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How to Manage Centers in the Library with Ease

This image says, "How to Manage Centers in the Library with Ease" and includes a photo of elementary students reading.
Managing centers in the school library can seem daunting, especially with an already packed schedule. Let me tell you, I absolutely love having centers in the library! Using centers enhances student engagement while fostering a love for learning and reading. Over the years, I’ve discovered some fantastic tricks that make managing library centers a breeze. Today, I’m sharing my favorite strategies to help you effortlessly bring centers into your library routine and make the most out of every moment. (Note: This post contains affiliate links.) Centers in the Library Are Beneficial To Students’ Exploration Centers in the library are a game-changer for student exploration and learning. When I first started incorporating centers, I noticed an immediate boost in student engagement. These centers give our students the freedom to explore different subjects at their own pace, which fosters a sense of independence and curiosity. I love watching my students dive
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8 Picture Books for Teaching Main Idea

Are you constantly looking for picture books to teach about the main idea of a story? Some people confuse the theme with the main idea. The theme or central idea of a book is the lesson, moral or message the reader takes away after reading. The main idea is what the book is about and can usually be stated as a short summary. It’s important for students to start understanding the main idea (and supporting details) of a story after reading it. This means that they should be able to retell the story to show their comprehension of it, stating the main idea and at least three details that can support the main idea of the story. Some Tips for Teaching the Main Idea A read aloud can be one of the most overlooked strategies that can be used to teach main idea and supporting details. When performing a
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5 Effective Time Management Tips to Have as a School Librarian

Having effective time management is important for school librarians to keep up with their work and run a library! Learn about 5 tips that will help school librarians.
Do you ever get those questions about whether you’re really that busy all day in the library? I sure do! As we know, librarians are just as busy as classroom teachers. Some days, even more so. Our schedules can be incredibly hectic, with very few breaks and back-to-back classes throughout the day! I’ve been doing this for a long time now, and I’d like to think I’ve learned a thing or two about effective time management over the years in the library. So, today, I’m sharing my top 5 tips to have the best time management skills around. Why Do School Librarians Need Effective Time Management? Let’s discuss effective time management for a second. Effective time management is crucial for school librarians because it directly impacts our ability to support our students and teachers. When we manage our time well, we can handle the diverse tasks that come our
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8 Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books for Teaching Cause and Effect

Are you constantly looking for different fiction and nonfiction books for teaching cause and effect to your elementary students? Teaching about story elements such as cause and effect, main idea, character traits, problem and solution and comparing/ contrasting are very important. I’ve compiled a list of 8 awesome fiction and nonfiction picture books for teaching cause and effect to make your life simpler. TEACHING CAUSE & EFFECT Teaching children about cause and effect develops critical thinking skills important for all ages of children — from the 3-year-old deciding not to run across the street to the 11-year-old deciding how to handle peer pressure. Picture books are an especially great way to teach about this concept because the illustrations support the meaning of the text and show cause and effect in action.  Start with a picture walk to open a discussion around the key cause and effect moments. Reinforce to
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Back to School Books by Kevin Henkes

Are you searching for the perfect back-to-school read-alouds? Look no further than the works of Kevin Henkes—one of my all-time favorite children’s authors! Not only does he write with heart and humor, but he also illustrates his own books, bringing each story to life with charming, expressive characters. Kevin Henkes is a Caldecott Medal winner and Newbery Honor recipient, and it’s easy to see why. His stories often feature animal characters with very human emotions and experiences—something that young children deeply relate to. From navigating the first day of school to adjusting to a new sibling or coping with the loss of a grandparent, Henkes’ books tackle big feelings in a way that feels safe, gentle, and honest. Two of his books stand out as must-reads for back-to-school season: Chrysanthemum and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Both are beloved classics in primary classrooms and are ideal for launching conversations about
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7 Best Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Older Students

Use these amazing fiction and nonfiction book pairings to bring a world of imagination and learning to your older students this year.
Today, let’s chat about my top picks for fiction and nonfiction book pairings tailored for the older crew. Specifically, those spirited 4th to 7th graders. Guiding these students into the magical realms of both fiction and nonfiction is a special task. As they navigate this pivotal age range, I’ve found that while fiction tends to steal the spotlight, coaxing a 6th grader into exploring nonfiction can be quite a rewarding challenge. In my experience, the key to successful book pairings for this age group lies in aligning the reading choices with their individual interests. To spice things up, I often turn the decision-making process into a fun activity. I often conduct a poll to unravel the topics that spark their curiosity and get them excited. So, together, let’s unravel how book pairings captivate our older students as they journey through fiction and nonfiction texts! Oh and before we jump
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Staying Cool in the Library is my blog, where I share my passion for fostering a love of reading with children. As a librarian, I believe reading should be fun and accessible to all students. That’s why I share engaging and interactive lesson plans, creative ways to build exciting library collections, and resources to inspire even the most reluctant readers in any classroom or library. Check out my blog posts and products in my store, and join my email list below.

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