The Year in Review 2012

It has been a very busy year but my dedication to the concept of Dollar Daze and Thrifty Finds

is still strong.  Reinvention serves as the starting point in the development of instructional strategies that engage students in active learning and critical thinking. 

Reinvention = Resourcefulness + Mindful Imagination 

The 21^st Century Learner – A compendium

Common Core State Standards

·      literacy and digital benchmarks embedded in core curriculum to involve students in the successful construction of new knowledge.

AASL Standards for the 21^st Century Learner

·      assists students with the achievement of the indicated benchmarks across the curriculum.

School Library program

·      in collaboration with the  the classroom teacher  can expand and supplement classroom curriculum.

Problem-based projects

·      promote experiences to engage students in critical thinking and action.

Dollar Daze and Thrifty Finds Philosophy Supports Core Standards and AASL Standards through Resourcefulness + Mindful Imagination

·      mindful imagination and resourcefulness creates tools and strategies to helps students connect to new knowledge at an emotional level through the “concrete representation of thoughts and understanding”.  http://www.utne.com/mind-body/Crafting-a-New-World.aspx

I am always looking for ideas to fuel my imagination and to act as a starting point for new activities. Below is a list of links that support thinking and doing….

mindful imagination and creativity.

•           the concept of “create your own examples to retain it more” http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/dec/25/knox-county-students-bound-by-books/

•            how photography inspires a number of critical thinking outcomes http://weisman.jaws.umn.edu/artfulwriting/activities.php

•   a video that demonstrates a variety of strategies to develop vocabulary http://www.literacyinlearningexchange.org/content-literacy-resources-0

•             how Art and Music can be integrated in curriculum to improve student thinking and learning http://www.pz.harvard.edu/tc/overview.cfm

• Web 2.0 Tool – An excellent tool where images of student work can be photographed and uploaded serving as a starting point for guided discussion. http://www.edutopia.org/blog/voicethread-new-teacher-boot-camp

Coming soon

Quietly Making a Difference –

The Soft Sell

Raise your Library profile by utilizing the power of “soft sell”                                   to market your ability as “Teacher-Librarian”. 

The next post will examine a number of strategies developed using dollar store and thrifty finds to help you build influence and connections to the school mission statement. Quick and easy ways to lead the quiet revolution and transform the school library into the core of the whole school learning commons. Please join our discussion.

All the best in the New Year.

Resourcefully Yours,

Julia Andreacchi
DollarDaze and Thrifty Finds
All rights reserved

@2012