Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Sign Up To Co-Host A FREE Future Ready Schools Ed Tech Infusion Virtual Workshop For Your Leaders, Teachers and Librarians, Friends!

 

Is your school or district looking for an interactive professional learning session that focuses on the use of innovative tools to spark curiosity and innovation?  


Apply today to let FRS help you host a FREE one-hour professional learning session focused on infusing digital learning across the curriculum. 


As shared on the site, 


The Future Ready Schools “Unlocking Student Engagement Through Meaningful EdTech Infusion” Virtual Workshop will focus on using digital tools to spark curiosity and innovation across the curriculum. Instructional leaders, teachers, and librarians will leave with ideas for seamlessly integrating digital tools into their lessons. This workshop is being offered free of charge and fits nicely into most districts’ professional development programming.

Participants will leave with: 

  • An understanding of what the effective use of edtech looks like in instruction;
  • Ability to leverage instructional frameworks for deeper levels of engagement; 
  • Knowledge of high-quality digital tools to promote student engagement and the local curriculum; 
  • A collaborative list of “go-to” resources for student engagement curated by colleagues and a network of like-minded colleagues looking to innovate; and
  • A plan to leveraging digital tools to enhance learning and creativity.

We promise you that our workshop will be interactive, collaborative, and high-energy. You won’t experience a “death by Powerpoint” session but will have the opportunity to discuss, share, and collaborate around ways to integrate digital learning into lessons across the curriculum seamlessly.  

All participants will need a device, an open mind, and a willingness to connect, collaborate and innovate!

This one-hour interactive virtual workshop will be facilitated by one of our talented facilitators, such as Thomas C. Murray, Dr. Adam Phyall, or Shannon McClintock Miller. 
Click here to apply to co-host this unique professional learning workshop in your district. Dates are limited, so don't delay. 

Monday, June 19, 2023

Enter The StickTogether Story Giveaway For Your Chance To Win! Act Fast, Friends.

In celebration of the amazing StickTogether community and incredible StickTogether Stories that everyone shares, our friends at StickTogether are kicking off a very special new giveaway.

It's the StickTogether Story Giveaway! 

They will give away one Standard Size Sticker Poster Kit and a $50 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky person who fills out.... 

The StickTogether Story Giveaway will end on Friday, June 23rd so act fast, friends. 

Join Me On July 19 For Part II of the Follett Shannon's Series on Leadership As I Welcome Adam Phyall To Talk About Being A Library Leader Through Technology Integration!

                 

Join me on July 19, 2023 for Part II of the Follett Shannon's Series on Leadership as I welcome Adam Phyall to talk about being a library leader through technology integration. 

This webinar series features amazing library leaders, important and timely topics, and interesting conversations that will empower us with leadership skills and thinking throughout the summer and into the new school year. 

You will find Part II: Be A Library Leader Through Technology Integration here to register and...


....Part III: Be A Library Leader This Year here.  

When you register at these links, you can read all of the details around the webinar, and learn more about my wonderful guests too. 

And just remember, even if you can't attend the LIVE event, everyone who registers will be sent the recording and resources after the event is complete. It will be a special learning experience all around.
For Part 1: Be a Library Leader Through Literacy, my friends Bill Bass and Kira Brennan joined me. It was such a wonderful conversation. They are truly an inspiration in everything they do for their librarians, libraries, schools and community.  And of course, for all of us. 

You will find the recording of the webinar here. And you can find the slide deck, including the resources we shared here.

Find Out The BIG ANNOUNCEMENT Today From Our Friends At StickTogether In Their Private Facebook Group! See You There!

 

I am sooooo excited about a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT this week from our friends at StickTogether.


It's one of the coolest things they've created and I can't wait for all of you to see what it is. 

See you there, friends. 

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Check Out All Of The Special Free Resources For My New Picture Book, Sonia's Digital World! We Can't Wait To Share More Sonia Surprises At ISTE Too!

 

I am so excited about my new picture book I wrote with my friends at Capstone and ISTE.  

Sonia's Digital World kicks off a special new partnership between Capstone and ISTE, and one that I am so honored and thrilled to be part of.  

As we get ready to debut you Sonia's Digital World at the annual ISTE Live Conference in Philadelphia next week, I am also excited to share lots of amazing resources to use with the book. 
On the Capstone Fall 2023 Fall Preview site here, you will find the resources for Sonia's Digital World. 

They turned out so awesome and I can't wait to share them with my students, teachers and families, and with all of you.  

Let me show you what we have! 
There is the Sonia's Digital World Educators Guide, filled with...
....the I Am Digital Explorer, ISTE Standards For Students poster, Questions To Explore Together (also found in the back of the book itself), 
several Extension Activities tied to the ISTE Student Standards, 
...and more. 
You will also find the I Am A Digital Explorer poster, 
the Making Connections: Paper Chain Activity, 
Sonia's Digital World Coloring Sheets, 
and last, but not least, these adorable Sonia's Digital World Bookmarks! 
All of these resources can be found at this Capstone site


I also want to share where Sonia and I will be at ISTE Live 2023.  You will find this schedule and a few more details here on my blog

We have lots of special Sonia surprises ready to share at ISTE. I hope you come find me at one of these events, and in the Capstone Booth #1328. See you there, friends. 

Friday, June 16, 2023

Starting A Barn Book Nook With Ideas and Inspiration From These Horse Lovers and Authors! Listen To This Special Podcast Here, Friends.

 

I am so excited about a new addition we will be adding to our library this fall. It is called the Barn Book Nook. 
When my friend Dana Plautz posted this on her Instagram, I couldn't wait to learn all about her Barn Book Nook. 

I reached out to Dana and she told me how she started this special book nook in her horse barn. 
She even has bookmarks, book plates and of course horse books!  The kids who go to the stables love picking up the horse books to read and even create their own books to show Dana.  It has been such a hit! 

I told Dana I wanted to create a Barn Book Nook for our school library at Van Meter and how I would love to meet the authors of her favorite horse books. 

This is where the fun really got started! 
...Horse Girl by Carrie Seim. When I received the books, I started reading both right away and knew they would be such a hit with our readers. 

I also knew they would be perfect guests for the Future Ready Librarian podcast series, Leading from the Library, and Dana's story of the Barn Book Nook would be an inspiration for others to start one too. 
I invited Dana, Sarah and Carrie to join me one day and we had such a fun conversation. 

We discussed how Dana's Barn Book Nook came about and why every library needs a stable of horse books.  I loved hearing the way horse stories inspired these two authors to write their own wonderful books for young readers.  

This summer, I am putting together even more horse books that I will add to our Barn Book Nook and even created...
....Our Virtual Horse Book Nook filled with PebbleGo articles about horses and lots of Capstone Interactive eBooks about horses. If you want to make a copy of this template, you will find it here.

Thank you Dana, Sarah and Carrie for the inspiration and for inspiring our horse loving readers. 

I can't wait to see what our readers think about this new addition to our library. I know we will get even more to love horse books this year too. 

Find The Recording and Resources From The "Be A Library Leader Through Literacy" Follett Webinar Here In This Post, Friends

 

This week, I kicked off Shannon's Series on Leadership with my friends from Follett

For Part 1: Be a Library Leader Through Literacy, my friends Bill Bass and Kira Brennan joined me. It was such a wonderful conversation. They are truly an inspiration in everything they do for their librarians, libraries, schools and community.  And of course, for all of us. 

You will find the recording of the webinar here. And you can find the slide deck, including the resources we shared here.

The next two webinars can be found below...

...Part II: Be A Library Leader Through Technology Integration register here; 


...and, ...Part III: Be A Library Leader This Year register here

We hope you can join us for all three. It's such a special way to learn together all summer long.


Thursday, June 15, 2023

Join Me Today As We Kick Off The "Follett, Shannon's Series on Leadership" Webinar Series" With Bill Bass and Kira Brennan, Be A Library Leader Through Literacy.

Today, we kick off a very special event that I am hosting this summer with my friends at Follett. 

It's called Shannon's Series on Leadership. This webinar series will feature amazing library leaders, important and timely topics, and interesting conversations that will empower us with leadership skills and thinking throughout the summer and into the new school year. 

At 4:00pm CST, my special guests Bill Bass and Kira Brennan will join me for the conversation, Be A Library Leader Through Literacy. 


The next two can be found below...

...Part II: Be A Library Leader Through Technology Integration register here; 


...and, ...Part III: Be A Library Leader This Year register here

When you register at these links, you can read all of the details around the webinar, and learn more about my wonderful guests too. 

And just remember, even if you can't attend the LIVE event, everyone who registers will be sent the recording and resources after the event is complete. It will be a special learning experience all around.

Hope to see you there, friends.  

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

It's Week 2 of Our Future Ready Book Club...Chapter 2, Intention! See You In K12 Leaders For The Discussion and Weekly Work, Friends.

Dear Friend,

It's week two of the Future Ready Summer Book Club "Lead from Where You Are." This week, we focus on Chapter Two - Intention.

Here's your to-do list for week two.
1.  If you still need to find the discussion, there is still time to set up your account on K12 Leaders. This will allow you to connect with colleagues within and outside our book club. 

2. Let's discuss it!  

This week we are focusing on intention. Please share your answer to our weekly question on the forum, and be sure to respond to your colleagues to keep the discussion going all week.

3. Record your personal reflections in your customized study guide: Take some time to reflect on the concepts discussed in Chapter Two. 
4. Take on the weekly "Do it" activity: Challenge yourself by applying what you've practically learned from Chapter Two. Once you've completed the activity, share your successes and reflections in the dedicated weekly "Do it" discussion thread.
Here are a few success tips and...
...here is the Book Club schedule. 

Don't forget to save the date for July 19th at 12 pm ET for the Live Discussion.

See you all in K12 Leaders for a great week with Chapter 2, friends. 

Sunday, June 11, 2023

7 NEW Virtual Stickerboard Images To Use At Our ISTE Live 2023 Presentations!

 

With ISTE Live 2023 coming up, we are working on our presentations and creating learning experiences that are engaging, inspiring and fun. 

One thing I love add to my presentations are Virtual Stickerboards from our friends at StickTogether. I love having one up on the screen as attendees come into my sessions as a way to come together and connect. 

As shared on the Virtual Stickerboard site, 

Working synchronously or asynchronously, now you can engage as few as a handful, and up to hundreds of participants, with a virtual version of StickTogether. Everyone works on their own devices to create an image together. 

And guess what?  StickTogether has created 7 special Virtual Stickerboard images just for ISTE 2023. You can find them in the ISTE 2023 Gallery. There are four with an ISTE 2023 theme...

...and 3 with a Philadelphia theme. 

I can't wait to use all of these Virtual Stickerboard images at ISTE!  

If Virtual Stickerboards are new to you, use the Virtual Stickerboard 101 guide to help. You can find it here. 

I hope I see you at ISTE, friends.