When you first open a book, take a look at the front endpapers. An interesting map might catch your eye. Most times, these maps serve a purpose. And if you pass over them, you could miss a part of the… Read More ›
Collection Development
March Book Madness 2021: The Digital Version
The Fun Begins It’s that time of year again! When our school closed on Friday, March 13, 2020, I had just finished preparing all of the March Book Madness materials and was excited to come into the library on Monday… Read More ›
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball
There are several broad topics in elementary, middle, and high school that may lead to student research. When those happen, I’m a supporter of students being able to select an aspect of the topic they research. That choice can be… Read More ›
Earth Hour: A Collaboration Lesson
Earth Hour is a global event that takes place every year at 8:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March. For one hour, people turn off their lights. Famous monuments, statues, and landmarks go dark. This grassroots movement began in… Read More ›
Reconfiguring My School Library’s Layout
When we think of librarianship, most of us don’t think about physical exertion and muscle power. Books are heavy, especially nonfiction. With my library closed I decided it was time to start moving things around in anticipation of next school… Read More ›
Say Something: A Powerful, Community-Building Hall Display
“The world needs your voice.” ~Peter H. Reynolds, Say Something With the constant noise that technology and other means of communication bring to our lives in this era of modern communication, it seems we are in an endless competition to… Read More ›
Resilient Reading: Helping Kids (and Grown-ups!) to Bounce Back with Books
Merriam-Webster offers a twofold definition of the word “resilience”: 1: the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after deformation caused especially by compressive stress; 2: an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune… Read More ›
Managing Library Shelf Space
Collection development is one of my favorite parts of being a librarian. Each year I place two large book orders, stocking up on the newest releases of every genre. When the shipments are delivered, it’s like I won the lottery…. Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten Larson and Tracy Subisak
Often I suggest we bring historically based picture books into student learning to explore history. So many titles are rich entry points for moments and individuals from the past. Another approach though is to use these narratives to explore the… Read More ›
Together We Are Better: Collaborative Lesson Ideas Inspired by Picture Books
Are you looking for collaborative lesson ideas that inspire learners to work together to solve problems? Find inspiration with the AASL Standards Framework for Learners and compelling picture books. The Collaborate Shared Foundation guides learners to “Work effectively with others… Read More ›