Blog Hop Promo VideoWith Valentine's Day right around the corner, I'm trying to be especially mindful about and grateful for all the things that I LOVE in life -- and careerwise that certainly includes library centers! If you're trying to create a library program filled with wonder, high student engagement, authentic learning, and opportunities for fun, you've got to figure out how to add some library centers into your mix! I can help...Over the 25 years that I've been a teacher-librarian, I've gotten to help kids try out hundreds of intriguing centers. In my early years as a librarian (1993-2005) my centers mostly involved book nooks, listening stations, puppets, reader's theater, and felt board "retelling sets" -- along with lots of folder games and their many, many colorful pieces to print, laminate, trim, manipulate...and sometimes lose! Yikes!! (The  kids pictured below are now in COLLEGE by the way! Oh my!) (Pictured above: 1. Dewey Decimal System - spine label ... Keep Reading...

Lily's Story - a Bibliotherapy Tale When I first heard Lily's story, I was SO SO SO proud of her. In fact, I was a little in awe. She's so little -- in age and in size -- yet so courageous. Then, I kept thinking about it... and I'd smile... and sigh, wishing for a bit of that courage at her young age (and even at my not-so-young age!) I thought about it some more, and decided I wanted to share this story with someone who would get it -- someone who might need to know about it and pass it along somehow. Since Lily's mother gave me permission to share...here goes... My Secret Bully It all started with a second grade lesson on author's purpose.Toward the end, I was book talking a stack of titles and letting my students discuss what the authors' purposes might be. After awhile, I held up an "Everyone" book called My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig. As soon as I started describing the plot of this book, it seemed like my kids' engagement bumped up a notch or two. Something about ... Keep Reading...

Book Fair HelpersBook fair -- yikes. You too? It'll be here before we know it! Actually, you're probably like me...I love to see the book fair arrive, but it still stresses me out a little! There’s so much to think through during the planning stages to make sure EVERYTHING runs well! Of course, if your fair is hosted by Scholastic, they share so many good resources through the chairperson’s toolkit. Still... and maybe I’m just picky... (okay, I'm TOTALLY picky!!!) but I usually find myself remaking a lot of the forms and things. I like to consolidate info that I’ll need (or the kids will need) and I like to make the forms more organized. (Plus, I'll admit it -- I want my forms to look cute-sy! Don’t judge -- it makes me so happy…and cute clipart has a lot less calories than chocolate!!) This year, I started getting ready REALLY early… like in DECEMBER for a mid-March fair! And... here’s why… last year, during the week of my spring fair, we had a tragic, unexpected death in my ... Keep Reading...

Does putting away all of the Christmas decorations make you feel a little glum? I was in the mood to make something fun and whimsical to save my library media center from the winter doldums... and this was it! I used to love those little boxes of conversation hearts when I was a kid. (Even then I loved WORDS!) I remember sitting on the curb with my friends, taking turns digging them out one by one, and reading what they said before letting them melt away in our mouths -- such a sweet memory!I have one spot on my LMC's entry table that needs something tall. So I decided to make a valentine tree. I came up with 36 book-themed, conversation-heart-worthy sayings...repurposed some sparkly branches that came from the floral department at Walmart once upon a time... and found a bright blue vase to serve as the base. Next, I tucked in a few sprigs of "early spring" silk flowers to add interest. I printed the hearts onto white cardstock, and then one of my precious library volunteers ... Keep Reading...

I'm thankful and excited to share that my 2018 New Year's Resolution has been COMPLETED! I kicked a HUGE Diet Dr. Pepper habit that spanned many, many years -- from high school to late December 2017 -- with the exception of nine months when I was pregnant in 1993! :)I replaced my extreme diet soda habit (about 2 liters per day) with lots of water and a daily tea combo that my little sister dubbed "Julie Juice." (The recipe is on the graphic above.) Replacing (what I believe to be) bone-leaching, insulin-spiking, sugar-craving diet soda with healthier alternatives was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. To be honest, I had days during the first months of 2018 when I still thought about grabbing a DDP, but I never had the horrible withdrawals that I feared. I KNOW the credit for this goes straight to my amazing, faithful God because I prayed -- A LOT -- for Him to please grant me a broken stronghold, an absence of withdrawal symptoms, and consistent strength to say NO ... Keep Reading...