Adventures in the Libraryland- Veterans Day

Happy Veterans Day to all those that have served or are serving.

This weekend I worked on social media posts to highlight our Veterans on campus, but also finished up my lesson for our LIFE Students- Government Class.

Reminder about my school:
-9-12 Comprehensive High School
-Have various programs that include Culinary/Floral/Vet Tech/ROTC and more
-LIFE (Learning in a Functional Environment) 9-12

Anytime I can showcase our Premium Resources- I am doing it! It doesn't matter the content or ability- there are so many resources to make them accessible for all learners.

Lesson:
-Using Britannica to learn about Veterans Day (we will spend time navigating to the article)
-Completing a Matching Sheet
-Using Canva to create Thank You Cards for our Veterans on campus (this might be finished in the classroom depending on length of time for the other pieces)

Reasons I LOVE Britannica for ALL levels of learners:
-can change the reading level
-can change the font size (make that font size bigger!)
-can change the language
-can have it read to you

Ways I am making this lesson more accessible to all:
-anytime I need them to type something or search for something I have it spelled out so they don't have to look at the screen

-The presentation that I used as very little words and has one picture per slide (This is great for any type of scaffolding)

Veterans Day by ANDREA KELLER

Worksheet that I created- you can access HERE----->WORKSHEET

Adventures in the Library- Building a Resume

I looked back and I realized I haven't blogged since September. I have been sharing lots on my Instagram and TikTok account!  This last month I have been doing a TON of orientations! I apologize to all the teachers when they come in that my jokes never change, but feel free to laugh at my punch lines.

I am slowly but surely starting some more collaborations- I have to remind myself.. I have only been on this campus a little over 3 months.  

Demographics of my campus:
-9th-12th grade
-over 3000 students
-comprehensive High School so also has a floral program, vet program, culinary program and more

Some lessons I have done:
-working with the Spanish class to create Instagram posts over famous Hispanic People using our premium resources
-working with the floral department on library displays
-working withe English I over how to use our online catalog to find books they enjoy
-working with English 4 to work on research and search tools
-I taught my first parent class!

My hope is to share more of these lessons for you to take, borrow and steal!

I spent 13 years as a LIFE (learning in a functional environment) teacher before becoming an Instructional Technology Specialist and then a librarian.

I try to collaborate with all content areas- and of course this includes our LIFE students.  I had the chance to collaborate with Coach O our Work Based Learning Teacher we talked about creating a Resume. Now, resumes are important for jobs.. but what a great way for students to also advocate for themselves! They can give these resumes to a teacher or a friend.  

Here is the presentation that I had ready:

Building a resume by ANDREA KELLER

To make it more accessible for various learners:

-used pictures
-when search terms needed to be typed- had paper next to students
-when they needed to choose a template printed ones for students to choose from

This is also a project that we started today but the teacher will continue in the classroom.

Our big goals for today:

-Learning about a Resume
-Opening up Canva

-choosing a template

-renaming the template for their name

-adding their name

-adding their phone number

-adding their school and grade level

(also- what a great way to work on phone numbers/email addresses/regular addresses and more!)

The things they will work on when they go back to class:

-thinking of at least 3 things that they can put in the about me section

-thinking about what skills they have

For both of these items we talked about how some are bilingual,  some already have a job, some help babysit, some are hardworkers, some like to learn new things.  In other words- they all have something to bring to the table!  

For them to finish their resume the teacher they will finish up:

-The Skills section
-The address section

-The about me Section

With us using Canva this is also now a living document that they can go back and edit as needed (and also share like in Google)

If you are on TikTok this video is here too- but this is the breakdown of how I set up the lesson.

Next week I am working with another LIFE class over Veterans Day.

Other upcoming adventures:

-headed to an elementary school (my role as a flexible floater has me supporting all campuses)
-working with ELA 4 over science fiction

-THANKSGIVING BREAK!!

I also have some other programming projects up my sleeve- but will save those for another blog.

Ready, Set, Vote

September 17th was the official Voter Registration day, and working in a High School we have the chance to ensure our Seniors are able to vote!

Last year I had a chance to listen to Lucy Podmore about ideas for a Freedom Walk that she did with her school. You can find more information here---->LINK

I then also was able to attend a great webinar put on by ALA over Reader. Voter. Ready that had a ton of great information. 

The planning then began. Working closely with the two other amazing high school librarians we came up with a plan that could be in person, but also be passive depending on availability of the librarian at the campus.  

The materials shared here were created by Kathleen Basoco, Andrea Keller, and Jessica Ross

Our overall goal for this was to offer simple programming that would educate and promote voting.  

When looking at resources, it was also important that we made sure materials that were as nonpartisan as possible. 

We created a Wakelet that holds all of our information.  Each of our campuses has a TV that is in front of the library, so one of the slides is a QR code to this Wakelet.  I also have a slide of a brief history of voting that Kathleen created showing as well.  

Each of our campuses has different needs, so we are doing the activities to fit the needs of our own school community.

A couple of my favorite things from our materials:
-The Educaplay games that Kathleen created
-The Genially games that Jessica created

My Plan

Our campus has three lunches.  Seniors are able to eat their lunch in the courtyard.  Although Fall is next week, Texas still thinks it is the middle of the summer, so the weather is still nice (aka hot)  I am working with our Student Council to help man the different stations.  Here is my plug for student council... if you have a student council on your campus- partner with them! They need points for different things- so I give them an idea and they run with it.

Social Media post shared on our Instagram/X accounts

Stations:

-I Side With quiz for students to see how they are politically alligned

-Voting Vocabulary Matching station- voting vocabulary words- old school memory (found this on TPT)

-Election Timeline station- this is one where students can use the cards in order for voting timeline (found this on TPT)

-A station that is a book display and QR codes that lead to different virtual games and activities that include matching representatives, filling out a sample ballot, when can you vote for different officials and more.  This will also become a display in the library after our event on Thursday and Friday.  You can find most of the games inside the Wakelet below.

-Possible Voter Registration.  We have a group coming later to do this as well- but might be able to also have it on campus.

Are you in High School and working on voter information? What do you have planned? Do you have a favorite website to share? We also are using this time to talk about bias and where information comes from- another great way to talk digital citizenship.

Mums the Word

The saying in Texas- Everything is Bigger.  During Homecoming Season- the big thing is the mums!

Just take a moment to search up Homecoming Mums on Instagram and you will see what I mean.

Lots of pictures in this blog to share how I did the Mum station.

I mean- check out our own Big Vik ready for homecoming this weekend.

This is my first year at a new school.. and I wasn't going to do anything except have a station on Thursday that would have hot glue and safety pins for students to use.... but then I saw the TikTok for the Croc Mum.. and then the Stanley Cup Mum.. and I knew that I had to make it happen.

Background on my school:

-we are one of 5 high schools

-there are over 2300 students from 9-12

Background on this program:

-although I have some budget money-it is only available at certain times so I did not use library budget for this program

-Although we have 2300 students- my goal was to have 200 come through

-I was able to get materials by purchasing myself and also I had an Amazon list that I shared so I had donors help

-I am running this program only from 8:00am-8:35am before school starts

Being a Girl Scout leader and some experience under my belt- I create different spaces to pick up materials.  Thanks to my amazing clerk Franco and the yearbook advisor Robison I had plenty of ribbon that was cut out!

When students enter the library I usually have a Google Form for them to fill out.  But, I wanted to capture a little bit more information this time (and also prepare for future programs)

I had students sign in on paper with their Name/Grade Level and then check off if they wanted to do a Stanley Mum or a Croc Mum

Each area had a bucket with certain materials in it.  I also counted and have a spreadsheet of materials so I can keep track (and also document who donated)

Buckets:

-3 inch and 2 inch flowers

-cardstock circles cut to about 1 1/2 inch to 2 1/2 inch depending on which flower was chosen

-blue ribbon in various widths cut to 5 inches

-white ribbon in various widths cut to 5 inches

-specialty ribbon in various widths cut to 5 inches

-chains cut to 5 inches

-various charms

AMAZON LIST

Not everything was purchased and my parents also purchased some things from Hobby Lobby

At each bucket was also a sign for how much materials you needed.  I would LOVE to provide so much more.. but I want to get as many students as I can.  Students can of course take their mum home and add more to it.

Materials

-1 flower

-1 cardstock circle

-2 blue ribbons

-2 white ribbons

-1 specialty ribbon

-1 chain

-1 charm

-1 ribbon for loop or one button for croc

Once students had their materials they headed to the creation station where there was hot glue and also staplers.

Students stapled the ribbon to the cardstock first and then hotglued the flower (I did have them cut a slit in the cardstock for the flower)

They then either added the croc button or the loop for the straw.

Also I had one friend make our logo out of shrinky dinks!

The below Canva designs are what I used for intros and also station signs.

Homecoming Mums 2024 by ANDREA KELLER

Our first day I only had 8 students.. but it is also my first program and kiddos are warming up to me.  I also had some students try to come in at 8:37am which would have made them late for class.  On Wednesday I will also open up to staff.  Today I also had another parent stop by and bring more ribbon... AND cut it for me! 

This week I am also having the Senior LIFE students to come and create their own mini mum.  They will follow the same directions as the students but will have Student Council support them.

I am in love with how they look.. and they don't take that much material!

I have also shared on Reels and Tiktok how to make these under @akbusybee

Today a Reader-Tomorrow a Leader

I can't believe that we are already on the 5th week of school.  I am averaging about 4 miles a day in the library, and I LOVE how busy it stays!

About my library:

-9th-12th grade
-over 230 staff
-over 2000 students

What a great month it has been.  I will be real honest- at the end of last year I was in a funk. I had not read any books, was not super interested in creating, and felt defeated.  

The first week of school I was working late (I don't drive home in the evenings when I work my water aerobics job- easier to just stay at work) and loved hearing the sounds of the AcDec team already preparing for the year ahead, and then I heard the library door open and close. I peaked out my office to find the cheerleaders hanging up signs that promoted the library!

 

My big goal this six weeks is to students and classes into the library.  The library I am currently in has 3 different sections.  There is time for a library to be quiet, but there is also lots of time for a library to have movement, noise and collaboration.  Because this library is such a large space I have a Google spreadsheet that allows each section to be used. There have already been several times where I have had 1 or 2 classes in the library at the same time.

Collaboration

With this being a comprehensive campus, it allows for more opportunities for the library to be used in different capacities that supports all students and content areas.

Our campus has a floral department that includes a floral practicum class. I am the first to say- Displays are NOT my forte- give me something digital- and I can do it. Outside our library is two large display glass display cases.  The practicum teacher approached me at the beginning of the year and let me know that her students had done the cases in the past.  I was elated, but then asked- do I get to see a prototype of what it looks like? With that question this became more of a project that the students could collaborate on and I became the "client"

Students were:

-Divided into groups and told the theme of the cases (and one bulletin board)
-Students were given a day to come up with a drawing of what they wanted to do for the case
-Students came back in and presented to me their idea for the board
As the client- I chose 3 different displays out of about 6 (and that was hard! They all did a good job of presenting)
-The group that was chosen was in charge of the display and put the rest of the class to work
-Not only did they do the display they had to do research to see what books they could include in the display as well
-Once they were done with they came back at day later and I shared my comments/concerns as a client with the display. (also- the displays were amazing- I just had to remind students that when you are working for a client- they notice EVERYTHING)

Upcoming Programs in September

Croc Mum/Stanley Cup Mum making
We are in Texas and Mums are a big deal! With homecoming right around the corner I wanted to create a program that was fairly easy to manage.  With the help of an Amazon list (and the help of my awesome clerk Tracye for cutting hundreds of ribbon!) I was able to get enough materials for about 200 croc mums or Stanley Cup Mums.  This will be a station in the library before school.  I also have the Senior LIFE students coming in to work with our Student Leadership kids this week to create mini mums for Homecoming.

Voting Activities
Thanks to a great webinar from ALA over Reader.Voter.Ready and seeing Lucy Podmore last year at TLA the High School Librarians are preparing items to have some passive and active programs that go along with voting. 

BAM (Books Anime Manga) Club
Confession- I love programming.. I love library land.. but I have not ever had a Book Club.  There is a first time for everything and this is already on my calendar- so it is happening!

Gaming Club
I really have no idea how this will look- it was a program that has been going for the past few years- I am just going to make sure the library is a space

Lessons in the Library

Orientation
I have done orientation in so many different ways- but this year I made it super simple.  We are on a block schedule so it is 90 minute blocks.  I offered teachers 30 minute slots.  During orientation I introduced myself, shared some of my recent reads, talked about checking out books and accessing SORA and then let students check out.

Research
We have some amazing premium resources.  I have already had teachers approach me about a quick introduction into accessing these resources and the reminders of citing sources.  I have also used research to do a lesson over informational texts.

Recording
An upcoming lesson is with one of our ESL classes that are using Canva to write their own children book.  We are going to work on the record feature to have students record their books.

I love all the different opportunities that this space has to offer and I can't believe that it is only September!  What are some of your favorite things you have done so far this year?

Welcome Back to School!

Tomorrow begins my 23rd year in education and my 20th year in my district. My word this year is adventure.. and my theme is Reading Rainbow.

I got a SUPER cute shirt from Keen Bee Studios on Etsy and used Canva to create my station signs.

I am at a new school this year, but every year my goal is to get ALL staff into the library.  Sometimes teachers and staff have the misconception that the library is only for the reading/language arts department.  The library is a HUGE space that is great for any content area.. and as a librarian I can almost guarantee that I have a resource or have access to a resource that will help.  

The first week back to school for staff is a week full of professional development for staff, but usually on that Friday is when staff are working in their rooms or doing all the things they need to do to prepare for students on Monday.  Last year my theme was Library where the adventure begins and I had trail mix stations- You can find that blog HERE  This year- was reading rainbow.

A couple of things:
-My school is 9th-12th
-I have over 230 staff members
-There will be over 2000 students
-I purchased all materials myself (including the gift cards)

For this professional development week I also have a contest going on that encourages staff to follow the library on Instagram and X, check out our premium digital resources and also check out  SORA eBook.

On Friday I invited staff in to grab a cookie (thanks Sam's for being affordable.. since I also work in the evenings I did NOT have time to bake this time.. and there are LOTS more people) and then create their own wooden bead keychain.  When I do activities I try to make them easy.. not take up much time.. and something that people will use.  

I got the idea for the keychains HERE 

At the bottom of this blog you can find my Canva Template that I used for station signs.

Materials I used (and remember- I was purchasing for 200+) also.. I get no commission for these links- just sharing what I used
-Faux Leather String-LINK
-Spacer Beads- LINK
-Black wooden beads- LINK
-Navy wooden Beads- LINK
-Silver wooden beads- LINK
-Keychain hooks- LINK

The first table staff came to they signed in so I could add them to my drawing, and also cut their string. I also had cupcake liners out- because that is a super easy way to hold on the materials.

I had 56 people stop by the library JUST to make a keychain (or that is how many signed in). I know that we have over 200, but I am happy that almost 1/4 made it by.  

My other favorite thing to do at the beginning of the year is to have a First Day of School picture opportunity.  I will be at school uber early and take pics for staff (and students) that want it.  Super easy to do- and a great way to see more people!

I am SUPER excited about being at a new school (although my role this year is one school and flexible floater so I will be supporting all the schools in my district as needed) I of course my friends at my other school.. but I am also looking forward to doing things that a comprehensive high school provides.. I even drug my husband out of the house last night to go to a Vikings Rally.

What are some things you do to invite your staff into the library (also- when I say staff- I mean ALL the staff.. it takes alot of people to make a school run!)

Nimitz Library 2024-2025 Station Signs by akbusybee

My Top 3 From 2023-2024

I realize that I am only about 2 weeks away from another school year- and my blog suffered at the end of the year... BUT before a new year gets started I wanted to reflect on last year.

Last years blog at the end of the year was about thing I would continue - you can find that here

I don't know what I am going to continue this year, because I will be at a new campus that will have different needs.

I know that I will continue to collaborate with all content areas.  I also know that I will have a welcome back activity- Think Reading Rainbow!  I also know that I will continue to be my quirky self that makes terrible TikToks and makes sure everyone is welcome in the library!

Number 1

Collaborating with my amazing art teacher and creating paper Alebrijes.  This was a great way to share our premium resources, collaborating with teacher, providing a space and a place for students to be creative.  You can find the whole blog here------->BLOG

Number 2

Eagle's Nest Storytime! It is so important for a librarian to understand their community.  My past community had a handful of new or soon to be young parents.  I took this opportunity to create a practice storytime.  We talked about how to read with their child, where to find resources and ways to pick books.  We also sang songs and did practice crafts.

Number 3

Viral Ghost Programming.  Anytime I can get staff involved and students- I am for it.  Even better.. the LAUGHS that were had.   You can find the whole blog HERE------>BLOG

I don't know what this next year will bring.  I know I am nervous- but I also know that my word this next year is Adventure!