Getting books into the hands of students is the goal for any school library, no matter the age of the learners. I am always looking for new ideas on how to draw students’ attention into the school library, and how… Read More ›
school libraries
Space Resources for Day One of Crayola Creativity Week: Endless Possibilities
Star Gazing One recent night when the temperature in New York hovered around 15 degrees, my dog needed to go outside. I had been sitting on the couch reading (ironically!) A Year in Jamaica, Diana Lewes’s memoir from 1889. While… Read More ›
Building Dreams and Community: Celebrating Crayola Creativity Week with Ali and The Sea Stars
Wondering how to add some drama to your lessons? On Tuesday, January 24th join Broadway Star Ali Stroker and Illustrator Gillian Reid as they read their children’s book Ali and the Sea Stars. Ali and Gillian will be sharing inspiring… Read More ›
Speed 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 aversion to reading, they often show an… Read More ›
Stranger Library Reading Challenge
To capitalize on the popularity of the Netflix Series Stranger Things during the Halloween season, I created a Stranger Library Reading Challenge. A fun and festive way to get students involved in reading at the school library. This challenge asks… Read More ›
Right To Read Act: Join AASL in Thanking Sponsors
Please join AASL and ALA in thanking Senator Jack Reed and Representative Raúl Grijalva for introducing the Right to Read Act (S. 5064 and H.R. 9056) on 10/6/2022! The ALA/AASL goal is to reach 5000 ‘thank you’ signatures and we… Read More ›
Why Stories Matter in a Data-Obsessed World
Data Driven We live in a world that is largely data driven. Teenagers, especially, are surrounded by quantifiable things. How many likes did my Instagram post get? What was your grade on the Social Studies test? Did you add another… Read More ›
When to Hold On, When to Let Go
When we no longer have the what is needed for them, when is it time to let go of programs in our school library that we have grown from a seed? When is it worth the fight with our… Read More ›
Different types of SEL Activities to Build School Library Culture
School libraries are often a refuge for learners who feel overwhelmed, need a safe space, or just want somewhere to go. At the start of the school year many are feeling stress and anxiety about the unknown of what the… Read More ›
Engaging 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 More ›