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You are here: Home / Archives for Collaboration

January 9, 2021 by: Laura

School Librarian Professional Development Just for YOU!

School Librarian Professional Development

How many times have you found yourself sitting in the middle of a school professional development aimed at classroom teachers? I know I’ve been there. We doodle in our notebooks and daydream of school librarian professional development just for us. We need PD that addresses the many facets of our roles within our schools. Our professional development must prepare us to meet the needs of

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October 2, 2020 by: Laura

Have Fun with Fire Safety in the School Library

Friendly Fire Fighters

National Fire Prevention Week is usually the first full week in October. I’ve been teaching about fire safety and fire prevention since my early days as a first grade teacher. My husband, a retired fire marshal, would help and encourage me as I planned my lessons. I continued the fire safety lessons in my school library because I believe it is important for us to

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July 2, 2020 by: Laura

Specialists Collaborate for School Wide Engagement

Trapp School Specialist Collaboration

As school librarians, we are constantly working to collaborate with the other educators within our schools. We know that these efforts result in stronger and deeper learning experiences for our students. School specialist collaboration takes traditional collaboration up a notch by uniting the entire school community around an engaging learning theme. If you need more convincing, read my previous post: Energize Your School Community With

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June 27, 2020 by: Laura

How to Energize Your School Community with Specialist Collaborations

Trapp Specialists Collaborate in the School Library

We know that students benefit from collaboration between classroom or content area teachers and the school librarian. You can read my previous posts for more information: Students benefit from Collaboration in the School Library and More Ideas for Collaboration in the School Library. I’d like to invite you to consider school specialist collaborations to energize and unite your school community around a common theme. I

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June 22, 2020 by: Laura

More Ideas for Collaboration in the School Library

More Collaboration in the School Library

As school librarians, we are constantly striving to form collaborative relationships with classroom teachers and content area teachers. We know that school library collaboration strengthens and deepens learning for our students. When we work with teachers to support and augment classroom instruction, our students benefit greatly. In my last post, Students Benefit from Collaboration in the School Library, I shared some ideas for collaborating with

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June 21, 2020 by: Laura

Students Benefit from Collaboration in the School Library

Trapp Teacher Collaboration

Collaboration in the school library has been a key component of school librarianship as long as I’ve been in the profession.  Even now, “Collaborate” is one of the shared foundations in the National School Library Standards.  We collaborate by working with classroom teachers and content area teachers to ensure the learning in the library augments and supports the learning taking place in the classroom. School

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June 6, 2020 by: Laura

Harry Potter Week for Distance Learning

Harry Potter Week for Distance Learning Trapp

I’ve been trying to keep my elementary library lessons fun and engaging for my students while giving them choices during distance learning. You’ve read about Yoga Storytime and Star Wars Week already. We saved the best for last with our Harry Potter Week for distance learning. This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience.  If you click on a link and make a purchase,

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May 2, 2020 by: Laura

May the Fourth Be With You While Distance Learning

May the Fourth be With You

May the Fourth Be With You is a favorite day in our school library. You may have seen my earlier post about our Star Wars scavenger hunt. While trying to plan engaging activities for our students during distance learning, my physical education and music colleagues and I decided to try Star Wars Week again. Read all about our Harry Potter Week for Distance Learning! (You

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September 8, 2019 by: Laura

Be the Light!

Trapp Be the Light

In the spring of 2019, I was chosen by the teachers in my school district as the educator of the year. It was a tremendous honor that came with a great opportunity and responsibility. I was to speak in front of all of the members of our school district at our opening convocation in August. As I considered what I would say, I decided I

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March 1, 2019 by: Laura

Energize Your School Community with Harry Potter Week!

Trapp Harry Potter Bulletin Board

A couple of weeks before Halloween, our school library was transformed into Hogwarts as our whole school celebrated Harry Potter Week! Over the past couple of years, I’ve teamed up with the music and physical education teachers in my building to integrate our subject areas around a theme for a week or so. Our Harry Potter Week has been our most exciting so far! This

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thetrappedlibrarian

📚 Elementary School Librarian
🌟 NBCT 2011
👩🏻‍🏫 Teacher Author
Blog: trappedlibrarian.org

So many things to teach…and never quite enough lib So many things to teach…and never quite enough library time! 📚

That’s one reason I think it’s important to be strategic when planning our library lessons.

In this blog post, I’m sharing 6 practical tips for elementary library lesson planning, from scaffolding important library skills and collaborating with other specialists to using books and active learning to keep students engaged.

And while you’re there, you can grab my FREE Library Lessons Calendar to help with your own planning! 💜

➡️ Head over to the blog for all 6 tips and the free download.

>>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/2024/02/08/library-lesson-plans/
Six resources. One September bundle. And lots of y Six resources. One September bundle. And lots of your monthly library planning already done! 📚💜

I put together 6 resources I like for September to help you teach important skills AND get your library organized for the year ahead.

📚 Book Tasting activities
💻 Library Catalog Practice for K–5
⭐️ Digital Citizenship lessons and activities
🙋 Library Workers & Helpers Kit
📖 Monthly Book Display Signs
🔤 Library Section Signage

Use what you need now and keep the rest ready for later. These are resources you can come back to year after year.

⭐️ And when you purchase them together, you’ll save over 30% off the regular prices!

➡️ Take a closer look at everything included in the September Library Bundle!

>>>>> https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/September-Library-BUNDLE-7141462?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TL%20September%20Bundle%20FB

#SchoolLibrarian #ElementaryLibrarian #SchoolLibrary #LibraryLessons #LibrarySkills #BackToSchool #TeacherLibrarian
📚 Don't miss the Back-to-School issue of the Libra 📚 Don't miss the Back-to-School issue of the Library Helpers Newsletter!

Some of you are heading back to school THIS WEEK (how is that possible?!), while others still have a few precious weeks of summer left. 💜

No matter where you are in the countdown, Julie and I put together this special Back-to-School issue with YOU in mind!

Inside you’ll find:
✨ Practical ideas for starting the year
📚 Book recommendations and read-aloud ideas
🎁 FREE resources
💡 Tips for new and experienced librarians
🗓️ 10 National Days with ideas you can use in your library
💜 Lots of encouragement from two retired librarians who remember just how busy this time of year can be!

We hope you’ll grab a cup of coffee (or your favorite cold drink!), download your FREE copy, and find a few ideas that make your back-to-school season a little easier.

⬇️ Head to the blog to get your copy! >>>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/elementary-library-newsletter/
Have you downloaded the free Library Lesson Guide? Have you downloaded the free Library Lesson Guide?

Get ready to feel organized and prepared for each month of the school year. No more giving up your nights and weekends for lesson planning! This free resource will help you plan your lessons for the month, quarter, semester, or year!

✅ Take the guesswork out of what to teach and when
✅ Get idea for engaging interactive lessons
✅ Grab links to helpful products for every month of the school year

⭐ Grab this free guide today and make your library the center of your school! ⭐
https://the-trapped-librarian.myflodesk.com/3f88ae34-9844-4298-8238-66aa8a25836a
💜 Back to school is a great time to start building 💜 Back to school is a great time to start building positive connections with your colleagues!

A little encouragement, a fun surprise, or a simple act of appreciation can go a long way toward helping staff feel connected and valued. And it’s even better when you have those ideas ready to go before the busy school year gets rolling!

✅ My Staff Morale Booster Bundle includes 9 low-prep activities, one for each month from September through May. Each one includes signs, poems, instructions, and inexpensive treat ideas to make it easy to spread a little kindness and fun throughout your school.

⭐️ Start with You’ve Been Schooled! in September, then you’ll be ready with a new theme every month for the rest of the school year.

And you’ll save over 25% by purchasing the bundle instead of the individual resources!

➡️ Take a look at the preview and get your whole year of staff appreciation ready to go! >>>>> https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Staff-Morale-Booster-Bundle-for-Staff-Teacher-Appreciation-Youve-Been-Booed-16669185?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TL%20Staff%20Morale%20Booster%20Bundle

#SchoolLibrarian #ElementaryLibrarian #SchoolLibrary #TeacherLibrarian #StaffMorale #StaffAppreciation #TeacherAppreciation #SchoolCulture #BackToSchool #TeachersOfInstagram
📚 September is here! If you’re looking at your lib 📚 September is here! If you’re looking at your library lesson plans and wondering how you’re going to fit everything in, I’ve got some help for you. 💜

My September Library Bundle brings together some of my preferred activities and resources for this time of year, so you don’t have to spend hours searching and planning.

You’ll have resources to help you:
⭐️ Teach and practice important library skills
⭐️ Introduce digital citizenship
⭐️ Get students excited about books with a Book Tasting
⭐️ Organize your library and get your Library Helpers started

Best of all, you’ll save over 30% compared to purchasing the resources separately!

➡️ Take a look at the preview and see if this bundle can save you some time this September.

#SchoolLibrarian #ElementaryLibrary #SchoolLibrary #LibraryLessons #TeacherLibrarian #SeptemberActivities #thetrappedlibrarian
🍽️ What’s on the menu in your library? BOOKS! 📚 A 🍽️ What’s on the menu in your library? BOOKS! 📚

A Book Tasting is such a fun way to help students explore your shelves and discover books they might otherwise pass right by!

Set out a variety of books, add the menus, table signs, and a little restaurant flair, and let your students start “tasting.” It’s a great beginning-of-the-year activity for getting kids excited about reading AND helping them add some new titles to their reading lists. ❤️

This Book Tasting Kit includes lesson plans for K–5, editable menus, bookmarks for younger students, genre and category table signs, posters, and more.

📚 Help your students discover their next great read!

⭐️ BONUS: It’s also included in my September Library Bundle, where you can save over 20%!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Book-Tasting-Activities-2082366?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=TL%20Book%20Tasting%20FB
🩵 Hello library friends... Need help planning your 🩵 Hello library friends... Need help planning your lessons for September?

🎒The beginning of a new school year is always full of excitement! 

It’s important to start with engaging activities and lessons that will set the stage for a year full of active learning for all students. 

🎒Get ideas for your September library lessons over on the blog >>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/2021/09/22/september-library-lessons/
💜 If you're just heading back to school, this one' 💜 If you're just heading back to school, this one's for you.

There will always be lessons to plan, books to process, displays to finish, and a hundred other things calling for your attention.

But here's the reminder Julie and I are sharing in our Back-to-School Library Helpers Newsletter:

🩵Focus on people first.

Get to know your students. Connect with your staff. Find your library people. And give yourself permission to grow slowly.

You don't have to have everything figured out on the first day. 💜

⭐️ Our FREE Back-to-School issue is full of ideas, resources, book recommendations, freebies, and encouragement to help you get started.

We hope it feels a little like having two librarian friends cheering you on!

⬇️ Download your free copy on the blog. >>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/elementary-library-newsletter/
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