…changing the world, one reader at a time.
6th graders are beginning a long journey into using stories as mirrors and windows , a concept that is invaluable to know (you can learn more about it here, or by researching the work of Rudine Sims-Bishop) but so tricky to teach. Sixth grade English teacher Mr. Passmore and I decided to start at the […]
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“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein. School should be a place for all types of learners and thinkers to shine. This year, Learning Village Librarian Sarah FitzHenry learned about the idea […]
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Earlier this week, I shared the most popular posts of 2019, according to statistics, on Fitz Between the Shelves. And while it’s fascinating to see what readers enjoy the most, it’s also surprising to see what makes it to the top of the list; because they’re rarely the moments that I loved the most! So […]
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Happy New Year, friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday. I’m excited to share our top posts of 2019 – they’re always so different than I expect. Some of these were favorites last year, too, and some are brand new. I know that I loved writing them – I hope that enjoyed reading them […]
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Who can found a non-profit? In our opening meetings for this semester’s student-lead Quest (how can we help the hunger crisis?) we found ourselves wondering: How do nonprofits get started? Who can found one? What does a nonprofit board look like? How does all of this even happen? What does it take to go from […]
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I haven’t been posting about the Twelve Days of Tech-Mas as I usually do this year. The action is still happening in the library (all day everyday!), and I had a scheduled social media plan to share our progress – but the truth is, I’ve been thinking a lot, and the name Tech-Mas doesn’t feel […]
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There’s a hunger crisis in Charlottesville – how can we help make a difference? Ms. Monty and I are beyond thrilled to be the faculty mentors supporting student Quest leaders Izzy and Spicer as they dive into that BIG question and so many more: What is a hunger crisis? What’s the difference between hunger and […]
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Winter Candle, this year’s Tech-Mas inspiration story, written by Jeron Ashford, has become one of my favorite winter celebration books ever. The story follows one special candle as it makes its way around the Juniper Court apartment building, lending the light that each family needs for their winter traditions. Winter Candle has drawn us in […]
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This is what my desk looked like at 3:30 PM yesterday. Why am I showing you a picture of an empty spot on my desk? Because three hours hours earlier, this spot was overflowing with books about mental health: And after middle schoolers got to ‘em, here’s what was left. Young people are hungry for […]
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What does a writer look like? Students are building their vision of the world based on what the see at school and at home. When I was in school, there was only one picture of a writer in my head: an old, wealthy white man. I never knew that a writer could look like anything […]
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