So, I realized that I had not shared in my blog since last March! I have been sharing much more library land happenings over on TikTok (akbusybee) and Instagram (beeinthebookends)
First an update:
I moved schools!! I had the opportunity to move to a high school (same district) At this high school I am the librarian and the DLC (Digital Learning Coach) I miss my middle schoolers, but I sure am loving high school. I also got my lifeguard certification so I could lifeguard for my Girl Scout troop.. but I don't know if you have kept up with the news this summer- pools were short staffed! So, I also now lifeguard and teach swim lessons- currently working on my water aerobics instructor courses.
Before I get into all that I am doing.. want to give a little background on my new school
-Our campus serves 9th-12th graders
-Our campus also has what we call grad lab
-Our campus also serves students in our Nigh Owl Academy
Let's get into November. Here are the things that I have planned with templates, links and more! November for me is also going to be a little crazy. I am in the process of moving houses, I am attending the TALL Texan Leadership Institute, I am traveling to New York with one of my Girl Scout troops, and I am traveling to my hometown to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary.. so this Busy Bee is WAY busy this month!
Book Club
I have a confession to make- I have never hosted a book club. Last month was my first one. What I decided for my book club is that I would focus on a theme rather than an actual book. October 31st was our first book club where we focused on Ghoulish reads. Students that signed up in advance were able to come in share about their books and we made candy pumpkin catapults (another confession- this is my first year in the library here.. so I am working on building relationships.. I only had 2 students sign up) I had some extra students in the library during this time, so you know- start small and it will grow!
The month of November my focus is Nonfiction November. Here is the template to the Canva that I created On the flyer that I make for school it also has a QR that links to a form that students fill out. The reason that I need that information is that my book club happens during the day. It is also good data to have! I am not for sure of the activity that we are doing yet- but I will share once I do have it.
Stranger Things Day
If you are a fan of the show- you will probably already know this trivia. Stranger Things Day happens on November 6th- the day that Will went missing. I have written about Stranger Things Day here before
Here is the social media post I am creating to share- you can find the template here (also- I took these pictures at the Stranger Things store.
There are so many great Breakouts that have been created and so many ideas that are out there on the web. I created my own Digital Breakouts last year through Google Slides. Since I am at a new school- I am doing what any smart person would do.. and reusing them. Last year I posted a new clue each day, this year I am going to have them posted around the library on November 7th (when we are celebrating Stranger Things Day.
My plan:
-this week I am promoting that we are celebrating Stranger Things Day on Monday November 7th. I will promote through social media and on announcements.
-since I am doing during the day, students will need to sign up by Friday to participate during SWAG on Monday
-all students and staff will be invited to wear their best 80s outfits
-I am inviting students and staff to share their favorite 80s or Stranger Things music so I can make a Spotify playlist
-During our SWAG time (SWAG is just like a "homeroom" that we use during the day) the students that signed up will be able to come down to the library to participate in the digital breakouts
-I do have prizes and incentives- there are some great affordable stickers on Amazon (I would always recommend going through the stickers first before giving them out!) and also some fun off brand Stranger Things jibbitz that I found.
-I also went to the Stranger Things Store this summer and took some pictures- I think I might have students use these to create their own scene.
The Breakout
I will print these posters in color. You can find my template from Canva here Also, on the posters that I am printing for school they will have a QR code on them that lead to the Google Digital Breakout that I made. Don't worry- I have those too!!
These will force you to copy
Virtual Escape Room- The Letter
Virtual Escape Room- The Code
Virtual Escape Room- Morse Code
Virtual Escape Room- The Bike
Full Virtual Escape Room- This one will take a little bit more time
For The Letter, The Code, Morse Code and Bike- any one that is playing can get through it even with wrong answers. For the full Virtual Escape Room you must have the right answers to proceed! What are the answers you may ask...this is the document with them so you can help students (or yourself!) get through.
Feel free to edit/change (or you might even find a mistake) and use yourself. I would love for you to share and also tag me in any photos or other ideas!
Scavenger Hunt
If you don't already follow Melissa Corey on Twitter- go do it now!! She shares the best stuff- and also shares the templates to go with it! She shared a cute ghost hunt template during October and then came out with this cute Turkey Scavenger Hunt. My high schoolers loved it!
Here is the template to mine (but she shared two- both are SUPER cute!)
The end of the month (after Thanksgiving) I am also collaborating with my art teacher to work on holiday cards as part of a service project for Keep Irving Beautiful. We will create cards to donate and then Keep Irving Beautiful will pass them out to Nursing Homes. My next blog I will share how I do some of my social media such as my #FirstLineFridays.
What programming are you doing in the library? What exciting things do you have coming up?
Hopefully I included everything that I am doing in November. If I missed something or didn't change a sharing setting- let me know. It is going to be a wild month!
