Websites for coping

The American Library Association has been meeting in Chicago and so librarians, teachers, publishers, and parents have had a chance to learn more about the books and other media being produced for children. One of the useful lists unveiled this week has been the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) list of great websites for teaching and learning. Although the professional media are filled with praise for how technology is helping children to learn, people on the ground who spend their time interacting with real live children often find it difficult to manage the flood of new materials and messages being sent. It was hard enough in the old days to try to match children with the perfect books to fill their needs, but now the task is overwhelming. Fortunately, the new tools allow youngsters, as they grow, to find and manage more of their own material. Education is becoming more of a collaboration rather than a teacher dominated experience. Check out some of these websites and think about some of the ways children's learning experiences can be expanded and strengthened.