Team+3,+ref+log+2a

//(2010). Retrieved February 15, 2010, from Fact Monster: __ http://www. factmonster.com __ //  This site is easily navigated and allows for multiple functions. At the Home page, a user can access Almanac information by directing the cursor over the reference desk and clicking the Almanac section. There are multiple index choices that the user can choose from at this point. Under each index, there are multiple topic choices. Once the user chooses a topic and clicks on the topic, multiple choices of information will then appear.  For instance, by choosing “All About Books” under the “Word Wise” index, the user is presented a variety of choices. Several of the options would provide effective material for Elementary Media lessons. A couple of these options include “Books Inside and Out” and “A Guide to Library Books: The Dewey Decimal System.” There are also several book lists including “Best Selling Children’s Books” and “Notable Books for Children.” By selecting the “Teachers Top 100 Books for Children”, “Charlotte’s Web” and the author E.B. White are listed. The user then has the option to click on the author’s name to reveal a short biography of the author and other interesting information and links.
 * Team 3, Reference log 2b: Almanacs ||  ||<   ||
 * Reviewed by Diane

The Arts and Living index includes business information, calendars, holidays and nine other topics. Under the United States index there are topics such as history, geography, education, population, postal information, laws and rights, flags, cities and the list goes on. The Science index topics include animals, astronomy, weather, the body, general science, and many more. There are eight indexes in the Almanac section of Fact Monster. Each index has numerous topics and each topic is linked to even more information and further links. The features section offers timely information such as current news topics, “Today in History,” “Today’s Birthday” and daily vocabulary, analogies, polls, and quizzes. The Olympic topic provides as thorough information as I have I seen anywhere and found myself accessing this site to get information about the athletes, the scoring methods and event rules. The Black History Month topic provided fresh, new information in mass quantities, a smorgasbord of lesson building resources. Fact Monster offers much of the information a children’s almanac does (geographical data, population data, weather, timelines, maps, etc.) but with its strong database, it offers so much more. The site is ad driven but the ads are not intrusive or distracting. Because it is designed for kids, in addition to the loads of information, the site offers homework tips, interactive tutorials, games, quizzes, a dictionary and encyclopedia. Age range: Elementary, Middle School Subject: All Rating: 10 ||  ||< //Jodye's// comment :I also found this wonderful almanac. I think the information and its range make this site a valuable source for students and teachers. I can see it used with a Smartboard or LCD projector for a variety of lessons. Students would enjoy whole group discussions about topics as well as using the source independently for research or just for fun. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

//Katie's// comment : || //Citation in APA format goes here.// //The Farmers’ Almanac.// (2010). Retrieved February 20, 2010, from Almanac Publishing:[|http://www.farmersalmanac.com] REF 031
 * Reviewed by //Jodye//

Online source

//Text of review of reference source goes here.// The online //Farmers’ Almanac// is filled with useful information that would be a good resource for students studying food science and agricultural science in high school. The site is user friendly and free. The //Farmers’ Almanac// has been around since 1818 and has continued to serve the needs of those searching for answers about topics such as: weather, home and gardens, astronomy, natural cures, and recipes. You can search these topics to find all kinds of information and articles about the phases of the moon, weather forecasts, and the best days to fish and garden. Facts and folklore are also available including featured articles and a weather article archives. To search a topic you simply enter a search term and then choose articles, recipes, videos, blogs or pages to discover a wealth of information. Good tips such as; a room by room guide to de-allergizing your room which will take you to related topics for further searches. Tags are used for accessing blogs. There are videos and audios for everyday do it yourself activities like how to make a clothes line and blues busting recipes for winter. I think this resource has a great deal to offer students and I enjoyed browsing for information. It’s really neat to think that after so many years this almanac is still going strong. I think that speaks to its authority. Grade Level: High School or all grade levels depending on needs Subject Areas: Health, Science Overall Rating: 9

Grades: enter //your best judgment of age/grade appropriateness of the resource// Subject(s): enter //your best judgment of subject area(s) where resource would be most valuable// Rating: // provide your rating, using scale of 1-10 // ||  ||<  //Diane's// comment :

I reviewed this site as well Jodye, and share your observations. The site is obiviously not designed for the education market but as an adult I enjoyed just browsing. I appreciate its history and what it has provided our public for many years but it is not a source I would necessarily refer my students to. I noticed that my Media Center had six current print versions the Farmer's Almanac while only having one copy of The World Almanac and with the 2007 being the latest version. I asked the MS about this and she said that the Farmer's Almanacs are donated each year. Is that true for you as well?

//Katie's// comment : || Gaquin, D., & DeBrandt, K. (Eds.). (2006). //The Almanac of American Education//. Lanham, MD: Bernan Press. Retrieved February 24, 2010, from [|__http://site.ebrary.com/lib/westga/__] __ docDetail.action?docID=10132049 __
 * Reviewed by //Katie//

//The Almanac of American Education// is edited by Deirdre Gaquin and Katherine DeBrandt and published by Bernan Press. Bernan Press has been in operation since 1952 and publishes more than 45,000 publications. Contact information for Bernan Press, including physical address, phone number, email address, and website, are included in the first pages. Editor Deirdre Gaquin has more than 20 years of experience working with statistical data. She has worked as a consultant for private organizations, government agencies, and universities. Katherine Debrandt is a data analyst with Bernan Press. The purpose of this text is to provide an overview of the educational system at the county, state, and national levels. A lot of statistical data is presented in this almanac to offer a concise understanding of the state of education in America. The book opens with a table of contents, followed by the preface. The preface includes a basic statement of content and purpose. It provides examples of sources from which statistical data was taken and explains the general organization of content within the main textual body. A short disclaimer regarding possibility of statistical inaccuracy is included, and information about the editors is presented. The next two sections present a list of tables and a list of figures. The main text of the almanac follows, divided into three sections – Parts A, B, and C. Part A provides statistics and information at the national level. Part B is dedicated to statistical information at the regional and state levels. Part C incorporates educational and statistical data at the county level. The statistical data presented in Parts A, B, and C is organized well and easy to understand. These parts consist of many graphs, tables, and charts that are well-designed and lend themselves to a better understanding of the information. The text is thorough and sufficient and fulfills the purpose of the almanac. The following section acts as a guide to finding educational resources online. This section first explains the organization of content within, and follows with an inclusive array of useful educational websites. An index containing key terms and subjects is included at the end of the almanac. I think this resource might, at times, be useful for students at the high school level. It would definitely be useful for administrators and teachers within the K-12 system. It would also be useful at the collegiate level. I rate this resource at a 9.

Grades: //9-12 students, college; K-12 administrators & teachers// Subject(s): Education, Social Studies Rating: 9 ||   ||<  //Diane's// comment :

//Jodye's// comment : Katie I agree that this site could be a useful source for administrators and teachers. It could also be used for high school students on a debate team as they may look for information about American education as opposed to other countries or the past/ present. I find these almanacs fun to browse. Thanks for the information. ||