Listen. Connect. Empower.

I love World Read Aloud Day!  For the last 6 years I connected my classes with classes around the country (and sometimes beyond).  I start planning in November/December and eagerly anticipate sharing books and stories with new friends.  These friendships have grown into other collaborations and I look forward to this event every year.  This year took on a life of its own, however.  I decided to take a quieter "stay at home" approach. We celebrated World Read Aloud Day during our library times and as a school.  During library time, students were invited to read aloud in several ways: On whisper phones to themselves. To each other with books small and large. To stuffed animals (or have stuffed animals and puppets read to them). As a school, we celebrated together.  Our Reader Leaders planned and hosted a simple school-wide assembly.  At our assembly, our Reader Leaders interviewed several staff and students. One student interv...

This week we greeted the 100th day of school.  As we approached this milestone, I offered related activity choices in the library after we read a book together. Read 100 Pages  I offered this as a team activity.  If picture books typically have 32 pages, three picture books = approximately 100 pages.  I suggested students make teams of three and read a book each.  1 team of 3 books each = 100 pages (about).  Successful teams signed the "100 Page Club" sign.  Readers could read to each other or read independently with whisper phones. Read and Discuss 100 "Would You Rather" Cards This activity was especially popular in 4th and 5th grade.  These social beings loved to take reading to the group level.  I had approximately 100 "Would You Rather" cards set out on the table.  Groups congregated around the table to read and discuss. Large groups congregated here. This was a VERY popular table. 100 Things We Are Excited About ...

Winter is here.  The temperature is sometimes too low for our students to go outside for recess.  When it snows, we don't have space cleared outside for kids to play.  These means long periods of indoor recess.  This is a perfect opportunity to invite students into the library.  Typically we have a very busy Lunch Bunch program, but the change of season warranted a change of program.  With a supportive principal who releases me from lunch/recess duty to offer additional programming, I was on my way to extending our library into recess time. I want students to feel welcome in the library.  I want them to embrace it as a place of comfort, excitement, escape, whatever they need it to be.  Opening the library during recess gives provides them another opportunity to access the library in a way that is best suited to their needs of the day. To make or not to make... (Where I wrestle the word Makerspace) Initially, I wrote up a sche...

As I was planning for our new student group, Reader Leaders,  the library was gifted $500 by our PTO.  I took this opportunity to give the group their first real-world task of spending it.  We talked about how best to do that.  The group decided to ask their fellow students what they want in our library. They created a google form for them to fill out.  Their survey asked what genres students liked to read and asked if they had any recommendations. Reader Leaders learn to use Google Forms to create their survey. They also created a video to accompany the survey, explaining their request, writing the script themselves, and filming it using green screen. Reader Leaders film their video, explaining their project. The group wrote the script and put some humorous touches on the end. Once the data was collected, we met again to take a look at it and get a sense of what our students want to read. Reader Leaders examine the st...

The Idea I have had a "library jobs" program for several years and students enjoy helping out in our library, but I wanted to raise the bar and offer the students a more active part in our library program and see them leading projects in and around our school. We have a Student Council (I am an advisor) but my issue with Student Council has been that it is a position that is elected (translation - popular vote). I wanted to offer a leadership opportunity for those who might not necessarily be elected and for those who feel a particular affinity towards books, reading, and the library.  Inspired by examples of student groups led by Andy Plemmons , Melanie Roy , and Jason Lewis , I dug until I created the bones of a model that felt just right for my school.  Reader Leaders was born. Recruiting I created a video to get students' attention. The goal of the video was to introduce the program and build interest. The Application Next, students were invited to pic...

I have wanted to do a scavenger hunt (think interactive orientation) through the library for years. I briefly investigated Goose Chase and digital breakouts this summer but was limited by policy & finances. Ultimately I decided to "go with what I know" and make google forms work for me. Using the response validation feature to "lock" sections of the form, I was able to bring a "game" feeling to the activity by requiring specific answers to continue.  I created a series of activities that would guide students through our library and have them try a variety of tasks from checking books out to themselves to exploring different genres.  This also let me assess the interests of my students and guide my programming. (A list of the questions is here ).   The goal of this week was to have students Actively moving through the library  Checking books out to themselves Noting new items    Looking at genres/books they don't usually try Providi...

I like for my students to set our expectations for the year.  Every year I look for a book that will give this a new feel.  In the past I have used Rulers of the Playground by Joseph Kuefler The Snurtch   by Sean Ferrell Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham Alpha Oops by Alethea Kontis This year's selection was We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins. I was hooked on Ryan T. Higgins books when I met his Mother Bruce books.  He has a sense of humor that can be appreciated by children and adults alike.  This book is no exception. We began class with a partner share about a time something unexpected happened in class.  I then read to the class.  We were only 4 pages in when the first jaw hit the floor and the first eyes bugged out of their heads.  I expected laughter but often got pin-drop silence.  "Could the book possibly have said THAT?"  Yep.  It did.  They were instantly ...