The sun is out, flowers are blooming, and my students are rhyming. It doesn’t feel like spring without a National Poetry Month celebration. Although I’ve always loved National Poetry Month, this is my first time being in the library during April (thanks Covid). I’m also no good at writing poetry, but it doesn’t mean I can’t teach it! I’ve been racking my brain for fun, meaningful ways to share with my students while following our guidelines. My list isn’t long yet, but they’ve been handy!
Do you know who is incredibly fascinating to learn about, whether you’re a kid or adult? Shel Silverstein. To accompany our celebrating, we’ve been doing an author study on Silverstein and reading a lot of his poems. My kids have been enthralled by his poetry and have loved using his style as a model for their own poems.
Shel Silverstein’s website has a lot of activities to pair with his poems; we’ve used a few activities, but my favorite is the Poetry Workshop Kit that invites students to explore the different styles in that unique Silverstein fashion. If you’re still a newbie like me and need some inspiration, I definitely recommend this site!
Speaking of awesome poets, did you know that Ken Nesbitt has a website all about poetry, not just his own? This website is full of fun poems for kids to read, teaching resources, and even more tools. He also hosts in-person and virtual school visits. In fact, during the 2020-21 school year, Ken is doing a ton of Zoom webinars that you can register for (he even did one about Shel Silverstein!). This a great resource for teaching poetry in elementary, and one kids would have fun exploring.
No shared resources? No problem! This website recreates the silly fun of magnetic poetry easily on computers or tablets. Challenges students to create any styles of poem (acrostic, concrete, etc.) or use an early finisher activity. This is great for students who are reluctant to dive into poetry; the material is there, they just have to find the best way to build it!
One of the most important parts of poetry is hearing the cadence and rhythm; this website will let you hear the poem the way the poet intended. With a large catalog of poems narrated, students can hear countless poems. Each recording is accompanies by the written poem, so this could be great for struggling readers to follow along to while hearing the narration as well.
I really enjoy the Challenges included on the site; these invite students to listen to poems and search for answers, almost like a scavenger hunt. I think it would be a great bellringer activity for elementary.
I hope my list will be longer this time next year, but in the meantime, how are you teaching poetry?
Something I’ve always prided myself is rarely calling administration to handle behavior or discipline in my classroom. I’ve called my admins once in my three years of teaching. This has nothing to do with not liking my principal or thinking I don’t need their help; this is because I value the relationship I build with my students, so I want to solve problems together. I’m by no means a classroom management or student behavior expert, but I’ve always felt like I had a backup plan to keep the rest of my students occupied while handling a struggling student. Yet, this year I’m feeling drained in more ways than one.
Usually the extent of behavior problems in the library are having a bad day and not wanting to work, interpersonal spats with a classmate, or just needing a reminder of the rules in my room. Nothing a quick sidebar with a student can’t fix, and usually the rest of my students are working independently at a learning center. But then school year 2020-2021 hit…
We started the first few months learning virtually, so student behavior was a nonissue. When we finally came back in-person, students were grateful to be back, but still timid. Behavior issues were still dormant.
Then, around the halfway point, students began to feel more comfortable; they began to welcome new students daily as well. Our in-person exploded; everyday I would see a new (masked) face, whether a transfer or just switching from eLearning to in-person. This is where everything has gone downhill and I feel like I’m losing my mind.
Part of the new behavior problems seem to stem from new students; we have an influx of foster students, as well as students who are obviously flustered by the big changes this school year has brought. In addition, since I have new students every single class period and I still have my goals/yearly evaluations to meet, I simply don’t have time to review library rules and expectations with every new students; I barely have the time to introduce myself to them! My independent learning centers are all but forgotten with the requirement of no shared materials and no close quarters, understandably.
I believe the secondary cause of the behavior problems is simply not allowing my to do my job; this year has forced every teacher to sacrifice their normal routines and I was no exception. In addition to the already restrictive fixed schedule I’ve had with in-person teaching, I’ve also taken on the role of lunch monitor, dismissal wrangler, eLearning teacher, and second P.E. teacher. When my kids see me more doing these duties throughout the week, how are they seeing me fully as a media specialist? I barely even feel like one this year.
I know these are things that are out of anybody’s control and it seems silly to complain, but sometimes we just need to feel not alone. There are many others in the same position in me, and possibly handling it better; if you’re one of those people, then help a girl out and tell me your secret. If not, then you’re invited to my pity party.
Now what?
I know the situation I’m in is temporary, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be lasting effects or another circumstance with the same side effects. So even though I just want to wallow, I know the best choice is to tackle this. I don’t have a solid plan yet, but I have some ideas.
Develop better communication with classroom teachers. Classroom teachers are just as busy, if not more, with this school year. I always want to make their job easier, but sometimes I need their help, too. Asking teachers to communicate when they have a new student is the most important; it’s a lot harder to spot a new student with masks!
Create a welcome video. As I said earlier, we have new students coming in at an alarming rate. I don’t always have the time to stop and review our expectations in the library. Instead, I could take advantage of our school’s 1-to-1 and allow new students to get introduced to the library (and the librarian) with a welcome video. I’d love to do this especially since my old students know my face, but my new students only recognize me with a mask.
Recruit students for help. My students love a chance to help. I say ” I need…” and my students are already waving their hands in the air. Choosing a reliable student from each class to be a library tour guide would instill some responsibility in a student while also freeing me up.
Be louder. Although this year we’re stuck with the hand we’ve been dealt, next year is hopefully more predictable. I’ll be using the next few months to advocate for myself so that I can better do my job next year. I’ll be more open about the time and resources I need to properly service my school; this should always be happening, but this year has definitively given me a push.
These might not be a one-size-fits-all solution, but since I feel a lot of my problems stem from the constant in-and-out of students, this might best help me. How has student behavior changed for you in the classroom this year?
Let me start by stressing that I in no way actually love the pandemic that we’ve endured for the past year. But instead of continuously fighting the inevitable, I’m trying to find some good that’s come from it. An undeniable effect of the pandemic is the way it’s changed teaching and learning. What I’ve noticed most is how I’ve had to adapt my curriculum to meet the needs of both in-person and eLearning students, while being able to switch at the drop of a hat.
One of the easiest ways to meet this goal is by utilizing our 1-to-1 iPads as much as possible, so that my in-person and eLearners are getting similar experiences and can stay on pace with each other. Many applications and websites have helped me through my journey, but here are some of my favorites:
Nearpod is one of my newest loves this school year and my biggest inspiration for this post. Nearpod is a website or app that allows educators to create interactive lessons and presentations for all students. Lessons can either be live participation or uploaded for independent self-paced activities.
They offer a variety of activities to include in your presentation, such as polls, collaborative boards, quizzes, and competitive games. The activities are completely customizable to suit your needs, whether it be a quick checkpoint or something more involved such as test So far I’ve used this with 2nd through 5th grade and all students were much more engaged during my introductory lessons that require more direct instruction.
Another bonus is that you can create your own lessons, search for pre-made ones from the Nearpod library, or edit those pre-made lessons to best suit your needs.
These activities are great to use for diagnostic or formative assessment, or even exit tickets at the end of a lesson. Nearpod collects the data from each activity and gives you a great snapshot of how your students are responding. This especially great if you’re having to teach asynchronously, because you set the lesson and forget it until it’s time to check grades. I can’t recommend it enough.
As a read aloud lover, switching to asynchronous part time at the beginning of the year was difficult. I could record myself reading, but I wasn’t able to have the same interactions and discussions as in-person. Read alouds need that little extra oomph, y’know? Luckily my district introduced us to PlayPosit!
PlayPosit gives educators the power to create interactive videos, either using videos from YouTube or by using your own. You can add interactions throughout, either discussion questions, multiple choice, or more. This really mimics the interactivity of a good read aloud while allowing students to watch on their own time.
Students can rewind, get feedback, and more. PlayPosit could have a lot of uses beyond just read alouds, but that’s what works best in the library!
I did have a few hiccups when using this; some students had trouble accessing the videos or experienced long loading times, but this may be due to internet limitations in our area. Definitely try it out before implementing and see what you think.
Does your school participate in hour of code? Are you wanting your students to get into STEM and coding but don’t know where to start? Lightbot is a great way to dip your toes in the water while getting your kids excited! Each level is presented as a mini-game and builds upon each step of the coding journey.
This could easily be used as a learning center for in-person students, or as an extended activity for early finishers.
Google Apps
Image from MCG Web Development
My biggest saving grace throughout this exhausting year as been the array of Google apps. I know this is nothing new, especially for schools that use Google Classroom, but it’s saved so many lessons this year when we’ve had to suddenly switch to eLearning with minimal notice.
Not knowing if we’ll be in person week to week meant my backup plans had backup plans, but completing a lot of projects with Google meant the work was saved no matter where we were, and both the students and I could access it. We’ve used Google Docs for writing outlines, Google Slides for making interactive books, and a whole lot more. Everything is so easy to access no matter what kind of technology you have, and the ability to work offline is the cherry on top. Thank you, Google, we love you here!
These were definitely some of my big hitters this year that have saved a lot of my lessons. No matter what learning looks like next year, I can see myself revisiting all of these. Now I just need to find the app that makes my lesson plans…
My last post discussed an author that has inspired a lot of controversy the past few weeks. Unfortunately, this is continuing to overshadow other issues as the arguments have spiraled out of control (see: politicians doing poor Green Eggs and Ham read alouds). One thing I’ve noticed that is overshadowed by this is great Women’s History Month content, so I thought I could rebound with some positivity in that department.
In addition to the petty arguments inspiring this post, I’ve also just been more purposeful with my content selection this school year. Students still aren’t able to check out books so I want to make sure I’m sharing impactful stories with them weekly. This includes books that highlight cool human beings that my students can look up to and learn about. Women’s History Month is the perfect time to highlight some cool human beings.
While briefly sharing some of the more well known female figures, I did try to shine a light on some lesser known people. Being one of only two PoC staff in my school, I know my students need diversity exposure wherever they can get it! That’s where these cool books come in:
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré
My first story is my mirror book: a Latina librarian! My students definitely noticed when I shared this book with them, which I think captured their interest even more. Planting Stories by Anika Aldamuy Denise is about Pura Belpré, a well known figure in library circles but someone entirely new to my school. Denise shows Belpré’s transition from life in Puerto Rico to a new life and career in New York. A great blend of Spanish and English throughout provides a mini-Spanish lesson to students as well. The Spanish sections are chosen well, as most students can use context clues to figure out the meaning.
This book is also funnily enough a Pura Belpré Award winning book, which can be used to discuss different book awards.
What really captured my heart was Paola Escobar’s illustrations. Every class loved the imagery in this book, kindergarten through fifth. I couldn’t recommend it more!
Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom
Our next book showcases another amazing lady who may not be known in my school, but should be. Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom by Teresa Robeson tells the story of a Chinese-American physicist. What sets this book apart is it not only tells of our astounding achievements in her field, it also tells of the obstacles she faced along the way. The obstacles? Racism and sexism from her colleagues and society.
This is another award winning book, awarded with the ALA Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature in the Picture Book category. The storytelling by Robeson is almost lyrical, and the illustrations by Rebecca Huang match that poetic energy.
Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills
I know I’m a sucker for illustrations, but can you believe how beautiful this book is?! Illustrator Christian Robinson is a Caldecott winner, so I can’t be surprised. The story has a mixed-media approach that makes the reader feel nostalgic for something I still can’t quite put my finger on, but I’m not complaining.
Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Reneé Watson tells Florence Mills’ story from singing with her mother to her eventual career as a singer and dancer. Not only is this a great biography, this book could serve as a love letter to yourself. The joy and confidence we see from Florence in this book is something beautiful that all readers could be inspired by; her courage and fight furthers that.
Now I’ve never been a big sports fan, but I know I have plenty of girls who are and this is the type of story that would inspire anybody. Effa Manley is the only woman to date to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. She Loved Baseball by Audrey Vernick jumps right into the racism and colorism of its time; I appreciate when children’s books respect its readers and don’t sugarcoat the facts. Vernick keeps this realness throughout, perfectly capturing Effa Manley’s drive to do what’s right and what she loves.
Don Tate’s expressive, colorful illustrations perfectly suits Effa’s strong will and her journey.
These books can carry me through the rest of the month, but I’m still always looking for more books to share with my students that showcase what people can accomplish, especially people just like them. What books would you add to your Women’s History Month lineup?
So, who else has noticed the angry comment wars in librarian groups? Just me? With Read Across America Day/Week ramping up, the familiar argument of how much focus to put on Seuss is resurfacing and even I’m questioning where I stand.
Whew… are you still with me? Taking a step back, these claims are just facts, as we see several racist caricatures in Seuss’s books. Now whether that’s a product of the times or a deeper insight about Seuss’s own morality doesn’t really matter, because either is wrong.
But now we’re seeing many teachers/librarians/etc. gripping to And To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street for dear life before even reflecting on alternatives or solutions. I have struggled to separate myself from Seuss, especially in a school culture that (thankfully) celebrates a joy of reading. We’re even getting ready to start our annual week of Seuss-themed dress up days. So how do we get out of this?
Like I’ve said, the NEA has given us a solution by keeping the same spirit but by combatting the harmful aspects of Seuss literature, and they offer plenty of themes, activities, and other ideas for year-round reading. Marketing their celebrating as a “Nation of Diverse Readers”, they focus diverse authors and stories. Even if you reject the racist caricatures in Seuss books as being a product of the times, you still have to admit they don’t have the diversity needed for modern reading.
The real solution is admitting that there are other authors that have similar styles with representation, powerful messages, and the same educational benefits. Some of those authors include:
Julia Donaldson
The Smeds and the Smoos
You may know her from The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson is an author I’ve gotten into recently, especially thanks to the wonderful book The Smeds and the Smoos. Her work in this book has the same effortless flow with nonsense words, but with a message of love across differences. My students adored this book for it’s message, illustrations, and rhymes.
Charles Waters
Can I Touch Your Hair?
Charles Waters (joined by others) uses his poetry to send beautiful messages. In this book specifically, he examines very realistic and early examples of dealing with race as a child. Even the title, Can I Touch Your Hair, tackles one of the most common microaggressions Black people face, a familiar boundary crossed when others see you as different. The prose is easy to read and the illustrations are gorgeous.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Just Like Me
I can’t say enough good things Just Like Me! Just the cover art makes me feel all warm inside, but the rhymes in this book are *chef’s kiss*. This is a book of self love with bite-sized poems throughout that I think any reader would enjoy. Brantley-Newton has many other amazing works, both as an author and an illustrator.
The list definitely doesn’t end there, but we have to start somewhere. As a librarian with a catalog scores deep of Seuss, I don’t see it being a clean break from me. Starting small is how I trick my school as well (half kidding) into inclusive, diverse, and anti-racism literature. What are your thoughts?
We are officially over halfway through our Virtual Book Fair, and despite the different strategies I explained previously, we are still selling a LOT less than we would in person- even below our shrunken down goal. Although we are over halfway through the fair, we haven’t even met half our goal. I’m feeling a lot of things about it, but mostly I’m feeling okay.
I went into this knowing there wouldn’t be as big of a reward, but my goal was to get some books into some hands and I’ve managed to do that. Other than my time, it hasn’t cost anything to do, and I’ve even been able to give away some books miraculously. I’ve also got to share some pretty cool books with my kids that hopefully they’ll be able to check out soon.
So, halfway through, would I recommend hosting a virtual book fair? It depends, but I’m leaning towards yes. Even though I’m let down that we’e not doing as well as I’d hoped, sharing books with kids has brought back some of that librarian joy I’ve been missing this year and it’s added a few bucks to the Scholastic Dollars budget. If you have some spare time to work on some of the strategies highlighted in the last post and involved families, you would see the most reward.
Well, now onto last minute Read Across America Week activities as book fair has consumed me. What are you doing for Read Across America Week?
I have to admit something. I love Book Fair season. It’s exhausting, the hours are long, my eating and sleeping schedule is ruined, and handling lots of money gives me anxiety. But I LOVE Book Fair season, still. That’s changed this year.
After a year of no real Book Fair (and a year of covid), I’ve decided it’s time to put my all into a Virtual Book Fair and the magic almost feels gone, and my new tired is from overacting my excitement to students so the magic isn’t gone from them. I’m also concerned about making enough money as Book Fair is the biggest fundraiser for our library. So what am I doing to try to make this Book Fair just as successful as our past ones?
Raffles
Well, first I’m running some book giveaways. I’m usually able to use my profits to make sure every student is able to buy a book, but that’s not going to happen this year. Instead, I stretched my money to purchase some new paperbacks from Scholastic that I can raffle off. I’m utilizing both “Caught Reading” tickets that teachers can distribute to students, then students can use those as raffle entries. I’ve created mine based on the ones provided by Scholastic, but I can use less paper with these. Tickets example below.
I’m also allowed eLearners to participate by creating Wanted posters for Book Fair books, which doubles as bulletin board promo. I can’t wait to see what my students come up with! Check out the template below.
Teacher Book Talks
As said before, I had to stretch my budget to acquire some paperbacks. Some of those paperbacks were also for teachers at my school. A little quid pro quo; teachers get a new book to add to their classrooms, and in exchange they create book talk videos to share with students. These book talks can serve as quick commercials for students, and are an especially great way to get the word out to eLearning students.
So far, my school’s teachers have done great!
Online Marketing
No matter how many flyers, bracelet reminders, and announcements you make at school, there’s always going to be the kids that lose/forget it all, and then the families who have no idea what’s going on. With our switch to remote this past year and our district utilizing online resources more than ever, marketing online seems like a no-brainer. We’ve been doing this in a few ways.
First, our school has a PTO Facebook page that we’ve been sharing updates. This is a great way to reach the more casual parent; they are likely to see updates while scrolling on Facebook.
Next, I’ve been posting updates to Schoology, as well as embedding information into my Bitmoji library so families can see it every time they access my class.
Last, I’ve been making an effort to convert many of the paper materials into digital materials. Using living documents, such as Google docs, is a great way to do this, especially since it allows for viewer information and you can make changes when necessary. It’s also easy to make these materials interactive with links.
Thoughts?
So, has anyone else made the leap into a Virtual Book Fair? If so, what did you learn? I’ll be back soon to update (hopefully with good news). We’re less than a week to countdown so wish us luck!
I’m not 100% sure the direction of this blog yet, but I know I want to use this as a chance to reflect on my job, especially after this past year. Teaching has always been a difficult, scary, and uncertain task, but I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling the weight of this job more than ever.
Taking home work, planning yearly goals when you don’t even know what next week will look like, beating yourself up after the next failed flipped/remote lesson plan using a digital resource your district bought for you… it’s a lot.
But that doesn’t mean I’ve lost my love for this job. In fact, it’s shown me how impactful I can be when I push through all of that. I might not be able to check out books, but I can facilitate book talks. I can’t open my makerspace, but I can offer opportunities for digital creation. And I might not see my kids in person everyday, but I can find new ways to build relationships.
I guess I’m just trying to keep that spark alive long enough to get through this funk. Or I can just make goofy bulletin boards. Hopefully others can relate. Peace.
