Author Archives

I am the librarian at Detroit Country Day Lower School in Bloomfield Hills, MI. I have worked as a school librarian for the past eleven years. I was a classroom teacher for four years prior to that. I have worked in charter, public, and private schools. My favorite thing about being a school librarian is the opportunities I have to work both with students and teachers. I love the co-teaching opportunities and connections I have been able to make! I have served on AASL committees as a member and chair. I currently serve as secretary of my state association, Michigan Association of School Librarians (MASL).

• Back-to-School Library Tour for Teachers

  By Kelly Hincks on 08/21/2023 • ( 9 )

  

  Last spring, I had a conversation with a classroom teacher and it went like this:  Teacher: “I feel bad asking, but do we have the book I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.” Me: “We do! I am happy… Read More ›

• My Favorite Collaborative Lesson: Celebrating Children’s Week

  By Kelly Hincks on 07/12/2023 • ( 0 )

  

  It can be challenging at the end of the school year for a teacher to keep students engaged and learning while matching their level of anticipation for summer break.  This past school year a third-grade teacher came to discuss an… Read More ›

• 5 Tips and Tricks for Teaching Research in Elementary

  By Kelly Hincks on 05/16/2023 • ( 3 )

  

  Research in early elementary? Yep! You bet!  Teaching research skills to students at any age can be a large task, but with elementary students, it takes a unique approach.  Here are five tips and tricks I have learned for teaching… Read More ›

• 3 Reasons to Love Passive Programming

  By Kelly Hincks on 03/02/2023 • ( 0 )

  

  In August, I attended #BossLibrarianPD put on by K.C. Boyd.  This was a free virtual two-day professional development for school librarians featuring presenters from across the country.  One such presenter was Holly Brown (@MsBrownsLibrary).  She shared a session called Easy… Read More ›

• Celebrating Crayola’s Creativity Week with Kindergarten

  By Kelly Hincks on 01/19/2023 • ( 1 )

  

  What is Crayola’s Creativity Week? Crayola’s Creativity Week will take place on January 23rd – 29th!  The goal of this week is to celebrate children’s creativity and embrace innovative thinking.  There is a different event planned every day for children… Read More ›

• My Favorite Collaborative Lesson: Learn About Each Other Using Hexagonal Thinking

  By Kelly Hincks on 12/13/2022 • ( 2 )

  

  Inspiration can come from so many places! Sometimes a collaborative project starts with the school librarian and sometimes it begins with the classroom teacher.  This project was developed from an idea shared by a classroom teacher.  She had listened to… Read More ›

• A Community Read Using Potato Pants!

  By Kelly Hincks on 10/06/2022 • ( 1 )

  

  Our school decided to start the year with a community read where everyone has a shared reading experience using one book.  This is the first time my school has ever participated in this type of program.  So far it has… Read More ›

• 8 Things on my “To Do” List to Start the School Year

  By Kelly Hincks on 08/15/2022 • ( 2 )

  

  When the calendar flips to August I start thinking about the start of the school year.  As I make my “to do” list here are eight things I always do to start the year.  Share New Back-to-School Books I create… Read More ›

• MAME Summer Book Club: The Gift of Story by John Schu

  By Kelly Hincks on 07/12/2022 • ( 0 )

  

  Summer is a great time to catch up on reading.  So when the Michigan Association of Media in Education (MAME) shared they were hosting a virtual summer book club I was all in!   The Book The title that was chosen… Read More ›

• 5 Things I Learned Being on an Interview Committee

  By Kelly Hincks on 06/02/2022 • ( 1 )

  

  If you are like me you have interviewed for your fair share of teaching positions or professional programs.  If you are also like me, you may have never been on the other side of things where you are the interviewer. … Read More ›