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 ›
picture books
New 4-Week AASL eCourse
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 ›
My Favorite Collaborative Lesson: Mixing Figurative Language and Coding
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 ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring by Nancy Churnin and Felicia Marshall
Earlier this month I co-hosted a webinar on behalf of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) for librarians. In addition to highlighting the amazing collection that the NPG had to offer, we focused on how students could analyze and learn from… Read More ›
Collaboration: 3 Lesson Ideas with Picture Books
What does collaboration look like during a global pandemic? All around us, we see examples of people finding ways to work together to solve problems. Collaborators understand the power of listening to different perspectives, trying things out, and working with… Read More ›
United in Light
2020 draws to an end. The days grow shorter and the nights lengthen; both become colder. This year, more than any in recent memory, it appears that the coming winter will indeed be one of discontent. The prevailing mood throughout… Read More ›
Tips to Consider before Teaching Lessons about American Indians
Before teaching your next lesson about American Indians, read “Tips for Teachers: Developing Instructional Materials about American Indians” by Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo) and Dr. Jean Mendoza (White). This one-page guide shares ten examples to help facilitate culturally sensitive… Read More ›
Picture Books and Primary Sources: Interview with Mara Rockliff, Author of Jefferson Measures a Moose
There are some fascinating historically based picture books that focus on a largely unknown moment of a well-known person’s life. The best of those highlights an aspect of that person’s character that helps the reader look at that individual differently… Read More ›
Social and Emotional Picture Books for Face-to-Face Learning
How are you feeling about starting the new school year in a face-to-face environment? Anxious? Worried? You are not alone. Your learning community is probably feeling the same way. So, how do we help everyone feel more comfortable? Start by… Read More ›
Pairing Picture Books and Primary Sources: Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers’ Rights by Deborah Hopkinson and Kristy Caldwell
Many historically based picture books give insight into the life of an individual. Some also highlight how one person can influence the thinking of a nation. Such is the case with the book Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers’… Read More ›