School Librarians Stepping Up During Virtual Learning

School librarians and school libraries are essential in school buildings today. What happens when schools go virtual? School Librarians step up! How can you as a School Librarian step up your virtual learning game? Besides staying abreast of school library news and blogs, staying connected with your school community is fundamental. School Librarians are reimagining … read more »

What’s the Buzz: Digital Reading

Education has moved forward a bit recently. We’ve learned a lot about using technology in the classroom (and remotely) and our readiness to provide instruction in many non-traditional formats.  A lot has been said about teaching reading and reading online.  But the conversations about reading haven’t extended to teaching digital reading.   Digital reading and … read more »

Celebrate Public Service Day Virtually

June 23 is Public Service Day. Created by the United Nations in 2003, this observance celebrates the value of public service to the community, recognizes the work of public servants, and encourages young people to explore public service careers. The implementation of social distancing guidelines creates obstacles to in-person celebrations and recognition of public service … read more »

Celebrating 220 Years of the Library of Congress!

 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 »

Citing Media Sources for School Projects

Citing sources for school projects has changed in some ways over time and stayed the same in others. The styles like MLA (the most widely used in K-12 school projects), APA, Chicago, Harvard, AMA, etc. still exist, their biggest changes being additions to the types of sources that need citing in the digital age. The … read more »

International Polar Bear Day

February 27 is International Polar Bear Day. This day offers an opportunity to pay attention to polar bears and the dangers they face due to climate warming. It is also an excellent way to engage students with real-world connections to animals, climate, environment, habitats, and more.  One way to engage students in learning is by … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: Mission US Part 2

In Part 1 of this blog, you were introduced to Mission US. This free tool transports students to transitional times in US history and immerses students in historical settings. Students get to make decisions as the fictional characters. Yesterday we shared an overview of the tool. At the time of this post, there were five … read more »

Data, Charts, and Graphs Oh My!

Keen-eyed TeachersFirst users have probably noticed a few changes on the site during the past few months. Take a look at our Special Topics pages to find several new additions, including Resources for Storage, Classroom Management Resources, Tools to Create Media, and more. TeachersFirst Edge (tools for creating) includes new categories to make searching easier … read more »

Amp Up School to Home Communication

A new year is a time for reflection and resolutions. Perhaps you have taken the time to reflect upon your teaching and want to make some changes. One area all teachers should think about is how well they effectively communicate with parents and family members as part of their ongoing efforts to make all students … read more »

Tech Tool of the Month: TES Blendspace Part 2

In Part 1 of this blog, you were introduced to TES Blendspace. This free tool allows you to create interactive, online lessons. Yesterday we shared an overview of the tool. We also discussed the application of both the SAMR model and the TRIPLE E Frameworks as you integrate TES Blendspace into your instruction. Today’s post … read more »