As an ELA teacher turned school librarian, I still enjoy incorporating writing activities in my Library Day lessons. I LOVED The Creativity Project, by Colby Sharp! What a fun way to not only help kids connect with authors outside of the books they know and love, but it sharpened their creative writing chops and it …
School libraries should connect with students as individuals and provide resources and assistance for all different learning styles and encourage self-motivated lifelong learning. Hannah Byrd Little If Tennessee has anything remotely resembling Hogwarts, The Webb School in Bell Buckle, is it. Tucked in the rolling Tennessee hills, just beyond a Mayberry-esque town center, it’s the …
School libraries… are for everyone in the school. They are at the heart of schools’ missions. Veronica Dougherty I believe that school librarians are perpetual learners, welcoming change, new strategies, and new ways that strengthen our programming while keeping our love for our students and literacy at the core. It’s our job to evaluate our …
School libraries inspire and welcome everyone! They are safe havens! Blake Hopper Blake Hopper is the librarian at Powell Valley Elementary AND Powell Valley Middle in Speedwell, Tennessee. Fun fact: He’s the librarian where he attended elementary and middle school! You can catch Blake at TASL events, as he is the past President of the …
School libraries are not your grandmother’s school libraries. They are vibrant, accessible, and ever-changing. They may not all look the same, but they all serve a common goal.– Erika Long Erika Long is rocking the library world in Nashville and beyond! From her avid participation in the Project LIT Community to her extensive involvement in …
When it comes to advocating for your school library, the work you do every day matters. As the Advocacy Chair for the Tennessee Association of School Librarians, I spend a lot of time talking with political leaders about school libraries, making asks that relate to needs on a larger scale. But every single day, I …
If you’ve ever managed AR for your school, you may have heard and witnessed things like this: “I didn’t even read the book and I got a 100!” “I didn’t have time to read a book. I guess I’ll take one on something I read a few years ago.” “I read the book three times, …
When I attended the Scholastic Reading Summit in Chicago in 2017, I had breakfast with Mr. Schu, I heard Kwame Alexander, Donalyn Miller, Colby Sharp, Sue Haney, and I watched Mr. Schu interview Kate DiCamillo. Every bit of it was positively amazing. And, getting the opportunity to finally meet fellow librarian Rhonda Jenkins in person …
Have your oldest students help your youngest students get to know their new school library by creating book marks that share a favorite book. This gives your graduating class a chance to reminisce about the books they read during their time at your school and to share a heart felt recommendation for their favorite book. …
Do you ever feel like as the librarian, you are on your own island? Maybe you’re part of a small school district, or your professional network lacks inspiration, innovation, or is… non-existent? Fortunately, I have a local network that is thriving, but in recent years, I’ve connected with with tons of amazing educators, authors, and …
I had the opportunity to hang out with Debbie in the beautiful Ingram Library at Ensworth in Nashville, Tennessee, a few years ago. The first thing I noticed is how many kids stopped by, just to say hello. She knew everyone by name and remembered exactly which book each student was reading. And, as if …
In recognition of AASL’s School Library Month, I am highlighting librarians who inspire and challenge me. They are leaders in the school library profession, are movers and shakers in their school communities, and they are MVP’s in my professional learning network. “Use your privilege, power, and prosperity to help somebody else.” Alice Faye Duncan I …
In recognition of AASL’s School Library Month, I am highlighting librarians who inspire and challenge me. They are leaders in the school library profession, are movers and shakers in their school communities, and they are MVP’s in my professional learning network. “When a kid walks in the room, he knows what book that kid …
This lesson centers on book 7 of The Hazardous Tales series, The Raid of No Return by Nathan Hale. My students are diehard Haz Tales fans, and we’ve been anxiously awaiting this next book, so I used this opportunity for us to connect our learning to the book. I’ve wanted to design a digital …
I had a blast at the 2017 Tennessee Association of School Librarians Conference! I always enjoy meeting the many talented librarians across the state. I learn so much from them as well as the many speakers and presenters in attendance. I had the opportunity to present a session: Rock Around the Year in Middle School. …
Library Stile 