tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.comments2023-08-07T02:54:46.994-07:00Librarians on the FlyAnn Vegahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04619469662321821450noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-79262730489252528162017-04-17T11:19:35.675-07:002017-04-17T11:19:35.675-07:00Sarah,
Perhaps you misunderstood me. I think you...Sarah, <br />Perhaps you misunderstood me. I think you have crafted a very good story. The two voices give a fresh perspective to a topic that needs more attention. It is engaging and entertaining. It is a book that I could wholeheartedly support if not for the belittling comments made about Girl Scouts.<br /><br />What I object to is the inclusion of Celena as a Girl Scout. I find her character unnecessary to the plot, and I am most disturbed by the fact she has no voice. By the end of the story, the reader observes Joe and Ravi addressing most of the biases and stereotypes introduced. The different threads of resolution make it acceptable to have a different cultural background, need additional help at school, or receive extra attention from parents. But being a Girl Scout is never acknowledged as anything besides "dorky".<br /><br />Did a girl "in a dorky green uniform" need to bring Ravi's things to him at the nurse? Or could it have just been another student from the class? When Dillon mouthed off as they began to share their personal reflections, did he have to say something derogatory about Girl Scouts? If you felt he should verbally attack one of the girls, couldn't it have been for something more common, something most girls outgrow, like bringing a stuffed animal to school? <br /><br />If you felt so strongly that a Girl Scout was needed in the story, why wasn't she allowed to speak up for herself? Ravi is allowed plenty of time to explain why he brought leeches, while Celena is not given a single sentence about her choice of items. And if not Celena, perhaps her teacher could have said something positive about scouting, such as praising a recent take action project or mentioning any of our familiar female leaders who were once Girl Scouts.<br /><br />I'm angry about this because Girl Scouts this age actually face these belittling comments, and by not giving Celena a voice, you missed the opportunity to demonstrate to other girls how to respond to a bully like Dillon. I kept waiting for someone to say something, anything, and create resolution. Instead I was left feeling the sting of the derogatory words with nothing done to soften the blow as I finished the book.<br />Cindy Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767022399026402890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-56334200702711130692017-04-16T08:04:37.179-07:002017-04-16T08:04:37.179-07:00Hi Cindy,
I've thought a lot about your revie...Hi Cindy,<br /><br />I've thought a lot about your review since I read it yesterday and have wondered if I'd missed something during the times I've read Save Me A Seat to my third graders. I certainly do all that I can to "promote empathy and discourage stereotypes" and I always felt like Save Me A Seat did just that. After thinking on these things and your review, I think, with all due respect, that you missed the point of the book. My students' take away from the book is always this: people may look different and have differences but, in the end, we all need and deserve basic respect. Our small community is almost exclusively Caucasian. There are very few other ethnicities represented anywhere near here. Our kids need this book and to see a character like Ravi, who has more in common with them than they first realize.<br /><br />Save Me A Seat has always reminded me of an Amy Grant song called Turn This World Around and this line: "We are all the same it seems, behind the eyes ... all we're really looking for is somewhere safe and warm, the shelter of each other in the storm". THAT is the sentiment that the vast majority of readers take away from the book.<br /><br />As far as the Girl Scout thing, I think it's imperative to remember this: all of the insults came from Dillion Samreen. I really believe that the authors handled that character very responsibly in making all of his words and actions realistic but never glorified. Because of the masterful way the book is written, the reader knows almost from the very beginning that Dillion is an up-to-no-good bully. Kids all know someone like him (unfortunately) and they don't lend any credence to what he says or does. Save Me A Seat no more turns kids against Girl Scouts than it does turn them into thieves who put stolen goods down the front of their pants! Plus... I think the scene where Dillion gets his comeuppance at the end is the single most favorite of my students this year. :)<br /><br />I hope you'll reconsider your position on Save Me A Seat. It's winning countless awards, including the Bluestem award in my home state, and I think it's, in part, because it actually *does* "promote empathy and discourage stereotypes."<br /><br />Thanks,<br />ChadChadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13160958340473774671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-26432923951491483012017-04-15T16:16:50.644-07:002017-04-15T16:16:50.644-07:00Dear Ms Rogers- I am one of the co-authors of SAVE...Dear Ms Rogers- I am one of the co-authors of SAVE ME A SEAT. Your comments deeply sadden me. Not only was I a girl scout for many years, my mother was also a girl scout leader. I still have my sash with all the badges I earned carefully sewed to it. I'm especially proud of the library badge. I have fond memories of being a girl scout, and have nothing but the utmost respect for the organization. I hope that others who read the book will take Dillon's negative comment about Celena still being a girl scout in 5th grade, in the spirit in which it was intended. Dillon is small minded - he says a lot of offensive things - none of which he apologizes for. His way of walking through the world is to insult other people to make himself feel bigger. HIs comments about Celena being a girl scout are no different than his comments about Ravi smelling of curry, or Joe being a baby because his mother worries about him being bullied. Dillon is a bully, and bullies say and do offensive things - including insulting things that my young readers care deeply about. One of the things Gita and I worked very hard to do with our book, was to expose the hidden - and sometimes NOT so hidden bias we all have toward people who are different from us. Perimma makes racist comments about Americans. Joe's father makes racist comments about immigrants. Apparently, those things were not offensive to you, but the comment about the girl scouts was. We all react when our buttons are pushed, right? SAVE ME A SEAT isn't a story about "bashing" Indians, Americans, immigrants or Girl Scouts. It was written in the hopes that it would inspire deep conversations about bias and prejudice. I know from the thousands of kids and teachers I've spoken to who have read and loved the book, that most of our readers understand who and what Dillon is. I'm sorry if the book offended you, that was certainly not our intention. We're honored that Save me a Seat is a nominee for the Hansel and Gretel Readers Choice Award and I hope that my words will be enough to change your mind about speaking out against a book whose very purpose is to address the kind of bias you feel so strongly about.<br /><br />sincerely,<br /><br />Sarah WeeksSARAH WEEKShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08326718509163374432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-86746967166973722672017-01-09T10:17:51.772-08:002017-01-09T10:17:51.772-08:00Cindy, I LOVE this idea! I have a few carts we co...Cindy, I LOVE this idea! I have a few carts we could paint Red (or Blue for HP's Knight Bus for older grades). I might steal it if I'm even fully in the elementary. Where did you get the bags from? <br /><br />Thanks! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-13073604401628770342016-12-09T01:10:25.753-08:002016-12-09T01:10:25.753-08:00Unfortunately, no. But you are welcome to adapt a...Unfortunately, no. But you are welcome to adapt and attribute it to our work.Cindy Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767022399026402890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-40180202038919492762016-12-09T01:08:18.487-08:002016-12-09T01:08:18.487-08:00I tried to include a variety of apps that crossed ...I tried to include a variety of apps that crossed the grades. When I made this, our school was providing iPads 1:1 starting in grade 6-10, so that was who I had in the back of my mind. However, our program has expanded down the grades and many of these apps are accessible at younger levels.Cindy Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767022399026402890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-91550701996191180902016-10-04T12:56:25.901-07:002016-10-04T12:56:25.901-07:00I LOVE that poster... any way you can send it in a...I LOVE that poster... any way you can send it in an editable way? I would love to keep your names on there... but change your school to my school's name!!!Mrs. Mullinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14278220196062791844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-77353215732025599542016-07-16T07:18:54.463-07:002016-07-16T07:18:54.463-07:00I love this!!! I have a flexible schedule so stude...I love this!!! I have a flexible schedule so students come whenever they need to do their own checkouts. However, I have a handful of teachers who "forget" to send them. So I think I want to do my own book bus and go to those classes that are not coming in. I especially love the idea of placing books with the least number of circulations in as well to get them some love. Thanks for sharing! Daniela Guardiolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15142396377820011655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-77381182524125398852016-06-16T09:15:51.515-07:002016-06-16T09:15:51.515-07:00What grades is this geared toward?What grades is this geared toward?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11370920628268602729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-79935610029606047192016-06-06T23:57:25.475-07:002016-06-06T23:57:25.475-07:00I don't do inventory with this app. Some revi...I don't do inventory with this app. Some reviewers commented they would like this feature.<br /><br />However, you COULD do inventory with it by "checking in" every item. It would be tedious but possible and would only tell you what is accounted for. You would run "missing" reports from the desktop version and would not be notified of what is mis-shelved.<br /><br />We use this app mainly for checkin/out outside of the library. We have instructed the english teachers in its use so they can check in/out novel sets that are housed in their classrooms. It alleviates the need for paper lists and/or walking students to the library to check out novels for short periods of time. Some teachers are more comfortable with it than others. Those who are comfortable use it, those who aren't pull in our help.Cindy Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767022399026402890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-70148318134165518482016-05-27T09:13:47.386-07:002016-05-27T09:13:47.386-07:00I also have a question, or need clarification abou...I also have a question, or need clarification about how you are doing inventory with this app. Are you only using the check-in feature? If so, how do you get reports on what is missing, or mis-shelved, etc?Valerie Bassetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16041657827086098044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-82803390105512770062016-05-25T06:07:05.314-07:002016-05-25T06:07:05.314-07:00This app is set up to scan your patrons' cards...This app is set up to scan your patrons' cards and your collection's barcodes. If you want to scan ISBN's to compile a list of books for approval, I would use the Titlewave app.Cindy Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767022399026402890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-48948361801696798722016-05-21T18:10:29.727-07:002016-05-21T18:10:29.727-07:00I have a question. I would like to scan ISBNs whil...I have a question. I would like to scan ISBNs while out in the world to see if particular books I'm interested in are approved. WILL this app scan ISBNs? Has anyone tried this?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09454939588686194443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-84490439488584766582016-04-01T09:52:28.677-07:002016-04-01T09:52:28.677-07:00I wish to add my thanks, too. You inspired me to d...I wish to add my thanks, too. You inspired me to develop a teacher absence online process. I'm using the old formMule to create the calendar events (date, name of teacher, time of absence). It works, but continues to try to create events after the last row with data, all the way to the bottom of the sheet. Would you have an idea why this is happening? Thank you very much.mrplit8https://www.blogger.com/profile/00100771270133664348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-42864551983288413562015-09-18T19:17:48.777-07:002015-09-18T19:17:48.777-07:00This is fantastic. Does it protect from double boo...This is fantastic. Does it protect from double bookings? Or do you have to follow up for those. Darren Gileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02405245075384489691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-27129472140303651412015-08-19T03:04:06.885-07:002015-08-19T03:04:06.885-07:00We came up with our key points together and kind o...We came up with our key points together and kind of talked them through a couple of times. Then we printed "scripts" (basically just a list) and taped inside the boat to establish the order. We didn't want to cue our drowning victims too soon.<br /><br />Glad you liked it!Cindy Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767022399026402890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-73452074489331232742015-08-19T01:29:26.350-07:002015-08-19T01:29:26.350-07:00Incredible. Did you practice before jumping in the...Incredible. Did you practice before jumping in the boat?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-71263485763596615682015-08-18T01:21:25.091-07:002015-08-18T01:21:25.091-07:00Phenomenal and inspiring! I am definitely sharing!...Phenomenal and inspiring! I am definitely sharing!Shannon DeSantishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10385332488321894331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-50519837317343371002015-08-18T01:02:10.833-07:002015-08-18T01:02:10.833-07:00That was really clever! Loved the "come aboar...That was really clever! Loved the "come aboard!" part as well!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-65974518282936647342015-08-17T21:44:45.487-07:002015-08-17T21:44:45.487-07:00Your iPad must be 3rd generation or newer. I enco...Your iPad must be 3rd generation or newer. I encountered this as well, thinking we could have multiple stations, but the iPad's on the cart are too old.Cindy Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00767022399026402890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-3980920298065557282015-08-17T17:10:00.697-07:002015-08-17T17:10:00.697-07:00Sharing...Sharing...cjmslmchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06175949432969485911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-17907546508422083682015-08-17T17:09:45.325-07:002015-08-17T17:09:45.325-07:00Genius! Genius! cjmslmchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06175949432969485911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-9147349771220741312015-08-17T16:53:24.225-07:002015-08-17T16:53:24.225-07:00That was great, especially the "come aboard, ...That was great, especially the "come aboard, we can help" part of it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-40584886875123052182015-07-16T08:30:22.707-07:002015-07-16T08:30:22.707-07:00I also would like to know how you handle different...I also would like to know how you handle different calendar selections. Also, how do you handle double-bookings?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138482658827362456.post-74670552398027490672015-02-18T07:17:07.639-08:002015-02-18T07:17:07.639-08:00I have the app, but when I pull up a patron I don&...I have the app, but when I pull up a patron I don't have a "SCAN" button, just a "GO" button. Is there some intermediate step I need to do to set up the camera as a scanner?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com