualize them with their personal and family values - to read reviews and publisher notes, to make predictions about whether a book will suit their interests, and also to switch to a different book when one falls short of their expectations. There are so many books to enjoy. Summer is not the time to slog through a book that holds little appeal. 

As in previous years, New Canaan (town) Library runs a dynamic Summer Library Exploration and Reading Program (SLERP). Mallory Arents (@MLArents on Twitter) will facilitate that program this year. In our reading list, we've linked our titles to the town library collection's titles so that New Canaan Library users can participate in conversations about their reading. 

We are also experimenting with GoodReads - which is a social book recommendation site. We've dabbled with different products for online book discussion for years - first VoiceThread, then Destiny, then the town library website, but we want to provide our readers with an opportunity to document their reading experiences in a portal they can "take with them" once they leave New Canaan, and this one is well established. So we've set up our summer reading list there. There's an app for that!

Summer may also be a good time for readers to experiment with digital reading. Downloading eBooks to electronic devices can be tricky, and a rainy summer day may present just the right opportunity for readers to explore digital content. Granted, many digital readers are not particularly practical for the outdoors, but digital reading is becoming increasingly important in K-12 learning, and it is helpful to have some experience with it. 

Finally, we encourage our library users to contribute to the summer reading list. We are happy to add titles! Just keep the criteria in mind. As much as we love The Hunger Games, and The Art of Racing in the Rain, those books have been around for five years, and they already have ample circulation. We want to introduce readers to fresh content, so that we can grow our Vide Collection (New Canaan High School's Book Group collection) with newly discovered titles.

Don't see anything appealing on the the list? Try recommendations from other online sources such as YALSA's Teen Book Finder, or the New Canaan High School Library online catalog

Global issues and awareness

Your group will research one of the following challenges
● Clean water
● Healthcare
● Education
● Human trafficking
● Women’s rights

and trace it across three of the five following regions:
● Southeast Asia

● Kenya

● China

● India

● Iraq

To help you decide which region is best suited to research on your challenge, we recommend that you use the Global Issues in Context database as shown in the video below.

Copy source citation at the bottom of each article:

The best way to track your resources in Global Issues in Context is to use the copy & paste utility under the database tab in EasyBib.

Experiment with search terms that do not appear in your assignment. For example, let's look at the following segment of a news report heard on NPR on 5/4/2013. Based on this excerpt, what is this about? How would it help you with your research.

Beaubien, Jason. "A Troubling Rise In Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis." 4 May 2013. Morning Edition. NPR. Web. 4 June 2013. Transcript.

Once you have a sense of what you want to investigate, you should look for more in-depth and focused articles in contemporary news  media:

• PowerSearch
• National Newspapers

Check sources against the CRAAP test.

Are they Current, Authoritative, Accurate, Relevant, and does it have a Point of view? 

Certain topics are particularly well covered in the library's collection:

• Women's issues in Iraq (look up women in Islam - that's an old project that will transfer well)
• Human trafficking
• China - Women's rights
• India - Women's rights

Be sure to download the Destiny Quest App to access the collection - print AND digital

1920s

Mr. Staffaroni's assignment

How to create a lesson plan

Destiny has a plethora of digital content Decades, 1920s, and the actual station name will work.

Don't forget to download the Destiny Quest app! Basic --> Library URL: http://destiny.newcanaan.k12.ct.us -->Connect --> New Canaan High School --> log in with your personal NCPS log in User Name & Password  (the one you use to log in to a school computer).

Databases:  

• ABC-CLIO: American History
• History in Context
• SIRS Decades
• Historical Newspapers

Web content:

• Time  Magazine archive
• Life Magazine (photos) online
• Library of Congress digital archive: Digital records of the Library of Congress - way cool stuff. Lots of images and special collections. Can be keyword searched, but there is also a helpful timeline feature. Just be sure to click on the "View document" to see what it says. Most documents are transcribed.
• Office of the Historian: Search here for cornerstone United States history documents and media. This resource also provides background overview and context for its content. 
• National Archives Use Digital Copies tab to locate cornerstone United States History documents and media. For example, typing Immigration Act of 1924 into the "with the exact phrase" field will produce a scanned copy of the original document.

Annotated Bibliography:

Annotated works cited/bibliography format

In an annotated works cited/bibliography, each annotation (150 words or less) is evaluative. The CRAAP test should help guide your evaluation (example of an annotation). Link to rubric.

• Currency
• Relevance
• Accuracy
• Authority
• Purpose, or point of view

Take the online quiz!

Genocide

In progress...
Assignment
Supplemental materials (rubrics, models, guidelines)
International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect

Helpful databases include

• Global Issues in context (see chart below for search strategies)
• National Newspapers
• PowerSearch

That should cover most of it. Please get in touch if you are stuck!

Region	Conflict	Sources
Myanmar	an ethnic rebellion in the north that appears to be growing	Global Issues in Context (Myanmar AND genocide)
China	the Tibetans	Global Issues in Context (Tibetan AND genocide)
Congo	the Eastern Provinces	Global Issues in Context (Congo AND “eastern provinces”)
Sri Lanka	the Tamil Tigers	Global Issues in Context (Tamil AND genocide)
Syria	open rebellion	See screenshot
Central African Republic	rebel alliance has taken over the Government in a recent coup	See screenshot

Corona research paper

This post is in progress

• The Roaring ‘20s definition and the economic social impacts Rebecca
• Sacco and Vanzetti  and American immigration Emma
• Bootlegging and the rise of organized crime Maddie
• Automobiles  and their symbolism/rising effect over decades Nick 
• Prohibition and Temperance Matt
• Charles Lindbergh and Aviation Justin
• Art and literature (famous works, artists, authors) Maggie
• Music, Entertainment, Pop Culture, and Fads Andreas
• Women’s Rights, especially Women’s Suffrage Amanda
• The KKK—the resurgence Jack
• Social class and Economic disparity in the 20’s and beyond Joanna
• The American Dream Eric
• Conspicuous consumption Connor
• Failure to Achieve the American Dream Noah
• Gender roles and stereotypes in the 20’s and beyond Bobby
• Stock market and its influence in American society in the 20’s and beyond Matt

Created with Padlet

How to use DestinyQuest on a desktop computer to streamline your research process:

Download the DestinyQuest mobile app to access eBooks on your mobile device

Your database choices will depend on your research questions, so I am breaking this down a bit:

• Historical:
• SIRS Decades (primary sources organized by decade)
• History in Context
• ABC-CLIO American History
• Annals of American History (primary sources)
• Historical Newspapers
• The impact of gender and socioeconomic class on prosperity in contemporary society (Noah, Connor, Eric, and others???)
• Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
• National Newspapers

Remember how to correctly copy and paste your database citations into EasyBib!

But it's even easier than that in ABC-CLIO!

Global Pitch

Products - the tentative list

• chocolate
• coffee
• corn (maize)
• potato
• rice
• sugar
• tea
• tobacco

Download the Destiny Quest app for your IOS (iPhone & iTouch) and Droid device!

Do this now:
Go to app store --> Install -->Enter your iTunes password -->Wait for it to load --> Basic -->Enter Library URL--> http://destiny.newcanaan.k12.ct.us --> New Canaan High School --> Enter your personal NCPS network user name and password (those you use to log on to a school computer) -->TADA!

Search for Global Pitch AND your product.

Library tab --> print books. Use call number to locate on shelf
Digital resources --> articles and eBooks

Once you retrieve print books, please please place them on the "Global Pitch" shelf at the end of the period. Print books are on overnight loan. You can borrow them at 2PM, but they need to be checked back in by 7:30AM the next day. You will accrue fines of $.25 per late class period. Every freshman class will be working on this project over the next few weeks, so we will be strict about getting materials back on time. This is also why we have so many eBooks.

Keep track of your sources! Remember to copy and paste your database citations into the "copy and Paste field 

This research guide will prompt you to answer the nine questions about your country. You will need to copy the document, Rename It, and Share (CRiS). Instructions follow.

• Log in with your ncps-k12.org log in information
• Click File, then Make a copy, then enter a new name  (Last Name, First Name. Product. Teacher. Period [i.e., Pitt, Brad. Corn. Vehslage. C])
• Don't check "Also copy document collaborators"
• Click OK
• Click File, type
• Click Share, under Add people, type in your group members' names, and your history teacher's name to invite them. Make sure they can edit this document
• Click Share and save.

Databases:

Use the library user name and password to access the page, not your own personal log on information. 

Use the following databases in this order. Be sure to read below what kind of information each database provides!

• CultureGrams - country overview (incudes recipes)
• Gale Virtual Reference Library (includes a bunch of encyclopedias)
• ABC-CLIO: World History or World Geography (self explanatory)
• History Resource Center (History)
• National Newspapers - current news articles
• Global Newsbank - current articles from international perspectives
• Global issues in Context - Transnational issues (current)
• ProQuest Historical Newspapers - news articles going back to 1850 & Hartford Courant back to 1764

Again.... All books are on overnight checkout. You can check them out after 2PM, and they have to be checked back in by 7:30 the next school day. Remember, photocopies are free at the library!

Post you questions and tips in the comments section below!

Budget Crisis

Nitti, Tony. "The Fiscal Cliff for Dummies." Forbes. October 30, 2012. Accessed May 20, 2013. 

Weisman, Jonathan, and Matthew L. Wald. "G.O.P. Claims Victory as Bill to Curb Flight Delays Passes." New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 May 2013.

What should be cut in the federal budget?

Scenario: The U.S. Congress is struggling to fund projects they deem important and yet members are also concerned about the mounting debt the U.S. is accruing. What do you recommend? Select one of the following topics and, with a partner, research its contribution and costs to society. Then debate whether the current funding should be retained, increased, or reduced. Each partner should take a different position. Present your debate to the class and use an effective Power Point presentation to illustrate your points.

Possible topics

• War in Iraq
• War in Afghanistan
• Social Security/Medicare
• Education
• Medicaid/Health care reform
• Welfare/Housing/Food
• Infrastructure/transportation
• War on terror/national (homeland) security/CIA
• Science R&D
• Foreign aid
• Energy/environment
• Farm subsidies
• Arts

What you should include:

• Describe topic
• Summary of program
• Current status
• % of federal budget
• Rationale for expenditure
• Reason for cut

NEW!!! Kate O'Hanlon did some investigating and created these pie charts! Be sure to thank her! Link to her spreadsheet

To find this information, Kate followed the instructions below:

"What I suggest instead is that you collaborate to create an accurate one. Divvy up the topics, get verifiable numbers for 2010, so that you are comparing apples to apples, enter them all in a spreadsheet and make the graph! Just get your class' strongest math student to input the data, and make the graph while the rest of you go get the information. A great starting point it the federal Office of Management and Budget, but this is also an excellent opportunity to write/call your local congressperson."

I provided a forum below for you to share your research and collaborate.

Databases:

Consult your NCHS planner (p.41) for school, not personal user name and password

• Roper iPoll (public opinion survey) Tutorial
• ABC-CLIO (government, & country studies)
• Global Issues in Context (international relations)
• ProQuest Platinum (current news)
• PowerSearch (current news)
• CultureGrams (country studies)

Links:

Useful US defense spending links Ms. Russo dug up (beware of bias - the publisher or author's, not ours!):

• Government publications about the wars since 2003
• Cost of war in Afghanistan
• Cost of troop surge, according to some
• Cost of Iraq and Afghanistan wars
• Estimated cost of Afghanistan and Iraq wars
• Startfor Report
• Cost of war testimony
• Defense Department budget
• Cost of change of troops

Citing sources:

Keep track of your sources as you go! Consult the Citing menu on nchslibrary.info

New! Tips from New Canaan (town) Library!
Budget crisis forum (you need to log in to Moodle)