• Canva Updates: Droptober is HERE!

    Canva just dropped a massive update, and trust us—you don’t want to miss this! From the new Dream Lab AI image generator to automatic page numbers (finally!), Canva’s latest features are designed to make your work easier, faster, and more impactful. Imagine creating stunning visuals in seconds, adding page numbers with a click, and designing accessible, on-brand video captions—all within Canva! Plus, the Teacher Work Kit is packed with templates and resources to take your lesson planning to the next level. 🌟 Ready to see how these tools can transform your classroom or library? Dive in and discover what’s new!

  • Making Magic in the Secondary School Library with Monthly Missions

    Tired of seeing bored students during study hall? Looking for fresh ways to get them excited about visiting the library? In this post, I’ll share creative monthly challenges that I’ve used to transform my school library into a hub of activity and imagination. From turning a ghost into a famous book character in October to building epic summer reading stacks in June, these simple yet impactful ideas will inspire students to engage, create, and explore—all while keeping your library lively and fun. Curious? Dive in to discover how you can bring these exciting activities to your own library!

  • A Few of My Favorite Library Things!

    After rewatching *The Sound of Music*, I was inspired to share some of my favorite library tools and items! As a school librarian, I'm always on the lookout for resources that make my job easier, engage students, and add a little fun to our daily routine. In this blog post, I’ll highlight some essentials that have become staples in my library setup. From innovative shelf labeling solutions to creative ways to display read-alikes, these items have transformed my space. I’ll also introduce some engaging activities, like using button makers and board games, that spark joy and excitement among students. Plus,…

  • Creative Library Displays: Adding a Dynamic Twist

    While scrolling through TikTok, I found a great video by @the.laser.libraria showcasing a fun Open House idea for libraries or classroom collections. Inspired by @thebookwrangler’s resources, I put my own spin on the concept, which I am excited to share with you! This display works for both nonfiction and fiction books, using dynamic shelving techniques to make collections engaging and easy to browse. The Canva template I created includes everything you need—signs, editable tags, and fun sneaker pages. I hope this inspires you to try new display ideas in your library and make your collection more inviting for readers!

  • Play to Learn: Ticket to Ride

    The first American Style board game we will look at in the Play to Learn series is Ticket to Ride. This is one of the easier strategy games to play when entering this genre of games. It is in the group of games I first learned how to play and one of the first games I teach and suggest to new groups of gamers!   Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure where players gather and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities across North America. Longer routes earn more points. Additional points are awarded to players who…

  • 📚 But Where is the Red Book? Introducing Talpa.ai Innovating Book Discovery!

    Discover Talpa.ai, the revolutionary AI-powered tool transforming library interactions. Utilizing advanced LLMs from Anthropic and OpenAI, it ensures accurate bibliographic searches validated by Bowker, Syndetics Unbound, and LibraryThing. Seamlessly navigate genres, character data, and even identify books by cover design. Explore the future of library innovation at Talpa.ai today.

  • CROB: Choose Your Own Booktalk

    Transform your classroom with Choose Your Own Booktalk (CROB)! Imagine your students exploring books through interactive slides, engaging audio, and fun emojis. Give them the power to choose their literary adventure and discover new favorites. Dive into CROB and watch your students’ love for reading soar!