I believe that an elementary library should be a bright, colorful, and inviting place. Kids should come in and feel welcome there. One of my ultimate goals as a librarian is to create a warm and comfortable space; one in which kids look forward to visiting and want to hunker
Ahh … Orientation. The very word makes me smile. I have a quick story for you. As an undergrad at college, I was short a PE class for graduation. So in the spring of my senior year, I signed up for this weekend orienteering class held off campus. It was
A typical conversation heard in my library goes a little bit like this … Them: “Mrs. Dykeman, Do you have any Diary of a Wimpy Kid books?” Me: “Did you check the basket?” Them: “Uh Huh.” Me: “Were there any books in it?” Them: “Nuh Uh.” Me: “Guess we are
If you have been a faithful follower of my blog, you will have already noticed that some of my blog posts over the last year have disappeared. Others of you may remember that I explained several months ago that I had lost ALL of my blog pictures when I converted
If you are new to the blogging world, you might be wondering … Why “follow” a blog? Well, following a blog has several benefits. First, it shows that you are a fan of that blog and support the content. Secondly, and even more importantly, it allows you to keep up-to-date
As a librarian, I am always on the search for tools that will help me to curate the burgeoning world of digital media. There is SOOO much great stuff out there, but it is often hard to get the right tools in the hands of the right kids at the
With President’s Day right around the corner, my first and second graders are learning about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I have created a mini research project in which students sort factual statements about these two great leaders. A quick click on the pix below will take you to Google
As a librarian, one of my biggest challenges is getting our elementary kids to cite their sources. Writing out a whole annotation is next to impossible for those who are just beginning to get a handle on reading and writing. However, it is so important!! We as educators need to
Everywhere that I turn these days, I cannot avoid the buzz words “Common Core.” That is especially true of the hallways and classrooms in my very own school. As librarian though, I embrace the Common Core. Never before have we, as a profession, been in such a place of opportunity.
Hey there – I have noticed, both as a classroom teacher AND as a librarian, that kids like to read randomly. You know … pick up a chapter book, open to the center, and simply start reading. Then, the next time that they are told to read independently, they pick
