Blog - Staying Cool in the Library

Why You Should Use Choice Boards in Your Library Classroom

The library should be all about differentiation and choice! In fact, elementary library classrooms are the place where students should be able to explore different genres, read series books, and even dive into nonfiction. Choice is key in library instruction, and choice boards are a way to give that freedom back to your students. Check out these reasons why you should use choice boards in your library classroom!

K-2 Choice Boards in Your Library Classroom

Using Choice Boards is not just an option with older students. For beginning readers, giving choice in library activities makes a huge difference in reading enjoyment and comprehension. Share some of your favorite picture books with your emerging readers. Then, give them a choice in how they demonstrate their learning.

To use these activities, start by reading the book aloud to your students either in the Classroom or to your distance learners on Zoom, Google Meet, or via Screencast. Read alouds are OK if you are providing the video to an audience and not sharing it with the public. During this time of distance learning, some authors and publishers have shared videos of writers reading their own work. See if any of your favorite titles are available on YouTube or the author or publisher’s website.

After reading the story, your students will have a choice of digital activities to complete. Each of the picture book choice boards come with the following activity types:

vocabulary
recalling events
book themed word games
matching games
memory games

Allow your readers to choose activities to demonstrate their comprehension of the book. The picture book bundle contains four books all of my K-2 learners just love!

If You Give a Mouse a Muffin
The Cool Bean
We Will Rock Our Classmates
Too Many Pumpkins

Another way to add choice is by having your class choose which book they want you to read before completing the book-related activities. Preview these awesome titles with your students, and let them pick their favorite!

3rd-5th Grade Choice Boards in Your Library Classroom

Your upper elementary students crave independence and autonomy. Let them have their own voice with library choice boards!

These choice boards also give students a variety of activities related to reading and books to explore. Use upper elementary choice boards for early finishers or library extension groups.

Choice boards for 3rd-5th grade include the following activities:

3rd Grade

word sorting (with a dictionary)
nonfiction articles
biography
poems
brain teasers
maps

4th Grade

reading comprehension/inference
idioms
true or false dictionary activity
summarizing
poems
Fiction

5th Grade

biography
opinion writing
poems
riddles
rhymes
crossword puzzle

Choice boards allow students to complete all activities in any order or just focus on a few to extend learning. These choice boards in your library classroom focus on reading skills across genres!

Distance Learning

No matter what grade level your students are in, library choice boards are perfect for distance learning. Because the choice boards are digital, you can share them via Seesaw, Google Classroom, Schoology or whatever online learning platform you choose!

As a librarian, you may find your distance learning role is a lot of tech support for teachers. Keep in mind that your students need you too! Choice boards are perfect to support your readers with library resources and reading content.

Choice boards in your library classroom will give your students the independence and differentiation they need online or in person this year!

Five Chapter Books about Anxiety and Mental Health

If you haven’t already, it’s time to add some chapter books about anxiety and mental health to your library. Readers will find allies in the young characters whose friends and family members (or themselves) struggle with some aspect of mental health. In addition, these titles will help students that do not struggle with mental health issues develop understanding and empathy both for themselves and for others. Check out these five chapter books about anxiety and mental health!

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

There are many ways to distract a teacher. Ally knows this, and she uses every trick in the book to keep her teacher from realizing she cannot read. In Mr. Daniels, however, she’s met her match. He’s determined to figure out the real Ally. In the process, Ally finds that she is actually very intelligent, and her dyslexia doesn’t have to define her. The anxiety about her undiagnosed disability finally lifts for Ally. The complex characters and rich story make this chapter book a must-read. It will speak both to those students who struggle academically and those who might not be their kindest all the time.

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

What happens when your worst fear comes true? When Annie’s brother dies in a terrible accident, she responds by playing everything VERY safe – ultimately becoming a prisoner of worry. With so much danger surrounding her, how can Annie ‘stop worrying’, as everyone advises? A new neighbor helps Annie to take a different view of being careful and start enjoying her life again. This book will help students understand that it’s OK to ask for help before worry and anxiety becomes too much to handle. It’s also great to start about a conversation about anxiety v. just worry.

The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson

Matthew’s struggles with OCD are taking over his life. He’s stopped going to school and refuses to leave his bedroom. His hands are cracked and bleeding from excessive washing. From his bedroom, he watches the goings-on in his culdesac and details them in his journal. Suddenly, Matthew is the key witness in the disappearance of a toddler. Will he be able to overcome his fears and help his neighbors? Add this book to your library to help students understand that obsessive compulsive disorder is real and not a punchline.

The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller

Natalie is dealing with a lot in her life – tumultuous friendships, overwhelm about school, and her mother’s crippling depression. She tries to understand and be patient with her mom but is frequently helpless, angry and confused. When her teacher encourages her to enter an egg-drop contest, Natalie imagines using the prize money to cheer up her mother with a trip. Will she win the contest? With the help of her friends, Natalie discovers the science of hope and love – and maybe even miracles.

Real Friends by Sharon Hale

This graphic novel focuses on the relationship between Shannon and Adrienne. They’ve been friends ever since they were little. Now, though, Adrienne is spending time with Jen, leader of The Group. Jen is popular, and everyone in The Group would do anything to be her BFF, even if it means bullying and excluding. Every day seems like a roller coaster for Shannon now – is she popular? Are she and Adrienne still friends? Elementary students will identify with the dynamics of these friendships.

These five chapter books about anxiety and mental health are perfect titles for your library shelves. What books would you add to this list for your upper elementary readers?

All About Book Snaps

As a librarian, you are constantly finding creative resources to get your students to fall in love with books. Why not utilize the format of one of their favorite apps, “Snapchat”? No, you don’t have to have your students download the app. “Book Snaps” simply are digital images or photos where students can annotate or share their own ideas about a book. Learn all about Book Snaps and how to use them in your library classroom!

Apps to Use for Book Snaps

To begin, your students will take a photo or a screenshot of a page of text. It can be a digital or physical book. In order to annotate the text and add fun images and reactions, they can use any app that allows for editing.

The native photo app on most phones
PicCollage
Canva
Seesaw
Google Slides
Google Drawings. . .and more!

How to Create a Book Snap

To create a book snap, simply have your students take a photo with a phone or other device of their book. If they have a digital book, they can take a screenshot. Next have them use one of the apps mentioned above (or the editing tools in their camera app) to annotate the text.

Book Snaps generally have three pieces. First, your student will want to create some image. This may be some clip art added, a Bitmoji, or a drawing. Next, they will make a comment or reflection. Finally, they will highlight the portion of the text that provides evidence to their comment.

For example, in the image above from Wonder , the student asked the question, “Why does the kid think his face isn’t normal? What’s wrong?” They highlighted “. . .that I had a normal face that one one ever noticed. . .” and “I’m kind of used to how I look by now.” The student also added their Bitmoji to personalize the Snap.

Comments can range from observations, questions about characters, plot, or vocabulary, or reflections on theme. They can also be connections to real life including world, self, or even to other texts.

Try It Out For Yourself!

Before introducing your library students to Book Snaps, try some for yourself! Use your favorite elementary or YAL books from the library, or even a text that your students are reading in their own classrooms. If you use Seesaw or Google Classroom with your library students, post your Book Snaps to get them excited about reading.

How to Use Book Snaps in the Library

I’ve seen Book Snaps used in so many content areas, especially ELA! Fortunately, Book Snaps in the library are easy and you have all the books you need! There are so many ways to use Book Snaps. Here are a few that your students will love!

Book Summaries:

Have your students create a book snap with a one sentence summary after they finish a book. No spoilers, of course. This is a great way to tease books and get students interested. Bonus: When the book summaries come from their peers, they are even more excited to read them!

Series Snaps:

Students love series books! Whether it’s Harry Potter or Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novels (beginning with Smile, sharing connections throughout the series of books can get students excited to read more! Series snaps are perfect for making predictions or noting character changes throughout the novels.

Author Connections:

I love to connect with authors, and the best place I’ve found is Twitter! Have your students send you Book Snaps that you can in turn tweet to authors. Just make sure to tag their Twitter handle. It’s really common for popular authors to respond to student and teacher tweets.

Try Book Snaps in your library lessons, share with other teachers, and enjoy! Book Snaps are one of my favorite ways to engage with text. It’s also a fun way to use technology and images in your library curriculum!

Favorite October Picture Books

October is such a fun month for picture books! This time of year, everyone is getting excited for the upcoming holiday season and the weather changing. My October pictures favorites include a lot of fun Halloween stories, funny fall books, and plenty of giggles for your students!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

BONE SOUP BY CAMBRIA EVANS

Known across the land for his infamous appetite, Finnigin is never seen without his eating stool, his eating spoon, and his gigantic eating mouth. But, when Finnigin finds himself in a new town on Halloween, he hopes to join a great feast with the creatures who live there. But not a body or soul will share any of their food with the ever-famished Finnigin. So what’s a hungry skeleton to do? Armed only with his wits and a special ingredient, will Finnigin be able to stir up a cauldron’s worth of Halloween magic?

MISS SMITH AND THE HAUNTED LIBRARY BY MICHAEL GARLAND

Miss Smith’s students know to expect the unexpected when she reads from her magical book. This time, Miss Smith takes her kids to the eerie library down the block and introduces them to the weird librarian, Virginia Creeper. But per usual, storytime is never ordinary when reading from Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook. And what starts out as a run-of-the-mill field trip soon becomes a full-out monster bash!

WE’RE OFF TO FIND THE WITCH’S HOUSE BY RICHARD KRIEB

It’s Halloween night, and as the moon rises, four children set off to find the witch?s house. on their way they encounter a host of silly, spooky characters, from a skittle-skattling skeleton to a shirking, lurking Dracula. Can they make it all the way to the witch?s house? or will their fears get the best of them? this humorous take on a favorite holiday begs to be read aloud again and again.

THE SCARECROW’S HAT BY KEN BROWN

Chicken really admires Scarecrow’s hat. Scarecrow would gladly trade his hat for a walking stick to rest his tired arms. Chicken doesn’t have a walking stick to trade―but she knows someone who does. This begins her quest to find items to trade among her farm friends, all to obtain a walking stick to swap for Scarecrow’s hat. But why does Chicken want an old straw hat?

HOW TO CATCH A MONSTER BY ADAM WALLACE

Get ready to laugh along with this fun children’s monster book as a young ninja heads into the closet to meet the monster that’s been so scary night after night! But what if things aren’t what they seem and our monster isn’t scary at all? What if our ninja hero is about to make a friend of the strangest sort?

CLICK, CLACK, BOO BY DOREEN CRONIN & BESY LEWIN

Will the barnyard animals trick—or treat—Farmer Brown? Find out in this Halloween tale from the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of Click, Clack, Moo. Farmer Brown does not like Halloween. So he draws the shades, puts on his footy pajamas, and climbs into bed. But do you think the barnyard animals have any respect for a man in footy pajamas? No, they do not. For them, the Halloween party has just begun. And we all know these critters far prefer tricks over treats. There are big surprises in store for Farmer Brown!

ROOM ON THE BROOM BY JULIA DONALDSON

The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch’s hat, then her bow, and then her wand! Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items, and all they want in return is a ride on the broom. But is there room on the broom for so many friends? And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from a hungry dragon?

SCAREDY-CAT, SPLAT! BY ROB SCOTTON

It’s Halloween, and Splat is determined to be the scariest cat in the class. Unfortunately, he’s just too much of a scaredy-cat. He’s afraid of a little spider, and everyone says his costume looks more silly than scary. And when Mrs. Wimpydimple tells a ghost story in the dark, Splat gets so frightened that he tips over his jack-o’-lantern. But when the lights go back on, the entire class is scared silly by a small, black, furry creature with a big pumpkin head. Whooooo can it be?

TURKEY TRICK OR TREAT BY WENDI SILVANO

Everyone loves Halloween candy—even Turkey. But how can he and his barnyard friends get any when the farmers give it out only to children? With a costume, of course! As his pals look on, Turkey comes up with one clever costume after the next. Each trick gets better and better…but will Turkey and his friends end up with any treats? This hilarious companion to Turkey Trouble and Turkey Claus is filled to the brim with holiday fun.

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A BAT! BY LUCILLE COLANDRO

What won’t this old lady swallow? This time around, a bat, an owl, a cat, a ghost, a goblin, some bones, and a wizard are all on the menu! This Halloween-themed twist on the classic “little old lady” books will delight and entertain all brave readers who dare to read it!

I NEED MY MONSTER BY AMANDA NOLL

One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: “Gone fishing. Back in a week.” Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn’t stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they’ve got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled. It turns out that Gabe didn’t enjoy fishing because the fish scared too easily.

CRANKENSTEIN BY SAMANTHA BERGER

BEWARE OF CRANKENSTEIN! He’s a little monster of crankiness that no one can destroy! MEHHRRRR!!! He may look like any ordinary boy, but when faced with a rainy day, a melting popsicle, or an early bedtime, one little boy transforms into a mumbling, grumbling Crankenstein. When Crankenstein meets his match in a fellow Crankenstein, the results could be catastrophic–or they could be just what he needs to brighten his day! This hilarious and relatable tale of grumpiness gone awry will turn toddler tantrums to giggles in no time.

THE LEGEND OF SPOOKLEY THE SQUARE PUMPKIN BY JOE TROIANO

One day in the pumpkin patch the strangest little pumpkin hatched…. Spookley the Square Pumpkin was different. All the other pumpkins teased him, until Spookley proved that being different can save the day! “The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin” is a perennial fall-favorite children’s book that is the inspiration for the animated hit, “Spookley the Square Pumpkin,” that airs on Disney Junior and Netflix. It delivers a special message of tolerance and kindness in a fun, accessible format for early learners.

SKELETON HICCUPS BY MARGERY CUYLER

What’s the best way to help a skeleton get over his hiccups?

FLETCHER AND THE FALLING LEAVES BY JULIA RAWLINSON

Fletcher the fox is concerned about nature and wants to understand the changing of the seasons. Young readers will share the feelings of wonder and empathy as they curl up with a parent or gather in circle time to enjoy this beautiful picture book.

WHERE’S MY MUMMY? BY CAROLYN CRIMI

Little Baby Mummy wants just one more game of hide-and-shriek with Big Mama Mummy before bedtime. The night is deep and dark, full of friendly creatures that click their clacky teeth and whoosh past on flippy-floppy wings. But who will comfort Little Baby Mummy if a small, scritchy-scratchy someone gives him a scare? Big Mama Mummy, of course!

THE UGLY PUMPKIN BY DAVE HOROWITZ

The Ugly Pumpkin has waited all through October for someone to take him home, but no one wants him. He doesn’t look like other pumpkins. So the lonely Ugly Pumpkin leaves the patch in search of a place where he’ll fit in. By the time Thanksgiving arrives, he discovers the truth about who he is–but it’s not what he expected!

CREEPY CARROTS! BY AARON REYNOLDS

Jasper Rabbit loves carrots—especially Crackenhopper Field carrots.
He eats them on the way to school.
He eats them going to Little League.
He eats them walking home.
Until the day the carrots start following him…or are they?

PUMPKIN JACK BY WILL HUBBELL

The first pumpkin Tim ever carved was fierce and funny, and he named it Jack. When Halloween was over and the pumpkin was beginning to rot, Tim set it out in the garden and throughout the weeks he watched it change.

BIG PUMPKIN BY ERICA SILVERMAN

The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and now she wants to make herself a pumpkin pie for Halloween. But the pumpkin is so big she can’t get it off the vine. It’s so big the ghost can’t move it, either. Neither can the vampire, nor the mummy. It looks as if there’ll be no pumpkin pie for Halloween, until along comes the bat with an idea to save the day. How can the tiny bat succeed where bigger and strong spooky creatures have failed? You’ll be surprised!

THE HALLO-WIENER BY DAV PILKEY

Oscar is a little dog with a big problem — he gets more tricks than treats because other dogs tease him all the time. But one brave act on Halloween makes Oscar a Grade-A hero, proving that a little wiener can be a real winner!

Ten Picture Books to Teach Social Emotional Learning

picture books to teach social and emotional learning

Perhaps more than ever before, Social-Emotional Learning is at the forefront of the minds of everyone involved in education. The following picture books address a variety of social-emotional learning. These authors deliver their messages in effective, resonant ways that speak to the elementary learner. Stock your shelves with these Ten Picture Books to Teach Social Emotional Learning. These titles are appropriate for all ages at the elementary level!

Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

Brian is the invisible boy. Although everyone can physically see him, nobody includes him in their games or activities. When new student Justin arrives and teams up with Brian on a project, it changes Brian’s life and shows everyone how much he has to offer. This is a great book to share that will especially speak to the introverts in your library classes or school.

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Jeremy Ross moved into the neighborhood, ruining a perfect summer. Fortunately, dad has a plan for getting rid of enemies – his secret recipe for Enemy Pie. Unfortunately, the recipe includes spending an entire day with the enemy! This endearing story will amuse and intrigue while teaching about inclusion. In addition, introduce to students as a lesson on dealing with conflict.

The Memory String by Eve Bunting

Laura remembers her mother while trying to tolerate her new stepmother. Each button on the memory string represents a piece of her family history, and when the string breaks, her heart breaks with it. When her new stepmother helps her, Laura’s opinion changes. This story is perfect for children dealing with transition in their families and for others to show compassion.

Grow Happy by Jon Lasser

Just like growing a garden, one can also cultivate happiness. The main character, Kiko, shows your students how to ‘grow happy’ using tools like social support, good choices, and problem-solving skills. The reader comes to understand that she has all the tools necessary to nurture her own happiness. What a fantastic resource to introduce to your library students!

Emmanuel’s Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson

This is the true story of Emmanuel, from Ghana, West Africa. Dismissed by most people because of a disability, his mother’s love and encouragement leads him to achieve amazing things. Emmanuel tells the reader that disability is not inability. This is an inspirational story for every child about overcoming obstacles.

We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio

This picture book follows Wonder character Auggie and his dog Daisy on an original adventure. Every child’s hope to belong is recognized in this book, which is the perfect vehicle for discussing empathy and kindness with young children. If your students are familiar with the book or movie Wonder, this is the picture book version that kids will love just as much!

Niko Draws a Feeling by Robert Raczka

Niko loves drawing the world around him, but nobody seems to understand his art. Then he meets a new friend named Iris, and everything changes. Share this story with your unique, artistic students to express their differences.

What Should Danny Do? by Adir Levy

Following the choose-your-own-adventure format, the reader is able to make choices for Danny as the story goes along. This interactive book contains nine stories, all of which help the reader to see that individual choices ultimately add up. This book should be on any social-emotional learning list!

Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes

Prolific author Grimes uses a variety of poetry to remind us how important it is to be thankful, and how good it feels to express it. I love using this book to teach different types of poetry, encourage writing, and have students express gratitude.

Waiting by Kevin Henkes

How much of childhood is spent waiting? A LOT! In this book, stuffed animal friends are lined up on a windowsill waiting for various things to happen. Will they keep waiting patiently, or will they stop waiting and do something unexpected? Use this book in your library to teach about patience.

These ten picture books to teach social-emotional learning are perfect additions to your library classroom. Share them as classroom read-alouds, with your fellow teachers for their curricular connections, and just encourage students to check them out!

Why Creating a Virtual Calming Room is Important to a Student’s Social and Emotional Learning

A global pandemic, social injustice, digital learning, all happening at once, this is an emotional ticking time bomb waiting to explode, if it hasn’t already for our students. It is important to keep in mind the social and emotional impact all of this will have on our students. To get a grip on some of the trauma, schools are implementing SEL, social and emotional learning through class sessions, counselor meetings, and professional development for their teachers.

Trauma Informed Educator

Students deal with their own personal trauma and carry it with them wherever they go. “Trauma informed” educator is one of the new buzz words that school districts are focusing on in order to help our students with their social and emotional learning. SEL focuses on 5 competencies: self-awareness, responsibility, understanding one’s emotional state, learning how to get along with your peers, and setting positive goals that are obtainable. When students lack social and emotional skills, and the soft skills they need to be successful it can impact them negatively.

Combating Stress with a Calming Room

One of the ways teachers and schools are working to combat the stress, anxiety and struggle is to implement a calming room. A calming room offers students a chance to chill out if they are experiencing levels of high anxiety or need a place to simply let go.

Many colleges and universities, workplaces, and schools have implemented physical calming rooms to offer a place for people to go when they need to decompress. However, with schools going digital, teachers started creating virtual calming rooms.

What is a virtual calming room?

A virtual calming room is where students can retreat too, calm down and begin to process and think rationally if they’re having issues with peers, teachers, or just life in general. It allows for a student to essentially reset when they feel overwhelmed. In a brick and mortar setting, teachers can provide a pass to the student to go to the calming room, however it looks a little bit different in the virtual world.

Many teachers are setting up a bitmoji class calming room. They post it on their websites, blogs, or learning management systems. Teachers are adding pictures of beaches, the mountains, streams, and fireplaces. When you click on the picture it takes you to a YouTube video of relaxing music, crashing waves, or a crackling fire.

Other calming rooms include links to webcams of animals such as The San Diego Zoo which offers the ever so adorable penguin cam among others.

The best part, the calming rooms are free!