…changing the world, one reader at a time.
As 5th graders start each new Humanities unit this year, teachers Mrs. Thomson, Mr. Reed and I are trying something new to kickstart the excitement – Book-Trailer-a-Thons! On these special library days, students gather in the “FitzHenry Theater” and watch anywhere between 4-8 book trailers right in a row, however many can fit into approximately 20 […]
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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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All month, kindergarteners and first graders have been working with our 2019 Tech-Mas theme of light by exploring circuits. They’ve learned the three things that you need to complete a circuit, and I still get a little rush of glee hearing them talk about input and output! Now that students can comprehend, build, and explain […]
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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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‘Tis the season… Tech-Mas 2019 is upon us, my friends! Each year, I receive tons of questions via social media about our annual collaborative computer science and library tradition. This year, I’ve gathered ’em up for one big FAQ post. So grab a mug of hot chocolate and slap on your ugliest Christmas sweater, because […]
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