Library
Management

Lesson
Plans

Reading
Motivation

Library
Skills

Research

Reading & Literacy

Archives

Library Book Display Ideas for Every Month of the Year

These library book display ideas will help you keep your book displays fresh during 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
READ THE POST

Christmas Around the World Activities for Kids of All Ages

Add some fun Christmas around the world activities to your classroom for kids of all ages!
As Christmas approaches, we all know our students are buzzing with excitement for vacations, presents, and a break from the usual routine. This time of year can bring a lot of distractions! But instead of letting the holiday energy pull them away, why not bring the celebration into the classroom? That’s why I absolutely love using Christmas around the world activities. These engaging lessons help our students explore how different cultures celebrate holidays around the world. This keeps them curious and connected while they countdown to the break. Plus, it’s fun to dive into geography, traditions, and diversity, all wrapped up in the season’s magic! Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite resources to use to teach about Christmas around the world! What is Christmas Around the World? When we talk about Christmas around the world, we’re diving into the unique and diverse ways people celebrate this holiday across
READ THE POST

Teaching Genre in the Library

These resources and activities will help you when teaching genre in the library.
Who else loves to teach genre to your students? Teaching different types of genres opens the door to lifelong reading. It’s about helping our students pick up books that ignite curiosity. It also shows our students the worlds that exist beyond their own. Understanding genres also connects to writing, helping our students move past the traditional narrative and explore creative possibilities. What is a Genre? Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is a genre? A genre is a category that helps us group books (or any type of story) based on similar themes, settings, or styles. It guides them to books they’ll love based on what they’re in the mood for. Whether it’s a suspenseful mystery, an adventure, or a heartwarming tale of friendship, genres help us organize stories and make it easier for our students to explore new favorites. In the library, genres go beyond fiction. Nonfiction
READ THE POST

Teaching Students to Choose Just Right Books

Finding just right books is something that a lot of our students struggle with, especially early in the year. Some grab a book that looks fun but is way too hard. Others pick something that’s super easy just to get it over with. Then, some feel completely overwhelmed and don’t even know where to begin. That’s why I make it a point to teach this skill in the library, not just leave it up to the classroom setting. Even though I revisit the concept of just right books throughout the year, I like to start the conversation with second graders. That’s when I introduce the Five Finger Rule and dive deeper into helping them understand what it really means to choose a book that fits them. One that’s not too hard or easy but just right. I’ve built this lesson out over the years to include read-alouds, modeling, interactive
READ THE POST

Digital Rewards for the School Library

Digital rewards for the school library is a simple, low-prep management plan for librarians.
Classroom management can be quite an adventure for librarians and other “specials” teachers. We’ve all been there trying to keep things on track when we only see our students once a week for a brief session. Kids often see their specials time as a chance to chat with friends and take a break from the regular school grind. Plus, knowing they won’t get a grade for our activities can make them think they don’t need to put in the effort. With so much to cover in such a short time, it’s easy to miss some of the mischief. That’s why today, I’m excited to share a fantastic system that uses digital rewards to keep students motivated and focused on the task at hand! How Did the Digital Rewards System Get Its Start? Over the years, I’ve tried all sorts of systems to encourage positive behavior. I’ve done sticker charts,
READ THE POST

Teaching Book Care in the Elementary School Library

Teaching book care in the elementary school library
One of the most important lessons you can teach in the elementary school library is book care. It’s not just about keeping books neat. It’s about helping our kiddos understand respect, responsibility, and the shared joy of reading. When our students know how to care for books, they’re learning life skills that will serve them well everywhere. When I first became a librarian, I assumed older students already knew how to handle books responsibly. I quickly realized that many kids didn’t have books at home or hadn’t been to a public library before. For them, the elementary school library was the first place they encountered books they were trusted to borrow. That’s why book care became a central lesson, not just for kindergarten and first grade, but for every grade level. Why Book Care Matters in the Elementary School Library Teaching book care in the elementary school library is
READ THE POST

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.

[convertkit form=966981]

Categories

Categories
Price
Price - slider
Price - inputs
Select Categories
Categories
Select Type
Resource Type
Select Topics
Topics