When I first moved into my current library, a colleague visited and suggested I utilize the wall space in the hallways leading in by putting up some large bulletin boards.  She could see the possibilities for displaying student work and library concepts in this high-traffic area.  I followed her advice and have had a love/hate relationship with those boards ever since!  On the one hand,

I was just getting ready to print my library day bookmarks for the upcoming school year when a conversation (started by the wise Jen Jones of Hello Literacy and continued by the inspiring Jessica Martin of The Whimsical Teacher) erupted on Instagram about the fact that some schools are so strict with “library days” that they won’t allow students to check out books or visit

Do you have students who find a favorite book series and then want to read all of the books in order?  On any given day in my library, students come in asking questions like: “What’s Magic Tree House number 17?” “Which book is after Rodrick Rules?” “What’s the first book in the Underland series?” Now, I know it is relatively easy to look up the

About a month ago I received a surprise visit by a local television station and representatives from First Interstate Bank with a check for $250 – I had won their One Class at a Time grant!! I used the money from this grant to purchase 5 Ozobot Starter Kits, (which were on sale for $50 each).  These tiny programmable robots will enable all of my

I am passionate about students connecting with other students, near and far.  We are so fortunate to live in a time when the Internet makes that not just possible, but downright easy!  Along with all of the wonderful possibilities, of course, come some downfalls, or dangers, that the World Wide Web brings.  Because of both the pros and cons, I give a resounding YES to

Talking to kids about being safe and respectful online is important, but it’s so hard to hold their attention!  I was really excited when a friend of mine came back from last year’s NCCE Conference with this great idea:  A Digital Citizenship Survival Kit.  It contains concrete items that students can connect with abstract concepts – a great way to make their learning memorable.  I

Happy New Year!  Students and teachers will be flooding back to school next week, excited to see what 2016 will bring!  Set the stage for an exciting new year of reading by helping your students make some “Reading Resolutions!”   Make a display of new books and/or some that may have been forgotten and let your students browse to find titles for their “To-Read” list. 

If I asked you where your smoke alarms are located in your home, could you tell me? If you’re like most people, you may not pay attention to where smoke alarms have been installed. Smoke alarms should be located inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Working smoke alarms are a critical fire-safety tool that

I’m linking up with Rachael over at The Classroom Game Nook to give you 10 peeks into my crazy life as August rears its wild head! I’ve been spending a couple of hours at school everyday to get organized.  Thank goodness I just updated my Library Back to School Tool Kit with some new clipart!  Fun labels and new school supplies always get me in