Fitz’s Faves Jr: H’s review of Penguin Problems, by Jory John

Penguin Problems, by Jory John I loved the book Penguin Problems because it was so funny. It was about a grumpy penguin who complains about everything, and then is visited by a walrus who tell shim basically to be grateful for what he has, and the penguin does then realize there is a lot to […]

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Family Night: Library Programming to Celebrate our Unique and Wonderful Community

Last week, almost 200 members of our school community gathered to celebrate one very special thing: family! Families come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and varieties, and this last event in the ’18-’19 Family Fest series was the perfect reason to come together and celebrate them all! I designed this program to highlight the diverse, unique, […]

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The Bennett’s Village Penny Wars have begun!

    My 7th and 8th grade Quest group this semester is working on answering the question: What can we do to help level the playing field for kids in Charlottesville, so that every child has a chance to learn and play? These fundraisers for Bennett’s Village are one of their many current ongoing projects […]

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Insta Review: Ramona Blue, by Julie Murphy

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it!  View this post on Instagram “Life isn’t always written in the stars. Fate is mine to pen. I choose guys. I choose girls. I choose people. But most of all: I choose.” Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈. . . Ramona is […]

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Things that Made my Brain Explode: April 28, 2019

Articles and news stories are constantly pushing me to consider something new, broaden my perspective, or change the way I look at an issue. My husband likes to joke that my brain explodes with something new on a daily basis. These articles – and the brain explosions that result from them – are so beneficial for […]

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Building our Little Free Library

  From the first pencil sketch design to drilling today’s final screw, this Leveling the Playing Field Quest team has had little Charlottesville readers and Bennett’s Village on their minds and in their hearts. With help from Mr. Browning, our sketches and plans became real pieces and we worked together to assemble them. Our Little […]

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Insta Review: The Great American Whatever, by Tim Federle

Insta Review gives you a new book recommendation in under a minute. Go ahead, time it!  View this post on Instagram This modern Catcher in the Rye takes Holden Caufield and gives him a video camera and a subscription to Final Cut Pro. Quinn’s sister is dead. His father his gone. He is self-absorbed, self-pitying, and […]

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We failed. Now what?: 10 Steps for Discussing Failure with Kids

Student-led, inquiry based, project based… these learning terms are big in the education world, and the pressure for students to create meaningful, big, showy products is intense. But student-led and project based learning isn’t all productive work periods and beautiful results. Sometimes, the most meaningful and memorable thing that students can do is fail. When […]

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Things that Made my Brain Explode: April 22, 2019

Articles and news stories are constantly pushing me to consider something new, broaden my perspective, or change the way I look at an issue. My husband likes to joke that my brain explodes with something new on a daily basis. These articles – and the brain explosions that result from them – are so beneficial for […]

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I’m Sad, by Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi

“I’m sad. Will I always feel like this?” Michael Ian Black and Debbie Ridpath Ohi must be mind readers, because the world needed this book. Everyone feels sad sometimes, but we don’t all have the tools to understand, communicate, and process those feelings in a healthy way. I’m Sad normalizes sad feelings – and reminds […]

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