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What Are You Teaching In the Library After Winter Break???

Tech Fun In The Library

Aaahhh….that 5:00 am alarm. Yep, it was set and went off first thing this morning. Time to get into the routine of waking up early and heading to work. Back to reality.

If you are wondering what to do this first week back, you are not alone. I saw a reel last night of a teacher saying he had no idea what he was teaching today. He couldn’t even remember where they left off before break. Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.

This week in my library we will be doing a lot of reviewing library expectations and procedures. It has been a few weeks since we have all been together and let’s be honest…things got a bit lax right before break….so time for a refresher. Like us, kids have turned off their school brains over break and many need these reminders to get back on track with behaviors in class, thus going over expectations and procedures is always a good idea.

The other thing I like to do is ease back into things before starting new concepts or lessons. Our library will be doing Caldecott and Newbery Award lessons this month which are fun but I am going to give them a day or two to get back into the routine of school before jumping into these activities.

Here are a few ideas on how to start back a bit more low key but still learning.

New Year’s Themed Read Alouds

This is always a fun way to start back the first day after winter break. I like to read different books with a New Year’s theme to students and then we talk about resolutions or goals they might have for the new year. One of my favorites is Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution. Students enjoy the story and then can think of ideas on how they can help others each day and make a few resolutions for themselves just like Squirrel. Here is a great Google Slides Reading Companion to go with this book. I love these Google Slides Reading Companions because they take no prep on my part. I don’t have to crowd into the printer room trying to get my turn to make 60 copies of an activity. All I do is put it into the Google Classroom and make a copy for all students.

Shop for your Google Slides Reading Companion here.

Winter Themed Read Alouds

There are sooo many great winter themed read alouds it is hard to choose. One of my favorites is Blizzard by John Rocco. The illustrations are great, the story is great, the fold out pages are great…and right now many are dealing with huge snowfall so it is definitely timely. Another fun one for younger grades is Just One Flake by Travis Jonker. My students love this story and can definitely relate to trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Then you can switch it up and read The Snow Globe Family or Snow Globe Wishes both great winter read alouds. With so many great reads out there you can’t go wrong just grab some and enjoy!!

Shop for your book activities here.

Winter Themed Library Activities

Choosing activities that go with the seasons are always a fun way for students to learn in the library. I like to add some digital activities to my centers along with games and writing activities. Some fun winter themed digital activities are these snowman library skills drag and drop activities. Students can practice their shelf order skills, call number skills, and Dewey Decimal skills with these fun winter themed Google Slides. Easy to share with students to use in centers or for something to do after check out.

Shop for your Snowman Library Skills Practice Bundle here.

Library Centers Games

Kids love games and adding games that practice library skills is a win for any library centers activity. My students love Shark Bite! and Kaboom! both are great ways to practice library skills. Younger students enjoy playing the memory games that focus on book genres. Another popular one is UNO. Everyone loves to original game and this library themed one is a hit as well. These are just a few ideas to add fun and games to your library centers as you head back to school.

Shop for your Shark Bite Game Bundle here.

Shop for your Kaboom Game Bundle here.

Shop for your Book Genre Memory Game here.

Enjoy the Time with Students

As hard as it is to go back after a break remember how excited some students are to be back at school and be back to the library. They are going to be excited to see you and eager to do whatever fun activities you have planned for them in the library. Enjoy the time you get with students, bring them more great stories and activities that will help them connect to reading and the library.

MLK Read Alouds

Tech Fun In The Library

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday I like to read books about his life and contributions during the month of January. I feel it is important to introduce his powerful words and ideas to students of all ages. Whether teaching about his role in the Civil Rights Movement or simply sharing the values of equality and justice, books about Dr. King are a great way to engage young readers. Here are 12 of my favorite MLK books that offer valuable lessons for students and are both educational and inspiring.

Be A King by Carole Boston Weatherford: Uses key moments from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life to inspire children to stand up for what is right and make the world a better place.

I Have a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Presenting key excerpts from the speech alongside vibrant paintings depicting the March on Washington and the dream of a racially harmonious America

We Dream a World by Yolanda Renee King: With inspiration from Langston Hughes and deep love for her grandparents, Yolanda King shows the world that young people are strong enough to carry on their elders’ legacy while creating a new path for themselves.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Kid’s Book About Advancing Civil Rights With Nonviolence by Mary Nhin: Find out what happens in this kid’s book about achieving goals with nonviolence. Sometimes, we are faced with challenges that seem insurmountable. But with grit and hard work, one can achieve great things!

Good Night Martin Luther King Jr. by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper: An educational board book that teaches young readers about the life of Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the American civil rights movement

I am Martin Luther King Jr. by Brad Meltzer: Biography that tells the story of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life from childhood to his role in the civil rights movement

A Place to Land by Barry Wittenstein: Focuses on the night before Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington, where he struggles to find the perfect words to end his speech.

My Daddy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Martin Luther King III: Kids will learn about the early civil rights movement, growing up as the son of a famous activist, how it feels to experience racism as a child, and what it’s like to lose a parent at a young age.

A Picture Book of Martin Luther King Jr. by David A. Adler: A brief, illustrated, biography of the Baptist minister and civil rights leader whose philosophy and practice of nonviolent civil disobedience helped American blacks win many battles for equal rights.