Blog Share

Staying Cool in the Library

The blog this week that I would like to share is titled Staying Cool in the Library. There are a few great features and attractions to this blog and website and there are a number of blogs posted about a variety of headings such as research, library skills, library management, and literacy. There is a Facebook page for questions and advice. There are also lesson plans and other resources available from the Teachers pay Teachers website as well. There have been a number of resources that I have taken away while exploring Staying Cool in the Library that I will make use of in the future.

The Staying Cool in the Library Facebook community gives a chance to reach out to other librarians across the state or country with questions about books, schedules, recommendations, and advice. Having a forum where you can reach out to others is a great way to keep your skills sharp and offer suggestions to other librarians. The forum is also a place where librarians can connect with peers and see similar struggles and possible solutions to problems. It is always nice to know you are not alone on your success or failures. The TPT resources are also a great way for newer librarians to get some great ideas or to purchase resources to the benefit of their students. When I first learned of the TPT resources, was reluctant to spend money on these resources as I always thought I would have plenty of time to create my own. I was wrong. Yes, I could create my own, but there are no many other items that require my attention it is nice to know when you do not have the time, there is a place to find ready-made activities and resources that at times are free or low cost.

The first Blog that drew my attention is Scary Stories for Kids. This is my first year as a librarian and with Halloween being just around the corner, my students have been asking for scary books. I have noticed that it is one of the few genres kids specifically ask for. Thay may want a book about specific subject, but they will read any scary book regardless of the subject. There are a number of upper grade elementary books that I can recommend but I was also looking for lower grade books and picture books. There were a number of suggestions for all grade levels in this blog with only two authors that were in my collection (Aaron Reynolds and R.L. Stein). Since have I been searching for scary books to add to my collection, here are a few additional lists that I have found, that may also benefit others who are looking for scary materials. Common Sense Media, Find My Kids Blog by Melanie Smith, and Goodreads are a few that I have been looking through.

Read-Alouds Made Easy: 10 Tips for Successful Storytelling blog post offered an additional consideration when creating the best storytelling experience. While reading this post many of the concepts that we have talked and read about can be found in this post. Considerations like choosing the best story for your audience, employing props, character voices and emotions were some aspects of storytelling that we have covered. Considering the environment or the reading area of a library was something that I had not put much thought into. The author suggested cozy seating as a way to make an inviting space. Another aspect to consider is lighting. Classroom teachers often use dimmer lights, strings of lights, and other lightening to create ambiance that encourages readers to curl up and read or study. We can consider this in the library by creating a story time space where students know to expect something great. Not all libraries will have the space but there may be little things that we can do to our environment to add something special to our stories.

Another post that really had me looking ahead to the end of the year was the 8 Field Day Activities for a Book Inspired Field Day. I was a little skeptical at first but as I read the post, it really caught my attention as something that could be special and that could be expanded to include art, technology, literacy and pe. The post lists eight books that can be linked to a field day activity. My favorite was the beware of falling food linking a water relay with the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Students would complete a water bucket relay while some parent or teacher volunteers could toss water balloons or small water filled sponges in the air, simulating food that is falling from the sky. I can imagine students having a blast and talking about it for many days afterward. The art department could contribute some decorations and some of the events could also reflect some well know computer games that children play, linking the field day to technology. The possibilities are endless and the memories that are created could last a lifetime.

Graphic novels are always a hit and students are always asking for them looking for new ones. The classes we take all tell us the benefits of graphic novels, but I have also had some parents that have not fully embraced the benefits of graphic novels. The blog post Benefits of graphic novels: Explore the Power of Visual Storytelling really breaks down the benefits in terms that parents or guardians can completely understand. This post leaves out much of the educational jargon and explains how graphic novels are not just a steppingstone to more advanced books but stand-alone literature that is just as academically rigorous as any text only novel. The author describes how students become detectives, looking at the illustrations and decoding how the pictures and text combine, or decoding the text elements of the story. Students look at facial features and body language in the pictures. This gives them additional information as they interact with their peers and offers examples of this behavior that they can in turn use or interpret in a real-life setting. Graphic novels offer improved cultural awareness as some culture specific words, clothing, events, or objects have a pictorial form rather than just a text description. The benefits of graphic novels are numerous and any information that can continue to show the importance is appreciated.

As a new librarian, I am constantly looking for additional resources and information to make the experience of going to the library a great one. The blog Staying Cool in the Library is another resource to add to my collection. I have watched three different librarians teach in a multitude of ways with all three having different styles and a different approach to running classes. This has given me some great ideas, but I still have a long way to go until I have my own lessons and procedures developed. It does not happen overnight. Going through the MLIS program has given me a starter list of resources and ideas that I can use to craft lessons that will engage and encourage readers. Happy reading!

References

8 Field day activities for a book inspired field day. (2023, April 7). Staying Cool in the Library https://www.stayingcoolinthelibrary.us/book-inspired-field-day-activities/

Benefits of graphic novels: Explore the power of visual storytelling. (2023, June 30). Staying Cool in the Library. https://www.stayingcoolinthelibrary.us/benefits-of-graphic-novels-explore-the-power-of-visual-storytelling/

Read-alouds made easy: 10 Tips for successful storytelling. (2023, August 22). Staying Cool in the Library. https://www.stayingcoolinthelibrary.us/tips-for-successful-read-alouds/

Scary books for kids: Top picks from kindergarten to 5th grade. (2023, October 5). Staying Cool in the Library. https://www.stayingcoolinthelibrary.us/scary-books-for-students/