First Week of Distance Learning

Spring Break was 13th-23rd, but as you know... spring break was strange.  I packed up the book fair on Thursday the 12th, made the library look as put together as possible, unplugged everything for the break, and then turned off the lights. I was smart and grabbed about 10 books that I had been wanting to read and headed home.  Our district got the phone call and notification Saturday March 14th.  It was like that snow day phone call.. that you don't really want.. because you like being at school.

I have been practicing the Shelter at Home since spring break started.  Guys.. it is HARD! I know whenever I have a break, I always tell myself I am going to take the downtime to catch up on me.  I am a busy person, but being busy and active makes me super happy. I might be busy, but in all of my busy, I am also very scheduled and have routines.  This COVID-19 has changed all of my routines!

Last Tuesday our district began Distance Learning.  I am super lucky to work in a district that values all of its staff members.  The campus that I am on is a VILS (Verizon Innovative Learning School) That means our school is 1 to 1 devices along with data.  Our teachers are already very versed on using technology in the classroom, but it is completely different to go from in the classroom to all virtual. Our whole district along with so many other districts automatically took on the challenge knowing that we need to continue to ensure that learning is happening.  

Although, as a librarian, I do not have any classes- I have a TON of resources to offer! I am super excited about these resources.. but I am also very realistic at how much I am sending teachers- because you know that they are overwhelmed too!  

Tuesday the 24th- I got my letter board ready to document my 2nd First Day of School in one year! Hopefully this will not be a normal thing.  I then jumped on our zoom faculty meeting and then zoom leadership team meeting.  If I didn't say I was overwhelmed and had no idea how I was going to be useful.. I would be lying! I am a librarian.. and I am supposed to share our resources.. and our BOOKS!

But.. then the second day of  Distance Learning- I had a chance to actually jump into some PLC's for different content areas!

Here is what I have done:

-Recorded a Presentation with Mrs. Long for Virtual TLA (did I mention that our huge conference in Texas was cancelled as well)

-Created a Librarian Tik Tok Group! This is with librarian all over the United States! We will have our first video posted soon.  Check out @Tokstarlibrarians 

-Zoomed with our Middle School and High School librarians to create a plan

-Participated in Virtual Spirit Week

-Created a Lamar Distance Learning BINGO- we didn't use it, but I plan to have it ready to go with summer again

-Collaborated with Social Studies! I can't wait to collaborate on some of their lessons!!

-Collaborated with ELAR

-Worked a virtual library help desk
-Set routines and hours for myself.  Okay- I admit it.. even though I work in the same place I live.. I still am sometimes like 5 minutes late :)

Here is what I plan to do:

-Continue attending PLCs for ALL content areas. During the regular school day it is hard to sometimes get to these! I am appreciating the fact that I actually have a chance to do that now!

-I am going to continue to run my clubs (will be doing this virtually of course)

-I hope to have a Virtual Cub Club soon

As a librarian, I am always trying to change how librarians are viewed. Most libraries are not the places that you hear "shhhhh".  Most libraries check out more than just books.  Librarians are changing the ways we see and access information (not only digital resources- but have you seen the importance of teaching how to check information that is shared!).  I of course prefer to be in the library and popping into meetings and classrooms.  But, right now, I have the opportunity to be even more beneficial as I share the resources that teachers are going to need to ensure their instruction is useful while it being virtual. Is it hard right now.. of course it is.. but it is also giving me a chance to work with all of the content areas! As a librarian, I think our job is even more than important than ever!  No matter how stressed we are, know that we are all in this together! If you need someone to chat with- please feel free to reach out! I hope that all my readers stay safe and well! Take care of yourself not only health wise... but mentally as well! I know that for me to do that I have had to make sure I am staying in a routine.. and setting up a space to work. I am even having a virtual Girl Scout meeting soon! I am having to rethink how I do all the things that make me happy.. but I am doing it! 

#NTTBF20

5 Years! North Texas Teen Book Festival has been going on for 5 Years!
I remember going to the very first one.  You can find the whole blog here.  #NTTBF15 was where I really decided that becoming a librarian was what I wanted to do next. Who knew that 5 years later I would be on my second year of taking a bus full of kids!

This year I got to attend the Educator Day the day before the festival... and OMG.. it was the BEST DAY EVER!
3 years before I turned 40, I made a #40by40 list of things I wanted to do before I turned 40. I turned 40 and I knew that I wanted to make another list of  #50by50 things I wanted to do.  #36 on that list was to meet my most favorite author! I LOVE Pam Munoz Ryan  I remember during one of my classes to become a teacher I had to work with a small group of students during reading class.  I used Riding Freedom and have loved using her books ever since. Working in a Title 1 school where our population is mostly Hispanic, her books resonate with my students.  Another of my favorites was Echo where 3 stories intertwined with each other.  In other words... I LOVE all of her books.   One of the amazing creators of NTTBF (and used to be the librarian where I am now!) Rose Brock made it possible for me to check off #36 from my list!  I almost cried when I met her. I know that in my first picture I look crazy, because I am in total giddy fangirl mode! Thank you Pam Munoz-Ryan for your kind words and wonderful presentation.

The rest of this blog is going to be chock full of pictures (selfies) and twitter handles to all the amazing authors and people that I met on both Educator Day and the actual festival day.  It is one thing to read books by these authors, but another to listen to them speak.  I love that every one of these authors were so open about about their own background and it made it such a safe place for teens and adults to ask questions.  Our teens have very diverse backgrounds with different beliefs in and understandings of who they should be and how they should act.  They don't know who they are yet and they don't want to be wrong...and all of these authors took time to really listen to the questions that were asked about the books, but also the underlying questions that kids were really asking of how to be a person.  Kids these days have hard roads of trying to figure out who they are but also to be safe.  I LOVE that books and libraries offer spaces for students to be and love whoever they want to be.  I hope as a librarian they know that I am on their side and here for them... that I can help them find that safe space when they are not for sure of anything else in their life. Each author continually said that I hope these books help students realize they can be whoever they want to be and can see themselves in the pages when sometimes they don't even see themselves in the mirror.

The Line for Ed Day- okay- I might have gotten there at 6:45am and the line didn't open until 7:30.. and I might have been the first person to sign in for Region 10

Loved listening to Ally Carter about writing

Listening to The Angie Thomas

First Panel- Laughter is the Best Medicine with Jessica Kim, Lance Rubin and Mike Johnston

Swoony Reads with Aminah Mae Safi, Mackenzi Lee and Leah Johnson

Telling our stories with Robin Ha, George Johnson, Gabby Rivera and moderator Raina Telgemeir

So... I sort of nabbed this selfie with Raina.. and then with an awesome photobomb of Pam Munoz-Ryan!

Rick's Picks with Carlos Hernandez, Kwame Mbalia, and Roshani Chokshi

Ended the day listening to Neal Shusterman

Thriller Nights- with Mintie Das, Tiffany Jackson, Maureen Johnson, Karen McManus, Rory Power, and Neal Shusterman with Irving ISD Librarian moderator 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Read them with Stuart Gibbs, Gordon Korman, Jenny Lee, Andy Runton, and Mackenzi Lee

Once upon a Retelling with Jen Calonita, Roshani Chokshi, Jenny Lee, Marissa Meyer, Rory Power, and Kiersten White 

Favorite part of each panel- the kids that look up to these authors who are true heroes.. and they have a chance to get their questions answered!

Free books I picked up! I have added SO many books to my Goodreads account and book order!

You know I love a photo opportunity!

#36 checked!

What an amazing two days!  I always strive to be a better librarian (I mean.. if I am not always learning and trying new things.. am I in the right position?)  The educator day gave me so many more ideas on how to inspire and connect with my students.  I might not understand what they are going through.. but with having diverse books with diverse characters (from color, gender, love, to life) I know that I can connect with them on some level.  I can't WAIT to share some of these books with students and continue to make the library a space where ALL students know they are welcome and belong!

Had to share my favorite story and picture of the day
-Found one of my students who was in the hallway.. and I asked her why she hadn't been checking in (we were checking in through Google Classroom)  This is also a kiddo that is an avid Tik Tok user. Her reason.. Mrs. Keller- We haven't been on our phone because we are having so much fun!!!

Favorite picture of the day:
-I have a friend that asked for recommendations of books for her son to read.  I recommended Stuart Gibbs and he ate them up.  The kiddo even made it to the festival! I ran into him at one the panels and he was sitting behind me.  I took a selfie and sent to mom because said kiddo is deep into the book.  at the end of the session I turn around to check on said kiddo and I fangirled again as I found I had more people that had snuck in behind me! If You see the arrow.. kiddo is still reading while I am listening to a panel and fangirling.  Thanks Robin Ha, Raina and Maia Kobabe for indulging me in a picture.

I already have Publish a Book on my #50by50... but I think I am going to add to it that I want to be on a NTTBF panel.. might have to start with just moderating a panel!

Thank you again organizers for the absolutely AMAZING 2 days and authors for all of your work and stories that you shared! This librarian heart is so happy and full! Want to see other conversation check out Twitter and Instagram #NTTBF20 or #NTTBF