United States Holocaust Memorial Museum-*Virtual Visit*

I had an idea of what I was going to expect when visiting this website. I really wanted to tie it in with my personal visit to the Holocaust Museum in Houston. I was able to see many things that I had never seen before but I know there is much more to learn that wasn’t at the actual museum in Houston. Some of the new things that I see here that I didn’t see at the museum or that museums website are:

·      The different language preferences

·      How to teach the Holocaust to students

·      Online Workshops

·      Sample Lessons

The only thing I wish it would explain better is describing the grade levels that we could teach this material to. I am a second grade teacher and I was able to come upon a project for an exhibit that is supposed to be released in the year 2013 for the Holocaust Museum in Houston. 1.5 million children died in the Holocaust so to honor them, they are asking for donations of 1.5 handcrafted butterflies from anyone. This is something I want to partake in but don’t know if second grade is an appropriate grade to teach about the Holocaust. 

I absolutely love how it gives a list of examples on why the Holocaust should be taught to our 21-century learners. Some of these examples include:

·      How the Holocaust provides a context for exploring the dangers of remaining silent, apathetic, and indifferent in the face of the oppression of others.

·       It describes how the Holocaust was not an accident in history, it occurred because individuals, organizations, and governments made choices that not only legalized discrimination but also allowed prejudice, hatred, and ultimately, mass murder, to occur.

·      The study of the Holocaust assists students in developing an understanding of the roots and ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping in any society.

            Something this website has to offer is it has online workshops for teachers who cannot physically attend a workshop at the museum itself. It provides a video of the actual workshop session, historical and artifact photos, text, and links to related sites within the museum’s website. This in turn will help us teach our students on the Holocaust and provide actual photos to them on how these were real people and how they suffered so very much and how we can make a different in the world to be against, racism, prejudice, and hatred. It actually offers many lesson plans but which need to be taught in order by date of occurrence. Things to use are lessons, activities stating who is responsible, what happened, and why no one ever did anything. I think this is something great to teach so students can see not just the history but what the outcome was based on the way one man thought on a different group of people. 

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art-*Virtual Visit*

All I have to say is WOW WOW WOW!!! I think I’m in love! I am a huge fan of picture books for children. So when I came across this website, I was hooked. No one could bother me. Eric Carle really took this into a whole different level.

I was able to see the virtual visit of the museum and it is a very good size. I love the art it offers but I especially love how there are Art classes for children. I love how they work individually with children. The art they have resemble the art of Eric Carle, which is really neat. I really like the idea of not just focusing on one author or illustrator. He brought many together and that is where were see his work along with Mo Willems who is also another one of my favorites. Keep in mind that I am writing my experience with this wonderful website while I am browsing it.

It also offers recommended book lists by Eric Carle under the Resources tab. I like this tab because sometimes we always want book recommendations to know whats new or what is something different to read to our students. I think it is very important that read alouds are done at all levels. Just because your in middle school or high school, doesn't mean reading aloud can't be done. I say no excuses! Some of the different links it has under the recommended books are:

·      Recommended Books-Shows Twelve of their favorite picture books

·      Suggestions for sharing picture books with young children

·      Picture Books of Distinction Series

Also listed are activities that can be done with your students. The only downfall to this is you are able to see the pictures of how the activity is done but the actual text that shows step by step is blurred out. I am guessing you have to be a member to look at it, which means you need to pay the membership fee of $45.00 as an individual and $35 as a teacher. I am very much so thinking about joining.

What I find interesting is it has a list of links that are useful for all. I don’t see much online activity where you can interact unless I am missing something. I do like the museum but I wish his site was more friendly as in including games, lesson plans, and letting us see the step by step to these activities. I also noticed that everything you truly want to see to it’s fullest, needs to be purchased. I am not a fan of that. I will be adding it to my delicious account but hope they make some updates and add-ons. 

Science Museum of London- *Virtual Visit*

The Science Museum in London has lots of useful information to offer for educators. I love the idea of the CPD training. Where for a day teachers go in and they get all kinds of experience through presentations, galleries, and resources. I love the share your experiences and ideas with other teachers because we all have one huge thing in common. We are all educators so what better way to get information from someone in the same field as you. Sometimes many teachers feel as though they didn’t get enough information in college to be prepared in the actual classroom. I have heard from many teachers that the information taught, is nothing like what you will be using. This Science Museum has you try out classroom activities and how it is prepared and done. Many of us do this on a trial and error bases but if we can learn the right way to do it so when we do it with our children the first time, you will be better prepared and knowledgeable. I don’t really know of any museums that do this other than give tours of their museum. Just a little quick note, teachers are able to get into the Imax for free. Yayy! Not that I would be visiting anytime soon but just a bonus.

Also available are classroom resources by stages. Basically this this separated by age groups. Each different age group learns something different. For example, I am teaching second grade, so I would choose stage two, which is age levels 7-11. There are various tabs to choose from including:

·      Electricity and Magnetism

·      Forces and Motion

·      Light

·      Materials

·      Sounds

Each tab has a fun activity to do with your class. What I find really neat is many of these activities I have never seen before. I guess it is all because it’s from another continent across the world. I think my favorite would have to be the materials tab. One example activity from the materials tab was soap challenge. All you do is remold a basically looking bar of soap into an attractive new shape that can still be used in the bathroom.

          So would I call this site a hit with educators and students? I sure would! Very nice and will also be adding it to my delicious account. Yay for finding another great site that is useful for many things. 

Library of Congress-*Virtual Visit*

After visiting the Library of Congress, it really shows the vast amount of information right below our eyes. Library of Congress to some might be about looking for books or searching the catalogs. It does so much more than that for every time of person including, parents, students, educators, and more.

            For the teacher, it has access to the wide collection of books that are out there. It as well helps with presenting various lesson plans and thematic units. For example, if you were to do a lesson on Abraham Lincoln, you would find maps, manuscripts, books and printed text, songs, recordings, and photos. This is all something that can be used by the teacher with the students. I also love how I was able to go to Hispanic Exploration in America and how it shows me the First Voyage, Hernando Cortes, Grand Canyon, Inscription Rock and more. Many of these things are hard to get access to and many don’t know where to start because history goes back a long way. Thanks to the Library of Congress, it is all a click away.

            For children, I love the tab where it says Center for the Book. On this link, it described how reading is beneficial and what you gain from reading everyday. My favorite were the three I’s. Interest, Integration, and Invention. Interest is when a child wants a book for information and/or enjoyment. You build on their interests, hobbies, favorite activities or a trip you have taken by asking them if they would like a book about one of these topics. Then for Integration, you connect to other subjects like math, science, art, sports, music and many more. You need to find out what real-world topics your child is interested in and suggest areas of the library or bookstore that have books on that topic. Connect reading to at-home experiences. For example, finding a book on machines would help explain why a toy or clock is not working at home. Invention comes in when you want to create something about the book. An element in the story can be used to make an arts and craft.

            Overall, I love this site and how there are so many ways we can integrate history since it is not being used as much as it should in today’s classrooms. I will definitely be adding it to my delicious account. 

Reflecting on my Texas Travel Study

           I feel so bless to have experience something as wonderful as this. I learned so much in one month and at the same time; I was able to spend time with my number one priority, “Family.” This experience really opened up my eyes to what is available out there for us. We honestly take for granted the resources we have especially as educators. This is a new starting point for me. I really plan to put time aside each summer and go visit the different museums, libraries, or any exhibits out there. It’s a great adventure and great learning experience.

            Throughout visiting the different libraries I learned of all the various sections a library contains. When we walk into a library, everyone goes straight to the books. It is good to know what we have out there and the use it can provide to us all. I especially loved, loved, loved the different events and activities for children and adults. There is something new to do every week and they try to incorporate activities where it includes family. Honestly, how awesome is that. This is something that has taught me so much and I am going to try to bring both my children to the library during the summer so they can have something fun but educational to do. I also have to recognize what wonderful people we have out there working in our libraries. It is because of them that make things possible at the library. Their knowledge and passion is honestly contagious. It makes me want to stop what I am doing and help to make a difference. I am going to definitely explore many more libraries and it honestly wouldn’t have been made possible if it weren’t for my travel study.

            Then we have the awesome, fun, fantastic, adventurous, unique libraries. I mean golly, I can’t believe I had never visited any of these museums. It was a matter of putting time aside and going as planned. This too would have never been made possible if it wasn’t for the travel study. The museums also have events for children and families but that is a matter of planning out as well.

            Under the recommendation of one of the librarians from the library that I visited, she mentioned to me that the Mission museum in San Antonio is brand new which was opened within the last two weeks. She told me they have a lot more new media and things to offer. I however did visit but wasn’t too pleased with what I saw. I am guessing since they are brand new, they still have much more to add.

            Does it feel great to be back home? It does to a certain extent. I am honestly thinking about moving to San Antonio in the near future and is a decision my husband agrees on as well. There is so much more to be offered in San Antonio and would like an opportunity of it all

            So can I say this was a well worth experience? Yes! I am going to use things that I learned about at the Holocaust museum with my future classes. An example is the new Butterfly exhibit they want to open in 2013 so I want my classes to contribute to that. I honestly congratulate Dr. Bell for helping us throughout this journey and for creating such a course for us educators and future librarians. What a great learning experience this was and I can honestly see how it can benefit anyone. 

My Visit to the Central Public Library in San Antonio

Soo yayy I made it to the library and had to find parking and pay for in the library parking lot. Must I say, this was one huge library. I picked a great one to visit! I am guilty as charged! When I walked in, I was very overwhelmed that I thought, let me check out the Friends room first. I confronted a lady behind the help desk and asked her about the room. She mentioned how it’s in the basement. I was like the basement? She said yes that I would have to go onto the elevator and it will take me down one floor to the basement. I followed her instructions and I ended up where needed to be. My eyes looked like this O O as I walked into the room!!!!!!!! I was like wow! This is one huge Friends room. I asked one of the volunteers where I could possibly find the children section. When I got there, I was blown away. You will see the pictures on this post and will be amazed by how much they have. I spent a good four hours in the Friends room. I purchased over 100 dollars in books. Some of the volunteers helped us by taking the books to the car because it was too much to take.

            While we were walking to put the books into the car so I can browse the rest of the library, I ran into a lady who went by the name of Linda. She was surprised by how much I spend and introduced herself as the vice president of the Friends room. She was very, very friendly. I told her what my mission was in at the library and she started giving me brochure after brochure on the Friends room and how the library worked. I asked any questions I needed to ask to find out more about the library. One of the first things I asked was if she happened to know where the Media center was. I really wanted to find out where it was, what difference of it was to my library and so on. When she showed it to me, wow it was really nice. It had it’s own area of DVDs, vhs, movies, holds and a lot more. I love how it was separated from the rest of the library.

            Another question I asked Linda is if there were any programs for adults as well as children. Well that is when she gave me another brochure and it had all the dates, times, and names of what they have available for the adults. Some examples of these include:

·      Free Mathematics tutoring

·      Free Bilingual classes

·      Yoga classes

·      Knit/Crochet Crafts

·      SCORE Business Workshop

It’s all of these and so much more. The only thing is they are separated between the different public libraries. They are not all at the central branch. They also have many book sales that go on as well as free movie showings for families. What great things this library is doing, honestly. For those people that don’t have the money to go and do activities with their family. This is honestly a great place to visit and I really wish I were apart of this library. She showed me around quite a bit more taking me all the way to the sixth floor, which my mouth dropped for. Why in the world would there be so much room in the library. On the sixth floor, they have things like Genealogy, newspapers on microfilm, and magazines back issues.  Fifth floor is for reference, Gov. docs, and Latino. I think the fourth floor she told me it was offices. The third floor is children’s, second is non-fiction and books in foreign language, and well first floor is where they have everything else. Here’s to keeping my fingers crossed for getting a library like that here or me moving to San Antonio. Haha! I had to thank her for her time and knowledge on the library. She told me I need to definitely return and stay longer and I took her up on that offer. 

Before Visiting the San Antonio Central Public Library

          I was so indecisive when picking out which library I wanted to go to in San Antonio. There are about 26 libraries and didn’t know the difference to them but did notice the one I chose is the main one. So I though this one probably has more to offer. I had no clue where this library is located so of course I had to Google it and also asked a friend of mine to double check. I was a little afraid since it was downtown and I had never been downtown before to that area. That was something new to me and I would not be alone so I thought what the heck. I went online and looked at the hours of operation and was kind of confused by it at first just because I saw so many library but I was finally able to figure out which was the main one. Their hours of operation weren’t bad at all but I did have to figure out when I was going to go because I definitely did not want to go during the night. One thing that I am looking forward to is the Friends room. I say this because I am so used to going to the Friends room here in my hometown, Brownsville. The room is not big at all back here at home and I hate that there is not a variety of children’s books. I go so many times to this one but not much luck. To imagine, how big this one might be, hmm here’s to wondering, excitedly.

I am also looking forward to see what kind of activities they have available. Here at our library, they have really neat projects for the kids and they do many different arts and crafts. I wonder if it’s the same thing in San Antonio or do they much more of a variety? One thing I found on their website is how they offer different types of classes for adults. I really want to know more about that. I think it’s very important to include the adults as well as children. After all, it is the adults that need help learning to better teach their children back at home. That is my personal opinion of course. Lets see what I can get my hands on. Don’t be surprised if I leave with the whole library in my pocket. Haha!!