The SLLN (School Librarian Learning Network) Podcast

This week, we're doing something a little different. I'm chatting with a life-long friend who is not a school librarian, nor is he an educator.  I think it's always a good idea to get some outside perspectives, and I feel this conversation does a great job showing why that outside perspective can be so important.  I hope you enjoy and take from this episode as much as I did! 

While we've had a "previously recorded" episode with the amazing K.C. Boyd, we have the Boss Librarian herself back with a new program to share!  While looking to her copy of Kristina Holzweiss's DEMCO School Librarian Planner, K.C. was inspired by Gratitude Month. She marshalled her Maker Club to create items for the staff and teachers across her school, something that has become an annual event....

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast. I listen to quite a few podcasts, but I hadn't heard of  Smash Boom Best  before LaDawna Harrington, a recently retired school librarian from New Jersey, introduced me to it. Now I'm hooked! And you'll be hooked on this month's  One Lesson at a Time  episode, where LaDawna talk...

I first met Andrea at our state school librarian conference. She was wearing rainbow colored sneakers, and I had to compliment her on them. We struck up a conversation, and became fast friends. Andrea is a school librarian passionate about providing her students a safe, welcoming space and making sure they feel connected and respected. This lesson is just one of the ways she helps bring that messa...

**This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast.** I have been fortunate enough to know K.C. for several years now, and she is always doing amazing things with her students - and this lesson is no exception! View K.C.'s lesson plan, catch the original version of the episode, and even get a PD certificate !  Follow the link:...

Ashley is one of my first stops when I am trying to expand my knowledge of manga, and I was very excited when she shared out this lesson on social media. She is also one of the authors of a book for educators on incorporating manga into schools! This lesson has my brain buzzing with all the possibilities - I hope you enjoy learning about it! Guest:  Ashley Hawkins Grade(s) Taught:  K, 1, 2, 3, 4,...

Friends, I may have earned a doctorate, but Dr. Andrea Trudeau EARNED her doctorate! In addition to all her coursework, she's published several studies on her area of interest, virtual and augmented reality and its effects on students. She is an amazing resource, and I'm so glad she offered to share with us!  Guest: Dr. Andrea Trudeau  Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8 Resources :  "Stories of Displacement...

I was fortunate enough to work with Wendy on the AASL Member Engagement Committee. There, I learned she is a dedicated, hard-working individual who gets stuff done. And on top of that, she does amazing things for her students! Check out her materials on getting an origami program going in her library! Guest: Wendy Garland, Librarian Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources:  "Origami in the Lib...

Tim Smyth is a school-librarian-by-association. We've known each other since I met him at a school librarian conference where Tim was presenting on the importance of having comics and graphic novels in classrooms and school libraries. He and I are definintely on the same page!  Here, Tim shares a lesson that is near and dear to his heart, and his work as an educator.  Guest: Tim Smyth , educator a...

Tennessee school librarian Katie Capshaw is one of those people who feels like a friend after you've just met. She's here to share how she introduces her 8th graders to AI. This lesson has lots of adaptability, and could easily spin off some additional lessons. Settle in and enjoy the final episode of Season 1!  Guest: Katie Capshaw Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8 Resources:  Introduction to Ai Lesson: h...

It's me again! In the penultimate episode of Season 1, I'm sharing a lesson on information literacy that helped my students start to wrap their minds around two key concepts when it comes to considering any information: Context and Perspective.  Guest: Steve Tetreault Grade(s) Taught: 7-8 Resources:  Information Literacy & Reliable Sources  Lesson: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TDCqafzR9...

Your intrepid host shares a lesson he's found helpful in preparing students (and teachers) to do better research in less time.    Guest: Steve Tetreault Grade(s) Taught: 7-8, 9-12   Resources:  Planning & Visualizing Lesson : https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NBBdpOoktZ66HbodRXfpWF5WaHzuWaWEz7zQb4OJi40/edit#slide=id.p   Add'l Links : See all the lessons for my "secret info lit" class here: h...

Virginia school librarian Maura Madigan has taken the idea of reading to pets to a whole new level as a way to support her school's literacy efforts.  Guest:  Maura Magigan Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources:  Reading Rescue Pet Adoption Program Lesson: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MidinPgjzMl25QmKJwlwA-jDjxWYv47G?usp=sharing   Book Break:  The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard Casa...

Melissa Corey shares so much of her work and so many ideas - and here she's sharing an amazing exhibit, along with ideas for her process of creating museum-like exhibits in her library! Guest: Melissa Corey Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8 Resources:  Holocaust Memorial Exhibit Lesson: https://fb.watch/rXxGavabSy/ Book Break:  Free Lunch by Rex Ogle - My goal is to meet Rex Ogle so I can tell him in perso...

I was fortunate enough to befriend Todd online, and his energy and enthusiasm were always a ray of sunshine on my day! Here, the 2016 SLJ School Librarian of the Year shares a great lesson that ticks so many boxes! While Todd does this with his upper elementary students, this could easily become a great lesson for upper grades as well! Guest:  Todd Burleson, School Librarian   Grade(s) Taught: 5,...

Texas high school librarian Kaitlyn Carpenter shares this great lesson that connects her students' academic work to their yearbooks!  Guest: Kaitlyn Carpenter (aka Carpe_Librarian) Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources:  Sociology - School Culture Case Study Lesson:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15czk9bmM4vPI3MWsKbD5ughYFeZAt-mN?usp=sharing Book Break:  Thrillers: Ace of Spades by Far...

I'm back - this time, with an actual lesson! Check out how you can build your own custom search engines that will only search within the sources you select - handy for you, handy for students, handy for staff!  Guest: Steve Tetreault Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8 Resources:  Build Your Own Search Engine! Lesson: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQgq3iy0Hiiq8JU6Vr3m8jrH7dzxQYaIAB0SxwEHtdlyBG...

This week is a special episode of the podcast. I've been travelling, and haven't been able to record one of our usual episodes with a guest. But I didn't want to leave you hanging, either, so we're doing something different this week. We're going to start with the book break, followed by a special surprise.

This week, the SLLN Podcast goes international as Canadian school librarian Christopher Hunt joins us to share his science-focused "Makery Bakery" lesson, where second graders make bread and butter!  Guest: Christopher Hunt, Chris (he/him) Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources:  #MakeryBakery : States of Matter via Bread- and Butter-Making Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QdhbK-wN...

Miss Jean Darnell, known online as Awaken Librarian, is a careful thinker and diligent researcher. In this episode, she shares some lessons and thoughts about AI in education.  Guest:  Ms. Jean Darnell Grade(s) Taught : 6, 7, 8 Resources :  Using AI for Literacy Lesson: https://www.awakenlibrarian.com/2023/04/using-ai-for-literacy-exciting-prompts.html   Add'l Links: https://ditchthattextbook.com/...

Kelly Hincks has been sharing wonderful lessons over on the Knowledge Quest blog for years - if you've been missing them, be sure to check them out! In this episode, she shares how she has students use hexagonal thinking to get to know each other in a fun and creative way. This lesson can be adapted in many ways to get students thinking creatively across the curriculum - and you can be the hero wh...

"Everything's bigger in Texas" is not just a saying, as school librarian Deb Zeman will prove in this episode! The lesson is big, the resources are big, the Book Break is big - and the implications for our students are big!  Guest: Deb Zeman/MS Librarian Grades taught: 6-8 Resources :  Wakelet Student Ambassador Program: https://wakelet.com/wake/z7FWzla_1fiAlwlJ7p-hG (this also includes the links...

Tennessee school librarian (and generally wonderful human) Laurie Stansbury shares the lesson she does with the book The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan  (Illustrator) - and both the book and the lesson are lovely!  Guest: Laurie Stansbury Grades: K-5 Resources:  "The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story" (same name as the book) Lesson: https://docs.google.com/docu...

The ever-delightful Katie McNamara shares how she uses "Game of Quotes" as a lesson in collaboration with her teachers, and gets requests from both students and staff for more!  Guest: Katie McNamara, High School Teacher Librarian & Fresno Pacific University Program Director, Teacher Librarian Program Resources:  Game of Quotes Lesson: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF9EWHvGw0/6I1M71IhOI_Y4BCJdYcDy...

New Jersey is in the house! 4-6 school librarian Gab Casieri shares how she gets research skills and critical thinking embedded in her "Curiosity Project" lesson! Resources :  Curiosity Project Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B8ePsu1vzo_4tdwUKO0sXG-j_GQO98s4tK-WhelOI6U/edit?usp=sharing   Add'l Links: https://www.noodletools.com/     Book Break:  I have been recommending Rupert Holmes's...