Day 11: Choose One New Book to Book Talk As school librarians, we love sharing books. We get excited about a new picture book that makes us laugh out loud. A middle grade novel we couldn’t put down. A fascinating nonfiction title that leaves us saying, “Did you know…?” That excitement is contagious. When students… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 11
Day 10: Label Something That Has Been Annoying You We all have one. That drawer. The one where bookmarks, batteries, paper clips, tape, sticky notes, scissors, USB drives, and who-knows-what-else somehow end up living together. Or maybe it’s a cabinet full of supplies. A shelf of processing materials. A stack of bins that all look… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 10
Day 9: Prepare One Grab-and-Go Activity If you’ve worked in a school library for any length of time, you know one thing for certain: Schedules change. A class arrives ten minutes early. Another class is delayed. The fire drill interrupts your lesson. The teacher gets called to the office. The technology decides today is not… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 9
Day 8: Walk Your Library Routes Every library has its busy spots. The checkout desk just before the bell rings. The graphic novel section during lunch. The computer area when research projects begin. The entrance as an entire class arrives. Most of us become so familiar with these traffic patterns that we stop noticing them.… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 8
Day 7: Make One Teacher Resource Display When teachers walk into the library during the first weeks of school, they’re often carrying a long list of responsibilities. They’re learning students’ names, organizing classrooms, planning lessons, contacting families, attending meetings, and trying to stay one step ahead. The last thing they need is one more thing… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 7
Day 6: Prepare a “First-Day Favorites” Cart The first week of school is different from every other week of the year. Students are learning new routines, meeting new teachers, finding classrooms, making friends, and wondering what this school year will bring. Some are excited. Some are nervous. Some can’t wait to check out books. Others… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 6
Day 5: Write a Welcome Message Imagine you’re a student walking into the library on the first day of school. Now imagine the first thing you see is a handwritten message that says: “Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here!” Those six words may only take a minute to write, but they have the power to… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 5
Day 4: Fill One Shelf with “Can’t Keep These on the Shelf” Books Every school library has them. Those books are your library’s greatest ambassadors. Today’s Quick Win is simple: gather those favorites together and let them shine. Instead of waiting for students to discover them hidden among hundreds of other books, put them front… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 4
Day 3: Check Every Piece of Technology Before Students Arrive Few things can derail an exciting first library lesson faster than technology that refuses to cooperate. While we can’t prevent every technology hiccup, we can eliminate many of the most common problems before students ever walk through the door. Today’s Quick Win is all about… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 3
Day 2: Create One “Wow” Display If you’ve ever walked into a bookstore and immediately wandered over to a table of beautifully displayed books, you’ve experienced the power of a great display. The books didn’t say a word. They simply invited you to come closer. Your school library can do the same thing. As the… More August in the Library: 21 Quick Wins – Day 2