In October 2020, I shared a blog called “8 Games to Play Virtually with Elementary Students.” Now that we are back to in-person learning, I have discovered a few additional content-driven games to add to the list. These are games… Read More ›
student engagement
The Art of Creating Book Displays (Part 2)
This is the second post in a series about creating book displays in the school library. There is a true art to creating a successful book display, one in which students will stop and scan the titles, maybe browse a… Read More ›
A Year of Thinking Creatively in a Secondary Library
In January of 2021, I had a seed of an idea and a vision for my library that I put down on paper in my application for an AASL Inspire Special Event Grant. At the time, I was halfway through… Read More ›
Creative Book Displays to Get Students Reading (Part 1)
This post is the first in a series that will focus on book displays in school libraries. When students enter my middle-school library, they come with many different backgrounds and opinions about reading. Some of them are super excited about… Read More ›
Take & Go Craft Bags
Sometimes we all just need a break from our laptops and Chromebooks. Sometimes we need a way to relax, calm our minds, and re-center our thoughts. For many students crafting is the answer. This year I created a new section… Read More ›
Stepping onto a Soapbox, Part One: Aesthetics
When we mention anyone getting up on a soapbox, we generally mean that they are speaking or writing about something that evokes strong feelings within them. The term, which was first noted in print in 1907, was once a literal… Read More ›
Three Strikes and the Truth
Last month, I wrote about how a story is shared makes a difference. I encouraged you to help your students share their stories through their viewpoints. This month, I am writing to share some factors that can impact stories and… Read More ›
Connecting Authors and Readers via Social Media
Recently my daughter and I finished reading the heavy-hitting, middle-grade novel-in-verse Starfish by Lisa Fipps. My daughter’s words were flowing a mile a minute, the kind that make a librarian’s (and mama’s) heart sing. “This is the best book I’ve… 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 ›
Collecting and Celebrating the Small Wins
Whether your library is virtual, in-person, or somewhere in between, there’s no doubt that these last two school years have been simply overwhelming. Connecting personally with our students in order to deliver them their next great read or resource has… Read More ›