Science + Makerspace: Safety Device Challenge

Science + Makerspace: Safety Device Challenge

  In the spring of 2021, the 6th grade science teacher and I began forming a plan.  She had seen the engagement of 6th graders in our afterschool Maker Days program and wanted to find a way to bring that into her classroom so that ALL of our 6th graders could have this opportunity.  We … Read more

15+ Ways to Celebrate Banned Books Week Virtually

15+ Ways to Celebrate Banned Books Week Virtually

Banned Books Week is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about censorship and the right to read.  There’s tons of great banned books activities and displays out there, but many of them work best in-person.  Since the pandemic has most schools meeting either virtually or in a hybrid model, students likely won’t be able to … Read more

20+ Back-to-School Resources for Librarians

20+ Back-to-school resources for librarians // Here's a curated list of posts and other resources to help you get ready for a new school year.

It’s back-to-school season!  Some schools have been back for several weeks while others are gearing up to go back. But no matter when you start back up, your mind is likely buzzing with the possibilities of a fresh school year.  The beginning of the year is a great time to try something new, whether it’s … Read more

6 Tips for Creating Effective Digital Surveys for Schools

6 Tips for Creating Effective Digital Surveys for Schools: You can't make appropriate changes at your school without all the data, and using surveys with your teachers and students is a great way to gather it. It also gives an opportunity for your stakeholders to have a voice in your school

You can’t design a library space and program that meets the needs of your teachers and students if you don’t know what those needs are.  It’s hard to develop an effective library collection if you have no idea what genres and books your students want to read. Using surveys with your teachers and students can … Read more

Incorporating the Maker Movement into Programs

As I’ve been researching and reading up on the Maker Movement, one of the most common things I hear from other librarians and educators is that they aren’t sure how to start, or they’re worried about teacher perception.  One easy way to get your students and teachers exposed to the Maker Movement (or really, DIY … Read more

Starting a Makerspace: Baby steps

Taking Baby Steps Towards Starting a Makerspace As you know if you’ve been following my blog and Twitter account, I’m a bit obsessed lately with the concept of Makerspaces in libraries.  I’ve been brainstorming and grant writing. I’ve been telling everyone I know about my vision for what I want my school’s library Makerspace to … Read more