Library Management Archives - Page 5 of 8 - Staying Cool in the Library

Engaging Upper Elementary Students

Tackling lesson plans for upper elementary students has been an ongoing challenge in my role as a librarian. The task of keeping them engaged has gotten increasingly difficult. The struggle becomes even more real after the holiday break as the 5th graders return feeling more like middle school students than elementary students. So, I’ve put together a list of ideas and activities for engaging upper elementary students to spice things up and keep the excitement alive for learning in the library. Let’s dive into some ideas that can help you transform your upper elementary students from “too cool for school” to “bring on the books!” This post is collaborative in a sense. You see, over in the Staying Cool in the Library private Facebook group were discussing this very topic. If you are not already a member, come join us! Through this discussion, I quickly realized that this issue

Re-establish Library Rules and Procedures

Everyone enjoys having a break from school, students and educators alike. And while taking that time off is essential and allows us time to re-charge, it can be difficult to get back on track after an extended break. I believe this can be especially tough in the library or other specials classes. Re-establishing library rules and procedures is always part of my after break plans. Below I am sharing some tips, tricks and ideas that I have found useful in helping to get my classes back on track after a holiday break. Re-teach rules and procedures This is a an absolute must in re-establishing routines, remind students of the library rules, expectations and procedures. Act like it’s the first day of school. What did you teach your classes as they came in the library for the first time? This is what you want to re-teach now. You will not

Simple Book Character Costumes

I have always loved book character costume day. In the past my school had this day on the Friday before Halloween. We were looking for a way for students to dress in costume while still focusing on education and not Halloween. A few times we also did it to celebrate Read Across America. These are my favorite ideas for character costumes for students! Most of the students really enjoy this day as well. But I quickly noticed that many students did not really understand what they were supposed to do. They did not understand that their costume had to also be the same as a character found in a book. And some parents did not take the time to discuss it with them either. The first year was a learning experience for me. I was constantly being asked by a student if there was a book with a vampire

K-5 Elementary Library Curriculum Map

I will never forget the overwhelming feeling I had when I started my first job and realized I had no idea what to teach my students. The librarian I replaced left nothing behind—no lesson plans, no curriculum maps, not even a single worksheet. The office was completely empty, and I felt out of my depth. That first school year was filled with a lot of trial and error. Over the next few years, I developed a plan. I learned the curriculum for all grade levels and subjects, understanding what was being taught in the classrooms and identifying areas where students often struggled. I integrated this with the skills I wanted my students to learn. Eventually, I created a document that combined elements of a curriculum map and a scope and sequence. It wasn’t a formal document, nor was I required to submit anything to the administration. Although I wrote

8 Ways to Use Google Forms in the School Library

As school librarians, we have so much to keep track of! Students and entire classes come to us all day long, which we absolutely love! But before we know it, we’re buried under stacks of books, juggling eight post-it notes of reminders, and our email notifications are going off like crazy. To top it all off, we can’t even find that one important email we need. What if I told you there’s a way to turn this mess into organized chaos? Today, I’m going to share how I use Google Forms in the school library to streamline everything with this must-have Google Forms resource! Why use Google Forms in the School Library? If you haven’t started using Google Forms in your library yet, you’re missing out! Google Forms can be a game-changer when it comes to your school library’s systems. It offers endless ways to gather valuable information that

10 Ideas for a Successful Open House in the School Library

If you’ve ever spent weeks prepping your library space only to have a handful of families trickle in during open house, you’re not alone. It can feel discouraging when your library, so full of potential, is overlooked. Open house night is a golden opportunity to introduce your families to all the library has to offer beyond just checking out books. With a few strategic ideas in place, you can turn it into a meaningful and memorable experience for your students and caregivers alike. Today, I’m sharing 10 creative and practical ideas to help your library stand out and leave a lasting impression! Start With Take-Home Tools That Inform and Engage 1. Hand Out Informational Bookmarks Families get a flood of papers at an open house. Many of them don’t make it out of the backpack, purse, or folder. Instead, try handing out bookmarks packed with quick facts about checkout