This month in WinkWorld, I note National Banned Books Week (last week of September) with the story of a tiny emerging library and a list of the TOP 100 Banned Books. In addition, I share a bit of slam poetry. Prairie Pedagogy has a new twist this month, with a couple of new contributors.

Top 100 Banned Books

ALA.org Banned Book List

One side note: Denise, of Cyber Connect Techs maintains my web pages and posts WinkWorld for me. It gave us great joy that she and her family have many of these 100 banned books on their bookshelves. Her kids are trying to understand how they could possibly be banned. Me, too.

The following URL is the exact opposite from the banned book process. Enjoy.

www.Bookcrossing.com

A world-wide system of leaving books in public places for people to find. http://www.bookcrossing.com/. About 150,000 people are members, about a half a million books are registered.

In what follows is a story of a tiny library and hope. No banned books here either.

Cow Jumped Over the Moon

In a state far, far away and with just a few, few people, one woman is working with families in a tiny town on the prairies to create a library. The population, 350 people, is a mix of white rancher families and Lakota Sioux. The two groups live in the 2nd poorest county in the United States and are in the middle of a devastating drought. In this economically deprived and isolated area, these two groups have a long history of isolating themselves from each other. Pain, distrust, and anger run deep.

The woman, Una, is biologically and historically connected to each group-the white ranchers and the Lakota Sioux. She has lived both experiences and understands and respects each. In addition, she has lived in other parts of the world and has returned to her local community to open a library/coffee/art shop, Cow Jumped Over the Moon, in a previously deserted building in the dying business district. She understands only too well that families have to jump over a lot in order to survive here. Her goal is that the library will bring families together under the safe umbrella of books. Her hidden goal is that families will together learn to jump over moons together, in order to thrive.

Slam Poetry

While teaching in Mallorca this summer, I learned about slam poetry, which is spontaneous poetry, recited orally, and used to capture an experience. Two of the students in class had the ability to sum up our learning daily. It was great fun, and I am sharing only a small portion of a poem, which grew for the 2 weeks of class. I have edited only to omit references, which were meaningful for the class. The poetry,, which follows, is from Jennette Gallagher, who is teaching in Guinea. If I can find the other student, and if she will share, we can look forward to it in the near future. Jennifer, please connect with me.

The following verses come from a longer poem, in which Jeannette captured each day of the class and every concept, which was on the syllabus.

Hello and welcome to ESLM 587
After this class, our methods will be reven'
Why, the first day we got to know Dr. Joan Wink
Her stories and philosophies sure made me think
This activity called P and P
Will allow my students to get to know me.

And then there is the ZPD
The famous theory of Vygotsky
Oh, but before we know the potential zone
We must know the class' needs and tone
So we began with KWL
Belief, change, and mission really rung a bell

Now the beauty of these activities is that we began with two
And then that number expanded to a few
Well, sixteen (or seventeen) to be precise
Each having a turn to talk was rather nice
Of this class' pie, we each contribute a luscious slice
And really, would paella be complete without rice?