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Classroom ActivitiesDigital BreakoutDigital CitizenshipDigital LiteracyLibraries

Digital Citizenship Week 2024 

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

Mark your calendars, educators! Digital Citizenship Week is set to take place from October 14-18, 2024. This annual event provides an excellent opportunity for teachers to focus on equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the digital world safely, responsibly, and effectively.

In today’s interconnected world, digital citizenship has become a fundamental literacy that extends far beyond the classroom. As educators, we play a crucial role in helping our students develop healthy habits, critical thinking skills, and ethical behavior in their online interactions.

I have created a couple of resources for you to use in the classroom. 

The Digital Citizenship Breakout

In honor of Digital Citizenship Week, here is my newest breakout. The DC Breakout has four digital locks, and I think it is geared for fifth grade and above. Unlike my previous breakouts, there is more text than images. AND just like all my breakouts, I can provide the four lock answers if you email me at preimers@tcea.org. If you need more information on digital breakouts, please check out my Digital Breakouts 101 blog. 

The Digital Citizenship Breakout

Cyber Safety Presentation and Quiz

Canva has awesome resources for educators. I added some pops of color to this education template, Cyber Safety which has 11 tips for older elementary and middle school students. I also created a ten question Google Form Quiz based on the Cyber Safety presentation. After submitting, students can receive their score and correct answers.

Access the Presentation

Edit the Presentation

Take the Quiz

Remember, while this week provides an opportunity to focus on digital citizenship, these skills should be reinforced throughout the year. By consistently building this skill set, we can help our students become responsible, empowered digital citizens who can thrive in our increasingly connected world.

Happy Digi-Cit Week!

Peggy

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Classroom ActivitiesGood TeachingLibraries

Ten Ready-to-Go Lesson Plans for Young Learners

by Mary Eldredge
written by Mary Eldredge

Do you struggle to engage your youngest learners? Never fear! Help is here!

Welcoming early childhood students to your library can add extra sunshine and sparkle to your day! You’re gifted a singular opportunity to introduce them to classic childhood stories, songs, and nursery rhymes, and rewarded with their marvel as they navigate access to a world filled with new materials. As librarians, we have the privilege of shaping their excitement for books and instilling a love for reading at their most formative stages. Need some ideas on how? Keep reading for ten ready-to-use lesson plans for young learners, plus a list of top tips!

The Magic of Early Learners: How to Captivate Their Attention

If you’re new to the world of young students, your keys to success are to exude confidence, emanate wonder, and embrace silliness and fun in your lesson plans for young learners! The delight and excitement you create will ensure your youngest students view your library as the Disney World of the school!

As you plan your lessons, here are some quick tips:

  • Keep a quick pace 
  • Create engaging and interactive activities
  • Use lots of props and visuals 
  • Plan active movement activities (action songs, fingerplays, games) between stories to expend energy and help focus
  • Search online for fingerplays that match your theme to reinforce concepts
  • Small props or visuals for students increase engagement and participation during songs or activities
  • For YouTube songs, consider using just the audio to encourage students to engage more actively with the song’s actions rather than being passive viewers of the screen.
  • Of course, being a bit silly, passionate, and dramatic never hurts 
  • Throw in a simple magic trick to amaze your eager students and you’re a hero! 

Library Lesson Plans for Early Learners

Math Concepts:

Embedding young learner guideline skills in your lessons will delight your teachers. Include math concepts like numbers, positional words, measuring, sorting, graphs, patterns, and basic addition and subtraction. Create a graph showing 3 books you’ve read. Students add stickers to signify their favorite.

Phonological Awareness:

Incorporating phonological awareness skills such as listening, rhyming, alliteration, syllabication, onset-rime, letters, and vocabulary can be easily threaded throughout library lessons. Play alliteration games using pictures. Ask if the picture starts with the letter you choose. Read Goldilocks & the Three Bears, then clap the words Goldilocks, porridge, and bears for syllabication.

Themed Topics with Activities, Books, and Songs

To get you started, here are ten weeks of lesson plans for young learners, including fabulous books and engaging songs to sweep your students off their feet! Plus, discover some bonus songs at the end that are sure to keep your youngest students entertained and engaged!

Alligators

Activities: 

  • Alphagator Make an alligator & letters. Have students feed it letters corresponding to the story. 
  • Guess What’s Green: print pictures/make slides of green items (grass, peas, alligators). Give students clues to guess the items.

Books: 

  • The Watermelon Seed (Pizzoli)
  • Beware of the Crocodile (Jenkins)
  • Crocodile Hungry (Sumner)

Songs: 

Fireflies

Activities: 

Books:

  • The Little Squeegy Bug (Martin) – positional words
  • Among a Thousand Fireflies (Frost) – positional words
  • The Very Lonely Firefly (Carle)

Song:

Bedtime

Activity: 

Letter B Beginning Sounds Game – show pictures/slides of a variety of objects and ask, “Does this start with the letter B sound?” – alliteration

Books: 

  • Everyone Is Yawning (Bijsterbosch)
  • Llama Llama Red Pajama (Dewdney) – rhyming
  • The Squeaky Door (retold by M. Read) – patterns & sequencing
  • Are You Ready For Bed? (Saltzberg)
  • Froggy Goes to Bed (London)

Songs:

Sharks

Activities: 

Books: 

  • Shark in the Park (Sharratt) – rhyming
  • The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark (Geist) – patterns
  • Chomp (M. Paul)
  • How to Spy on a Shark (Houran)

Songs: 

Pizza

Activity: 

  • Watch and discuss Acrobatic Pizza Making from 1:41-3:12 Make a giant pizza! Crust: tape white posterboard together. Sauce: red butcher paper. Cheese: cut lots of white paper in thirds lengthwise. Toppings: print full-page pictures. Sit students in a large circle. Unfold the crust, roll out the sauce. Give students handfuls of cheese to sprinkle on, then several toppings. Pre-teach to not really touch the pizza! Pretend it feels warm in the oven, smell it, hear tummies grumbling and the ‘ding’ – then pretend to eat it. – sequencing

Books: 

  • Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party (Dean) – alliteration & adding
  • Pete’s a Pizza (Steig) – narrated on Discovery Education by Chevy Chase – sequencing
  • A Pizza With Everything On It (Scheele)
  • The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) (Sturges) – patterns
  • Hi Pizza Man (Walter) – positional words

Songs: 

Fire Safety

Activity: 

  • Print pictures of firefighter and police tools (vehicles, hats, badges, dogs, uniforms, etc) and play a ‘Who uses this?’ sorting game. – sorting

Books: 

  • Fire Drill (Jacobs)
  • The Wheels on the Fire Truck (Burton)
  • Five Little Firefighters (Graham)

Songs: 

Spiders

Activities: 

Books: 

Songs:  

Owls

Activity: 

  • Click on each ‘owl’ for an audio recording of their call. Pair calls with visuals. Discuss what the calls sound like. Not all owls whoo-whoo! – listening

Books: 

  • Owl Babies (Waddell) 
  • Wow! Said the Owl (Hopgood) – colors
  • Little Owl’s Night/Day (Srinivasan)

Songs: 

Dental Health

Activity: 

  • Print clipart pictures of a tooth – 4 per page, laminate, and cut. Glue a pom-pom on the end of craft sticks. Before the lesson, use a yellow dry-erase marker to color on top of the teeth so the students can use the ‘brushes’ to clean them.

Books: 

  • The Crocodile and the Dentist (Gomi)
  • My Toothbrush is Missing (Thomas)
  • Alan’s Big Scary Teeth (Jarvis)

Songs: 

Animal Baths

Activity: 

  • Search for pictures to print or create slides to discuss how animals bathe (pigs, dogs, tigers, elephants, horses) and animals who use helpers to get clean (sea turtles, eels, giraffes, chimpanzees) 

Books: 

  • Dog’s Colorful Day (Dodd) – colors
  • Hogwash (Wilson)
  • Ten Pigs (Anderson) – counting
  • Harry the Dirty Dog (Zion)

Songs: 

Plus, My Favorite Wiggle Songs:

For more interactive songs, check YouTube for Eric Litwin’s ‘The Learning Groove’ and you’ll be set for years!

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Back to SchoolCurricular StandardsLibrariesTechnology ApplicationsTEKS

Integrating the New Technology Application TEKS in the Library

by Patrina Nix and Stephanie Galvan Russell
written by Patrina Nix and Stephanie Galvan Russell

The new K–8 Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are here and ready for implementation with the start of the 2024 school year! There are several changes and updates in these new technology application TEKS, but one of the most impactful changes is the integration of the TEKS into all subjects. This means everyone is responsible for the new TA TEKS, including librarians.

Librarians already teach many of the topics found in the new TA TEKS, but if you need new ideas, we’ve compiled several easy ways to integrate the TEKS into both elementary and middle school libraries. You can also see more ideas for implementation in Stephanie and Patrina’s Summer Librarians Conference presentation at this link.

TA TEKS 1. Computational Thinking: Coding and Breaking Down Ideas into Small Pieces

The new TA TEKS introduces coding starting in kindergarten, which means that you now have a documented reason to pull out those Beebots, Code and Go Mouse kits, and Spheros. Start with unplugged coding by breaking down a story into smaller sequential pieces. Make a giant grid on the floor and allow students to take turns being the main character of the story while the rest of the class helps (codes) the character through the story. Then try doing the same tasks using Beebots or other simple coding robots. 

In secondary libraries, implementing puzzles or logic games into your makerspace is a great way to start embedding computational thinking. Don’t forget online options too! Scratch, ScratchJr., Bloxly, Ozobots, Code.org, and lots of other websites offer online coding opportunities. 

TA TEKS 2. Creativity and Innovation: Understanding Design Processes, Emerging Technologies, and the Impact of Technology on the Community

Do you have a 3D printer that you don’t know what to do with? Well, it’s time to get that printer out of storage and learn how to use it! Students can use programs like Tinkercad to create 3D projects to solve everyday problems. If their designs don’t work (and they probably won’t), they can follow the engineering design process by returning to the online program to correct the problems.  

In the secondary libraries, teach students and/or teachers how to design comic strips using Canva. If you have access to Adobe Express, this is a great tool to implement as well. Secondary students also enjoy open-ended projects that can be done in a makerspace. 

TA TEKS 3. Data Literacy, Management, and Representation: Learning How to Find and Organize Data

From using keywords to demystifying the intimidating Boolean operators, librarians are uniquely equipped to help kids find reliable and relevant information. Librarians can make collecting data fun for younger students by posting data on their favorite or most checked-out books. Let students vote for their favorite book by putting a cotton ball in a jar. As the cotton balls grow, they will see the numbers grow. What a great way to help young students see a visual representation of numbers!

In secondary libraries, take a survey of favorite genres, books, or reading preferences (ebook, audio, print) and then show students how to take this data and manipulate it to make it visual! You can also collaborate with math/science teachers to show students how to manipulate and create visual data using Google Sheets and Google’s Looker Studio. 

TA TEKS 4. Digital Citizenship: Acting as a Responsible Citizen in a Digital Community

One effective way to teach Digital Citizenship is using picture books. This method is successful because of the conversations, and community building, that happen with a shared book. In Patrina’s TechNotes article “Seven Picture Books with Digital Citizenship Themes,” you can discover how to use picture books to teach digital citizenship concepts.

In secondary libraries, create a library blog where you have students write blog posts about digital safety and etiquette. You can also help students make Tik-Tok style videos and post them on the library blog as well. 

TA TEKS 5. Practical Technology Concepts: Using a Computer and Identifying the Pieces

With more and more state testing occurring online, our students are in dire need of correct keyboarding and mouse skills. Basic skills should be taught using a typing program, but you can reinforce those skills by having students type all kinds of things in the library. Let students type out book reviews or explanations for their coding activities. Students need to learn how to name, share, and organize their files, so let them share their documents with you. Buy nonfiction books about robots, computers, AI, coding, and other concepts that you can share with students. Display them with an old computer that you’ve taken apart so they can see the insides.

Librarians have been promoting makerspace, coding, robotics, good research practices, and digital citizenship for years. While these topics seemed like added components to the curriculum in the past, they are now a required part of every Texas school. Document your projects and share with your administrators the amazing work you are doing to support the new technology application TEKS in the library!

Patrina Nix

Patrina is a Library Media Specialist at Cedar Creek High School in Bastrop, TX, and the Lead Librarian for Bastrop ISD. She has been in education for 20 years as a teacher or librarian in Georgia, Colorado, Kansas, and Texas. She especially enjoys presenting at educational conferences and mentoring new librarians. When she’s not teaching or leading from the library, she loves two-stepping in dance halls and tubing down Texas rivers with her husband and three daughters! Patrina shares her library and family adventures on Instagram at @CedarCreekReads and @PattieNix

Stephanie Galvan Russell

Stephanie Galvan Russell is a School Librarian, Educational Technology Specialist, and Instructional Designer in Austin, TX. She serves as Chair of the TLA Spirit of Texas Reading List Committee, has been Chair of the Texas Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Committee, and was a member of the 2023 TxLA Annual Conference Planning Committee. Stephanie is a graduate of the 2023 Class of TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute. Stephanie was the 2018 YART Young Adult Reading Incentive Winner and TASL Media Virtual Presence Honorary Award Winner for her blog, The Lispy Librarian. She also manages the TCEA Librarians Online Community. Her passions include effective technology integration, engaging and purposeful PD, and connecting students to diverse books. She can be found on socials @lispylibrarian.

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CIPA compliance with learning.com
Digital CitizenshipLibrariesPlanning and PreparationTechnology Applications

CIPA Compliance Made Easy with Learning.com

by Rachel Minton
written by Rachel Minton

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), enacted by Congress in 2000, addresses
concerns about children’s access to harmful online content. It specifically applies to schools and
libraries that receive discounts for Internet access through the E-rate program, which provides discounts to schools and libraries across the United States to help them
with affordable Internet access).

CIPA Compliance Requirements

To maintain CIPA compliance, schools and libraries must focus on several key standards, including:

Internet Safety Policy: Schools and libraries must have an Internet safety policy that includes technology protection measures. These measures block or filter access to obscene, child pornography, or harmful content for minors.

Monitoring Online Activities: Schools must monitor minors’ online activities.

Educating Minors: Schools must educate students about appropriate online behavior, including social networking and cyberbullying awareness. 

Who is best equipped to help schools meet CIPA Compliance? 

We know that Librarians wear many hats throughout the craziness of a school year, but in many ways, they are a great fit for helping schools meet CIPA requirements and bring digital citizenship education to students. The AASL standards include digital citizenship as an important component, so if you can work to align district or school E-Rate goals with your standards and curriculum, students and educators will both benefit from the time saved and added organization.

Plus, Librarians are information and media literacy experts! They have the knowledge and skills to evaluate the credibility and reliability of resources, navigate digital information landscapes and critically analyze media messages. This expertise allows them to guide students in developing the necessary skills to be discerning and responsible consumers of digital content.

Tips for Success: 

Planning 

The most effective planning tactic you can use is communication. Always ensure everyone in the school or district is aware of the plan to avoid confusion. Some districts file E-Rate through E-Rate coordinators or Technology Directors, so my suggestion for librarians or library teams is to select curriculum for each grade level, ensuring that it meets the CIPA for E-Rate requirements and coordinate the plan with the person responsible for filing for E-Rate funds.

Implementation

Make sure that you, or the educators that will be leading the curriculum, have familiarized yourself with the lesson plans and student expectations. Print out any posters or resources you plan on using in the classroom.

Documentation

This is one of the most important steps in CIPA Compliance for E-Rate. It’s vital that you stay organized and document your process in case of an audit. 

For a comprehensive list of all documentation required for E-rate, the USAC website offers an Auditor’s Checklist.

How Learning.com Helps Schools Meet CIPA Compliance Regulations

1. Comprehensive Curriculum

Learning.com offers a K-12 digital literacy curriculum that aligns with CIPA requirements. Educators can seamlessly integrate lessons on internet safety, responsible online behavior, and cybersecurity.

2. Engaging Content

Our interactive modules keep students engaged while building essential digital skills. From multimedia presentations to understanding cybersecurity, Learning.com provides dynamic learning experiences.

3. Professional Development

We support educators too! Learning.com offers professional development resources to keep teachers informed about the latest trends in digital literacy. From on-demand training to webinars and blogs, our Online Training Center has a ton of resources for educators. 

Unlock State Funding with Ease

By using Learning.com to ensure the educating minors aspect of CIPA compliance, schools can more confidently access state funding. Our user-friendly platform simplifies the process, empowering educators to create a safe digital environment for students.

Remember, CIPA compliance isn’t just a requirement—it’s a way for schools and libraries to demonstrate their commitment to creating a safer online environment for students and library users!

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cybersecurity
AdvocacyCybersecurityLibraries

A Step Towards Secure Networks: New FCC Cybersecurity Pilot

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

In today’s digital age, schools and libraries are becoming increasingly reliant on technology to provide essential services and educational opportunities. However, this growing dependency also makes them vulnerable to cyber threats. Recognizing this critical need, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a new initiative to enhance cybersecurity for these institutions. The Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program, with a budget of up to $200 million over three years, aims to bolster the defenses of broadband networks and data in schools and libraries. Here’s why this initiative is a game-changer for educational technology.

The Need for Robust Cybersecurity in Education

Educational institutions are treasure troves of sensitive information, and the protection of this information is paramount. Cyberattacks on schools and libraries can disrupt educational processes, compromise personal information, and result in significant financial losses. The FCC’s Cybersecurity Pilot Program addresses these vulnerabilities by providing the necessary resources to implement advanced cybersecurity measures. 

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility for the Pilot Program extends to schools, libraries, and “consortia” of these institutions that meet the E-Rate program’s requirements. This inclusivity ensures that a wide range of educational institutions, regardless of their previous participation in the E-Rate program, can benefit from enhanced cybersecurity.

How to Apply

The application process for the program is two-fold:

  1. Part One: General Information and Proposal Submission
    • Applicants must provide details about their experience with cybersecurity, their commitment to best practices, and their use of federal resources.
    • A description of the proposed project, including goals, objectives, and the cybersecurity risks it aims to mitigate, must be included.
  2. Part Two: Detailed Cybersecurity Information
    • Selected participants will provide comprehensive details about their current cybersecurity measures, history of cyber threats, training policies, and challenges faced.

The FCC plans to open the application window this Fall, and interested parties should prepare their proposals accordingly.

Eligible Services and Equipment

Participants in the Pilot Program can seek reimbursement for a wide array of cybersecurity eligible services and equipment. This broad scope ensures that institutions can tailor their cybersecurity measures to their specific needs and vulnerabilities.

Selection Criteria

To ensure a diverse range of Pilot projects, the FCC will prioritize funding for a mix of large and small, urban and rural schools, and libraries, with a special emphasis on low-income and Tribal applicants. This approach aims to address the cybersecurity needs of the most vulnerable populations effectively.

Post-Application Process

Once selected, participants will be notified via Public Notice and provided with instructions for the next steps, including the competitive bidding process for procuring cybersecurity services. Successful applicants will receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) to formalize their funding approval. This structured process ensures transparency and accountability in the use of funds.

Safeguards Against Misuse

To prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, the Pilot Program incorporates several safeguards. Participants must adhere to competitive bidding, document retention, and audit requirements. Additionally, stringent penalties are in place for non-compliance, ensuring that funds are used appropriately and effectively.

The TCEA applauds the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program. This initiative is a significant step towards securing the digital infrastructure of our educational institutions, safeguarding sensitive data, and ensuring uninterrupted learning. By investing in robust cybersecurity measures, we can create a safer, more resilient educational environment for students, educators, and the community.

TCEA encourages eligible schools and libraries to prepare their applications and take full advantage of this invaluable opportunity. For more information, stay tuned for updates from the FCC and the TCEA. Let’s work together to make our educational institutions cyber-safe!

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Make Research More Engaging
LibrariesPlanning and Preparation

Five Ways to Make Research More Engaging

by Claire Reddig
written by Claire Reddig

When most students (and many teachers) hear the word research, they often cringe — maybe they’ve been frustrated in the past while researching or they see research as an isolated academic task that does little to spark intrinsic motivation. As a school librarian, my goal is to transform research projects into opportunities to spark student creativity and tap into intrinsic interest while still effectively teaching foundational researching skills through collaborations with classroom teachers. Here are five ways to make research more engaging in your classroom!

1. Tackle Real-World Challenges

Research projects that reflect real world tasks encourage students to see research as a valuable life skill. For example, a 7th grade science teacher at my school wanted her students to learn more about radioactive elements. We worked together to create several real world research challenges to engage her students.

Our final prompts included one that asked them to pretend they worked at Chernobyl and to take steps to protect their families when they uncovered information about a potential accident. Another challenge asked students to go back in time and share what we know today about x-rays and their radiation with famed scientist Marie Curie. Both challenges required students to engage in more traditional research before applying critical thinking to complete the challenge.

Resources:

Marie Curie ChallengeDownload
Radioactive Survival ScenarioDownload
Nuclear Waste Makerspace ChallengeDownload

2. Get Persuasive

Another type of real-world research encourages students to view their surroundings critically and suggest improvements in a persuasive way. As a 5th grade Language Arts teacher, I ended the year with a persuasive writing unit and, one year, I had students research effective learning spaces. They explored different types of furniture, decorations, lighting, and even layouts. They even collected and compiled their own research data by creating surveys and conducting interviews. Then, they chose a learning space at our school to evaluate based on their research and suggest changes in the form of a persuasive letter to the person in charge of the space. This encouraged students not only to research thoroughly to back up their claims, but also provided a sense of agency.

Resources:

Learning Space Brainstorming WorksheetDownload
Learning Spaces Paragraph WorksheetDownload
Checklist for Rethinking Learning SpacesDownload
Proposal for Rethinking a Learning Space WorksheetDownload

3. Start a Debate

Another way to make research more engaging is to utilize it as preparation for a debate. For example, I partnered with an 8th grade humanities teacher to craft a list of debate questions that reflected her curriculum as her year end wrap up. We had students work in groups of four to research their assigned question and then split them into pairs, with one pair supporting each side of the debate.

Questions again included real-world applications, including, “Should the US government sponsor and promote pro-war propaganda during times of war?” and “Which invention was more significant, the telephone or the lightbulb?” Students chose topics that reflected their interests and were motivated to research by their competitive nature. These debates also put their research to the test and taught them to select their most effective findings to support their own arguments.

Resources:

Nuclear Accidents DebateDownload
Russias Nuclear Threat DebateDownload
Sample Debate Topics and GuidelinesDownload

In my 5th grade Language Arts class, we ended the year by researching the pros and cons of using fidget toys in classes. We explored different types of fidget toys, then interviewed teachers and students about their experiences with them. The unit culminated in students creating their own fidget toy and then writing a persuasive letter to a teacher in the next grade encouraging them to let their students use the toy next year.

Resources:

Brainstorming for the Ideal Fidget Toy WorksheetDownload
Exploring Fidget Toys WorksheetDownload
Fidget Toy Interviews and Reflection WorksheetDownload
Fidget Toy Research WorksheetDownload

5. Embrace the Makerspace

Recently, I partnered with our school’s Latin teacher to create makerspace research projects for her 5th-8th grade students. Her 5th graders researched armor and animals found in Ancient Rome before creating armor for a stuffed animal based on their research. Her 6th graders each researched a different merchant from the Ancient Roman forum (marketplace) and then created items to sell in our forum simulation. Her 7th graders chose different structures from Ancient Rome to research and then created models to use in a presentation where they convinced a panel of Ancient Roman government officials to fund their idea. Her 8th graders researched chariots in Ancient Rome and built their own life-sized chariots out of cardboard and PVC pipes to race. These hands-on activities transformed traditional research projects into collaborative, competitive, and creative endeavors.

Makerspace Madness: Making Research More Engaging

What if you could leverage research to encourage creativity? You can! Research-based makerspace projects allow space for research magic to happen. Makerspace projects can take many forms, but the ones I’ve referred to throughout the article are those where students use readily available (and inexpensive) craft supplies and recycled materials to create items based on their imagination and research.

Are you excited about dipping your toe into the wonderful world of makerspace research projects but not sure where to begin? Start small by using building challenges as bell ringers or brain breaks. These challenges help students build their creativity, collaboration, and grit and prepare them to tackle larger projects. Then, take a trip to The Dollar Tree and begin building your stash of maker supplies. My shopping list even includes mock “prices” because I often give my students a budget for projects so they have to be more intentional in planning their creations. 

Makerspace Supply List (with prices)Download
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CanvaLibraries

Canva Templates for Librarians

by Sara Qualls
written by Sara Qualls

It’s time to break out the confetti and strike up the band because where would be without libraries?! Let’s give a round of applause to those magical havens where every shelf holds adventures and where imagination knows no bounds: school libraries. But libraries wouldn’t be the community hubs they are if it weren’t for librarians! Let’s corral around with a curated list of Canva templates specifically for librarians. And when you get to the end of this oh-so-magnificent list, take a moment to mark your calendars to be sure you’re celebrating librarians throughout the school year.

Canva Templates for Librarians

I’ve curated a collection of Canva templates tailored specifically for librarians. From eye-catching event posters to activities that can be done in your own library, these templates have customizable elements and vibrant visuals. The purpose of these templates is to empower librarians to showcase the magic of their libraries and inspire a new generation of readers. Don’t forget qualifying educators get a Canva Pro account for free! Just another reason to love Canva. 

Reminders and Events

Create reminders that teachers can pick up to hang in their classrooms or around the school.

Library Day Reminder

Book Fair Poster

Family Library Night

Learning Posters

Create posters that teach students about genres or library processes. 

Types of Literary Genres

Genres Mindmap

Dewey Decimal System

Processes and Expectations

Create posters that teach students about your expectations for the library. 

Library Rules

Meeting Room Rules

Library Expectations

Motivational 

Decorate and motivate your students in the library with motivational posters.

Dream Big and Create Your Own Story

Introverts Quotes

Reading Quote

Library Signage 

Create signage that directs students. 

Genre Signage

Return Books Here

School Library Welcomes You

Newsletters

Advocate for your library by spreading the word about everything you do! 

Elementary Library Newsletter

Library Menu Board

Classroom Newsletter

Activities

Canva’s templates make crafting exciting library activities like scavenger hunts, word searches, and more straightforward. 

Genre Scavenger Hunt

Design a Book Cover

Library Genre Word Search

Digital Citizenship

Many librarians are tasked with teaching digital citizenship to students. Canva has you covered.

Digital Citizenship Responsible Use Presentation

Five Tips to Identify Fake News

Digital Footprint Digital Citizenship Lesson 

Bookmarks

Create printables like bookmarks to give to your students. Add their name, your school motto, or mascot to personalize it.

Libraries Are a Treasure Bookmark

Keep Reading Bookmark

Every Chapter Is a New Adventure Bookmark

Random Canva Librarian Finds

Search for Library Templates in Canva

Try clicking on the search terms below and begin to explore on your own:

Let’s continue celebrating the magic of libraries and fostering a love for learning and reading in every student, one template at a time.

Important Library Dates

School Library Month kicks off every April, thanks to the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). They’re the ones who decided to shine a spotlight on our fantastic school librarians and libraries all across the country in 1985. The idea? Well, it’s all about getting everyone in the school and community pumped to understand how libraries are essential to learning and education. But, there is more than just April when it comes to celebrating reading, libraries, and librarians. Read through the list and mark your calendars for these other worthy days.

More Librarian Reads

Canva Templates for Librarians
Finding the Perfect Book to Read Next
Two Tools that Make My Job as a Librarian Easier
A Librarian’s Approach to Tech Tuesday
How to Get Started with Python in the Library
Want to Boost Your Teacher-Librarian Relationships?
Five Ways to Engage Your School Community with eBooks?

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HB 900 Changes for TX Public School Libraries
AdvocacyLibraries

HB 900: Changes Affecting Texas Public School Libraries

by Matt Russell
written by Matt Russell

One of the more contentious issues affecting public education and the state legislature during the 88th legislative session this past year was what types of books should be allowed in Texas public school libraries. Let’s take a look at information on TX HB 900 and the mandatory school library collection development standards.

The interior of a school library with tables, chairs, shelves, and lots of books.

What Is TX HB900?

HB 900, the READER Act (Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources), by Representative Jared Patterson (R-Denton) was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on September 1, 2023. It mandated that the Texas State Libraries and Archives Commission (TSLAC), with approval from the State Board of Education (SBOE), develop and adopt new mandatory school library collection development standards applicable to all Texas public school districts. These mandatory collection development standards became effective on January 3, 2024, with enforcement of the new standards being the responsibility of the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building - Austin, Texas
Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

How Will HB 900 Be Implemented?

There has been a great deal of confusion and uncertainty about how HB 900 will be implemented and, while much of the newly mandated collection development standards are similar to prior years, there were some significant changes.

The new standards define “sexually explicit” and “sexually relevant” material and require booksellers and publishers to assign “sexually explicit” and “sexually relevant” ratings. These ratings are required for any material for future circulation or currently in circulation that the seller determines meets the law’s definitions.

Additionally, the new standards require that sellers recall materials sold to a district that the seller has rated “sexually explicit.” Materials rated “sexually explicit” may not be sold to Texas school districts. Materials rated “sexually relevant” require parental consent for a student to check out the material. Sellers are required to submit their first report listing library materials they have rated “sexually relevant” or “sexually explicit” to the TEA by April 1, 2024.

United States Court for the Western District of Texas Ruling

Due to this new state mandate, a coalition of booksellers and publishers (plaintiffs) filed suit against the TSLAC, the SBOE, and the TEA (defendants) in the United States Court for the Western District of Texas in July of 2023. The district court issued an injunction and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, citing that the new mandate violated the plaintiffs’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights as defined by the U.S. Constitution. 

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Ruling

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit Seal

Lawyers representing the defendants proceeded to file an appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On January 17, 2024, in a unanimous opinion, the court found the statute compelling the booksellers and publishers to rate books, “…likely violates the First Amendment” and affirmed the western district court’s preliminary injunction against the defendants. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit did however stipulate that all other mandates contained in the adopted School Library Programs: Collection Development Standards shall continue to be implemented.

Will an Appeal Be Filed to the United States Supreme Court?

The final recourse of the defendants would be to file an appeal with the United States Supreme Court. It is yet to be determined if an appeal will be filed. So, as it stands currently, booksellers and publishers selling to Texas public school libraries do not have to rate the books that they sell.  

Sarah Chapman, Flour Bluff High School’s Lead Librarian originally presented this information during TCEA’s Lunch and Learn on Legislative Changes Affecting Texas Public School Districts. You can sign up for TCEA’s Lunch and Learn’s here. The information provided is intended to convey general information only and not to provide legal advice or opinions. 

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AccessibilityLibraries

Graphic Novels, Audiobooks, and More: Six Ways to Add Accessible Stories to Your Library

by Adriana Lebrón White
written by Adriana Lebrón White

As a middle school librarian, I am acutely aware of the in-between space that middle school students inhabit. I serve 6th graders who just moved up from elementary school, 8th graders who are about to move on to high school, and 7th graders who are stuck in the middle of everything. As a former special education teacher, I realized that our school library needed to serve students across a variety of reading levels, making reading accessible to all. Disabled students, English Language Learners, and other students who are still working on developing their reading skills can all benefit from a diversity of formats in the library. It is especially important to consider when we’re looking to add diverse books to our collection. A variety of story mediums can make our library even more accessible and inclusive for all of our students.

Here are six formats that you should be sure to include in your school library collection. 

1. Ebooks

Ebooks are an excellent reading resource. Most ebook apps and programs allow readers to customize their reading experience. Students can change the size of the text, or choose a different font (which is especially useful for readers with dyslexia). They may be able to highlight key words and sentences, or use a built-in dictionary to define unfamiliar words. Some apps will even read ebooks aloud for readers or translate words into another language. Ebooks can be accessed from Chromebooks, iPads, and cell phones, so whatever technology your students have access to, the chances are pretty good that they can access some kind of ebook program. 

Logos for Sora and Libby accessible audiobooks

Two resources to use in your library: Overdrive’s Libby and Sora apps. 

If your school is unable to build a robust ebook collection, your students may be able to access additional ebooks through their local public library. Once students have logged into Sora and added the public library to their account, they’ll be able to access the public library ebook collection automatically. Most public libraries also have a suggestion form on their website, where readers can submit requests for new ebooks. 

2. Audiobooks

While there are undoubtedly some educators who still see audiobooks as “easier” than print books (or even consider them to be “cheating”), there is plenty of research to support the use of audiobooks in our school libraries. Listening to audiobooks, or even read-alouds in the library, allows readers to take in a story without visually decoding the text. This frees their brains up to listen for elements like humor, new vocabulary, and much more. While audiobooks can be especially helpful to disabled students and English Language Learners, all of our students can benefit from hearing stories read aloud in the library.

Logos for learning Ally, Libro.fm, sora, and libby for accessible audiobooks

A resource to use in your library: Libro.fm’s ALC program. 

Audiobooks can also be found in Libby and Sora, as well as through programs like Learning Ally. For librarians who want to sample audiobooks in advance, Libro.fm offers an Advance Listening Copy (ALC) program that is free to join. New audiobooks are added every month, and can be added to your account for later review. 

3. Large Print

Research has shown that large print books are good for everyone! Having fewer words on the page makes reading accessible and less overwhelming to young readers. Vendors like Thorndike Press make an effort to ensure that large print books are not noticeably larger than their normal-sized companions. Disabled students may also be able to access free large print ebooks through the Bookshare program. And of course, as mentioned above, many ebook programs and apps allow readers to tweak the size of the text while they read for accessibility.

logos for bookshare and thorndike press for accessible large print books

A resource to use in your library: Gale / Thorndike Large Print Books. 

There are additional vendors that you can use to purchase Large Print books, but I’ve personally had a great experience with Gale’s Thorndike Press. The company aims to release 100 new large print books each month, so there’s always something new to consider adding to your collection.

4. Novels in Verse

Novels in verse can be a hard sell on paper, as most students seem to shy away from poetry. But I’ve had some success with book talking novels in verse, especially if I share (and read aloud) pages on the projector, or if I show a video of the author reading their own verses out loud. The rhythm of verse novels can remind students of song and rap lyrics and slam poetry (from the likes of Elizabeth Acevedo) or spoken word poems (from poets like Amanda Gorman) can be useful for piquing student interest in verse.

logo for TeachingBooks for novels in verse

A resource to use in your library: TeachingBooks.

If you have access to TeachingBooks, they offer a variety of resources for novels in verse. From author name pronunciations to lesson activity ideas, there’s a lot to find and use on their website. 

5. Graphic Novels

Graphic novels are an often misunderstood and underestimated form of reading. Students love them, but some teachers see comics as “too easy” or “not real books.” Librarians can counter these kinds of negative reactions by emphasizing the literary merits of graphic novels. A lot of my students enjoy Jerry Craft’s “New Kid,” which was the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Award. Comics also encourage readers to linger and reread each page, taking in the text and searching the images for context clues. Amazing stories can be told through a combination of pictures and text, and graphic novels are a hit with more than just our struggling readers.

photo for Jarrett Lerner for downloadable comics and image

A resource to use in your library: Jarrett Lerner Comics.

Jarrett Lerner is a huge advocate for graphic novels and other forms of illustrated books. His website has free comics and images that you can download and print for your library. Seeing important concepts like literacy shaming and student choice succinctly portrayed in comic panels makes these ideas easier to understand (and easier to advocate for).

#6: Picture Books

Finally, picture books can be a useful tool, even in middle school or high school libraries. Beyond the obvious uses of picture books (for instance, as a way to provide appropriately-leveled reading material for students in special education settings), these texts can also be used to introduce or support new concepts in the library. From scientific processes to biographies and historical fiction, picture books can help bring learning to life in new and unexpected ways. Books can also explore math topics like measurement, spatial thinking, and fractions.

middleweb logo for picture books

A resource to use in your library: MiddleWeb. 

MiddleWeb offers a variety of resources for middle school educators, including a piece on using picture books to teach Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). Kasey Short lists some recommended books, discussion questions, and activity ideas for over a dozen fantastic picture books that middle school readers are sure to love. 

Using a variety of formats in our library collection will allow us to reach and teach more young readers. While books are, and likely always will be, the focal point of our libraries, there is definitely a place for images, sounds, and even videos in the library space. When we share stories with our students, in any format, we are encouraging skills that will lead to a lifetime of reading by making reading more accessible. 

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AccessibilityLibrariesReading

Five Ways to Engage Your School Community with Ebooks

by Jenny Dean
written by Jenny Dean

Today, as many librarians host visitors in their libraries, they hear the same questions being repeated over and over: “Do you have less books?” However, the answer is not a simple yes or no. As spaces change and shelf space decreases, libraries are seeing huge growth in their digital collections. Ebooks have become readily available for every title and digital shelves are bursting at the seams. So, while it may seem that there are fewer books on the physical shelves, there are more books on the digital shelves than ever before. And it is time that we used those books to their fullest potential. 

Ebooks are becoming increasingly popular in libraries and classrooms. Through the use of ebooks, we are able to reach students in ways that we never have before. Here are five ways that you can use ebooks in your space to encourage literacy and learning throughout your school community.

1. Engage your struggling readers through interactive ebooks.

For a struggling reader, even the task of looking at a screen and reading can seem daunting. Using interactive ebooks in large group settings or during quiet reading time allows the student to feel like they are participating in reading by being able to do more than just understand the phonics of the words. Invite your classes with struggling readers into the library and show them that books can truly be fun for every student! If you are unable to have the classes come to you, introducing this to your library can be as easy as making a display with QR codes or links to access the interactive ebooks. You can also post links and QR codes in Google Classroom or send them via email to teachers. 

2. Invite students to participate in an online book club.

While we are all busy talking about getting back to normal, many of our students have adapted to the life that they have been living and their normal looks different than ours. One of the ways that this might be showing itself more than ever right now is through your book club attendance. A multi-access and multi-user ebook allows students to all access the books from their phones, eReaders, or laptops and still have the enriching experience of reading a book together. Digital communication is completely at our fingertips now and discussions online with students can still be rich and rewarding – sometimes more so, because the student is in their comfort zone. The introduction of a completely online book club experience will not only allow you to interact with students you might not have had the opportunity to work with before, but it will also put books into the hands of students who might not have some in otherwise.

3. Highlight and celebrate assistive technology in ebooks.

All too often students see assistive technology as something that should make them feel shame. They don’t want anyone to know that they use the online dictionary, the translator, or the text to speech feature. However, these groundbreaking tools can offer every student that steps into your library something beneficial, and it is time that we begin to promote them as tools for all students. Use your ebooks as an opportunity to show how exciting these tools can be! This can be as easy as setting up an interactive display with an eBook and instructions on how to highlight text, get definitions, and notes. Every time you see a class for check out, remind them about the ebooks and the technology behind them. As students continue to move into a digitized world, they will see even more success if we arm them with those tools now and remind them that every student can benefit from assistive technology.

4. Host a community ebook night.

There is certainly trepidation about online reading for many parents and community members. The idea of students looking at a screen for any extended amount of time can be an unsettling thought to many who have not used or accessed an ebook before. Hosting a night where parents and community can come in and interact with your ebooks, ask questions, and learn about the technology, will help put their minds at ease and also give them the knowledge that they need to help their students check out books through the online catalog while at home. Have parents or community members who can’t make it? It can be digital, too! One of the best parts of embracing one part of technology is it lends itself to many other parts. Host a digital night, live stream, or have a digital read aloud with community members using one of your ebooks.

5. Help your teachers embrace ebooks.

Many teachers see another added digital component as a distraction and worry that this will hinder their classroom instruction rather than help it. However, textbooks are almost all completely digital now, and students are becoming more acclimated to online reading. Sometimes your teachers just need you there to offer a little support. If there is a class with students who cannot look at their phone without immediately going to social media, work with the teacher to start with small literature ebook circles where students can be actively monitored. If they have students on completely different learning levels, work with them to encourage the use of the assistive technologies in ebooks. Reminding teachers that you are there to help with hiccups and hurdles can ease their mind when moving into something completely new. 

5 Ways to Engage Your School Community with ebooks Infographic with the 5 tips from the article

Here’s the bottom line: the digital world isn’t going to stop coming. In fact, it has already arrived. Technology like ebooks can do wonders for our libraries and our students. Let’s learn to use it to our advantage and to teach our students that a love of reading can stem from anywhere – even the screen right in front of them.

Did you know that April is School Library Month? TCEA will feature a guest article written by a member librarian once a week throughout the month! April also includes:

How will you show appreciation for your librarian, media specialist, and library staff?

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