Chicago

Regina and I are now in Chicago, getting ready for our second of two full-day Mother Goose on the Loose training workshops.  There were 78 people at yesterday's workshop, and although it was crowded, it was great fun!  Some of the flannel board creations were incredible, and the audience was very responsive.  The room itself was at the top of the Chicago Public Library, with lots of windows and sunlight pouring in, which was wonderful.  We are looking forward to another exhilarating workshop today and then we head for home.

Minnesota

On Monday, I presented a new workshop -- Library Programming for School Age Children for children's librarians in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.  Participants shared some of their most successful programs alongside my presentation of the many types of programs (with examples) that can be used successfully with elementary school children.  

While the workshop was lots of fun, the title of workshop needs some jazzing up. "Library Programming for School Age Children" is NOT an exciting title! So, if any blog readers have recommendations for a new title for this workshop, please send in your suggestions.

Thanks!

GREAT NEWS!!!!

Charles Harmon from Neal-Schuman Publishers just sent me an email saying that my book:

Mother Goose on the Loose : a handbook and CD-ROM kit with scripts, rhymes, songs, flannel-board patterns, and activities for promoting early childhood development

has just sold through it's first printing and it now on it's second printing! Hooray!

BOOKTALKING BONANZA

Even though this is a Mother Goose on the Loose Website, I can take a few liberties and mention how exciting it is to see the first reviews for Booktalking Bonanza (written by librarian Selma Levi and me and published by ALA Editions.)

Midwest Book Review had a review at http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Booktalking+Bonanza.-a0191955287 and gave our book 5 stars in their Amazon.com review!


And here's another review from:

The Tech Static

Your collection development resource for technology titles

Review - Booktalking Bonanza

Diamant-Cohen, Betsy, and Selma K. Levi. Booktalking Bonanza: Ten Ready-To-Use Multimedia Sessions for the Busy Librarian. ALA Editions. 2009. 240p. ISBN 978-0-8389-0965-2. $40.00/$36.00 ALA members.

You will indeed be a very busy librarian if you decide to recreate all of these multimedia booktalking presentations, which incorporate music, video, and computer clips, as well as readings from multiple books. They cover topics as varied as Lightning, Immigration, and — my personal favorite — Body Parts: Missing, Extra, and Just Plain Strange. Organized in a straightforward manner, Booktalking Bonanza provides whole scripts for each multimedia booktalk, along with websites for the video and music clips suggested; each presentation provides enough material for two or three real-life booktalks. While I wouldn’t recommend this book for a beginner booktalker, it is perfect for those of us who have been around the block a few times and are looking for some new and invigorating ways to spice up our delivery. Most booktalks target a younger audience, but the authors also give ample examples of booktalks for older grade school, teens, and even adults to adapt to your situation. One plus: the authors included readings from the actual books (which many booktalking books do not suggest or recommend, but which I have found useful in capturing students’ attention) — even including page numbers from the books. I’m only sorry I haven’t had the privilege to see this team in action as they present these multimedia booktalks.

Tasha Squires is a young adult consultant for Shorewood-Troy Public Library District. Her book Library Partnerships: Making Connections Between School and Public Libraries, will be published by ITI in early 2009.

Written by rachel, January 9th, 2009 at 10:01 am, Posted in ala editions, multimedia, professional,Tagged with ala editions, booktalking bonanza, diamant-cohen, levi, squires

COMMENT: Selma and I will be presenting snippets from "Booktalking Bonanza" at ALA in Chicago on Sunday afternoon from 1:30 - 3:30 and we'd love to have a large audience!

Audio Course Being Offered

On Feb. 20, the Education Institute of Ontario will be hosting another Mother Goose on the Loose audio course. For more information, see: http://thepartnership.ca/partnership/bins/calendar_page.asp


Friday, Feb. 20th, 2-3pm ET
Mother Goose on the Loose
with Betsy Diamant-Cohen - 1 hour AUDIO CONFERENCE

BACK AGAIN BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Learn about the award-winning early literacy program, Mother Goose on the Loose. After a brief review of theories of learning based on findings in brain research, hear about the structure of Mother Goose on the Loose and how it combines language, books, illustration, music, movement, drama, and creative interaction to create an optimal learning environment. Experience program songs and rhymes created by Canadian music educator, Barbara Cass-Beggs. Connect the program components with best practices for developing school readiness skills. Learn how to incorporate all this into your own early childhood programs.


REGISTER AT WWW.THEPARTNERSHIP.CA and scroll down to the 'Education Institute'

Fees for AUDIO Conferences
Member: $54.00 + GST
Non-Member: $74.00 + GST

Back from California

Yesterday, I arrived home from the Spanish language workshop in Roseville, California. I learned so much there! In addition to presenting the workshop with two talented presenters - Rachel MacNeilly and Melissa Da - I participated in conversations about the Spanish language and the culture of different Spanish speakers.

Based on that, I am going to revise the original program to include many more traditional Spanish language songs from around the world. Since the Spanish spoken in different countries varies in both vocabulary and spelling, finding someone to proofread the book I am writing will be a challenge. If anyone reading this blog knows a good translator who is aware of the nuances and slight variations, and familiar with Spanish language children's songs, please let me know!

Also, if you know of any Spanish language songs that are terrific that fit in with one of the 10 sections of a standard Mother Goose on the Loose program, feel free to send your suggestion to me!

Betsy