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As school librarians, we juggle so much – circulation, shelving, displays, and helping our students find the perfect book to spark their curiosity. It’s a lot to handle and, some days, it can feel like you need an extra set of hands (or five). That’s where library helpers come in! They’re the secret to keeping your library running smoothly while giving students a sense of ownership and responsibility. Whether it’s shelving books or organizing supplies, library helpers can transform your space into a more efficient and welcoming environment. Today, I’m sharing some tips and guidance for how to get library helpers started in your library! Why Library Helpers Are a Game-Changer Having library helpers has completely changed how I manage my library. They don’t just take a load off my plate. They also make the library feel like a shared space where everyone contributes. These student volunteers bring so
Tragedy and loss are not reserved for adults. Even our youngest students can walk these paths and be left with the overwhelm of processing their feelings and emotions. From natural disasters to the unexpected loss of a loved one, we can help our students in these unchartered territories. Events like these leave more than just physical damage. They also leave emotional scars, especially for young ones dealing with sudden loss. It can be tough for our kiddos to process these experiences. As educators, we’re always looking for ways to support them. One of my favorite ways to reach them is through books. Stories can be incredibly healing, helping our kiddos find words for their feelings, see that they’re not alone, and inspire hope and resilience. Today, I’m sharing a mix of picture and chapter books to help kids that I’ve found to be incredibly helpful for navigating loss and
Hispanic Heritage Month is one of my favorite times of the year to celebrate the cultures, histories, and contributions of Hispanic individuals. Whether I’m sharing beautiful picture books with younger students or diving into captivating chapter books with my older kiddos, there’s always something special about these stories that spark curiosity and open the door to meaningful conversations. Today, I’m sharing some of my top picks for Hispanic Heritage read-alouds that will inspire your students. These stories will also help them connect to these vibrant cultures in a fun and engaging way! How I Explain Hispanic Heritage Month to My Students When my students come into the library during Hispanic Heritage Month, I love to start by asking if they’ve heard of it before or if they know anyone who speaks Spanish at home. It’s always fun to see their hands shoot up! I explain that Hispanic Heritage Month
When it comes to creating an inclusive library, it’s all about making sure each of our students feels welcome and excited about books. For our English Language Learners, we want the library to be a place where they can comfortably explore stories that reflect their experiences and find resources that support their language growth. My goal is to ensure that every reader, regardless of their language background, feels like the library is their space, too. So, today, I’m sharing some practical ways to support English Language Learners in the school library and help them thrive! Support English Language Learners by Building a Diverse Collection One of my favorite ways to support English Language Learners in the school library is by creating a collection that truly speaks to them. When students see books written in their native languages or stories that reflect their cultures, it creates an instant connection. It’s
Summer break may be filled with sunshine and free time, but that doesn’t mean reading has to take a vacation! Summer is the perfect opportunity to help our kiddos fall in love with reading. At the very least, they should keep their skills fresh until school starts back up. We know the summer slide is real, but with a few intentional strategies and a sprinkle of fun, summer reading can become a highlight of the season. Make Summer Reading Exciting With a Challenge Kids love a little friendly competition! A challenge is a great way to keep our kiddos motivated while they’re away from the classroom. You can keep it simple by encouraging your students to read a set number of books or mix it up with a bingo-style reading challenge. My Summer Reading Packet includes several fun options like “Read under the covers,” “Read a joke book,” or
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

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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