Book clubs have been a staple in school libraries for years. Usually the same few students show up each time, because they genuinely love books. While every school librarian is pleased that they attend, it would be nice to add… Read More ›
Technology
Digital Solutions to Book Club Issues
Book Clubs Are Great! Except… I think we can all agree that book clubs are great. They encourage a sense of community and collaboration as the group reads and discusses their reactions to the texts. They foster students’ sense of… Read More ›
Going 1:1 – I wish I would have…
I am a school librarian in the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, KS. We have been fortunate to have access to technology in a variety of ways throughout the building, including the school library. In January, technology access… Read More ›
Your Wish Granted with Library Grants
“By a show of hands, how many of you have visited the Parthenon in Nashville?” I asked a second-grade class one day in the library. Even though my school is 40 miles from the full-scale replica of the original Parthenon… Read More ›
Using Picture Books for Beginning Coding Concepts
As school librarians our heart leads us to books. Using picture books is a great way to teach beginning coding concepts. Digital Citizenship week and Hour of Code celebrations are often featured in many of our school libraries. I like… Read More ›
Code to Move: Mixing Coding with Brain Breaks
To Start: Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the CS Fundamentals Introduction Workshop sponsored by Code.org. This workshop explored why computer science should be taught to all students. The presenter was Vinos Kassab (@kassabv). She shared how students’ computational… Read More ›
Reading Apps Roundup
21st-Century Reading It has been nearly ten years since I have “curled up with a good print book.” No worries though, I am still reading two or more books a week. But ever since I discovered the joy of reading… Read More ›
Makerspaces – To Kit or Not to Kit?
I am lucky enough to serve librarians, teachers, and students in Denver Public Schools, which has a wonderful collection of circulating makerspace kits for librarians and teachers to check out–kind of a “try before you buy” concept that provides a… Read More ›
Organizing 3D Printing Projects
The library 3D printers are receiving more use as additional classes utilize these devices for content assignments. When we first received the 3D printer, we began small with individual students creating and printing personal designs. We were encouraged by the… Read More ›
AASL Standards and Multiple Literacies during Academic Flex Time
My school library thrives during interstitial times; in-between moments are quickly filled. My programming and priorities invite large swaths of the student body to utilize the library space to do the social work of education. Like a circadian rhythm, we… Read More ›