Did you know that Padlet has added many new features this year? If you haven’t visited this site recently, you may want to take another look. If you have never used Padlet, it is an online collaborative bulletin board that now packs a real punch! This Padlet demonstrates the use of this tool in a … read more »
Isn’t it amazing how sometimes the most simple sites are also the most helpful, or even powerful? I was recently introduced to one of these gems, 3×3 Links. This bookmarking site allows you to create a 3×3 grid to organize and share websites. Once it is created, you can share with a URL. To … read more »
We are inundated with media messages – be it in traditional print formats or digital texts, images, videos, or advertising. As adults, we have the experience and ability to interpret and often ignore the constant barrage of information that confronts us. However, our students do not have the expertise to handle all the extraneous information … read more »
The start of the school years is a time to get to know our students. Perennial favorite activities other than “what I did on my summer vacation” essays are “all about me” assignments. As students take a look at their own lives, this is a perfect time to add biographies to your class lessons. Reading … read more »
Comic books once were considered the worst things kids could read. Lots of irresistible issues were hidden under beds or between the covers of textbooks. Many comic books were banned because of their ephemeral nature, graphical format, and often mature and violent content. Think of those lurid covers featuring a scantily-clad, buxom girl in the … read more »
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t — you’re right.” Henry Ford September 13 is Positive Thinking Day. Consider it to be an excellent time to stop and think about how to develop positive thinking and attitudes in our students. One well-known method to promote positive thinking is through growth mindset. Growth mindset, … read more »
Fake news and stories about fake news are everywhere right now. In a recent blog post, I shared criteria for judging online resources, including news stories, using the CRAAP test. However, since this topic is of critical importance to our students, it merits another look. In fact, digitally literate teachers who teach their students to … read more »
Several months back we began discussing research. Now, let’s take a look at the best resources that students and teachers can use to meet their information requirements. The research process begins with a motivation, either personal or external, such as a class assignment. The best class assignments are authentic tasks, problems the learner must solve doing real-life activities … read more »
In all of nature there is something of the marvelous. Aristotle What is your favorite outdoor activity? Perhaps you enjoy swimming, hiking, boating, or another way to enjoy Mother Nature. Many others share your enthusiasm, in fact, June is Great Outdoors Month. Started in 1998, this celebration of the outdoors has grown from a weekly event … read more »
While the month of April brings thoughts of spring showers and May flowers, for this school librarian, April reminds me of National Library Week and its companion, School Library Month. I love the fact that there is a special time of the year dedicated to libraries. You don’t have to convince Americans that their libraries are important. Over … read more »