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5 Figurative Language Activities for the Library

Figurative language can be one of the hardest concepts for our students, especially younger ones, to understand. To grasp and use figurative language effectively, our students must learn to think beyond the concrete. That’s why exposing them to figurative language often and in a variety of ways is so essential. Today, I’m sharing figurative language activities that will make it easier for your students to connect with figurative language while making it a seamless addition to your library lessons. What is Figurative Language? Figurative language uses ordinary words and phrases in a way that goes beyond their literal meaning. Often, what is said isn’t exactly what is meant, which can throw our students for a loop! For example, if you say, “I’ve said that a million times,” you don’t literally mean a million. You mean that you’ve repeated yourself a lot. For our students who take things literally, expressions

Activities to Help Students Understand Why Citations Are Important

An age-old question students have is, “Why are we doing this?” Students have asked that question for decades before us, and they will continue to ask well into the future. Luckily, there is a simple answer to why citations are important. In the digital age we live in, it’s absolutely critical to understand copyright and plagiarism. Citations are important whether students are writing a paper and need to cite evidence, or when using music for a presentation. Each of these areas comes with its own rules and regulations for copyright. Why Citations are Important Citations are important because they protect people’s work. When we cite a work correctly, we are giving credit to the owner or creator of that work. Being fair is something students are often naturally passionate about, so help bridge that connection for students. When we cite = we are being fair. In order to appropriately

10 Library Grants Every Librarian Should Apply For

(Updated June 2024) Applying for library grants is a great way to leverage your library. While school events and fundraisers can help, they require a lot of work. Grant money can help you create a more robust library with a lot of variety to offer your students. One common misconception when it comes to writing grants is that they take a lot of time. In reality, applying for library grants does not have to be too time-consuming, and the payoff can be really big. Check out the list of the ten library grants every librarian should apply for. Dollar General Youth Literacy Grant This grant can be used for schools, public libraries, and nonprofits who work with students that need help improving their literacy skills. You can use the grant funding to expand literacy programs, purchase equipment, and technology to support literacy, and also purchase books and materials for

Library Book Display Ideas for Every Month of the Year

As librarians, we always look for new ways and opportunities to get students reading and enjoying it! Having a monthly book display is a great way to bring awareness to each month’s different topics, seasons, and celebrations. Plus, you can get students interested in brand-new books that might have been hidden on the shelves and out of sight. I know that creating library book displays can take some time, especially when you start running out of creativity mid-year. I put together a list of library book display ideas for the entire year. You can use one of these ideas or use this list to get your creative juices flowing. Materials To Use For a Library Book Display Creating an eye-catching library book display doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. I’m all for saving the extra dollar! A few key items can make the process of creating a display

Must-Have Activities for Teaching Internet Safety to Kids

The internet is a double-edged sword. It’s filled with useful information. We have knowledge and power at our fingertips, and there is a lot of good it can do for the world. But, the internet is also dangerous and scary. There are dark corners of the internet where harmful things lurk. How can we keep our students safe? If you ever use technology in your classroom, it’s imperative that you teach internet safety for kids. What does internet safety mean? Internet safety for kids can mean a wide variety of things, from protecting passwords to not having access to inappropriate content. Essentially, internet safety is about protecting the student (and also equipment) from potentially dangerous content. When teaching internet safety, especially to young students, it might feel a little awkward. How do I explain that the internet can be a dangerous place? However, with younger students, you don’t need

Ideas and Activities for a Successful Literacy Night

Hosting a family literacy night or reading night is a great opportunity to get parents involved in the school and grow students’ love of reading. Parents don’t often get a glimpse of what their child is working on and doing at school each day, but with literacy nights, you can bring the parent into the school and share literacy tips and research. Of course, a well-planned literacy night can take time and effort to put together. I want to pass along some planning tips, literacy night themes, and activities you can use as you plan. What is a Family Literacy Night? Also called family reading night, a literacy night is a chance to provide important information about a child’s literacy skills and share reading strategies with families. It’s also an opportunity to get families involved in the school and student learning. During the literacy night, you can focus on

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5 Figurative Language Activities for the Library

Activities to Help Students Understand Why Citations Are Important

10 Library Grants Every Librarian Should Apply For

Library Book Display Ideas for Every Month of the Year

Must-Have Activities for Teaching Internet Safety to Kids

Ideas and Activities for a Successful Literacy Night

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