One of my favorite units with my first-grade students is the Long Ago and Today unit. Students compare and contrast several aspects of culture and civilization in the U.S. from today and different moments in history. Technology, communication, and transportation… Read More ›
Did you know that author/illustrator Yuyi Morales is a self-taught artist? The public library was her school. Picture books inspired her to create. When Morales immigrated to America, she spent hours studying and copying picture books. The books fueled her… Read More ›
Occasionally a historically based picture book slips by me. Farmers Unite! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices was one such books. But then the author, Lindsay Metcalf, spoke at our state conference. When she shared her book, one librarian after… Read More ›
Think of a time when you explored the outdoors. How did it change you? I recall the one time I went rock climbing. It was hard and scary, but I clambered to the top. I remember feeling a sense of… Read More ›
For Read Across America Week, the central focus is literacy. Our school traditionally recognizes the works of Dr. Seuss during this week. However, we wanted to make a connection with this year’s school theme, “Together We Are a Masterpiece,” and… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
Five Years Ago It seems like many long ages have passed since Lin-Manuel Miranda, accepting the Tony Award for Hamilton’s score, gave an emotional and heartfelt speech (in sonnet form!) that honored his own wife and also gave tribute to… Read More ›
Did you take a look at the award-winning books announced by the American Library Association this week? I was excited to find my favorite picture books on the list. Some of the books are perfect for designing lessons around the… Read More ›
As a school librarian collaborating with classroom teachers is a key component to our role in the school community. Collaboration can come in many forms, but the goal is to move past just the curation of resources. The focus is… Read More ›