American History Through Picture Books and Primary Sources
As we commemorate 250 years of America, this is an excellent opportunity to develop lessons that...
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Tag: nonfiction
Leading Through the Stacks – Yep, That’s Leadership
Those final thoughts: keeping libraries relevant and engaging for all readers, and recognizing that we have the privilege of creating spaces where students thrive are so important to remember.
When we, as school librarians, lead in collection development, we are not just building collections, we’re inspiring the next generation of readers as we exercise our leadership through the stacks.
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Dewey Lite: Reorganizing Nonfiction in an Elementary Library
Let’s say a second grader asks you for a book about the military. Where do you take them in the...
Read MoreI Don’t Read Nonfiction, Now What?
The end of first semester is a mad dash to tie up loose ends for all grade levels and content areas. For many of my English classes it also means getting in that nonfiction reading that was required, but put off during the...
Read MoreLibrary Shelves to Attract the Modern Teen
See and Be Seen Teenagers don’t always notice what’s right in front of them. In my high school library few students take the time to look through the shelves when they need a book. I’m always happy to guide individuals in their...
Read MoreSupplemental Books for After AP/IB Exams
How many students learn for the sake of learning? It’s a question I think about a lot in this age of overtesting. In New York, children start with the ELA, Math, and Science tests in the early grades and then move on to the...
Read MoreSpeed Dating with Nonfiction Books
Every year I collaborate with the 11th-grade English teachers on a nonfiction independent reading project. The goal is to increase student agency and create excitement about literature. While many juniors initially express an...
Read MoreEngaging Nonfiction Titles for High School Students
Summer is a reading marathon for me. Each year, as I prepare to go back to my high school library, I take stock of titles I’ve read that might engage my students. I’m not always successful at motivating resistant teenage...
Read MoreFighting Anti-Semitism and Anti-Asian Hate Through Books
May is Jewish American Heritage and Asian American & Pacific Islander Month. Both these cultures contain vibrant histories. Unfortunately, something else they have in common lately is an increase in hate crimes against them....
Read MoreSpeed Dating with Books: The Power of Creative Nonfiction
This year I was thrilled to be back in person for our yearly 11th-grade Speed Dating with Books event. Though last year’s digital version was successful, it could not compare to the energy of a live activity. Amid the...
Read MoreIt’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Book Lists
One of my favorite times of the year is the end-of-year book lists. Public libraries, journals, authors, publishing companies, educators—they are all posting their favorite books from the year. Are you a middle-grade librarian?...
Read MoreNonfiction November: Titles to Motivate High School Students
When the leaves begin to turn and the air becomes cooler here in the Northeast, I find myself turning more to nonfiction. With #NonfictionNovember a popular hashtag on social media, maybe I’m not the only one who craves...
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