Make your library the center of your school
We loved celebrating Screen Free Week—formerly known as “TV Turnoff Week”—at my school and it was a great event for family engagement! Our screen free week activities challenge students to avoid using screens for entertainment and explore other ways to spend their time. Students who participate complete a contract and tracking sheet, get it signed by an adult, and earn ten raffle tickets for fun
Wonder is still a wildly popular book at my school! The themes of friendship, respect, and kindness are timeless. The following project is a great way to reinforce some technology skills with your students while spreading kindness and inspiration throughout your school community! If you give it a try, be sure to comment and let us know! A friend shared a great idea with me
I started a Keyboarding Club for 4th and 5th grade students in my library because keyboarding wasn’t being taught at my school in those grades and I wanted to give students the option of sharpening their skills on the keys before they began the Smarter Balanced Tests in the Spring. I used free websites, and didn’t have my students create the free accounts offered,
Do your students ever seem extra wiggly or restless during storytime or lessons? You’re not alone! One simple way to channel that energy in a positive direction is through yoga for kids. Just like yoga helps adults with focus, mindfulness, and overall well-being, it can do the same for children. Adding short yoga activities to your classroom or library time can give kids a chance
I didn’t notice when I stopped by Harper Collins’ booth at the AASL conference that all of the galleys they gave me to review for them were full of GIRL POWER! What a pleasant and fun situation I found myself in when I came home and read these four picture books. I was excited to write a brief review of each for Kid Lit
February is full of fun holidays and events. You can celebrate I Love to Read Month, Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day and Black History Month! I’ve found some great read-alouds for you to have on hand during this busy month (I checked out these books from my school library) and paired them with some fabulous FREE resources you can find on Teachers Pay
The first time I hosted a Scholastic Book Fair, I eagerly watched the helpful online how-to videos for setting up the book fair. I scoured the book fair toolkit for helpful hints and tips and I was ready for my shipment. When my books arrived, I called my representative asking “Where are the cases?” You know… the cases that you roll to the exact place
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
