Cardboard Challenge Tips Part 2: More Tips and Tricks

Cardboard Challenge Part 2 Tips and Tricks: Here's more tips to help support your cardboard challenge, including storage, organization, and using design challenges.

Cardboard challenges have been a core part of my makerspace programming for the past eight years.  I continue to be amazed year after year at the amazing ideas students come up with when given a design challenge and simple, everyday materials.  In Part 1 of this post series, I looked at some of my favorite … Read more

Cardboard Challenge Tips Part 1: The Tools

Cardboard Challenge Tips Part 1: The Tools // Here are some of my favorite makerspace tools to support a cardboard challenge.

The Cardboard Challenge remains one of my all-time favorite makerspace activities.  I love how accessible it is to students.  How enthusiastic and creative they can be with such simple materials.  I’ll never forget one of my favorite makerspace moments – my students at Stewart were Skyping with another school that was looking to start a … Read more

COVID Library Update Part 3: Our Makerspace in the Time of COVID

COVID Library Update Part 3: Our Makerspace in the time of COVID - How we continued to host afterschool Maker Days while keeping students safe.

This is a multiple post series.  Part 1 gave an overview of what my school has been doing during COVID and how my library’s physical space has adapted.  In Part 2, I shared about programs I’ve done to encourage reading, plus collaborations with teachers.  For this last post, I’ll share how we’ve adapted our makerspace … Read more

COVID Library Update Part 2: Bringing Books to My Students

COVID Library Update Part 2: Bringing Books to My Students // Since access to our library space is limited this year, I've found creative ways to continue to get books into the hands (and devices) of students.

This is a multiple post series.  In Part 1, I gave an overview of what my school has been doing during COVID and how my library’s physical space has adapted.  In this post, I’ll be sharing about programs I’ve done to encourage reading, plus collaborations with teachers.  For Part 3, I’ll share how we’ve adapted … Read more

COVID Library Update Part 1: Adapting the Space & Collection

COVID library update part 1: Adapting the Space & Collection - Finding ways to make the library space work and get work done on our library collection.

  To say it’s been an interesting school year so far would be an understatement.  This has definitely been the most challenging year of my career.  I consider myself lucky to be working at a school that has the resources and leadership to keep us safe.  I know that many, many schools have been left … Read more

Read This Book: Educated By Design

Educated By Design

If you’re interested in the ways that education and design intersect, this book is for you.  If you’re interested in empathy, design thinking, hands-on creative learning, getting comfortable with failure, you’re in luck.  And if you love super-awesome illustrations created by the author spread throughout your books, this one’s got you covered.  Educated By Design: … 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

Demco Post: How to Manage Your Makerspace During a Pandemic

Demco Post: How to Manage a Makerspace During a Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has closed down many schools.  Some are fully in virtual learning mode.  Others have a hybrid approach of in-person and online learning (as my school does).  And others have gone 100% back to in-person, but are still following guidelines for safe social distancing and cleaning. It’s a pretty crazy time right now.  … Read more

How to Dream Big with a Library Space Analysis

How to Dream Big with a Library Space Analysis: Sometimes it can be hard to step back and take a look at the big picture. By creating a library space analysis, you can start dreaming big about the potential your space has. Plus, you'll create some great visuals that you can share with your admin.

How to Dream Big With a Library Space Analysis It may seem like an odd time to be reimagining your library space.  You might currently have limited access or might not be allowed on campus.  If you are having in-person learning, your library might not look like it normally does.  To help manage social distancing, … Read more