The Healthy Tip Corner

Friday, April 10, 2026

A Choice Board With The NEW Artemis II PebbleGo Article!

I am excited to share this choice board I put together for our students where they can learn more about Artemis II, astronauts, space, and the moon.  
There is a NEW PebbleGo article about Artemis II.  It is in English and Spanish in PebbleGo.  

You can make a copy of this choice board here and add links from your PebbleGo articles and to any Capstone Interactive eBooks you have too. 
To share with your students, just go to File, Share, and Publish to web.  You will share that published link with them. 






Thursday, April 9, 2026

Speak Up for Libraries and Kids: Join #CheckOutCongress Today!

 

School libraries are at the center of critical national conversations about access, equity, and the freedom to read.

Recent federal legislation has raised serious questions about how materials in school libraries may be defined and restricted. Congress needs to hear directly from the people who understand this work best.

They need to hear from you!

This April, during National School Library Month, we are inviting Future Ready Librarians to participate in #CheckOutCongress—a coordinated effort, in collaboration with EveryLibrary, to connect school librarians with their Members of Congress through virtual meetings.

This is your opportunity to speak directly about what students need, what school libraries make possible, and what is at stake in your community.

Speak Directly to Congress. Your Voice Matters!

You do not need to be a policy expert to participate. You are already an expert in understanding your students, your school, and your community. Your story can help Congress better understand why school libraries matter.

What to Expect

Before your meeting, we’ll make sure you feel prepared and supported every step of the way. You will receive a short training video so you know what to expect, how to make the most of your time, and how to tell your story with confidence. We’ll also share materials to guide your conversation, including talking points, background on key issues, and tips for following up afterward.

Your virtual advocacy meeting will include you, our team, and a representative from your congressional office. During the conversation, you will have the opportunity to introduce yourself and your role, share what’s happening in your school and community, talk about the needs of your students, and help policymakers understand the real impact of their decisions.

Meetings will be scheduled during the week of April 27, 2026. Because these meetings are being coordinated with Members of Congress and their staff, they must take place between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET.

Sign up by April 17th schedule your virtual meeting.

Let’s #CheckOutCongress—together, friends. 

Friends, the Recording & Slides for “Bloom Where You’re Planted” Follett Content Webinar Are Here!

 

This week, my dear friend and public library director, Jonatha Basye, joined me for the new Follett Content webinar, Bloom Where You're Planted! Re-energizing Your Library Program for the Home Stretch. 

Jonatha is the public library director in Van Meter, the town where I am the district teacher librarian. We have so much fun collaborating and working together throughout the year.  We loved sharing our ideas, work, and exciting news from our libraries, school, and community during the webinar. 

You will find the webinar recording here and slides here. The slides are linked with our resources too. 

I hope you enjoy our webinar and get lots of ideas and inspiration for the end of your year too, friends.

50 Do You Like/Would You Rather Templates To Print and Use In Your Library Too!

 

This year, my sister, Heather, and I created new Do You Like/Would You Rather templates to use as a passive programming activity with our students in the library. 

So far, we have created over 50 and you will find them here in Canva to print and use in your library too. 
I ordered these clear locked boxes on Amazon here

We are going to have the kids vote using two colors, so I ordered blue and red bingo chips.  I will just keep them in a bowl and they can pick one out and add to the box.  At the end of the week, we will count them and post the winner.  

You could also print the cards on a bigger piece of paper and just have two bowls out for them to place the chips too.  

We will add a bunch more over the summer, so we have new ones next year.  I am putting two in our library so kids can vote in two different spots each week. 

Have fun, friends. 

You've Been Book'd With Moon and Space Books To Celebrate NASA's Artemis II Moon Mission!

 

As we follow NASA's Artemis II Moon mission, our readers are curious about the Moon, space, astronauts, and the history of space travel.  

I've curated a special Titlewave book list in this choice board.  Click on the book covers to explore the amazing titles and find the full collection there too. 

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Join Us For Our May Follett Software Webinar...Co-Planning for Impact: How Library-Curriculum Partnerhsips Move The Achievement Needle!

 

Friends, I am so excited for my upcoming Follett Software webinar on May 7, 2026 at 2:00pm CST. 

I hope that you join us for Co-Planning for Impact: How Library-Curriculum Partnerships Move The Achievement Needle.  It is going to be such an great webinar around a very important conversation. 

As shared in the invite...

What if you could clearly show how your library program advances curriculum and student achievement—without adding one more “extra” initiative to your plate?

In this session, award-winning teacher-librarian Shannon McClintock Miller will share practical ways to design library-led experiences that plug directly into existing units and priorities, so your work is seen as instructionally essential.

What you’ll learn:

  • Strategies to align your library program with curriculum goals and standards 
  • Concrete approaches for curating collections that directly support classroom learning 
  • Ways to integrate inquiry, choice reading, book clubs, and research opportunities to boost engagement learning for stronger comprehension and achievement. 
  • Simple techniques for capturing evidence of impact, from usage analytics, student artifacts, and newsletter highlights. 

Join us to get practical workflows, real examples, and ready-to-use ideas that elevate your library’s role in teaching and learning—and make that impact visible to decision-makers.

This session is a must-attend for K–12 school librarians seeking to strengthen their instructional role by leveraging their work, library program, and resources to support student engagement and achievement.

Can’t attend? No problem—register, and we’ll email you the recording.

A certificate of attendance is available upon request.

You can register today for the webinar here.

I can't wait to see you at this one, friends. I know you will love the conversation and work we will do. 

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Catch the Replay: Reigniting Student Reading Engagement in a Digital World, Follett Software Webinar!

I am excited to share the webinar recording and resources from my recent Follett Software webinar, Reigniting Student Reading Engagement in a Digital World. 

You will find the webinar recording here, friends.  In the webinar, I share the link to the slides and resources. 

We will be announcing the next webinar coming up in May soon so stay tuned.