Join Us For Fundraisers That Actually Work....A New Literati Webinar On October 7th!

 

I am so excited about our upcoming Literati webinar and wanted to invite you to join us, friends. 

On Monday, October 7th at 4:00pm CST, join us for the free Literati webinar, Fundraisers That Actually Work.  

As shared in the invite, 

We'll be sitting down with Shannon McClintock Miller from Future Ready Librarians and Amanda Chacon, the School Library Journal's 2024 Librarian of the Year, to learn all about their favorite school fundraisers that actually work. 

Register using this link and attend the live event on October 7th at 4:00pm CST to be automatically entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Can't attend? No worries! Those who register will receive a recording of the webinar. 

I can't wait for our conversation and everything we have to share during the webinar. It's going to be a lot of fun.  

Hope to see you there! 

Share Your Voice! Complete The FRS Network Survey & Enter To Win A $200 VISA Gift Card!

 

Share your thoughts on key education challenges — like AI, teacher retention, and digital equity! Complete the #FutureReady survey and enter to win a $200 VISA gift card.

You will find the survey at futureready.link/survey24

Thank you, friends. Your voice is so important to us! http://

The NEW Activities Guide For One Of My Capstone Favorites, Author VS. Illustrator, Is Here!

Author VS. Illustrator, written by Don Lemke and illustrated by Bob Lentz, made it's debut this fall.  It's one of my all-time favorite books from our friends at Capstone. 

As shared from CapstonePub.com,

At the far reaches of Earth, high upon a mountaintop, a bustling city is under attack by a . . . cute little furball? Wait—what?! That’s not right. The author wrote this book about a “ferocious beast,” not a cuddly critter. Turns out, the book’s illustrator has other plans. Page by page, these clashing collaborators are writing (and drawing) themselves into the story for a full-on creator combat—a bookmaking BATTLE ROYALE! Can the author make a successful book with no pictures? Can the illustrator tell a tale without words? (A picture is worth a thousand of them, he says.) Or will this dueling duo get on the same page at last to create the ultimate happy ending? 

From Lemke & Lentz (the quirky collaborators behind Call of Doodie and Book-O-Beards) comes a laugh-out-loud picture book about the not-so-simple process of creating a picture book. Full of over-the-top humor and under-the-radar lessons—including the skills of teamwork, conflict resolution, and respect—this book is a must-have for young writers, budding artists, and lifelong book lovers.

This week, they released the amazing new Author VS. Illustrator Activity Pack! 

It is filled with oodles of fun writing and art activities that our readers will love.  I can't wait to do them too. 

You can order Author VS. Illustrator here. 

On Capstone's Fall 2024 page here, you will find a preview of the book, and the special activity pack. 

I am dreaming up all kinds of ways to use this book with our students this year. I will be sharing more ideas soon. 

You've Been Book'd With 22 Books To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

 

Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15-October 15.  On this special choice board, I brought together 22 books that are perfect to share with our readers as we celebrate this special month. 

When you click on the book covers, you can view each title in Titlewave from Follett Content. You can also find the full book list in the choice board too. 

You will find the You've Been Book'd With Books To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month here, friends. 

If you want to make a copy and use this as your own choice board, you can find it here. Just make a copy, change up the book covers, and use it to promote books from your collection too. 

Friends, Sign Up To Share A Digital Tool or App In The 5th Annual Future Ready Librarians® App Smash Event On November 20th!

Get ready for a high-energy, fast-paced hour of inspiration and innovation at the 5th Annual Future Ready Librarian App Smash Webinar on November 20, 2024 at 5:00pm EST.

Led by Shannon McClintock Miller, this event brings together 25 visionary librarians and educators to showcase the latest and greatest in digital tools for the classroom and library.

In true Future Ready style, this app smash  isn’t just a tech demo—it’s a live exploration of how cutting-edge digital tools are transforming teaching and learning. Each of the presenters will dive deep into the practical applications of their chosen tool, sharing strategies that will empower educators to immediately incorporate these resources into their classrooms. Whether you’re looking to personalize learning, foster creativity, or boost student engagement**, you’ll leave this webinar armed with ideas and ready to implement!

Throughout the webinar, you’ll also gain insight into how each tool aligns with the Future Ready Schools® Framework, ensuring that these tools not only support technology integration but also promote equity, personalized instruction, and future-ready skills. You’ll learn how to design student-centered learning experiences that are interactive, dynamic, and deeply impactful.

Here is where we need your help, friends. 

For our live webinar event, we need 25 Future Ready Librarians and/or Instructional Leaders to join us and share a digital tool or app that you use love to use with your students and teachers. You will have 2 minutes and 30 seconds to share your ideas as it is a fast and lively event. 

Please visit this link by November 1, 2024 to apply to be a presenter.  

We will choose a variety of tools and apps that fall into the different wedges of our Future Ready Librarian Framework so think about how you will tie into that work. 

I hope you join us, friends!  I can't wait to hear what all of you have to share and the amazing ways you are creating, collaborating and learning with your students this year too. 

And don't forget to add the 5th Annual Future Ready Librarians® App Smash to your calendar on November 20, 2024 at 5:00pm EST.  You can register for the event here. 

Igniting Creativity and Collaboration In Your Library....Join Our Upcoming Webinar On October 17, Friends.

Join me for the upcoming Literacy for Texas webinar on October 17 at 4:00pm CST as we team up with LUV for Libraries to share, Igniting Creativity and Collaboration In Your Library. 

In this webinar, discover the transformative power of LUV for Libraries, an inspiring intiative designed to turn libraries into centers of creativity, collaboration, and deep connections.  

One lucky participate will receive LUV for Libraries goodies.  

You can register for this wonderful free webinar here.  We hope to see you there, friends.

Save The Date for Digital Learning Day On February 13, 2025!

One of our favorite days every year is Digital Learning Day. 

On February 13, 2025, we’re shining a spotlight on the incredible educators across the nation who are harnessing the power of digital learning tools to create authentic connections and personalized learning experiences for every student, regardless of where they are.

With technology now at our fingertips, personalized digital learning isn’t just a tool; it’s a lifeline. It’s our way of leveling the playing field and closing those equity gaps. Districts are embracing high-quality, evidence-based strategies, ensuring that every student gets the learning opportunities they not only need but truly deserve.

Make your calendars to join us, friends. 

We will be sharing more exciting information on the activities and events of DL Day 2025 soon.  

And follow along as we share on social using the hashtag #DLDay25 I always get so much inspiration watching what others are doing on this special day. 

 

Season 9 of the Future Ready Podcast Series, Leading From The Library, Kicks Off This Month With 12 Amazing New Episodes & Very Special Guests!

 

It's here!  

Season 9 of the Future Ready podcast series, Leading From The Library is now LIVE with 12 new episodes with amazing librarians, educators and other special guests. We couldn't be more excited about this new season full of amazing stories, timely topics and inspiring conversations. 

Last week, we kick off Season 9 with Jill Kelley and her podcast, It's The Simple Things”. It was so inspiring to hear more about Jill's work and story.

And tomorrow, Melissa Silerio and Rachael Welsh, join me to share the amazing programing in their libraries during lunchtimes and throughout the day.

You won't want to miss these wonderful conversations, friends.

On the Leading from the Library podcast site, you will find all of the future and past episodes.

There are so many important, interesting and exciting topics for all of us as Future Ready Librarians and educators. You won't want to miss them. 

You can subscribe to wherever you listen to your podcasts. 

A big thank you to our friends at Follett Content for supporting our Future Ready Librarian Podcast Series. 

We hope that you join us each week for the Leading from the Library Podcast, friends.  

A Titlewave Tip...Creating Monthly Titlewave Lists Make It Quick and Easy To Add Books As You Go!

I use Titlewave for so many things throughout the month.  One of my favorite ways to use Titlewave is to create monthly Titlewave lists. 

Each month, I create a new list in Titlewave. I keep this list in a tab on my laptop, and bookmark in my Titlewave Monthly Lists folder in Chrome. 

These Titlewave lists make it super quick and easy to add books as we go through the month. 

Watch this short video on how I use Titlewave lists to help with collection development as I go through each month.  

I think this Titlewave Tip will help you too! 

You can sign up for your FREE Titlewave Account from Follett Content Solutions here, friends.

We Are Excited To Announce A NEW Edition Of Our ISTE Book, Leading From the Library!

 

My writing partner, Bill, and I are excited to announce the second edition of our book, Leading from the Library, is coming out October 1, 2024. 

As shared at the ISTE store, 

In this new edition of the popular book Leading From the Library, you’ll gain insights into becoming a leader in your school community, with strategies for developing partnerships, empowering students and more. 

 

Join a librarian and an education leader as they team up once more to explore the librarian’s role as a leader who works collaboratively to build relationships, mold culture and advocate for the needs of students and the community. Authors Shannon McClintock Miller and William Bass discuss the benefits of bringing the outside world into the library through tools that allow librarians to partner with others. Then, they expand upon these connections by addressing how librarians can lead in the greater education community by sharing resources and strategies, and partnering with school leaders to tell the story of the school community.

The new edition includes two brand-new chapters. The first reflects on the experiences of librarians during the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing stories of how library programs supported students and teachers during shutdowns and virtual learning. The authors propose that these strategies can serve as foundational practices for libraries, and provide an opportunity to reflect on what library programs can offer. Another new chapter is dedicated to expanding the definition of literacy, with topics such as media and information literacy, and the importance of critical thinking and research as essential skills for students.

 

This revised edition:

• Highlights the potential of librarians to empower their students, their schools and their communities, and be learning leaders in the digital age.
• Includes stories of partnerships – from librarians and administrators – illustrating how they can collaborate to create change by harnessing the influence of the school library program to enhance the educational experience.
• Explores how librarians serve as mentors to their students, delving into many topics that define digital age literacy, including the librarian’s role in reading advocacy and digital citizenship.
• Draws connections to the ISTE Standards, including the Student, Educator and Education Leader sections, in each chapter.

Through this book, librarians will discover the influence they can have on the school community as the library becomes the heart of the school, a place where problems are solved, content is explored, connections are made and discovery happens. 

Audience: Elementary and secondary school librarians/media specialists; education leaders

About the Authors

Shannon McClintock Miller is the K-12 district teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School District in Iowa. In 2013, she was named one of the Faces of Innovation by Broadband for America, was one of 50 people featured in the 2013 Center for Digital Education Yearbook, and was a featured Connected Educator with the Connected Educators projects in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. In 2014, she was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker, and in 2016, she was awarded the ISTE Making IT Happen Award. She enjoys blogging, and recently published four children’s books about library skills with Cantata Learning. 

William Bass is the innovation coordinator for instructional technology, information and library media for the Parkway School District in St. Louis, Missouri. He holds a master’s degree in instructional technology and a certificate of online learning from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Throughout his more than 20-year career in education, he has held positions as a middle and high school English teacher, technology integration specialist, instructional coach and educational consultant. He has served as co-president of the Educational Technology Association of Greater St. Louis, and is a past president of the ISTE Board of Directors.

You can preorder our new book here, friends. We are excited to share this special new edition with all of you as you lead from the library. 

October Is Right Around the Corner and the PebbleGo & PebbleGo Monthly Holiday Calendar Is Here! Turn It Into An Interactive Research Choice Board For Your Students & Teachers!

 

October is right around the corner and it is time for a NEW PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next Monthly Holiday Calendar that our friends at Capstone create for us each month. 

In this post, I share more about the PebbleGo Monthly Calendars. 

I love making paper copies of these to share with our teachers and kids. 

They hang them up in their classrooms and hang them in our library too. I also share them online through social media and as an image in Google Classroom or Seesaw. 

The teachers even use the PebbleGo Calendars for mini research opportunities throughout each week. The students use PebbleGo Create to share what they learn throughout the month with the calendars. 

Here is the PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next October 2024 Holidays Calendar. 

Last year, when I was sharing the calendars with teachers and students, I thought....Hey, this would be really fun in a choice board! 

So, I opened up a Google Slide, uploaded the PebbleGo October 2024 Holidays Calendar, and added a little chalk board with text over the top.  

Then I went through the calendar and found every special day in PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next.  

For example, World Teacher Day is October 5, so they have the Teachers PebbleGo article featured. I went to PebbleGo and found the article about Teachers in PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next. 

 I grabbed the link, as shown in the image above. 

I took that link and added a linked text box around each special date. 

Now, when the kids click on a holiday, it will take them directly to that PebbleGo article.  

If you want to use the template to create your own, you will find the Google Slide here to make a copy and add links to the PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next articles. 

And to make it a choice board, just Publish to the web, as shown in this image above. 

You will share that Published Link with your students.  

I love sharing these interactive PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next Holiday Calendars with our students and teachers. They love learning all about these special days that are highlighted each month too.

I am excited to have the October 2024 PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next ready to go as we go back to school the end of the month. I hope you will find ways to use it with your students and teachers this month, and all throughout the school year too. 

Join Us For Our Upcoming Demco Webinar, Bring a Love of Reading to Your School Community This Year! You Can Register Here, Friends.

 

We are excited to announce a new Demco webinar series! 

Our first webinar Bring a Love of Reading to Your School Community This Year is coming up on October 1, 2024 at 4:00pm CST. 

The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to highlight the limitless value of your school library. This webinar will explore some fun and engaging ideas to promote reading in ways that foster a love of lifelong learning. The result? Creating a learning environment that is the cornerstone of your school community. 

This webinar will cover: 

• The importance of instilling a love of reading
• Special ways to engage students in learning 
• Ideas and resource for librarians and teachers

You can register at bit.ly/DemcoWebinar1.  We hope you can join us, friends. We have 10 exciting giveaways for people in attendance too. 

All webinars are archived and available for viewing within a week of the original presentation date.

Check Out How You Can Bring FigJam To Your Library, Classroom, and School With Help From Our Friends From Figma For Education!

 

Figma for Education believes that nothing great is made alone. 

They would love to work with you to bring FigJam into your schools and classrooms. 

Here’s how:

Join a livestream: Every Tuesday during the back-to-school season Figma hosts 1-hour introductory livestreams that overview FigJam basics and the Jamboard transition. Register here. 

Lead the charge: Volunteer to host a FigJam training for teachers in your community.

Check out these pre-created materials and a PD plan.

This is a great way to kick off FigJam in your school community, and such a fun way to come together too.

You can learn more about FigJam for Education here, friends. It is the perfect digital tool and resource for us as teacher librarians, and for all educators whatever you teach.

The Recording and Slides Are Here For Our NEW Future Ready Schools Webinar, Empowering Students With Digital Citizenship Skills

 

This week we hosted a wonderful new Future Ready Schools webinar, Empowering Students with Digital Citizenship Skills: Your Digital Toolbox. 

We were joined by our friends at Cyber Civics, MediaSmarts and Common Sense Education, who are all part of The Achievery from AT&T Impact. 

The conversation was great and they all shared such valuable and important information and resources that support digital citizenship. You won't want to miss this one, friends. 

You can find the webinar recording here.

The slides and resources can be found here.

A Choice Board For My "Library Skills" Stories and Songs To Kick Off The Year!

 

I have the perfect series to share with our youngest learners as they learn about the library, books and even staying safe online.  

It is the Library Skills Set! 

I wrote this series with Cantata Learning and Capstone a few years ago and it is still one of my favorite ways to introduce my students to these skills all throughout the year.  The awesome thing about the Cantata Learning books are that they are all paired with music.  Emily Arrow created and sang the music and songs and Kathryn Durst illustrated them.  

I have each book in our library and...

...we also use them online as eBooks.  You can find the Capstone Interactive eBooks at capstonepub.com. 

The songs can also be found on YouTube, so today I took each video and created a choice board to share with our students in the library and in their classrooms. 

You can find this choice board here to share with your students.  If you would like to make any changes, you can make a copy of this choice board here too. 

I hope you and your students love singing along as they learn all about libraries this fall.