April 24th is the 223rd birthday of the Library of Congress! The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library and an agency of the legislative branch of the U.S. government. It serves as the main research arm of the U.S. Congress, is recognized as the national library of the United States, and is the … read more »
The Library of Congress was founded on April 24, 1800, to provide books for Congress’s use. Over time, its mission expanded, allowing it to be viewed as a national institution and, therefore, the national library. The current building was completed and opened to the public in 1897. Since then, the library’s offerings and resources … read more »
September 19th–25th is the International Week of Deaf People, an annual initiative to foster awareness and support of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The 2022 theme is Building Inclusive Communities for All. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD), an affiliate of the World Federation of the Deaf, promotes the International Week of Deaf People … read more »
In honor of Georgia O’Keeffe’s birthday, let’s talk about the many ways school librarians and art teachers can collaborate. Librarian and teacher collaboration is a must for school librarians! Collaboration provides teachers, librarians, and students with new opportunities, resources, and ideas. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Start small! Collaborate by helping the art teacher … read more »
April marks National Poetry Month, established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to celebrate poetry’s significance in our lives. Poetry, one of humanity’s oldest art forms, preserves our stories and evolves alongside us. As a poetry enthusiast, I often hear from people who claim to “hate” poetry—and I always suggest they simply haven’t … read more »
You’re staring at a new unit plan, trying to figure out how to weave in media literacy, find credible primary sources, and keep thirty different students engaged—all while hitting your state standards. It feels like a solo mountain climb. But here’s the thing: you aren’t alone on that mountain. Just down the hall—or perhaps right … read more »
Students open their laptops, type a topic into Google, click the first three links, and boom—they believe they’re “done with research.” The result? Their digital stories feel flat and predictable, filled with the same surface-level information anyone could gather in seconds. Digital storytelling has real potential to engage students, but only if there’s solid research … read more »
The modification of media has been happening for a very long time. The image above was published in 1902 as a depiction of General Grant at City Point. According to the Library of Congress, this is actually three photos combined in to one: the head is from an image of Grant at his Cold Harbor, … read more »
On June 19, 1895, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with life-changing news: the Civil War had ended two years prior, and all enslaved individuals were now free. Despite the belated announcement, the city erupted in joyous celebrations filled with prayers, feasting, and lively singing and dancing. June 19 is an annual commemoration within the … read more »
Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel. If we are to hope for a society of culturally literate people, music must be a vital part of our children’s education. ~Yo-Yo Ma Music in Our Schools Month, celebrated each March, … read more »