The Trapped Librarian

Make your library the center of your school

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Topics
    • Books for Kids
    • Bulletin Boards and Displays
    • FUN!
    • Helpful Hints
    • Library Advocacy
    • Life
    • Organize It!
    • School Library
    • Technology
    • TPT
  • Shop
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
You are here: Home / Archives for Tech Tips

March 26, 2021 by: Laura

Boom Cards in the School Library

Boom Cards in the School Library

Have you heard about Boom Cards? They are no-prep, digital, interactive task cards that are super easy to use! They are just the ticket to add some fun to the learning in your virtual or in-person library classes! Follow these tips to get started using Boom Cards in the school library. What are Boom Cards? Boom Cards are self-grading exercises that are gamified for students

[ Read More ]

September 10, 2020 by: Laura

Empower Your Students with Library Catalog Skills

Library Catalog Skills to Empower Your Students

Every year I start out my library lessons with a review and some instruction on how my students can manage their library accounts.  With all of the changes this year is bringing to our circulation routines, library catalog instruction is more important now than ever.  Because of health and safety concerns from the Covid19 pandemic, some schools are not allowing students to browse for books,

[ Read More ]

August 27, 2020 by: Laura

Quick DIY Bulletin Board for Online Teaching

DIY Bulletin Board for Online Teaching

Have you been busy making lesson plans for online learning? Are you searching for a colorful bulletin board background to make your video sessions more like school? I’ve got a printing trick for you that will save you some time and help you use a resource you probably already have! Let’s create a quick bulletin board background for online teaching! Choose Your Bulletin Board You

[ Read More ]

April 27, 2020 by: Laura

Print to PDF for Distance Learning

Print to PDF Tech Tips

Learn how to use Print to PDF for distance learning. Extract student pages from a longer document to share while teaching and learning remotely.

[ Read More ]

December 1, 2018 by: Laura

Hour of Code: Future Computer Scientists in the Making!

Hour of Code for Littles

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

[ Read More ]

August 25, 2018 by: Laura

Quick And Easy Green Screen Projects For Your Library

Green Screen technology (or Chroma Key as it is known in more “techy” circles), used to be so complicated! I first tried the available technology with my fourth grade students about 20+ years ago. 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 remember setting up green bulletin board

[ Read More ]
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Past Posts

Categories

Find it Fast

Books for Kids Bulletin Boards and Displays Collaboration Distance Learning Freebies FUN! Helpful Hints Inspiration Library Advocacy Library Decor Library Events Library Lessons Library Management Life Organize It! Professional Development Remote Learning Research School Library Seasonal Technology Tech Tips Test Prep TPT Uncategorized

TPT Shop

Facebook

Pinterest

Instagram

thetrappedlibrarian

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

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/
Kindergarten is coming at 9:00. Fourth grade at 9: Kindergarten is coming at 9:00. Fourth grade at 9:30. Then second grade…and somehow you need a meaningful lesson ready for EVERYONE. 😅📚

Sound familiar?

One of the best things I learned as an elementary librarian was that I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel for every single grade level.

In this blog post, I’m sharing some of the strategies that helped me plan more efficiently, including grouping lessons into grade bands, building skills from year to year, planning ahead in batches, and keeping students actively involved.

➡️ If you’re working on your library lesson plans, I hope these 6 practical tips give you an idea or two that you can put to use right away! 💜

>>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/2024/02/08/library-lesson-plans/

#SchoolLibrarian #ElementaryLibrarian #LibraryLessonPlans #LibraryLessons #SchoolLibrary #ElementaryLibrary
Follow on Instagram
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • Privacy Policy

© 2026 // Design by Laugh Eat Learn // Theme by Pretty Darn Cute Design