…changing the world, one reader at a time.
UPDATE 10/14 – As the upcoming election looms, I have been receiving this question more and more often. I have added a few new resources to the bottom of the list, especially targeted to parents and teachers who are interested in discussing tolerance with children, and helping them to work through fear caused by what […]
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The other day, a few coworkers and I found ourselves in a raucous debate about literature. We bantered back and forth – what does that term encompass? What does literature really mean? It started good-naturedly but, before long, the conversation got heated. One teacher in particular, an accomplished reader and educator of 10+ years, had a clear cut definition – […]
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If you followed along with my book reviews over the summer (or have ever talked to me for more than five minutes in person), then you know that I’m a huge Kwame Alexander fan. Okay, maybe huge is an understatement. He makes me swoon. I write his name in cursive all over my school notebooks. […]
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This summer, I challenged myself to read 30 books. Between the making and the biking, I was ready to do what I challenge my students to do – practice, work toward becoming a better reader, and find the joy in discovering a new story. The challenge was important to me on multiple levels. After a school […]
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Long, hot days and countdowns to summer vacation can mean only one thing… …it’s BOOKS ON BIKES season! Your favorite group of helmet wearin’, pedal pushin’, popsicle eatin’ librarians and teachers are gearing up for the 2016 summer season. Our summer schedule is now live, and we’re so excited to be starting a new season […]
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Spring is officially here, bringing with it all of the excitement of beautiful weather, bright flowers, and fun activities! Johnson is a flurry of excitement these days, and it’s all a librarian can do to keep up. March and April have been busy busy busy, and I’m happy to share a snapshot of some of […]
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Here’s a fact about me that not many people know: my father is British. Yep, with the accent and everything. He grew up in Radcliffe-on-Trent, a large village in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire (my Nan still lives there, in the same house!). He left his family and his home and immigrated to America in […]
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Prepare yourself: I’m about to share something shocking with you. Most librarians don’t like Book Fair. (I’m using very tame language here.) And I get it. The hours are long, the companies aren’t always gracious, and the workload is intense. Emotions are high, you count a thousand pennies a day, and it’s busy every single […]
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Many children lose someone that they love early in their lives. It is hard to watch a child in pain, and even more difficult to help heal the heart of someone you love while you, yourself are hurting. Whether the loss is of a parent, grandparent, friend, or beloved pet, understanding death, its permanency, and […]
Read MoreThis March, Johnson students were lucky enough to get to see Kate DiCamillo speak during the Virginia Festival of the Book. The experience was spectacular, and I wrote a blog post to share the wonderful things that we learned. Since then, the post has garnered hundreds of page views, been shared by Charlottesville City Schools […]
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