(Some of) One Crazy Librarian’s Best Stuff

I graduated from USU with a degree in secondary education but got my Library/Media endorsement and was hired on at the elementary level which I love. I am a huge fan of

Pioneer Library K-12 and has been surprised by how much I enjoy eBooks.

Why only some of my best stuff? Because I can never remember everything I want to when I need to.

Online Resources

• Pioneer Library- http://pioneer.uen.org

The login information should appear if you are on a school computer.

• Instructional Architect (IA)- http://ia.usu.edu/You can “Browse” through projects and you can create your own. Accounts are free, they have a how to section and you just need to contact USU if you would like some face to face training. All my projects are under the name “Miss B.”

• ReadWriteThink- http://www.readwritethink.org/I love the interactives on this website. Just use the search bar on the left or scroll down under Resource Type and select “Student Interactives.” My favorites are the flip book, poetry, biocube (there are other kinds of cubes too), the stapleless book is pretty awesome too. Sometimes you can just print them as templates and have the students fill them in by hand instead of online. This is much more manageable for those of us with only a few computers in the library.

Things I’ve Learned• Learn your student’s names. Classroom management is way more effective if you can say a student’s

name rather than “Hey you! Yes the kid in the green shirt.” Besides that everyone likes to be noticed and known. Parents and faculty are impressed when you know students by name.

• Make lists! So many times I have a student say “Do you know a good book?” and either they have already read all my suggestions or my mind goes blank. I have printed lists of books for just that sort of question. It is only 5-7 pages but it helps me out a lot. Another reason for the lists is that one of the grades at my school assigns specific genres that students need to read. So when a student comes in for a historical fiction book I can grab the folder and show them a 2 page list of historical fiction books that are grouped by time period.

• Tell students why. If they can connect it to something in their life they (sometimes) pay better attention. Some lessons I specifically tell my students that they may not use the concept right away but it will come in handy later. When we talk about how to use the library and the Dewey Decimal System I explain that they will be using this system at the public library, middle school, and high school; I also bring up that colleges use a different system but if they can figure this one out the other will be pretty easy to follow. If they never have to think about it in the future they won’t even try to learn about it in the present.

• If you have a good idea share it with others. I can always be a better teacher but I probably not going to excel at everything. Find others who have strengths where you have weaknesses or gaps and don’t try to reinvent the wheel.

• Define your role in the school. A lot of people don’t know what I do, that includes teachers, parents, students, administrators, etc. I see myself as not only a teacher and resource to students but I also see myself as a resource and teacher to my faculty. If I know what each teacher’s pet projects and topics are then when I come across a new book, eMedia video, or website I let them know.

Favorite Read Aloud BooksI have special books that I read every year and they never get old to me or the students. Some

books are out of print but you can find an old beat up copy online for many of them.This page is more of an after thought- I could list a lot more if I had more time.

Mystery LessonsThe Web Files by Margie PalatiniThe Mystery of King Karfu by Doug CushmanThe Missing Pumpkin by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Fantasy or Fiction vs. Non-Fiction LessonsThe Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee

Perspective LessonsHey Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose

Lessons on How to SummarizeSurprising Sharks by Nicola Davies

Lessons about Illustrators

Pair No, David with The Rough-Face Girl both illustrated by David ShannonPair Rapunzel ill. by Paul Zelinsky and Rapunzel ill. by Trina Schart Hyman- which witch is scarier? which girl is prettier? how are the towers different?

Lessons about EmpathyThe Lemonade Club by Patricia PolaccoThe Little House by Virginia Lee Burton