Make your library the center of your school
Chinese New Year is a fun time for our students to learn about the traditions of a culture that may be unfamiliar to them. It can be a bright spot in the middle of winter, a reason to celebrate in your classroom or school library. I’d like to share my favorite read alouds for Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year. I recommend pairing an
February is “I Love to Read Month!” It’s the perfect time for you to celebrate reading in your school! Start with an “I Love to Read” bulletin board and a book recommendation center and you’ll help your students and staff spread the love of reading throughout the school. This article may contain Amazon affiliate links for your convenience. This means that if you click a
Computer Science Education Week is the first week in December each year. This is a time when students around the world participate in the Hour of Code. I’ve been participating with my elementary library classes for several years now, but at first I was very reluctant to try it with my youngest classes. My lack of understanding about coding led to me feeling afraid to
December is hitting my school library with the usual excitement of winter programs, parties, ski days, assemblies, gift making, and the unpredictability of schedules that can change at a moment’s notice! It can be a challenge to make sure your December library lessons are meaningful and engaging. I do love this time of year, especially now that I make sure I have extra Christmas picture
Each year I promote the nominated books for the Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award in my 4th and 5th grade classes. My students are eligible to vote for their favorite book in the Junior Division, which covers grades 4-6. I use book trailers and a library catalog review activity in my library classes to get the kids familiar with the books and
Recently I collaborated with the music and physical education teachers in my school to provide an interdisciplinary unit around the theme of Native American Culture. (Yes, these are the same friends who had the great idea to team up for an Irish Unit Collaboration around St. Patrick’s Day! And the very creative and enthusiastic educators who helped organize Harry Potter Week!) In Montana, we celebrate
Fire Prevention Week is the first full week of October. It’s a great time to review fire safety education concepts with our young children and to help them learn about firefighters. I’ve been collecting the following books to read with my Kindergarten, first, and second grade classes. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through one of them and make a purchase I may
This year is the 10 year anniversary of International Dot Day and the 15th anniversary of the publication of The Dot. People all around the world celebrate creative expression, inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ picture book, The Dot. Every year, Dot Day falls on or near September 15. I’d like to share how I helped my K-2 students explore their own creativity this year for
I don’t read picture books to my upper elementary students very often, but I’ve found a pair of books that hold their attention and teach some valuable lessons about friendship and the role of technology in our lives and friendships. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I
Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series for early readers is popular with young children for a reason. They are fun, exciting, surprising, and full of genuine emotions! Although the final book in the series was just published in 2016, these engaging stories have already become a classic staple in elementary school libraries and kindergarten and first grade classrooms across the country! At my school, older
