As I was teaching a research lesson to an AP literature class the other day, a student raised her hand and asked, “Why is this list mostly dead white males?” She had been looking over the chart of author choices… Read More ›
inquiry
The Library Lab School
Sir Ken Robinson’s 2006 TED Talk “Do Schools Kill Creativity” is one of the most popular TED Talks to date with over 71 million views. It’s an inspiring video and one that I have regularly included in my courses to… Read More ›
Engage Learners with an Inquiry Lesson about Traveling to School
Would you like to start the school year with an inquiry lesson that supports the Engage Shared Foundation? Here’s an idea for you. Ask learners how they travel to school. Then, invite them to think about how children around the… Read More ›
The 3 Most Important Words We Use
Raise your hand if you’ve ever told a student “I don’t know” only to have a look of shock, awe, or disgust appear before you. Many students believe that because you are a librarian, you must know everything! One of… Read More ›
New 4-Week AASL eCourse: Shared Foundation Inquire
Have you wanted to increase your students’ inquiry skills? Are you looking for a new way to engage with your educator partners to bring this about? Have you wondered how to get your administrator(s) to embrace an inquiry culture throughout… Read More ›
The Power Project: AASL 2020 Roald Dah’s Miss Honey Social Justice Award Recipient
“Having power is not nearly as important as what you choose to do with it,” says the wise-beyond-her-years Matilda. The theme of power plays an important role in most of Roald Dahl’s work, particularly youth standing up against powerful adults… Read More ›
Supporting Student Research with LOC
Library of Congress Resources for Research Writer’s Block It’s been a little over a month since my last blog post. I’ve been having quite a time with writer’s block. Personally, I feel like that block is a combination of stress,… Read More ›
Mesquite ISD Libraries: Elevating Learning for Everyone Everywhere
In this most unusual of years, the librarians of Mesquite Independent School District in Mesquite, Texas, were thrilled to be presented with the 2020 National School Library of the Year Award at last month’s AASL Virtual Awards Ceremony. Located just… Read More ›
Introduce Library Resources with a Challenge
Are you looking for a fun and efficient way to introduce library resources to your learning community? I have an idea for you. Challenge learners to design a squirrel-proof bird feeder. This task will inspire learners to explore bird feeders… Read More ›
Thoughts about Navigating Our Strange New World
As president of AASL, it is an honor to have this space to share my thoughts with you. Please bear with me as I ramble through some of the thoughts and issues that are on my mind as we shelter… Read More ›