Teagan, who is a gifted photographer, decided to create her own original images to depict some of the key ideas and findings from their research and integrate them into the multigenre digital text.  I was so struck by the artistry of her work that this fall, I asked her if she would consider letting the library create prints of her work and have a research inspired art gallery.  She graciously gave me permission and used excerpts of her research to create informational placards for each print.  After we mounted the prints and placards on art easels, we arranged Teagan’s artwork in the sequence she outlined for us so that viewers could follow the narrative of her artistic creations.  Students and teachers alike have been impressed not only with her moving and striking photography, but they have also been pleasantly surprised to learn that it was sparked by the information she discovered in her research and that the gallery is an alternative representation of those findings.  Not only did Teagan photograph and process the photographs, but she and her father both served as models for the prints.

The research inspired art gallery has not only helped others learn about PTSD and its impact on veterans, but it has also nudged people to see research as something more than an assignment and that it is a mode of learning that can far beyond a class assignment.  I am hopeful that future galleries featuring inquiry inspired creative works will be commonplace and can incorporate additional participatory mediums for interacting with the gallery with a feature like panels coated in IdeaPaint where people can respond to the art and ideas. On behalf of the library and our learning community, I would like to thank Teagan for generously sharing her talent and wisdom with us.

2012 Teens’ Top Ten

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth (HarperCollins)
2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Penguin)
3. Legend by Marie Lu (Penguin)
4. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (Quirk Books)
5. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (Penguin)
6. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (Penguin)
7. Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Macmillan)
8. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic)
9. Where She Went by Gayle Forman (Penguin)
10. Abandon by Meg Cabot (Scholastic)

Titlewish: Creekview High School via kwout

FAQs About Titlewish

How will the money be used?

100% of the funds donated will be used to purchase high quality, shelf-ready books and other media center materials.

Are donations tax-deductible?

Your donation benefits Creekview High School and may be tax-deductible; see your tax advisor.

Can I donate books?

Unfortunately, no. We are unable to accept book donations for the media center. Our books are specially bound and labeled according to our library-specific standards.

Starting on October 15 and ending on November 8 we’re having an online Titlewish fundraiser. 100% of the money we raise will go directly to purchasing new materials for our school library.  We’re asking our Creekview High community to participate and help us raise $500. We’re going to use this money to purchase new fiction and nonfiction books requested by students for our school library.

To help us meet our goal, please visit http://www.titlewish.com/103325 beginning October 15 and click the Donate button.  The donation website will go live on October 15.   Thank you for helping our library and students!

Buffy Hamilton and Jan Reed,

School Librarians

About GALILEO via kwout

from Karen Minton of GALILEO Support Services:

The contest is open to students and other patrons, as well as educators and library staff, so encourage everyone to enter. The contest will run through the end of October. Daily winners will receive a $25 gift card, and weekly winners will receive an iPod Shuffle.  For more information, including guidelines, click on the contest spotlight on the GALILEO home page or go to http://about.galileo.usg.edu/discover_contest.