Last month, I wrote about how a story is shared makes a difference. I encouraged you to help your students share their stories through their viewpoints. This month, I am writing to share some factors that can impact stories and… Read More ›
Blog Topics
Data Literacy in the Library
Data Driven Data has always been around us, but recently it’s taken center stage in all areas of society. Earlier this month I attended the virtual Empire State Library Network Pillars Symposium. During the conference, I gathered valuable resources and… Read More ›
My Top Three Tech Tools in 2020-21
In the 2020-21 school year, I utilized technology more than ever–from Zoom to Canvas to all Google products. Some technology tools were used for teacher or library use while others were used to engage students. Of all the tools used,… Read More ›
If You Have It All, They Probably Won’t Come
The Having-It-All Mentality By having it all, I’m not referring to individuals with a perfect life. Instead, having it all is the old-school librarian philosophy to have a print collection covering every topic and issue known to humans. Having-it-all librarians… Read More ›
The Quiet Space Cure
Several years ago I read Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle (2015) and found myself dismayed by her descriptions of the state of our youth, yet hopeful about what I saw as opportunities… Read More ›
My Favorite Collaborative Lesson: Story Problems with Scratch Jr.
I find that collaboration between homeroom teachers and the school librarian can happen naturally in subjects like language arts and social studies, but other subjects like math can be a bit tricky to fit together. However, every once in a… Read More ›
Searching for Awe: Why It Matters and Resources to Help
Awe is a feeling of reverence and wonder. We experience awe when we see, hear, taste, or smell something that gives us goose bumps. When you feel a sense of awe, soak it all in. Relishing in this feeling nourishes… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Horse Power: How Horses Changed the World by Jennifer Thermes
One of my favorite units with my first-grade students is the Long Ago and Today unit. Students compare and contrast several aspects of culture and civilization in the U.S. from today and different moments in history. Technology, communication, and transportation… Read More ›
Tools to Excite Student Videographers
Since waking up this morning, you have probably viewed, shared, or posted dozens of pictures or videos. Our daily lives seem to be bombarded with visual imagery. For example, I regularly view YouTube videos to solve problems, watch documentaries to… Read More ›
What If We Were “Just Book Slingers”?
Perceptions versus Reality Okay – WE all know that school librarians are the “Swiss Army knives of education.” (Thanks for that phrase, guest on School Librarians United!) But too many people are confused about the many diverse aspects of being… Read More ›