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On August 28, I wrote: I am learning about the Big 6 and want to begin using it with my primary (K-4) students. I am interested in advice from any of you who have experience using Big 6 with this age group. I will post a HIT-> if anyone is interested!! Sorry that it has taken me so long to compile my HIT->. Thanks to all who responded to me, both to give advice and to ask me to post a HIT->. I was thrilled at a library media specialist's meeting in my own school division to hear a primary and a middle school library media specialist talking about the Big 6! I first heard about Big 6 from Sandii Huemann-Kelly, a former colleague who is now in Iowa. I will be sharing this HIT-> with library media specialists in my school system as well as on the NET. First, I was referred by several folks to two books: Information Problem Solving: The Big Six Approach to Library and Information Skills Instruction (Ablex, 1990) and Curriculum Initiative: An Agenda and Strategy for Library Media Programs (Ablex, 1988) Address for Ablex: 355 Chestnut Street, Norwood, New Jersey 07648 Phone 201-767-8450 I haven't received my books yet, but I am very anxious to read them! Also, I was referred to two articles: Eisenberg and Berkowitz, "Information Problem-Solving: The Big Six Approach" SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA ACTIVITIES MONTHLY, Vol. 3 #5, January, 1992, p. 27-29, 37, 42. Sine, Lynn, and Becky Murphy, "Teaming to Teach the Information Problem Solving Process," SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA ACTIVITIES MONTHLY, Vol. 9, No. 5, November, 1992, p. 30-31, 35 Lynn is a library media specialist in New York, and the article describes a unit she did with a first grade teacher. Lynn also wrote to me and mentioned a rap song that she and the music teacher made up. She uses a form to coordinate what is going on in the classroom on a monthly basis. Write to Lynn at LSINE%ONONDAGA>bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (hope I got that right!) Bob Grover wrote to tell me about a video he and Mike Eisenberg produced that is available from Libraries Unlimited. The tape is 30 minutes. I did get the tape, and would recommend it! I took notes from the tape, and together with the article by Mike and Bob Berkowitz and some friendly advice from them online, i tried the Big 6 with my third and fourth grade classes. Also, when I met with 3rd and 4th grade teachers last week to talk about flexible scheduling (which we do after the first six weeks), I talked about the Big 6, and showed them the poster I made. They all wanted a copy! We are using the Big 6 when they bring their classes to research. Margaret Whittaker told me about her way of introducing Big 6--A Big 6 Pizza Unit!She has a great unit developed--contact her at mswhitta@mailbox.syr.edu for more details. Sandy Scroggs was just getting started (like me). She is building a curriculum map and has interested her teachers in a biography unit using Big 6. Contact her at sandyscr@tenet.edu to talk about what she is doing. Barbara Jansen (who has recently posted information on Big 6 with Kindergarten on the NET) sent me lots of useful info. She is developing a scope and sequence and mapping the curriculum.She uses the Big 6 during library orientation, grabbing the student's attention with real-life examples. When she first wrote me, she was using Big 6 in 2-5 grades.For example, she used it with second grade for a planet fact search in the library; they used the facts about planets in a fiction story. Later, she described a unit on farm animals with first grade, and of course, the lesson with Kindergarten. Contact Barbara at bjansen@tenet.edu (hope some of you will report on her session at AASL!) Diane Durbin says Big 6 skills are of value anytime you are in a situation where one needs to locate, evaluate and use information in order to solve a problem. She described both successes and less than successes with her teachers. She planned to make a handout on Big 6 for kids whose teachers do not embrace Big 6, and make a bookmark or pocket sized handout *(giving credit to Mike and Bob.) Her email address is dianed@TENET>EDU. Carolyn Haney mentions that Big 6 works well with flexible scheduling in her K-6 school. She works with teachers to use Big Six in their units, with the support of the school district. Contact her at Carolyn.Haney@uni.ed. Betty Hamilton, a high school librarian, cautions us to use the vocabulary that little ones will need and not change the wording too much. Connie Williams (cowilli@eis.calstate.edu) is working with a fourth grade teacher and making simplified posters. She said their elementary schools have had no librarians for years, so students have had little or no library training. She says the books mentioned above are great and "practically hold your hand throughout the process." Alice Yucht suggests an alternate framework developed by her 7th grade students: 4 steps-F L I P. . .she is working on a book for Linworth with this strategy. Write her at YUCHT@zodiac.rutgers.edu. And last week, Mike Eisenberg suggested the SUPER THREE for kindergarten (Beginning, Middle, End.) Thanks to everyone who responded. Let's keep in touch and share our successes! Karen Whetzel -- Greetings from the HEART of the Shenandoah Valley! Karen Whetzel Library Media Specialist Post Office Box 809 Ashby-Lee Elementary School (K-4) New Market, Virginia 22844 Mount Jackson, Virginia 22842 703-740-8589 703-477-2926 kwhetzel@pen.k12.va.us