Author Archives

H!! I am the lucky librarian at Ettrick Elementary School, located in Chesterfield County, Virginia. I graduated with a degree in History from Allegheny College, received a Master of Education degree from Loyola University in Maryland, and my library certification classes were taken at Longwood University. I was a classroom teacher for fourteen years before I became a school librarian and I am so glad I was. Please feel free to find me on social media. I am energized by sharing ideas with colleagues from around the world!

• A Season for Reading–One Book I Loved

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 05/10/2019 • ( 0 )

  

  As school librarians, we are all busy. There is never enough time to do it all, much less do it all well. One area that has demanded my attention lately is reading kids’ books. A school librarian must read books… Read More ›

• Book Fair–Bane or Blessing?

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 03/19/2019 • ( 3 )

  My book fair is coming in a few weeks. I may be in the minority, but it is not my favorite week of the year. Not even close. This is not a reflection at all on the vendor I use… Read More ›

• Whose Rule?

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 02/12/2019 • ( 2 )

  One characteristic of teachers and librarians is our fondness for structure. There aren’t many of us who like chaos in our jobs or classrooms. When I think about structure and procedures and how I run the school library, I am… Read More ›

• If You Order It, They Will Read It!

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 01/18/2019 • ( 3 )

  Among all the jobs that school librarians have, collection development often falls to the wayside. Lesson planning, teaching, decorating the library, book fair, reading promotion–all of these often get my attention way before I am ready to order books. Here… Read More ›

• Membership Makes a Mark

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 12/13/2018 • ( 1 )

  In my state of Virginia, I am very fortunate to be a member of the state librarian’s association—the Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL). As the old American Express commercial used to say, “Membership has its privileges.” Possibly the most… Read More ›

• Overdue Thoughts on Lost Book Fees

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 11/15/2018 • ( 2 )

  In elementary school, librarians try very, very hard to start the school year on the right foot with proactive book care lessons. We remind ourselves every September that for some of our kids, this may be the first time they’ve… Read More ›

• Connecting with Parents

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 10/12/2018 • ( 3 )

  

  As a school librarian, my contact with parents is not as frequent as a classroom teacher’s. In the past, parents only heard from me if their child had an overdue book or when it was book fair time. Since starting… Read More ›

• If You Manage Them, They Will Learn….

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 09/13/2018 • ( 1 )

  Although I am a seasoned educator who has spent most of my career teaching at-risk kids in Title I schools, I still got excited when I saw this book online: Responsive Classroom for Music, Art, PE, and Other Special Areas… Read More ›

• Happy New Year!?!

  By Elizabeth Kyser on 08/10/2018 • ( 0 )

  

  Although I love my summer vacation, I also love planning and looking ahead to the new school year. Like new pencils all sharpened, my brain feels ready for new adventures in my elementary school. Here is what I am thinking… Read More ›