It is no wonder why April has been deemed National Poetry Month. Early spring is filled with inspiration. The longer days and warming temperatures seem to improve my mood and stir my creativity. What a great time for reading and… Read More ›
poetry
April is also National Poetry Month
Could you recommend a SHORT book? As a librarian for tweens and teens, I am always on the quest for extraordinary, shorter novels to offer my patrons. Unfortunately, books now compete with schoolwork, video games, and social media. One of… Read More ›
Perking Up Your Poetry
In the spirit of the most romantic month of the year, I put together a list of some contemporary poetry collections to perk up your poetry sections this February. In the last two years my high school students have been… Read More ›
It’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? There are lists just for the… Read More ›
Two for Tuesday: Lessons with Two Picture Books
Developing lessons with picture books is easier if you have a theme in mind. Two for Tuesday is a fun way to introduce two books on the same topic. If you are strapped for time, try collaborating with another educator… Read More ›
Picture Books That Inspire Readers to Create
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 ›
Making Poetry Exciting for Teens
Selling the Language of Poetry It’s hard to persuade teenagers to read novels in their spare time but when it comes to poetry, it’s an even tougher sell. Each year I teach poetry research lessons to English classes. Though I… Read More ›
Get Ready to Make It New: Embracing Change in 2021
Attention is love, what we must give children, mothers, fathers, pets, our friends, the news, the woes of others. What we want to change we curse and then pick up a tool. Bless whatever you can with eyes and hands… Read More ›
Online Poetry Activities for National Poetry Month
National Poetry Month is celebrated in April to remind us that poetry matters. Poetry can offer solace during trying moments, and now might be the time to show our learners how that works. Below are some lesson ideas that might… Read More ›
Poetic Expressions: Slamming in the Library
Nine years ago I transitioned from my position as an ELA teacher to school librarian. Eager to make an impact in a new environment I applied for and received the Ingram-White Castle Foundation Grant, which enabled me to create the… Read More ›