Thursday, August 09, 2007

New Links on our web for the week of August 9, 2007 Arts and Humanities Enjoyment of Music Online Tutor "Listen to a selection of more than 250 musical excerpts as you take the quizzes, review transitions between eras, or learn more about 80 composers." "Also includes timelines relating to musical eras (Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century), and links to additional material for composers such as Johannes Brahms, Claude Debussy, Franz Liszt, and Richard Wagner. From W.W. Norton and Company." (LII) Books and Reading Timeless Hemingway "includes a wealth of information about Ernest Hemingway. The principal pages of the web site are described below." Genealogy and History Australian Convict Info from Ancestry.com UK: "No matter what they did, they're still family" Government, Elections, and Law CRS Reports hosted by the University of North Texas. "This site aims to provide integrated, searchable access to many of the full-text CRS reports that have been available at a variety of different Web sites since 1990." Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Breastfeeding "Federal government information related to the study and promotion of breastfeeding, including recommendations (such as handling and storage of human milk, and vitamin D supplementation), effects of specific diseases and conditions on breastfeeding, statistics, and policy. Also includes a FAQ and annotated links to additional resources. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)." (LII) MedlinePlus: Breast Feeding "Compilation of links to breastfeeding, including general information and overviews, research, law and policy, statistics, and organizations. Includes many links to specific topics related to breastfeeding, such as breast pumps, breastfeeding compared to formula feeding, nutrition, and medications. From the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)." (LII) 50 State Summary of Breastfeeding Laws "Summary and chart of state laws related to breastfeeding of infants, including those allowing women to breastfeed in public or private locations, exemptions of breastfeeding from public indecency laws, employment laws (such as allowance for breaks and breastfeeding areas in the workplace), exemptions from jury duty service, and more. Includes links to laws. From the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)." (LII) Homework Flash Fractal Maker "While some may know fractals primarily from their use in abstract painting and African art, fractals are important elements within the world of mathematics. For those who seek to learn more about the construction of fractals and their uses, this very nice Flash-enabled feature from Daniel Gries at Merrimack College will definitely come in handy. This particular Flash applet draws fractals by means of a recursive algorithm, using a simple “generator” that users draw in the space that it is provided. Before using the application, users may wish read the overview offered online, and also take the time to read the instructions thoroughly. (SR) Kids Harry Potter "This site lists the seven Harry Potter books, suggests other books for children and young adults who enjoyed reading them, and includes links to official and fan Harry Potter sites. From the Baltimore County Public Library. (LII) JK Rowling and Harry Potter "Collection of dozens of news articles and analysis about the Harry Potter books and their author, J.K. Rowling. Includes material back to 2000, such as reviews, sales and profits figures, and articles about new books Rowling is working on. From the website for the Scotsman newspaper." (LII) Leisure Vayama "Vayama is not just another travel web site. Vayama is a new (and fun) way to search and book your international trip!" (DS) Parenting Resources Countdown to Kindergarten: Monthly Activities ""Besides being fun, these activities introduce four- and five-year olds to the kind of learning skills they'll be developing further in kindergarten." Includes descriptions of 12 monthly activities such as a mail activity for February, water play in July, and an October fall walk and talk. From a partnership of public and private organizations in Boston." (LII) Kindergarten Entry Skills "Overview of skills "considered necessary for a child when entering kindergarten." Topics include the importance of kindergarten entry factors as rated by kindergarten teachers (includes various social, perceptual, motor, and language development skills), and expected cognitive and motor skills. Also includes links to related sites. From the Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting (CEEP), part of the Early Childhood and Parenting (ECAP) Collaborative at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign." (LII) Ready for Kindergarten? "In this article five "kindergarten teachers from around the country ... share their insights on helping your child gain the right mix of kindergarten-readiness skills." Topics discussed include enthusiasm toward learning, oral-language skills, ability to listen, the desire to be independent, the ability to play well with others, strong fine-motor skills, and basic letter and number recognition. From Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine." (LII) Teacher Resources Earthquake Science Explained-A Series of Ten Short Articles for Students, Teachers, and Families "Created by the United States Geological Survey. Compiled by Matthew A. D’Alessio, this document contains ten short articles on earthquakes designed for classroom use. The articles originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, and they include such titles as “Find the Fault: Recognizing Active Faults”, “Looking into the past with earthquake trenches”, and “How do we make buildings and roads safer?”. Additionally, each article contains helpful graphics, illustrations, and photographs." (SR) 11:38:02 AM     Book Reviews from Investigate Some Good Books participants Getting Stoned with Savages by J. Maarter Troost: Fantastic first-hand story about life in Vanuatu and Fiji. Funny and informative! Accidental Florist by Jill Churchill: Jane Jeffry and her boyfriend Mel decide to marry. But before they marry there is a murder that has to be solved. Her future mother-in-law takes over the whole wedding while she is having a room added to her house for her future husband and also writing a mystery book while coping with everything. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz: Odd Thomas is a book full of oddball, lovable characters. The center figure being Odd Thomas. He has a gift or a curse, that allows him to see the dead. This odd gift allows him to save people and prevent tragic events. Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory: A wonderful visage into the lives of those in King Henry VIII's court. Three women's lives are entwined in a web of deceit and tyranny. Northfield by Johnny Boggs: Not a book I'd usually read, not bored though. I was caught up in the story and enjoyed it. The "other side" of the story. Faerie Path by Frewin Jones: An enchanting tale about the world mortals walk in and the world of faerie. A young girl's quest to find her place in both worlds and hold on to the faerie she loves. A Cold Day for Murder by Dana Stabenow: It's great when you read a good book to know that there are other books in the series--looking forward to the next one. Refuge by Sue Henry: Good book for the fifty plus crowd. Nothing objectionable. Pretty tame, aka boring. Light summer read. Not very substantive, therefore nothing to review. Courting Trouble by Dee Anne Gist: A good look at what happens when people are intimate before marriage. A great read--not what you'd expect in a romance. 8:56:47 AM

© Copyright 2008 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 11/18/2008; 2:38:04 PM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien