As a former 6th-grade English teacher, I miss teaching kids how to be writers. As a school librarian, I realize that reading and writing go hand in hand and there is no reason writing cannot be a part of my… Read More ›
Student Engagement/ Teaching Models
Themes in School Librarianship, Part 2: Storytelling (But Not Like You Think!)
Organically Arising Themes Not long ago, I attended the School Library Journal’s Leadership Summit 2019. There were so many interesting speakers, great workshops, and amazing colleagues to learn from and grow with! But I noticed that there were several themes… Read More ›
Digital Citizenship: More Dos, Less Don’ts
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, citizenship is “membership in a community (such as a college); the quality of an individual’s response to membership in a community.” It stands to reason that when considering digital citizenship, the same definition can… Read More ›
Welcoming Students with Special Needs to the Library
As I presented my database introduction lesson to a class of ninth-graders, I wondered if I was going too quickly for them. I looked at their focused faces and continued speaking, making a decision not to simplify my words. When… Read More ›
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day?
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day? Does your state, city, or school celebrate Columbus Day, or do you celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day? Many students have learned a poem that starts off, “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” It goes… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Interview with Donna Janell Bowman, Author of King of the Tightrope
As we continue to explore picture book authors who utilize primary sources in their research, I was excited to interview Donna Janell Bowman who, in her newest book, writes about one of my favorite lesser-known historical figures, The Great Blondin…. Read More ›
Creating Lasting Change, Maybe
The high school to college gap is like college readiness, one of those realities that implant itself in our minds like fake news or mass incarceration. Unfortunately, these simple-sounding concepts indicate massive, almost unapproachable issues that we talk about but… Read More ›
Improve Visual Literacy Skills with Picture Books
Visual literacy is the ability to gather meaning from an image. It’s the practice of asking questions about what we see and why it matters. Giving learners opportunities to look closely at images will sharpen their critical thinking skills. Picture… Read More ›
Meaningful Displays: 4 Examples of Displays with Purpose
In November 2015, Jennifer LaGarde wrote a blog post called “Six Tips for Building Book Displays That Matter.” In the post, she shared how her philosophy around displays had changed since starting as a librarian. She questioned, “Why would we… Read More ›
Stations in the Library Part 1 – Choosing Your Stations
Want to create stations or centers in your school library but don’t know where to start or what to use? My friend Leigh Hopkins, instructional technology facilitator for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and I tackled that topic in a recent workshop…. Read More ›