#DotDay16 and #PoweredLibraries

Okay, I realize that I am about 15 days late to posting about International Dot Day.  Right now I am gearing up for my first ever BOOK FAIR!!!

This year International Dot Day fell on the same day as #poweredlibraries it was a perfect meld!

Now, you know I have been celebrating International Dot Day for at least 3 years (this was either my fourth of fifth year) What is International Dot Day? International Dot Day is based off the book The Dot by Peter Reynolds. It is all about a teacher encouraging a student to make her mark and see where it takes you.  You can easily search Twitter and Instagram for #dotday #dotday16 for a ton of great posts! I mean, how can you not love a great story with a great message!  This was my first Dot Day to celebrate as a Librarian.. and guys, my heart was SO HAPPY!!!

The students and staff were invited to wear dots to celebrate the day.  I also drew random names to those participating for a book at the upcoming book fair.

This is only half of the staff that participated in wearing dots

I know that many schools do things during the school day, but I love offering our Dot Day activities after school and inviting families to join in.  Our event was 3:30pm-5:00pm and we had over 50 people participate!  I of course want more.. but even if it was just one student, that student got the opportunity to participate and create.  As I said, since #DotDay fell on the same day as #poweredlibraries I wanted to make sure to infuse even more technology into the activities.  In the past we have had an augmented reality station and a couple of others, but I was excited to add more stations! Now, I could NOT have done all of this without great volunteers.. and an AMAZING Art Teacher!

Check out the pictures below to find out about our 5 stations!

Before all the Dot Day madness!

We brought in tools this year! This station each participant got a metal washer and could use a metal stamper to stamp out a 4 letter word.  Once stamped we put on ribbon so participants could wear it is a bracelet or necklace.  If they wanted to, they could also paint their washer using nail polish.

CD sgcraffito station. Mrs. R spray painted cds black and then participants could scratch out various designs. Check out more instructions here

Making your Mark station.  Each participant grabbed a dot and decorated it.  Then using the Chatter Pix Kid  app they took a picture of their dot and then had it it talk about how they would make their mark.

Polka Dot Pinwheels.  Participants made their own pinwheels and then decorated with dots. (okay, I might have had an anxiety attack at this station when I saw a container of glitter being dumped :) 

Each participant was asked to take one slide on a Google slide and using only circles create a story. I loved this website on How to Write a Dot Day Poem.

Not to bad of a program at all! In looking back at it, I know that there a couple of things that I would like to change.
-Make sure to have one volunteer at each station just to answer questions.  Although we only had 5 stations, and we had volunteers that were around, I need to be more structured.
-Spread it out a bit.  We had held this event in the cafeteria the last few years.  The library is a little bit smaller space, but I sure do love it!
-Have an elmo set up so when I did read The Dot I could put it on the big screen.

I can't wait to start planning next years stations!

From the collaborative Google Slide

Getting Organized

As my title says.. I am a Busy Bee.  If you follow me on my social media outlets, I tend to have a ton going on all at once. I am able to do this for a couple of reasons.
1. I LOVE BEING BUSY!! I am involved in the things that make my heart happy and I feel like I am making a difference.
2. I am fairly organized.

With that being said. It is hard to be organized when you re in a new position and not for sure where to start the organization at.  Now, I am loving every minute of my job.. I mean.. I get to school at 6:15am and often times don't leave until at least 6pm.  It has kept me on my toes, lets me crazy and creative, and I get to do lots of different things in one day!

I also have the privilege of having Mrs. Gamez help me in the library during different parts of the day. I of course work with amazing people, but ya'll Mrs. Gamez has kept me sane over these last 3 weeks. She is kind, she knows every nook and cranny of the library, she is quick to help students (and me) and she is just all around amazing.  Did I mention that she is fast at shelving books (this is just an added perk to how wonderful she is)

So, I have all of these random crazy ideas.. and I am fairly good at following through on them.  But, I am slow.  I remember when I worked at the Stomping Grounds Coffee Shop that we were supposed to clock out 1 hour after the store closed.. I always did, but usually I ended up staying an extra hour.

I have lots of pieces that I want to organize.. but I knew that I needed to start with checking in/shelving books.  Last week.. I got overwhelmed.. might have shed a couple of tears (what am I saying.. I totally cried and drowned my overwhelmed self in twinkies). The books were everywhere.  Nothing that the students or teachers did.. I just didn't have a system.  This is how it was every day and I just felt like although I was doing my job teaching students, I just couldn't keep up with getting books back on shelves.

My hot mess last week

Before I left school on Friday, I came up with an idea. 

Now, today was the first day to try it out.. but guys.. check in only took 5 minutes and it was SO MUCH EASIER to shelve books.  (side note.. I am sure that this has been written about in some area... but I am learning) (side side note.. I realize this is the first day so I know it won't always work this well)

The previous librarian had set up a blue cart with the various Dewey numbers on it.  Students had been trained to put books back in the proper number if they took it off the shelf and ended up not wanting it.  Even that was out of order. 

I pulled out another book cart and labeled the top 6 shelves with the alphabet (this is for everybody books) and the bottom shelf for green dots (where are our easy chapter books) and found another blue cart and labeled it with the non-fiction Dewey numbers to match the first cart.

Today we started my new system:

1. Students came into the library with their books.  We talked about the label on the spine of the book and the type of information that it gave.

2. Teacher checked in book and students put it in proper location

Guys.. I had 1st graders doing this today and do you know how much easier it was to shelve books this afternoon? They were already sorted and partially alphabetized.. AND.. look at those skills the students are learning!

Everybody Book Cart

Non-fiction, graphic novel and fiction books

Now, I know that I am going to have more frustrations and I know I will get overwhelmed.  I hope to share frustrations.. and exciting things I am doing.  I am new and learning SO MUCH!
Upcoming- my blogs are getting makeovers! AND.. Dot Day is this week! I can't wait.. and then Book Fair.  I have decided I will sleep during Christmas break (Destination ImagiNation and Girl Scouts start next week!)
How do you stay sane? I am going to have library helpers and parent volunteers, but what are some of the job descriptions that you give them?

New #Bookstache Party

Check out all of these new books!

This year I began my new role as librarian.  Guys, I am a LIBRARIAN!!! Anyway, I have walked a TON of miles in the library, seen a ton of barcodes, and have seen a ton of great books.  Not only that, but I have some amazing mentors that are helping me along the way (another blog about that.. because I have got to give some major thanks!)

Today, however, I hosted my first ever New #Bookstache Party.  Last week our library received our order of books.  I had seen several other librarians posting about how they gave their teachers a sneak peak.  I knew I wanted to do something too.  After school today we had a New #Bookstache Party.

I partnered up with PTA and they provided water, cookies and an amazing doorprize (and they had a chance to get teachers to join as members!)

It was easy peasy set up.  I got some uber cute mustaches for photo props, had some cheesy sayings, put down black table clothes and spread out the books.  Not only did PTA provide a door prize, I provided 5. These coupons ranged from 1 free book from the book fair to $25 at the book fair (OMG.. I am planning a Book Fair soon too!)

I do have to say, I enjoyed this event.. and hopefully the staff did too.  Check out the #bookstache hashtag for fun pictures (and check out all the pictures below).   Next up.. #dotday16

I just LOVE using Canva! 

The coupons I created for doorprizes

Of course I had to say thank you to all those that came

Door prize bags

Super yummy cookies! Thanks Elliott PTA!

Striking a pose with #bookstache

Reflections of my Librarian Journey- A Beginning

As my final assignment for one of my classes, I needed to reflect on what I have learned, what path I might be on, and where I eventually want to end up.  I had started several paragraphs in a word document, but I thought what better place to express these reflections than in my blog!

When I was very little, I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a special education teacher.  I dreamed of it and I became one.  I don't know how good I was, but I know that I tried hard and I always tried to grow and learn more.  Special education was my heart (it still is!)  I LOVED my classroom of kiddos and I loved the parents and staff I worked with, but I knew that I wanted to affect more students.  I had the opportunity to gain my first masters.  When I started the educational technology masters I had several of my librarian friends encourage me to become a librarian.  I somewhat listened, but I thought my next dream would be to work in a setting where I could open up doors and classrooms of students of all abilities by becoming an instructional technology specialist.  I became one, but found when I went to technology conferences I spent a good portion of my time with librarians.  I work hard as instructional technology specialist and strive to make a difference in even more classrooms with more students.  I think that I have done well, but I still don't feel like I have found my niche.  I am a little quirky, I like connecting with people, and I LOVE working with all different types of people in the community.  

I say all of this because part of any journey is not always knowing the exact direction that you are going, but realizing that there is a path along the way.  I just attended my first Texas Librarian Association Conference, and it was that epiphany of where my next adventure was going to lie.  I knew that I was on the right track to become a librarian, but TxLA16 secured any thoughts I had of being anything else.

For my career objectives, I know that they are going to change. I am not one that sits still well, but I am also one that strives to make a difference.  My current career objectives are to offer a place and space for patrons of any type to feel as if they belong.  To give patrons an opportunity to grow beyond the four walls of a classroom and get lost within the shelves of a library.  When they have found all they need to know on the shelves to be able to connect and extend their learning past the pages of a book.  One of my favorite sessions I attended at TxLA16 was that of Mellissa Sanchez so many great ideas came from that session, but my favorite was "A library is a place where they can dream and where dreams come true." Mellissa Sanchez  My career objective is to make a difference.

A few of my notes from Mellissa Sanchez's Session

As my journey continues, I know that I will need to grow and learn.  That is the exciting part about any journey is the adventure that one gets to go on.  As part of any journey there are ups and downs.  I enjoy blogging about my different adventures (both the good ones and the fails)  I know that I do not do everything right, but I also know how to ask questions along the way.  When reflecting by blogging I am able to put on "paper" and with pictures where my current journey is.  In my current job, I have goals that are set forth by the district, but I also look at my own data and figure out goals that I need for myself. 

Although I am just beginning this MLS journey of becoming a librarian, I am already seizing any opportunity to learn more.  I have already started to lean on my PLC through Twitter.  I am also grateful for the librarians that have already taken me under their wing.  I know that I can not do everything on my own and have already started cultivating resources that will help me further my career as a librarian.  Although I enjoy attending conferences and learning from others, I think I also learn by leading professional development and also blogging.  I understand the importance of sharing what I have learned and what I am learning.  

My hopeful career as a librarian will not be contained to the school that I am in.  Being a contributing member to my school is important, but for me it is even more important to be involved in various aspects of my community.  Learning from other librarians and my PLC are important, but it is even more important to be involved in organizations that contribute to the librarian profession.  Being a librarian is so much more than shelving books and figuring out story time.  It is to realize that there is a larger community that you can affect.  Being a part of a professional organization will not only open up more opportunities for myself to grow, but also more opportunities for my library to grow.

I am so excited to be on this librarian journey. I look forward to the adventures that I will be taking in pursuing this new dream.

Spring Break of my First Semester

Next week is my spring break from my first semester at TWU.  I have spent this semester learning how to juggle my time, because I do enjoy staying busy!

I have survived! Not only am I surviving.. BUT.. I am learning.  I recently had homework that required me to observe a library.  Now, that doesn't seem like it would be to hard..right? I mean.. I know how a library works? I am JUST KIDDING!  I am part of an awesome elementary school that has a wonderful and helpful librarian.  I am part of a community that has great resources to go along with the libraries.  I am also connected with librarians from all over the globe who are doing the most amazing things!

What I learned from this observation... I don't know anything!  In the big scheme of things I understand that the library is a big piece of a community (I think this one of the biggest draws for me to go into this profession) but I didn't realize all that my local libraries were already doing.  I spent my afternoon observing the South Irving Public Library  What a great observation it was.  I knew that they offered programs for children, but I didn't realize how much more they offered! I have already marked a few more things on my calendar to join in.  I might or might not have also picked up a volunteer application while I was there.

I am thankful for all the librarians that are changing how the community interacts with libraries.  I am even more thankful for all the librarians near and far that are doing amazing things! I am watching and taking notes!

About half way done with my first 6 hours... 30 more hours to go?  I am excited about one of the big events coming up, the North Texas Teen Book Festival!  I am very excited that this year they are offering a day before that has sessions for librarians and teachers.  I will be missing the main event due to heading to Austin for an ATPE event.  Excited to learn even more in my next courses.

New Adventures #librarianintraining

I received the tentative email that I was accepted into the TWU program to gain another masters.  This masters would be in Library Science.  I hit social media (because I follow some AMAZING librarians) and asked where was the best place to start for a list of books to read.

NOW.. Librarians are SO much more than knowing what books to read!  BUT.. I don't start school until the 19th of January.  That is a long time away.  I hit up the library yesterday and picked out 5 books (3 picture and 2 YA)  As I devoured these books in one day... I remembered why I LOVE reading.  I can get lost in the pages of a book so quickly and be transported to another time or place. On my main blog I will be writing about my upcoming goals for the year.. and one of them is to spend less time on the social media and more time in the crafting, making, reading and learning.

I have been in education for 14 years.  11 of that was in a self contained special education classroom and I am currently an Instructional Technology Specialist.  I LOVE my job.. I love being able to work with teachers and students and help them gain new understanding of various ways to increase their instruction with technology.  But, I also know that I am a Busy Bee and am always looking for a new way to grow and learn.  As I have watched and learned from my librarian friends I see the meld of technology, libraries, and overall learning.  After I posted my need for a good list of books to read I had a great friend send me a message about how librarians are so much more than reading. "The MAIN point being that the library is of course, as you know, is supposed to the HUB for all things and therefore sharing books becomes a fraction of what one would expect from a "school library""  Thanks Sue Levine!

I started a Goodreads account I have a new Instagram account and of course this new blog.  I also have a pinterest board that I am adding information too (this of course might change as I learn more.

I have LOTS to learn.. and am thankful for all the people that have already helped me on this journey.. and I know that I will be asking for a ton of help!

The Books I just finished-
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend (by Dan Santat)- Super cute read about an imaginary friend who goes to find his human.
Ideas for the classroom: Have students create their own imaginary friends- maybe create want ads for the imaginary friends.

The Way to the Zoo- (by John Burningham) Easy read about a little girl who finds a secret door that leads to the zoo.
Ideas for the classroom: This could easily be used for various sequencing activities.  Extension activities could also include  collaborating with other classrooms to build a virtual zoo.

Blizzard- (by John Rocco) This was my favorite of the 3 books (although Adventures of Beekle was a CLOSE runner up!) It might have been because of the current weather.  This book tells of an adventure of a boy during a blizzard.
Ideas for the classroom: The illustrations lead so many extension activities.  From the day of the week embedded in each page (have students create their own sequencing) to the map of the town that folds out.  Students can create their own map of the town and schedule of what would happen if this happened at their school.

The Dreamer- (by Pam Munoz Ryan and Peter Sis) I picked up this book because I LOVE Pam Munoz Ryan and have ready most of her books.  This book tells of Neftali who later adopted the name Pablo Neruda.  Neftali was a dreamer that had a beautiful way with words.  The book did sadden me, but I loved how the main character although frail and "shinbones" stayed with his dreams.
Ideas for the classroom- This would be a great story to use with a poetry unit to discuss authors.  Extension would be to research more about Pablo Neruda

Space Case- (by Stuart Gibbs) This was my favorite find out of the 5 books that I just finished.  This book is a great mystery that happens on the moon.  It is well written, and I was surprised by the ending (don't worry.. I won't give it away!)
Ideas for the classroom: have students write their own Moon Manuals or redesign the living quarters on a budget.

I am headed to the library to get my next set!