(Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using them, I get a small commission that helps support running this blog) Makerspaces 201: I’ve Got Cardboard, Now What? The Maker Movement is taking the education world by storm and many teachers and librarians have been excited to create makerspaces in their schools. But once you’ve … Read more
(Post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using them, I get a small commission that helps support running this blog.) Makerspaces and Libraries: Workshop Version Makerspaces & Libraries: How to Bring Some STEAM Into Your Program (Updated 7-17 Workshop Version) from Diana Rendina 90 Minute Version Updated 10-18 Makerspaces & Libraries Workshop 90 minute … Read more
How to Make Awesome Plans for a New Makerspace For the first time in four years, I am without a makerspace. My new school’s library is beautiful and huge and has a school culture that is just ripe for making. Even though it was tempting, I decided not to change it up and create a … Read more
The Big Book of Makerspace Projects is definitely the next book you should add to both your school and personal library. Colleen Graves and Aaron Graves offer up 51 awesome makerspace projects in this book that are fun and doable no matter what level you’re at. Why The Big Book of Makerspace Projects should be … Read more
Why I love Copernicus Carts In setting up a makerspace in my media center, I’m constantly on the lookout for effective, flexible storage solutions for the myriad of supplies we have. I think I’ve found one of the best ones out there in Copernicus. I started with one Book Browser Cart (similar to this one) … Read more
Why Perler Beads are Awesome for Makerspaces Perler Beads were one of the earliest elements of my makerspace. I originally added them as a pop-up station during Teen Tech Week in 2014. They ended up being such a surprise hit that they became a permanent part of our makerspace. They’re one of my students favorite … Read more
Learning How to Knit I’ve been a knitter since my best friend in college first gave me a set of needles and taught me the basic stitches. This was back in 2002. When I first started out, I needed a lot of help and guidance. I would check out books on knitting from the public library. … Read more
When I first started up my makerspace at Stewart, I knew that getting students in there after school would be the ideal time to really dive deep into projects and develop a community of makers. During those first six months, my school didn’t have afterschool clubs but was piloting during school clubs with 6th graders, … Read more
During my poster session at ISTE, I must have been asked dozens of times: “When do students use your Makerspace? How do you organize scheduling?” I am in a magnet middle school on a flexible schedule. I have a very supportive administration and staff and an enthusiastic student body that’s eager to learn. I realize that … Read more
Advocating for Makerspaces in School Libraries I’m pleased and honored to announce that I will now be a regular monthly contributor to AASL’s Knowledge Quest blog. This is likely old news to you if you follow me on Twitter, but with the summer being as crazy as it was I realized that I never … Read more