The SLLN (School Librarian Learning Network) Podcast

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast.

I listen to quite a few podcasts, but I hadn't heard of Smash Boom Best before LaDawna Harrington, a recently retired school librarian from New Jersey, introduced me to it. Now I'm hooked! And you'll be hooked on this month's One Lesson at a Time episode, where LaDawna talks to us about how she used this energetic, fun podcast as a template for a lesson that gets students excited to learn.

LaDawna's years of librarianship and as a classroom educator are a gift! She brought so many awesome lesson ideas to our conversation that we had trouble picking just one! We finally settled on talking about LaDawna's lesson, "Smash Boom Best Meets Neurons and Endorphins." In it, students are put into a head-to-head debate to defend an assigned topic, using not only research but also creativity and cleverness to support their side.

One of my favorite elements of this lesson is the way it gives students the room to get creative about sharing what they know. Lessons often require a very specific product, but LaDawna's unit encourages students to be clever in creating a final product that is interesting, engaging, and informative—and that can take any form they wish.

In addition to being a fun lesson, it's one that will work across grade levels and will allow for collaboration with any subject area. LaDawna did this lesson in conjunction with a high school science teacher, and the students had a blast; but this could also be a great chance to work on information literacy and research skills, while also providing an excellent opportunity to collaborate—and perhaps with a subject area that doesn't often get as much library time as English or history.

View LaDawna's lesson plan, catch the original version of the episode, and even get a PD certificate! 

Follow the link: https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Home/Display/2337511

I first met Andrea at our state school librarian conference. She was wearing rainbow colored sneakers, and I had to compliment her on them. We struck up a conversation, and became fast friends.

Andrea is a school librarian passionate about providing her students a safe, welcoming space and making sure they feel connected and respected. This lesson is just one of the ways she helps bring that message to all of her students! 

Guest: Andrea Caporale, aka Mrs C, Library Media Specialist

Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12

Resources: 

Freedom to Read Lesson: https://sites.google.com/somervilleschools.org/shs-lmc/lessons/freedom-to-read?authuser=0 

Book Break: 

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Additional authors to check out: 

Kacen Callender

Casey McQuiston

Dashka Slater

Too many to list! LOL

Where to find Andrea Caporale, aka Mrs C, Library Media Specialist: 

Website: https://sites.google.com/somervilleschools.org/shs-lmc/shs-library-media-center?authuser=0 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsc_library/ 

Twitter: https://x.com/TheVilleLMC 

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

**This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast.**

I have been fortunate enough to know K.C. for several years now, and she is always doing amazing things with her students - and this lesson is no exception!

View K.C.'s lesson plan, catch the original version of the episode, and even get a PD certificate! 

Follow the link: https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Article/2291201

Ashley is one of my first stops when I am trying to expand my knowledge of manga, and I was very excited when she shared out this lesson on social media. She is also one of the authors of a book for educators on incorporating manga into schools!

This lesson has my brain buzzing with all the possibilities - I hope you enjoy learning about it!

Guest: Ashley Hawkins

Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3K/PreK

 Resources: 

Lesson Plan: Manga & Comic Con Project Based Learning Lesson: https://mangalibrarian.com/2024/07/29/lesson-plan-manga-comic-con-project-based-learning/

Add’l Links: 

Book Break: 

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, translated by Geoffrey Trousselot

Where to find Ashley Hawkins: 

Website: https://mangalibrarian.com

Handle: Generally @mangalibrarian, but it has variations

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/mangalibrarian.bsky.social

Instagram: instagram.com/themangalibrarian 

TikTok: tiktok.com/manga_librarian

Twitter: twitter.com/manga_librarian

Other Social Media: https://linktr.ee/manga_librarian

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Friends, I may have earned a doctorate, but Dr. Andrea Trudeau EARNED her doctorate! In addition to all her coursework, she's published several studies on her area of interest, virtual and augmented reality and its effects on students. She is an amazing resource, and I'm so glad she offered to share with us! 

Guest: Dr. Andrea Trudeau 

Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8

Resources: 

“Stories of Displacement: Promoting Empathy and Understanding Through VR and Text” Resources: https://padlet.com/andrea_trudeau/stories-of-displacement-vr-empathy-wtm0kwz7nekvqslz 

Book Break: 

That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America by Amanda Jones

The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

Where to find Dr. Andrea Trudeau

Website: https://www.noshhlibrarian.com/ 

Twitter: @Andrea_Trudeau  twitter.com/Andrea_Trudeau

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

I was fortunate enough to work with Wendy on the AASL Member Engagement Committee. There, I learned she is a dedicated, hard-working individual who gets stuff done. And on top of that, she does amazing things for her students! Check out her materials on getting an origami program going in her library!

Guest: Wendy Garland, Librarian

Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Resources: 

“Origami in the Library” Lesson: https://listenconnectempower.blogspot.com/2024/09/origami-in-our-library.html 

Book Break: 

Author Susan Hood! From historical fiction middle grade novels to exquisite nonfiction picture books and poetry - what CAN'T she do?

Lifeboat 12

Lifeboat 5

Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World

The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics

Where to find Wendy Garland, Librarian: 

Website: https://listenconnectempower.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dancelibrarian

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have a comment, an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Tim Smyth is a school-librarian-by-association. We've known each other since I met him at a school librarian conference where Tim was presenting on the importance of having comics and graphic novels in classrooms and school libraries. He and I are definintely on the same page! 

Here, Tim shares a lesson that is near and dear to his heart, and his work as an educator. 

Guest: Tim Smyth, educator and Eisner award nominated author

Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12

Resources: 

Comics as Artifacts Lesson: https://historycomics.edublogs.org/2014/09/25/comics-as-artifacts/

Add’l Links:

HistoryComics.Net

https://www.historycomics.net/free-comics-1

Book Break: 

March Trilogy by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell

Where to find Tim Smyth, educator and Eisner award nominated author: 

Website: https://www.historycomics.net/

Handle: @historycomics

Twitter:   twitter.com/historycomics

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Tennessee school librarian Katie Capshaw is one of those people who feels like a friend after you've just met. She's here to share how she introduces her 8th graders to AI. This lesson has lots of adaptability, and could easily spin off some additional lessons. Settle in and enjoy the final episode of Season 1! 

Guest: Katie Capshaw

Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8

Resources: 

Introduction to Ai Lesson: https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/lesson/what-is-ai 

Add’l Links: https://schoolai.com/ 

Book Break: 

Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd

The Women by Kristen Hannah

Where to find Katie Capshaw: 

Website: katiecapshaw.weebly.com, mrscapshawslibraryworld.wordpress.com 

Handle: @mrscapshawbooks

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/mrscapshawbooks.bsky.social

Instagram: instagram.com/mrscapshawbooks

TikTok: tiktok.com/mrscapshawbooks

Twitter: twitter.com/mrscapshawbooks

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

It's me again! In the penultimate episode of Season 1, I'm sharing a lesson on information literacy that helped my students start to wrap their minds around two key concepts when it comes to considering any information: Context and Perspective. 

Guest: Steve Tetreault

Grade(s) Taught: 7-8

Resources: 

Information Literacy & Reliable Sources  Lesson: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TDCqafzR9uZ-y3n3y9n98vUwMQcSbbvKrCrANtp1evs/edit#slide=id.p

Book Break: 

Foundryside (#1, The Founders Trilogy) by Robert Jackson Bennet

Super Powereds, Year 1 (#1, The Super Powereds series) by Drew Hayes

Forging Hephaestus (#1, The Villain's Code series) by Drew Hayes

Where to find Steve: 

Websites:

SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Handle: @DrTLovesBooks

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/DrTLovesBooks.bsky.social

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Your intrepid host shares a lesson he's found helpful in preparing students (and teachers) to do better research in less time. 

Guest: Steve Tetreault

Grade(s) Taught: 7-8, 9-12

Resources: 

Planning & Visualizing Lesson: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NBBdpOoktZ66HbodRXfpWF5WaHzuWaWEz7zQb4OJi40/edit#slide=id.p 

Add’l Links: See all the lessons for my "secret info lit" class here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LF4D4Gpf_jSzDuyIzi1fX5MwTb_glMNo?usp=drive_link 

Book Break: 

Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter

Where to find Steve: 

Website: DrTLovesBooks.com, SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Handle: @DrTLovesBooks

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/DrTLovesBooks.bsky.social 

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Virginia school librarian Maura Madigan has taken the idea of reading to pets to a whole new level as a way to support her school's literacy efforts. 

Guest: Maura Magigan

Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Resources: 

Reading Rescue Pet Adoption Program Lesson: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MidinPgjzMl25QmKJwlwA-jDjxWYv47G?usp=sharing 

Book Break: 

The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard

Where to find Maura: 

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Melissa Corey shares so much of her work and so many ideas - and here she's sharing an amazing exhibit, along with ideas for her process of creating museum-like exhibits in her library!

Guest: Melissa Corey

Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8

Resources: 

Holocaust Memorial Exhibit Lesson: https://fb.watch/rXxGavabSy/

Book Break: 

Free Lunch by Rex Ogle - My goal is to meet Rex Ogle so I can tell him in person how much our students appreciate his books!

Where to find Melissa Corey: 

Website: https://linktr.ee/melissacoreylibrary 

Handle: @melissacorey

TikTok: tiktok.com/@melissacoreylibrary  

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

I was fortunate enough to befriend Todd online, and his energy and enthusiasm were always a ray of sunshine on my day! Here, the 2016 SLJ School Librarian of the Year shares a great lesson that ticks so many boxes! While Todd does this with his upper elementary students, this could easily become a great lesson for upper grades as well!

Guest: Todd Burleson, School Librarian 

Grade(s) Taught: 5, 6

Resources: 

Bookprints: An Exploration of Our Reading Journey Lesson: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1vEf27cCsul1C7osvf3KyF85zsU--DNBX?usp=drive_link 

Add’l Links: Rhonda Jenkins twitter.com/@luv2teachtech

Book Break: 

Heroes and others by Alan Gratz

Hatchet and others by Gary Paulsen

The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America's 16th President--and Why It Failed by Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon

Where to find Todd Burleson, School Librarian: 

Instagram: instagram.com/burlesot

Twitter: twitter.com/todd_burleson and twitter.com/SkokieSchoolRC 

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Texas high school librarian Kaitlyn Carpenter shares this great lesson that connects her students' academic work to their yearbooks! 

Guest: Kaitlyn Carpenter (aka Carpe_Librarian)

Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12

Resources: 

Sociology - School Culture Case Study Lesson:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15czk9bmM4vPI3MWsKbD5ughYFeZAt-mN?usp=sharing

Book Break: 

Thrillers:

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally

Realistic/Romance:

Exactly Where you Need to Be by Amelia Diane Coombs

This Might get Awkward by Kara McDowell 

 Where to find Kaitlyn Carpenter (aka Carpe_Librarian): 

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/kaitlynrcarpenter/ 

Handle: @carpe_librarian

 Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

I'm back - this time, with an actual lesson! Check out how you can build your own custom search engines that will only search within the sources you select - handy for you, handy for students, handy for staff! 

Guest: Steve Tetreault

Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8

Resources: 

Build Your Own Search Engine! Lesson: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQgq3iy0Hiiq8JU6Vr3m8jrH7dzxQYaIAB0SxwEHtdlyBGfWoVw-eey3vpFNmFJ5GX45wEoP88tbPMb/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000 

Book Break: 

The Meister of Decimen City by Brenna Raley

Where to find Steve Tetreault: 

Website: SchoolLibLearning.Net

Handle: @DrTLovesBooks

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/drtlovesbooks.bsky.social 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrTLovesBooks

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

This week is a special episode of the podcast. I’ve been travelling, and haven’t been able to record one of our usual episodes with a guest. But I didn’t want to leave you hanging, either, so we’re doing something different this week. We’re going to start with the book break, followed by a special surprise.

This week, the SLLN Podcast goes international as Canadian school librarian Christopher Hunt joins us to share his science-focused "Makery Bakery" lesson, where second graders make bread and butter! 

Guest: Christopher Hunt, Chris (he/him)

Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Resources: 

#MakeryBakery : States of Matter via Bread- and Butter-Making Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QdhbK-wNfBeOZTvlPWeUGH-L5Ib-cA7Zlz5pypF9-x0/edit 

Add’l Links: 

3 Links with pictures of the whole process of baking bread in the library: 

https://x.com/exlibrismrhunt/status/1579576580837629952?s=61&t=Tv9BKUdb0H2orkq59euXgw 

https://x.com/exlibrismrhunt/status/1061003182879338496?s=61&t=Tv9BKUdb0H2orkq59euXgw 

https://bsky.app/profile/exlibrismrhunt.bsky.social/post/3kkp7t5ojlc2s 

Bread & Butter Recipes without the lesson plans:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QhdyDHiz2feI4eGzPlWThWG4cGMUT--fBwC1nvtMz84/edit

Book Break: 

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day and Brett Helquist (Illustrator)

Where to find Christopher Hunt, Chris (he/him): 

Handle: @ExLibrisMrHunt on Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Miss Jean Darnell, known online as Awaken Librarian, is a careful thinker and diligent researcher. In this episode, she shares some lessons and thoughts about AI in education. 

Guest: Ms. Jean Darnell

Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8

Resources: 

Using AI for Literacy Lesson: https://www.awakenlibrarian.com/2023/04/using-ai-for-literacy-exciting-prompts.html 

Add’l Links: https://ditchthattextbook.com/about/ 

Book Break: 

Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine by Uché Blackstock

Where to find Ms. Jean Darnell: 

Website: https://awakenlibrarian.com

Handle: @AwakenLibrarian

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Kelly Hincks has been sharing wonderful lessons over on the Knowledge Quest blog for years - if you've been missing them, be sure to check them out! In this episode, she shares how she has students use hexagonal thinking to get to know each other in a fun and creative way. This lesson can be adapted in many ways to get students thinking creatively across the curriculum - and you can be the hero who brings this into collaborations with your staff! 

Guest: Kelly Hincks

Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, Preschool age 3 and age 4

Resources: 

Learn About Each Other Using Hexagonal Thinking Lesson: https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/my-favorite-collaborative-lesson-learn-about-each-other-using-hexagonal-thinking/ 

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/hexagonal-thinking/

https://engagetheirminds.com/2022/07/15/getting-to-know-you-hexagons-for-back-to-school/ 

Book Break: 

Backable: The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take a Chance on You by Suneel Gupta

The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms by Sandra Fay

The Three Little Tardigrades by Sandra Fay 

Where to find Kelly Hincks: 

Website: https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/author/khincks/ 

Instagram: https://instagram.com/kelly.hincks 

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

"Everything's bigger in Texas" is not just a saying, as school librarian Deb Zeman will prove in this episode! The lesson is big, the resources are big, the Book Break is big - and the implications for our students are big! 

Guest: Deb Zeman/MS Librarian

Grades taught: 6-8

Resources: 

Wakelet Student Ambassador Program: https://wakelet.com/wake/z7FWzla_1fiAlwlJ7p-hG (this also includes the links to the Certified Student Course and the Portfolio Course.)

Final Wakelet Student Ambassador Certificates: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF_nHaxmfM/79K5TssTbsxbNFSZKdx3zA/view?utm_content=DAF_nHaxmfM&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

Wakelet Raceboard: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFq9kRdcLI/7wqSxbzjzuB9tIm07Rmvxg/view?utm_content=DAFq9kRdcLI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

Parent Letter and information graphic about the course, etc template: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFq9sLREGQ/Cb6UOjGkRk5TwYgzxG_OJg/view?utm_content=DAFq9sLREGQ&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

Book Break: 

Starfish by Lisa Fipps 

Aniana del Mar Jumps In by Jasmine Mendez

Hope Wins: A Collection of Inspiring Stories for Young Readers edited by Rose Brock

Shine On, Luz Veliz by Rebecca Balcarcel

Four Eyes and Pizza Face by Rex Ogle

Plan A by Deb Caletti

In the Orbit of You and Amelia Unabridged by Ashely Schumcher

“Go look at my goodreads and ask me again at the end of the year! LOL”

Where to find Deb Zeman

Website: bit.ly/DZLinkTree 

Handle: @Z_Brarian for all social media platforms!

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Tennessee school librarian (and generally wonderful human) Laurie Stansbury shares the lesson she does with the book The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan  (Illustrator) - and both the book and the lesson are lovely! 

Guest: Laurie Stansbury

Grades: K-5

Resources: 

"The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story" (same name as the book) Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/188aT4KP9US_HfqLvl610PUWJ6TqAoaU_l9yO5JQvLJU/edit?usp=sharing 

Add’l Links: Youtube link of book being recorded: https://youtu.be/JLxFioeUcjo?si=77BuDRmHZlFOMwT0 

Book Break: 

The Partition Project by Saadia Faruqi

Where to find Laurie Stansbury: 

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lauriestansbury.bsky.social 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriestansburylibrarian/

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

The ever-delightful Katie McNamara shares how she uses "Game of Quotes" as a lesson in collaboration with her teachers, and gets requests from both students and staff for more! 

Guest: Katie McNamara, High School Teacher Librarian & Fresno Pacific University Program Director, Teacher Librarian Program

Resources: 

Game of Quotes Lesson: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF9EWHvGw0/6I1M71IhOI_Y4BCJdYcDyA/edit?utm_content=DAF9EWHvGw0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton 

Book Break: 

Your Plantation Prom is Not Okay by Kelly McWilliams 

Where to find Katie McNamara, High School Teacher Librarian & Fresno Pacific University Program Director, Teacher Librarian Program: 

Website: https://linktr.ee/katiejmcnamara 

Handle: @KatieJMcNamra

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

New Jersey is in the house! 4-6 school librarian Gab Casieri shares how she gets research skills and critical thinking embedded in her "Curiosity Project" lesson!

Resources: 

Curiosity Project Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B8ePsu1vzo_4tdwUKO0sXG-j_GQO98s4tK-WhelOI6U/edit?usp=sharing 

Add’l Links: https://www.noodletools.com/ 

Book Break: 

I have been recommending Rupert Holmes's Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide. It's really terrific. The audio is fantastic with Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance narrating.

Where to find Gabrielle "Gab" Casieri: 

Website: https://libguides.ltps.org/home/

Handle: @mrscasieri

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Friends, if you haven't gotten to know school librarian Erika Long, what have you been doing with yourself? She is an amazing practitioner, and we're lucky to get to learn from her this week! She's bringing her middle grades "Renaissance Art Tour" to us, and I have no doubt you'll find the lesson - and Ericka - as engaging as I do! 

Resources: 

Renaissance Art Tour Lesson: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF626h2v_I/9_2VXHyjaZhlM4V8KRcf4A/edit?utm_content=DAF626h2v_I&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Add’l Links: https://k12mnps-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/elong1_mnps_org/EdVMonRoc6VCpYxVYk5cPSsB4_VBThER_Y-B3TWJLDEUxw?e=x4jAz0 https://k12mnps-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/elong1_mnps_org/EerhCFibq3hPqyeD-DbJSUEBl3OA-qmSFGpDXkUkmPPKGg?e=lKXTRz

Book Break: 

Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You by A'ja Wilson

Where to find Erika Long: 

Website: notyomamaslibrarian.my.canva.site

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyomamaslibrarian  

Other Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikaslong/

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Ya'll, we've got Dustin Hensley in the house! This Tennessee high school librarian is all about experiential, authentic learning, as his "Community Improvement" lesson clearly demonstrates. (On a completely unrelated note, Dustin is also the KING of grant writing - if you're looking for tips, he's the man!) Learn along with me from this font of knowledge!

Resources: 

Links: https://sdgs.un.org/goals https://dev-xqcompetencies.xqsuperschool.org/ 

Book Break: 

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Where to find Dustin Hensley: 

Handle: @dshensleyedu

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Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Tom's online handle is "Captain Library" because that's his school, but it's also a fitting title, because Tom is THE MAN when it comes to all things library - particularly primary sources! (If you haven't checked out The Primary Source Podcast, you are missing out.) He has collaborated with author Melissa Stewart in the past, and here he shares his lesson on how he presents Stewart's five kinds of nonfiction with students (and staff). It's helped me rethink my approach to nonfiction - maybe it'll spark something for you, too! 

Resources: 

An Introduction to the Five Kinds of Nonfiction Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AChMn3SREMhcWCVX44-d4mspntVfCXIF/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107672689077137206868&rtpof=true&sd=true 

Add’l Links: https://www.melissa-stewart.com/books/teachers/bk_5_kinds_nonfiction.html 

Book Break: 

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt

Where to find Tom Bober: 

Handle: @CaptainLibrary

Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/captainlibrary.bsky.social

Instagram: instagram.com/CaptainLibrary 

TikTok: tiktok.com/@CaptainLibrary

Twitter: twitter.com/CaptainLibrary 

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Resources: 

MISSION MARS Lesson: https://wakelet.com/wake/r571cioBoL8vU9KHLVAU-

Book Break: 

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: The Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein

Where to find Ali Schilpp : 

Website: https://linktr.ee/AliSchilpp

Handle: @AliSchilpp

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alischilpp.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alischilpp

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alischilpp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliSchilpp

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Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

While she's known in some circles as "That Librarian", she'll always be the amazing Amanda Jones! 

The lesson she's sharing was directly inspired by her own experience with facing harassment online. It's a wonderful opportunity to give students space to share their own experiences and consider their own online behavior. 

Resources: 

The Dangers in Their Hands: Navigating Social Media Lesson: https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/2021-School-Librarian-of-the-Year-Amanda-Jones-Creates-lesson-about-navigating-social-media 

Add’l Links: librarianjones.com

Book Break: 

Unstuck by Barbara Dee

Glitter Everywhere!: Where It Came From, Where It's Found, and Where It's Going by Chris Barton and Chaaya Prabhat

The Artivist by Nicholas Smith

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Where to find Amanda Jones: 

Website: librarianjones.com 

Handle: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/abmack33  

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/librarianjones.bsky.social

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Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Fallon Farokhi brings such a wide array of experience and skills to the school library - it's no wonder her students love coming to the library! 

In this episode, Fallon shares a lesson that encourages students to engage in authentic inquiry driven by their own curiosity - and she makes the library the star of the show along the way! 

Resources: 

Every Day Is Special: Natural Inquiry Lesson: https://thestoryspectator.blogspot.com/2022/08/teaching-idea-today-is.html 

Add’l Links:

 https://www.daysoftheyear.com/ 

https://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/220427-AASL-Standards-Crosswalk-ASCD-002.pdf 

Book Break: 

The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Nayeri 

Where to find Fallon Farokhi: 

Website: https://thestoryspectator.blogspot.com/ 

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/TheStorySpectator.bsky.social 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryspectator/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ffarokhi 

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Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

If you aren't familiar with Amanda Hunt, you're missing out! "The Next Gen Librarian" is such a wonderful font of shared book reviews, school library ideas - and lessons! 

Although she calls this lesson "Turkey Bingo", it's not just limited to use around Thanksgiving - this is a fun book bingo activity that encourages students to share what they know about books. It is quite adaptable to fit titles from any grade levels, though hers is set up to work with her middle school students. 

Resources: 

Turkey Bingo lesson: https://www.thenextgenlibrarian.com/blog/turkey-bingo 

Add’l Links: bit.ly/biolinkthenextgenlibrarian

Book Break: 

Daybreak at Raven Island by Fleur T. Bradley

Where to find Amanda Hunt: 

Website: www.thenextgenlibrarian.com 

Handle: @thenextgenlibrarian

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thenextgenlib.bsky.social 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thenextgenlibrarian 

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/thenextgenlibrarian 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/thenextgenlib 

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

We have SO MANY great school librarians volunteering their lessons that our usual 2 week release schedule doesn't make sense. So for the foreseeable future, we're bringing you a new episode every week! 

Stay tuned for more great episodes coming your way soon!

Check in with us, and check us out!

Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email SchoolLibLearning@gmail.com

Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

If you’re seeing this, you are at least passingly familiar with podcasts. I’ve been a fan of podcasts for quite a while now; I’m a daily listener to a variety of podcasts. It’s fair to say I get a large percent of my information about the world from podcasts. And I know I’m not the only one learning by listening. 

I hadn’t given too much thought to how I choose the podcasts I listen to before, other than, “Do I like how this sounds?” But after speaking with elementary school librarian Amanda McCoy out of Kansas, I realized that I am actually pretty discerning in my podcast selections–wich  - which is a form of information and media literacy. I also realized that podcasts are a form of media that might not get the attention they deserve when considering learning standards.

It’s easy to overlook the importance of listening skills. Podcasts can help reinforce this area while also providing a handle for discussing many other elements of media and information. Amanda has her students consider the audience, which is another way of thinking about the purpose and tone of the information. Plus, the exposure to well-done podcasts can provide scaffolds and exemplars for students’ own work, whether it’s recorded or written. 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Media and information literacy are incredibly important areas of instruction, ones that school librarians are uniquely positioned to work on with students. The lesson that Amanda is sharing with us is a great opportunity to engage students in a fun but meaningful conversation about podcasts as a source of both entertainment and information. It’s easily scalable to a variety of ages and ability levels, and it offers lots of collaboration opportunities. This is a really wonderful lesson - I know you’ll be able to make it work for your students!

Find Amanda: 

Resources: 

Book Break: 

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Jersey in the house! I'm excited to introduce you to my friend Lisa Manganello, a high school librarian in New Jersey. Lisa is an incredible teacher-librarian, emphasis on the “teacher” part, as she demonstrates with her explanation of how she approaches this media literacy lesson with her staff and students. Lisa refreshes the lesson each year with a current, of-the-moment image making its way throughout the internet, and encourages students to discuss and investigate what they are seeing using the ESCAPE method shared by NewseumEd.org. And the way she’s able to work with her colleagues while also working with students is stellar!

I taught media literacy lessons for several years, but Lisa shared some great strategies for keeping those lessons not only fresh for me as the instructor, but to-the-minute relevant for students. And while Lisa is using this lesson with high school students, I can see it being adapted to many different levels. 

So join me in our conversation as Lisa leads us through her media literacy lesson! And don't miss our Book Break at the end, featuring some discussion of Jeff Zentern's works! 

Find Lisa: 

Resources: 

Book Break: 

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I was excited when THE Cue the Librarian said she'd share a lesson. But I was not ready for how incredibly versatile and engaging this lesson is! So much adapatability, so many possibilities! This TALL Texan school librarian brings it, big time! 

Even better - this is an incredibly timely lesson, with some excellent New Year's elements to help students think about how they want to approach their next year. 

Find Karina: 

Resources:

Book Break: 

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First come some thanks to the folks who helped me figure out podcasting.

Then the multi-award-winning Oklahoma high school librarian Molly Dettmann shares her wonderfully named lesson, "Oh Meme! Oh My!" Molly has crafted a lesson sure to engage students in learning more about information literacy. 

Find Molly: 

Resources: 

Book Break: 

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Georgia school librarian Meggan Ford shares her lesson that combines two October events - Dia de los Muertos and Banned Books Week. Hear about her Ofrendas lesson, and be sure to check out the links!

Find Meggan: 

Resources: 

“Dia de los Muertos - Banned Book Edition” lesson by Meggan Ford

 Book Break: 

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