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This was a project for my YA literacy course where we were supposed to create a reader's biography in an attempt to relate to the various touchstone readers that we might encounter in the field.

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The Early Years: Infant-9

The Cat in the Hat

by Dr. Seuss

March 12, 1957

Green Eggs and Ham

by Dr. Seuss

August 12, 1960

McElligot's Pool

by Dr. Seuss

September 12, 1947

The Sneetches and Other Stories

by Dr. Seuss

August 28, 1961

Like so many kids I learned to read from Dr. Seuss books. When I was growing up there were no beginning reader series like Random House's Step-Into-Reading or Harper Collins' I Can Read (though some of the books in those series like Danny and the Dinosaur existed as picture books)So Dr. Seuss was the go to for beginning readers. I specifically learned from Cat in the Hat. I can remember sitting with my mother or sister and sounding out the words. But some of the other titles were important to me too. For example, my grandfather was a dentist and Mcelligot's pool was in his waiting room. Green Eggs and Ham got me through a particularly difficult Christmas when I had the flu. Finally, the Sneetches which I had on vinyl was comforting me as I was often teased and bullied at school and it taught me to be proud of being different.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

This is the first picture book I remember my mom reading to me. I delighted in Harold's imagination. Of course, I got myself into trouble by taking my purple crayon and drawing on our hallway walls with it.

The Sweet Smell of Christmas

by Patricia M. Scarry Illustrated by John Parr Miller 1970

This book was a seasonal favorite. Not only could I identify with the little bear in the story as he participated in the different Christmas traditions like trimming the tree, helping his mom make Christmas cookies and drinking hot cocoa but I loved the scratch and sniff stickers that made the story come alive. Even today I can still remember the smell of the hot cocoa, the orange in his stocking, the tree, and the candy cane. every year when we unpacked the Christmas decorations there it was to my delight to be enjoyed again for another Christmas!

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The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss March 12, 1957

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This was a project for the Emerging Literacy course where we were asked to create a guide for a particular community.

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Below are three brief YouTube videos to start your journey into LGBT+ history. The first video was produced by NextDayBetter in conjunction with AARP and #LGBTLivingHistory and takes a look at the important figures and events that shaped LGBT+ history since the 1800's, The second video was produced by The History Channel and takes a look at the Stonewall Riots and how they sparked the modern day LGBT+ rights movement. Finally, the third video was produced by The Ellen Show and narrated by comedian Wanda Sykes which takes a humorous yet poignant look at LGBT+ history from its beginnings to the present.

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LaGarde_Fall 2020_Discovery Activity Option #1

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Below are three brief YouTube videos to start your journey into LGBT+ history. The first video was produced by NextDayBetter in conjunction with AARP and #LGBTLivingHistory and takes a look at the important figures and events that shaped LGBT+ history since the 1800's, The second video was produced by The History Channel and takes a look at the Stonewall Riots and how they sparked the modern day LGBT+ rights movement.

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This was a project for the Learning Theory class where we were asked to create a digital resource that could be used in an inquiry project.

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This was the mythology project created for the Learning Theory class that I built a Google Site resource for which is also linked on this Padlet

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This was part of a larger Guided Inquiry Project for the Learning Theory course. This particular presentation teaches students about the CRAP test a well known metric for judging the validity of sources and therefore the information contained within.

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This was a project for the YA literacy course. We were asked to create our own media award and come up with the criteria for the award as well as the first honorees and award winner.

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This was a project for the Children's Literacy course where we studied picture books and were asked to create our own picture. I chose to create an ABC book about a school concert.

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This was another project for the Children's literacy course. It was a group project where we retold a famous fable The Frog and the Scorpion only we changed it to The Rattlesnake and the Eagle

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This was a project for my YA literacy course. We had to choose a media award and create a display to attract the attention of a specific type of touchstone readers. In this case I chose the LGBT+ teens as my touchstone readers. Using a popular internet meme and other symbols of the LGBT+ community to tell the story of the books on display. In this case I chose the Edgar Award which is given out for the mystery and suspense genre. All the books have members of the LGBT+ community as main characters.

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Drag Queens

Story!

The pride flag is a well known symbol of LGBT+ pride and if hung by the display should help to alert the touchstone readers that the books on the display are for them.

Signage is important for any display. The signage is typically the first thing that the reader will see. It needs to catch the eye and help to tell the story or statement that you are trying to convey through the display. In this case the use of the popular LGBT+ themed internet meme should link the LGBT+ community to the Edgar Award themes mysteries and thrillers. The touchstone readers should know that the books displayed are for them.

The pink triangle, once a symbol of Nazi oppression and tyranny, has been reclaimed by the LGBT+ community as a symbol of pride and freedom. Hanging this next to the display should help to reinforce the idea that the books on display are for the touchstone readers.

Shelf talkers can help to "sell" the titles to the reader. You can use shelf talkers in a variety of ways: including highlighting a new release, letting the reader know what awards the book has won, giving a blurb about the book, providing a quote from the book, or a quote from a review. In this case each shelf talkers alerts the touchstone readers to the more specific representation within the LGBT+ community that each book(s) are reflecting.

Merchandising or how you arrange the titles on the display can also help "sell" the books to the readers. In this case the books are merchandised according to the more specific orientations and identities that are reflected in the books in order to help touchstone readers better identify books that represent them and their experiences.

Why did you choose this book for a discoverability display?

I think that it is an important example of representation not just for the target touchstone readers of LGBT+ youth but for African Americans as well and it explores a number of important topics such as racism and homophobia as well as classicism.
How did you decide on the touchstone reader for this book/display?
Once I knew that the main characters identified along the LGBT+ spectrum the idea for a display of all mysteries/thrillers involving other main characters within the LGBT+ community seemed like a no brainer. Mysteries/thrillers are quite popular among teens and LGBT+ teens want to see themselves, not only well represented but as the heroes solving the mysteries.

If this were to be an actual display in your library (and especially, if it is!) how would you measure its success? What would you look for as outcomes to show you that all this effort worked?

First and foremost, would be circulation records, and then seeing the display being browsed, and finally, participation in the share your story board.
What elements of this work are you most proud of?
I'm not usually the type to pat myself on the back but I'm really proud of the whole thing. I always try to do my best but this time I really poured my whole self into this display. I thought out every element and stayed laser focused on the touchstone readers. I think all the elements really work well together and tell the story I wanted to tell and maintain that laser focus on the touchstone readers. Most importantly I selected titles that truly reflect a number of specific experiences and identities within the spectrum of the LGBT+ community.

What might you do differently if you had the chance to do it again?

I honestly wouldn't change anything. I like it the way it is.

Ace of Spade by Faradah Abike-Iyimide

Burn It All Down by Nicholas Di Domizio

Catfishing On CatNet by Naomi Kuttzer

Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig

Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate

She's Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard

Somebody Told Me by Mia Siegert

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass

Swipe Right For Murder by Derek Milman

Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe

Ace of Spades by Faridah Adike-Iyimide

Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass

Swipe Right For Murder by Derek Milman

Burn It All Down by Nicholas Di Domozio

Somebody Told Me by Mia Siegert

Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp

Death Prefers Blondes by Caleb Roehrig

Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kuttzer

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

Trouble Girls by Julia Lynn Rubin

She's Too Pretty to Burn by Wendy Heard

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate

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Drag Queens Story! The pride flag is a well known symbol of LGBT+ pride and if hung by the display should help to alert the touchstone readers that the books on the display are for them. Signage is important for any display. The signage is typically the first thing that the reader will see.

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This was an infographic I made for my Learning Theory course.

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This was a project for the Search and The Information Landscape course. It highlights a particular database.

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Teal Yellow and Pale Carmine Hand Drawn Batik Cultural Art Technique Visual Arts Infographic

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This was an infographic I created for my Student Engagement course.