Author Archives

Library Media Specialist in Arkansas. Self-proclaimed geek. Lover of nature and music. Always learning.

• What Is a #ConnectedEducator?

  By Ashley Cooksey on 12/12/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  How often in your career have you heard someone say, “you really need to be a connected educator” or “you should get connected with…”? I find myself telling friends and colleagues this quite often. Many of us in the school… Read More ›

• #futurereadylibs: Which Wedge Gives You the Edge?

  By Ashley Cooksey on 11/10/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  Shannon McClintock Miller, Teacher Librarian and blogger at The Library Voice, along with Mark Ray, Director of Innovation and Library Services at Vancouver (WA) Public Schools presented at the second round of Concurrent Sessions at #AASL17. Shannon and Mark are… Read More ›

• But That’s Not a Reading Book: The Importance of Reading for Pleasure

  By Ashley Cooksey on 11/09/2017 • ( 8 )

  

  How often do you hear the phrase “but that’s not a reading book”? Many books fall into the “not reading book” category: maps, cookbooks, craft books, I Spy books, Where’s Waldo books, and so on. It is our duty as… Read More ›

• Celebrating Digital Citizenship Week

  By Ashley Cooksey on 10/10/2017 • ( 1 )

  

  Are you celebrating Digital Citizenship Week? According to Common Sense Education, Digital Citizenship Week is October 16-20, 2017. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with “fake news,” Photoshopped pictures, social media at its peak, and multiple digital devices… Read More ›

• See One, Do One, Teach One

  By Ashley Cooksey on 09/11/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  The phrase “see one, do one, teach one” is often used for medical personnel, particularly trainees focused in surgical areas. The phrase reflects a method of teaching in which a surgical student will observe a procedure, perform the procedure on… Read More ›

• 5 Creative Book Display Ideas (without wall space)

  By Ashley Cooksey on 08/03/2017 • ( 1 )

  

  I’ve had the privilege to work in various styles of school libraries, none of which had wall space for book displays or advertisements. Drawing students into the library at the beginning of the year is one of the easiest ways… Read More ›

• 5 Ways to Advocate for Your School Library This Year

  By Ashley Cooksey on 07/13/2017 • ( 3 )

  

    Advocacy. How often do you think about how to advocate for your school library? How often do you read blogs, articles, and essays published with ideas on how and why to advocate for your program? It is an almost… Read More ›

• Just Let the Kids Do It

  By Ashley Cooksey on 06/14/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  “Just let the kids do it,” our dance teacher often sighs at me. I’ll admit. I’m a bit of a control freak. Like to the point I will unload the dishwasher after my mother loads it, only to reload it… Read More ›

• Partnering with the Public Library: Book Talks & More

  By Ashley Cooksey on 05/08/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  A partnership with the public library can provide a school library with a wealth of resources. Often, a school library’s funding is much, much less than your local public library’s funding. Recently, I reached out to my local county library branch… Read More ›

• Celebrate #SLM17 with Flipgrid

  By Ashley Cooksey on 04/13/2017 • ( 0 )

  

  Each year, school libraries celebrate #SLM17, or School Library Month. The hashtag #SLM17 is used to follow the conversation on social media, with the numerals changing each year. You may recall a post about the history of SLM in March… Read More ›