Blog

8 Back to School Must-Haves for the Library to Start Off the Year

As summer winds down and we start to get ready for the new school year, it’s that time of year when we begin leisurely searching for back-to-school activities for the library to kick off the year. Let’s make your life easier by setting things up now, so you can stress less and relax more during the back to school madness. Today, I’m sharing some of those must-haves for the library to start the year off right and make your life so much easier! Why Do School Librarians Need to be Ready for Back to School Season? As we know, back to school time in the library is crucial. It’s the perfect moment to set the rules and procedures that will guide the rest of the school year. We start to build relationships with our students, and we figure out schedules. It can get a bit chaotic and crazy, but

5 Best Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Younger Students

Exploring the world of fiction and nonfiction through book pairings is truly a highlight when working with my students. It’s a strategy that can be used with any age to unravel the characteristics of each writing style. More than just an academic exercise, book pairings inspire students to dive into both realms of fiction and nonfiction. In the world of younger students, these pairings play a pivotal role in laying the foundation for their literary journey. Choosing shorter yet captivating books for grades K-2 ensures that there’s ample time for thorough exploration. The key is in the ensuing discussions where our students start to discern the differences between fiction and nonfiction. It’s a delightful process that fosters a love for reading and a keen awareness of the diverse literary landscapes that await exploration. Importance of Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Younger Students It’s safe to say for all

6 Wonderful Wordless Picture Books to Read with Your Students

How do you feel about reading wordless picture books to your students? Do you know how powerful wordless picture books actually are? If you want to truly measure your student’s comprehension skills or imagination, try reading wordless picture books with them and see if they can understand what is happening in the story based on the pictures alone. In addition, the low pressure nature of a picture book allows children of all abilities to join in and feel successful. Wordless picture books are great resources to encourage joint interest, vocabulary, sequenced language, making inferences and engaging in discussion. Here are 6 wonderful wordless picture books to read with your students, as well as some lesson ideas to incorporate with them. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole Summary: When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and

10 Books to Get Kids Excited for the Olympics

The Olympics are once again just around the corner. After a yearlong postponement due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Games are set to kick off later this summer in Tokyo, despite the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and lingering concerns in Japan. With the Olympics happening every 2-4 years between summer and winter, children should have some exposure to the Olympic games at a young age so that they understand them. Reading Olympic themed books about them can help get kids excited and may even turn them into fans! It is interesting for students to learn about how much the athletes train for the Olympics, as well as the mental will-power that must be withstood at such a young age. Let’s look at 10 Olympic themed books kids can get excited about! The Frog Olympics Grades: Preschool-Kindergarten Summary: The actual Olympic Games definitely won’t include events like fly catching. But

Library Décor Inspiration

Choosing how to decorate your library is more important than you may realize. The theme you choose will set the tone for the entire year. The posters and décor is the first thing anyone will notice when they enter the library. You want to create a warm and inviting atmosphere that feels welcoming to everyone. You also need to choose something that you like because you have to live with it the entire school year. Printing Tips Choosing a library theme is only half the battle. Next you have to print and laminate everything. Printing can definitely be a challenge, especially if you are not able to print color copies at school. If you are printing from home, having a good-quality color printer is a must. Just about everyone I know uses HP instant ink. Honestly, I do not use it myself. However I have never heard anything negative

The 10 Best Professional Development Books for Librarians

Well it’s ALMOST sweet summertime here in Virginia (school ends June 19 to be exact!) and that means a couple of things for me: I think as librarians it’s really important to make sure that we are always at the “top” of our game. I like to use summer to read 1 or 2 professional development books to refresh and reset before the new school year. It helps me feel energized and excited about going back to school (Keep in mind that I never start doing this until after 4th of July!) It also gives me new tips and ideas to try in the library, as things are always changing. In case you want to up your professional development game as well, I have created a list of the 10 BEST professional development books for librarians below. (All of the Amazon links are affiliate links). Hacking School Libraries 10

Library
Management

Lesson
Plans

Reading
Motivation

Library
Skills

Research

Reading & Literacy

8 Back to School Must-Haves for the Library to Start Off the Year

5 Best Fiction and Nonfiction Book Pairings for Younger Students

6 Wonderful Wordless Picture Books to Read with Your Students

10 Books to Get Kids Excited for the Olympics

Library Décor Inspiration

The 10 Best Professional Development Books for Librarians

Categories

Categories

QUICK LINKS

BESTSELLING PRODUCTS

LEGAL STUFF

JOIN MY FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY!