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You are here: Home / Archives for Library Skills

April 2, 2021 by: Laura

4 Fun Poetry Month Activities for the School Library

Poetry Month Activities

April is National Poetry Month, so of course it’s a great time for some poetry activities in your school library. I really love to take advantage of these types of themes to create fun events in the library. Many classroom teachers do poetry units in April, so that makes it a collaboration opportunity too. Using Poetry Month activities in your school library is a win-win

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January 22, 2021 by: Laura

Why Your Students Need Library Catalog Practice

Why your elementary students need library catalog practice

I realize that many educators don’t see the importance of library catalog practice for our elementary students. Is it really that important for our students to know how to use this online version of the old-fashioned card catalog? I believe that mastery of these important library catalog skills contributes to strong lifelong learning and independent thinking. Consider the following scenario… How can we best help

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August 21, 2020 by: Laura

Favorite Back to School Supplies for Librarians

Back to School Supplies for Librarians

Even though I might grumble about the back-to-school displays at stores in July, I can’t help myself… I love to shop for new school supplies at back to school time! I’ve already shared some strategies for getting ready for this school year in your library. Let me tell you about my favorite back to school supplies for librarians. This post contains some affiliate links for

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August 3, 2020 by: Laura

The Benefits of Musical Storytime in the Library

Benefits of Musical Storytime

A few years ago, I was looking for strategies to keep my youngest learners engaged and ready to learn. It was at that time that I tried Yoga Storytime with my kindergarten and first grade classes. That experience propelled me into a new learning experience in which I stretched myself to become the “singing librarian” I had always wanted to be! All kidding aside, I

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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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January 19, 2020 by: Laura

Media Literacy and the Super Bowl

Media Literacy and the Super Bowl

I’m all about seizing the teachable moment, so I’ve got the perfect media literacy lesson for you to use leading up to or immediately following the Super Bowl! It’s that time of year when more and more students are discussing football and their favorite teams. They come to school on Mondays talking about what happened at the latest playoff games. Excitement builds with each passing

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January 4, 2020 by: Laura

Spice Up Your Library Catalog Instruction!

Trapped Librarian Catalog Practice

Library catalog instruction can be dull and boring. It can be difficult to motivate students to care about library search and location skills when they’d rather be playing a game. Why not make your library catalog search and location practice into a game with additional activities just as fun as playing a game?! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience.  This means that

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thetrappedlibrarian

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

⭐ GET YOUR FREE MONTH-BY-MONTH LIBRARY LESSONS GUI ⭐ GET YOUR FREE MONTH-BY-MONTH LIBRARY LESSONS GUIDE! ⭐

Get ready to feel organized and prepared for the month ahead. 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! ⭐
➡ Link in Smart.Bio @thetrappedlibrarian 💜
https://the-trapped-librarian.myflodesk.com/3f88ae34-9844-4298-8238-66aa8a25836a

 #thetrappedlibrarian #elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrarians #elementarylibrarylessons #schoollibrarian #schoollibrary #librarymediaspecialist #teacherlibrarian #librariansofinstagram
Need inspiration for your October lessons? 🍁 🔥 Fir Need inspiration for your October lessons? 🍁
🔥 Fire Safety Week activities
👻 Spooktacular Halloween Storytime
📚 Seasonal book displays kids can’t resist
I’ve pulled together ideas you can use right away to make October memorable in your library!
➡️ Click to see my favorite October library lessons! https://trappedlibrarian.org/2021/10/25/october-library-lessons-2/
🍽️ What’s on the menu in your library? BOOKS! 📚 A 🍽️ What’s on the menu in your library? BOOKS! 📚

A Book Tasting event 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
📚 September is flying by! If you’re looking at you 📚 September is flying by! 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. 💜

The 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 how this bundle can make the rest of the month go smoothly!

>>>>> https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/September-Library-BUNDLE-7141462?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TL%20September%20Bundle%20FB
📚 “Where can I find a book about…?” Helping stude 📚 “Where can I find a book about…?”

Helping students learn to answer that question for themselves is such an important library skill!

My Library Catalog Practice for K–5 gives you scaffolded lessons and activities to help students build their catalog skills year after year. They’ll practice searching by:

🔎 Subject
🔎 Series
🔎 Title
🔎 Author
🔎 Keyword

The goal? Give students the skills and confidence they need to independently search for the books and information they want! 💜

➡️ Take a look at the preview and see how you can build library catalog skills from Kindergarten th#teacherlibrarian 

>>>>> https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Library-Catalog-Practice-for-K-5-Library-Lessons-968419?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=TL%20Library%20Catalog%20K5%20FB

#SchoolLibrarian #LibrarySkills #LibraryLessons #ElementaryLibrary #SchoolLibrary #LibraryCatalog #TeacherLibrarian
📚 New to the school library this year? Welcome! 💜 📚 New to the school library this year? Welcome! 💜

Maybe you're a brand-new librarian. Maybe you're a teacher or paraeducator who has stepped into the library role and you're figuring things out as you go.

💜Here's something I want you to remember: You don't have to learn everything at once!

In our FREE Back-to-School Library Helpers Newsletter, I'm sharing 4 tips for new school librarians that I would share with you over a cup of coffee. ☕️

⭐️ You'll also find practical back-to-school ideas, book recommendations, freebies, National Days, and plenty of encouragement from Julie and me.

And if you've been a librarian for years, take a look too! You might agree with my advice, and you may even find a new idea or two inside. 😊

⬇️ Head to the blog to download your FREE copy! >>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/elementary-library-newsletter/
🩵 Need a few more ideas for your September lessons 🩵 Need a few more ideas for your September lessons? 

This month goes by so fast, but it's not too late! 

Check out these 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/
📚 Looking for a fun way to get your students excit 📚 Looking for a fun way to get your students excited about books at the beginning of the school year?

Try a Book Tasting Event! 🍽️📚

A Book Tasting gives students a chance to sample books they might normally pass right by, while adding a little fun and excitement to your library lessons.

I’ve hosted these events with my own students, and I’m sharing 5 of my favorite tips on the blog, from building excitement and setting the stage to organizing your books and giving students plenty of choice.

➡️ Head over to the blog for all 5 tips and start planning your own Book Tasting!

>>>>> https://trappedlibrarian.org/2017/10/08/5-tips-for-a-fun-book-tasting/
One little way to spread some kindness and fun wit One little way to spread some kindness and fun with your staff…all year long! 💜

My Staff Morale Booster Bundle gives you a different themed activity for every month from September through May, so you can have your staff appreciation ideas planned and ready to go for the entire school year.

Each activity is low-prep, budget-friendly, and includes everything you need to get started. Just print, add an optional treat or note, and start spreading some encouragement!

And when you grab the whole bundle, you’ll save over 25% compared to purchasing each month separately. ⭐️

➡️ Take a look at the preview and get ready for a year of kindness, connection, and a little extra fun with your colleagues!

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
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