Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Two Ways We Built Community In The School Library

When I worked as a school librarian from 2008-2020, I always opened the library before school so that students can access the space and resources we have. When I started this new position in August of 2025, I decided to continue this practice of opening the library before school each day.  



Creating a Morning Sanctuary

The response was immediate. Within two weeks, word had spread, and we reached "capacity" by 7:40 AM most mornings. While having to cap numbers due to seating is a challenge, it is a "good problem" to have—it proves the demand for a safe, engaging morning space.

To maintain a balance of productivity and fun, I curated a variety of "Morning Stations":

  • Literacy: Independent reading and book discovery.

  • Gaming: Strategic classics like Chess and Uno.

  • Digital Learning: Educational gaming via Nitro Type, Gimkit, and Blooket.

  • Makerspace: Hands-on building kits and puzzles.

The Strategy: To manage hall traffic, I require students to stay until the first bell. This time allows me to "work the crowd" while a student worker assists at the circulation desk. By moving through the room and engaging in informal conversations, I build the relationships that prevent behavior issues before they start.

When I get tired, I often wonder why I open early when it isn’t required. Then I see the 'regulars'—a core community of around 30-40 students who have found their safe space. They aren't just visitors; they are the heart of our library culture. This is why I keep coming to school early to open.

RTI Programming: From Remediation to Enrichment

Our school’s RTI (Response to Intervention) program meets weekly for 35 minutes. While core teachers focus on remediation, I saw a golden opportunity to transform the library into a hub for enrichment programming.

Fall Semester Highlights

September  

How to Create a Book Trailer/ Book Review for Extra Points: I showed students tips for making video book reviews/ book trailers for extra points. 

AI for School Use: We looked at ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and NotebookLM. I showed students how I use these tools as an educator. We discussed ethical vs unethical student uses of AI.

October 

Show Your Talent: This was the breakthrough session. I had connected with several students that were passionate about different skills they had. I invited them to share during this RTI session. I had students at tables to show guests how to draw, make origami projects, crochet, and how to solve a Rubik's Cube in around 45 seconds. Look at the video below. The engagement was very encouraging.

The Elephant Sanctuary: This session was dedicated to connecting with the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. I have connected with them many times for engaging instruction about the many elephants they have onsite (complete with webcams the presenter will use to show the elephants live).

Haunted Hotels in Arkansas: I invited Mrs. Amy Milliken of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program to come share about the haunted histories of Arkansas Hotels (like the Arlington and the Crescent Hotel). This one was a packed session with a few teachers attending! 

Taste the Fear: I set up tables with Horror, Mystery, and scary Graphic Novels. I also had two students read scary stories to those in attendance (complete with the library lights turned off except for a lamp near the reader). This session was a great success!

November

Makerspace and Gaming Mania: I had students rotate every 10 minutes at each station. We had Chess, Uno, Jenga, and building kits for students to try out. 

Show Your Talent: After the first success of the student-led Show Your Talent session in October, the kids wanted to have another go. For this session, we had student-led drawing, crochet, a Thanksgiving craft, and a table where students could learn beginning Spanish (with short phrases). 

Malvern Daily Record News: I wrote a blog article about this session. Mrs. Heather Bennett Ritter from our local newspaper, the Malvern Daily Record visited. She shared about the rich history of the newspaper. In addition, she brought historical newspapers for students to examine and more. One student's photo was published on the first page of the next day's paper! Be sure to read about it here.  

December

Holiday Show Your Talent: Students kept asking for more "share your talent" sessions. We decided to do this one with a holiday theme. We had student-led drawing, crochet, chess basics, a Christmas ornament project, and an origami Christmas tree. The kids did it all, and I merely supported them. It was a great success!

Holiday Music Share Your Talent: Since I was a public school band director for many years (and I still serve as a band director for the Arkansas Army National Guard), my heart is still close to music. For this session I teamed up with the MMS Band Director, Mr. Jace Green. He and I played some jazz tunes for the kids, we had some of his students perform small ensemble music, a female student performed a praise dance, and a male student helped lead a Christmas sing-a-long. I created a short video clip of all the different performances and put it on the school social media page. It received hundreds and hundreds of views! We held the session in the band room so we could accommodate more students. 

Conclusion: The Student-Led Future

The most powerful takeaway from this semester is the shift toward student leadership. My favorite sessions—the "Share Your Talent" series—were those where I stepped back and let the students lead.

By opening our doors early and providing diverse RTI programming, the library has become more than a room full of books; it is more at the center of the school culture. I am encouraged by the collaboration I see every day and eager to see how this community grows in the new year.



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Sunday, December 14, 2025

From Library Visit to Front Page News: Our RTI Enrichment Success Story

Students examine historical newspapers

I've been experimenting with using our weekly 35-minute RTI (Response To Intervention) enrichment time to bring engaging, real-world programming into the library. This flexible time allows us to schedule programs for students who don't require mandated remediation, offering valuable enrichment instead.

The need for local connection became profoundly clear when I discovered how few students connect with the Malvern Daily Record, a paper with a deep history in our county. It was surprising how many students don't look at the paper—one even told me they had never physically held or read one!

To bridge this gap, I decided to invite Mrs. Heather Bennett Ritter, Staff Writer for the Malvern Daily Record, to present during one of our library sessions. We had an excellent turnout for the event.


Mrs. Ritter and I take a moment for a photo!

Building Connections and Learning History

Mrs. Ritter took time to talk about the history of the newspaper and brought along incredible historical papers, ranging from the early 1900s through the present. Students genuinely enjoyed poring over the old articles and marveling at the vintage photos. A highlight was comparing the current costs of groceries and products to the prices advertised in the old editions. It was a moment of genuine, historical discovery.

Mrs. Ritter then moved into practical journalism, discussing how to write an effective cut line (photo caption). She demonstrated proper photo taking and allowed one of our students, Darcy, to try his hand at snapping some photos. The group then collaborated on writing a cut line for the picture Darcy took.

Darcy takes photos of the session

The session was incredibly encouraging; many students stayed after the bell to continue talking with Mrs. Ritter. To top off the experience, she told the group she would consider publishing one of Darcy's photos in the next edition!

The Moment the Library Made Front-Page News

The very next day, I had an incredible discovery: Darcy's photo and his cut line had been published on the front page of the Malvern Daily Record!

Front page photo published! 

I immediately shared the exciting news with Darcy and our administrators. To celebrate this 'local connection' in style, I took action:

  • I grabbed extra copies of the paper and presented a framed front page to Darcy the next day.

  • I captured a photo of him holding the paper to share on our school social media channels.

  • I called his mother right away to share the wonderful news, connecting with a parent in a profoundly positive way.

When I asked Darcy how this experience impacted him, he shared this thoughtful response:

"...it was very cool. My family was very proud of me and happy from what I accomplished and what I did."

Endless Possibilities

This was a phenomenal win for the Malvern Daily Record, Mrs. Ritter, our student, and the future of our library programming. I am grateful to Mrs. Ritter for taking time out of her busy schedule to come share with our students. We proved that a 35-minute session can spark real-world confidence!

Moving forward, I am energized to continue building these local connections. The possibilities are truly endless, and the benefits are clear: increased local awareness, education on available community resources, and the priceless chance to inspire a student. Who knows? Darcy may have found his path to being a photographer—and it all started with a visit to the library.


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Thursday, December 11, 2025

From Weakness to Strength: How My Students Took Over Library Displays


After returning to the profession as a school librarian this year, I quickly realized a critical gap. In my previous positions, I had always worked with at least one talented adult paraprofessional who handled decorations and displays. Now, as the sole teacher librarian, I was concerned. Creative ideas came easily, but the execution—making it look professional, appealing, and polished—was rarely my strength.

I knew I couldn't ignore this essential component of library visibility and community engagement. I needed a sustainable solution that would turn my personal challenge into a programmatic opportunity. The answer, I soon discovered, was right in front of me: my students.

The Experiment: Putting Students in Charge

With several student workers lined up for the 2025-2026 school year, I immediately began assessing their talents. I noted that I had students with particular strengths in drawing, coloring, and digital design.

"Fall Ball" Display





I began challenging the kids to come up with display concepts. Among the first was a Fall Sports display. We used items already in the library, and one student who was good with Canva designed vibrant, professional signage. It was an immediate success, drawing daily traffic to the decorated shelf.




Next, they decided to create a September 11th display. Since I am in the Army National Guard, I provided a folded American Flag for the centerpiece. The kids used the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) to find and curate appropriate titles. The display was another big hit, and we tracked an increase in circulation for the historical titles the students had selected. This showed me the power of peer-to-peer influence—students are often the best selectors for their peers.

 
September 11 Display

Seasonal Engagement

Ghost in the stacks

As we rolled deeper into fall, I challenged the kids to help decorate for Halloween. We found ideas for ghost cut-outs to place within the book stacks. Multiple class periods of workers created these ghosts daily beginning in mid-September, and they all seemed to enjoy it; some students would even come in at lunch to work on additional ghosts. My larger class designed a fun "monster" character for the book drop, and by October 1st, it was all installed. We even created a library promotional video skit featuring the book return monster!

The "Book Return Monster"

White Board Art


Our Halloween themed video skit featuring the book return "monster".

By this point, I noticed the kids were taking greater ownership of the space. When we looked through the stored November decorations, the kids wanted to make their own. One student's mother is very crafty, and he asked her to help make new turkeys, pumpkins, and other items, which turned out great! The students also designed a custom turkey for the book drop display and took the lead on building that.

Thanksgiving themed decor provided by a parent

"Hunt for a Good Book" Display

"Hunt for a Good Book" Display

Book return "turkey"

Once that was complete, we moved on to December. We made paper snowflakes, Christmas trees, and wreaths together. I bought a tree but purposefully didn't purchase ornaments. The students designed paper ornaments, colored them, and laminated them for longevity. The final touch was a fantastic student-designed gingerbread man themed book drop display that turned out perfectly.

Gingerbread Man themed book return

Student made ornaments

Decoration production line at work

The Impact: More Than Just Decorations

Reflecting on this process, I realized that I had been missing huge opportunities for student buy-in during my 2008–2020 tenures as a school librarian. My perceived weakness became a catalyst for empowering my students.

I asked some of the students to tell me how they felt about decorating the library. Their responses seem centered on feeling proud, expressive,  and being empowered to help others. 

"It made me feel creative and proud of my work." - LC

"It helps me realize how much I can help people find a book just by putting a display together with genres they might not usually pick" -HH

"It showed me that we can be creative" - JE

"It (is) fun for me and it helps me calm down... I love to do art and I love to decorate..." - EN

"It allows me to see others' creativity... It allows me to express myself through my art and displays." -PC

The benefits of handing over this creative responsibility have been significant:

  • Increased Buy-In: I believe students now view the library as "their space," fostering deeper respect and a strong sense of community.

  • Skill Development: Students gain real-world experience in visual design (Canva), teamwork, project management, and theme selection.

  • Amplified Visibility: Student-led displays are more likely to resonate authentically with their peers, directly driving increased circulation and engagement.

  • Time Savings for Me: My time is now freed up some to focus on essential librarian duties, such as collection development, instruction, and managing student workers.

Moving forward, I will always look for opportunities to engage student creativity through library displays and decorations. It is powerful to give kids ownership in this way, and I believe other students see this and are inspired by it.

I am confident there will be more creativity blooming in the months ahead. What display themes should we tackle next semester to keep this momentum going? I can't wait to see what is next!



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Friday, November 14, 2025

Bringing the 1960s to Life: How One Library Used Science and Vinyl to Power The Outsiders


L to R Mr. Dial, Mrs. Rash, and Mr. Evans

When I returned to public school librarianship this year, my goal was clear: to transform the library into a vibrant hub for immersive programming that brings curriculum to life. I've seen firsthand the impact that this type of programming can have on the student learning experience. The first major collaboration—an interdisciplinary experience for 8th graders reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders—exceeded every expectation. I have so many fond memories of bringing books to life through collaboration, and it is incredibly exciting to have the full support of the Malvern Middle School building and district administration!

Planning the Experience: ELA Meets Science

With the help of Principal Mr. Ben Dial, one of our ELA teachers, Mrs. Terah Rash, showed immediate interest in a deep dive collaboration based on The Outsiders. Since Mrs. Rash also teaches Science, this opened up thrilling possibilities for the kinds of experiences we could provide.

We reviewed a previous blog post I had written years ago about a similar program and decided to proceed with four distinct learning stations, blending social history, literature, and even physics to truly transport students back to the 1960s.

🏎️ Station 1: Racing Through The Outsiders (Physics)

We aimed to connect the fast-paced action of the novel to real-world physics. Students worked through a "Force and Motion" lab using matchbox cars. They explored Newton's Three Laws through three experiments: 1) inertia (rest and motion), 2) how added mass impacts acceleration (like a souped-up hot rod!), and 3) the action/reaction of cars colliding. This cross-curricular approach was a huge hit and gave the science concepts tangible meaning.

🚬 Station 2: Smoking Hot or Not? (Media Literacy)

This station provided a powerful visual piece showing how history repeated itself regarding mass marketing. We found vintage cigarette sales ads from the 1950s and 1960s so students could see how people were mass-targeted by tobacco companies. We paired these with e-cig/vaping ads that target young people in recent years. This sparked an insightful discussion about consumerism and persuasive media tactics then and now.

🍿 Station 3: Drive-In Reflections (Film History)

At the drive-in, students reflected on how movie entertainment formats have changed over the years. We found clips of movies and novels mentioned in the book, such as Gone With the Wind, Gidget Goes to Rome, and the iconic rumble scene from Beach Blanket Bingo. I was surprised at how engaged the students were; they genuinely enjoyed seeing these classic movie clips.

🎶 Station 4: Jam or Slam (Technology Evolution)

Mrs. Rash kindly loaned us her record player for the day. We played vintage vinyl albums by artists like The Righteous Brothers and Elvis. We discussed how Ponyboy might have listened to music in the 1960s. It was eye-opening for the students to see how technology has evolved—in fact, students actually asked for me to keep playing records for several periods after our collaboration programming was over!


Here is a link to our materials from the event.

How the Immersion Went Down (And Why it Worked)

Having not delivered a program like this in five years, I was thrilled by the response. The students were fully engaged the entire time. We kept the energy high with 7-minute rotations, and the atmosphere was incredible: Mrs. Rash (poodle skirt), Mr. Dial (leather jacket), and I (also a greaser) were all dressed up for the occasion. The student interest was so high that an additional ELA class joined our last session!

The real magic was seeing the students connect a 1960s novel to physics labs, media literacy, and music history. (We had planned to incorporate a modern twist by having students ask an AI-emulated Ponyboy questions using Google Gemini at the end, but we ran out of time due to the overall enthusiasm!)


The Verdict: Student Voices on the Experience

The reflections we gathered confirmed the deeper impact of the hands-on learning:

  • "I think it gave me more understanding of what it felt like back then, almost like a vibe. I liked the music station because you can sense so much emotion in the music." - Cora

  • "It gave me a much better understanding of the book as well as the 1960s as a whole. (Next time) maybe give us more time to get deep thinking and still be able to answer the questions we were asked." - Drake

  • "It helped me understand what they were able to do back then." - Faith

  • "The Outsiders program helped me really see what the greasers and Socs looked like. My favorite station was the record [player]. I liked to really be able to listen to the music." - Jocelyn

  • "I think it affected me by showing me how the world actually looked from their perspective." - Preston

What's Next for Library Collaboration

The success of The Outsiders immersion is already inspiring our next steps! I am confident that this first collaboration will encourage other teachers to view the library as a dynamic space for experiential learning—a true extension of the classroom.

We are already planning a new collaboration focused on History next semester, and Mrs. Rash has been inspired to host a similar library event when her class reads Alan Gratz’s Refugee. The future of the school library is immersive, interdisciplinary, and exciting. I can't wait to see what happens next.


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Sunday, August 24, 2025

Beginning Again

Beginning Again: The Journey Back to School Librarianship

I accepted the opportunity to return to a public school as a middle school library media specialist in July 2025. Since 2020, I've enjoyed a long stint as an Army National Guard Warrant Officer, both full-time and part-time. Most recently, I worked in public library management full-time. During the entire journey since 2020, I've missed the interactions I had as a school librarian. So I've come full circle. It is exciting to be back after 5 years away from this part of the profession. 

Beginning Again

It is overwhelming in many ways to return. At the time of this writing, I've only spent 8 days with students. There are new books, new authors, new standards, new teachers, and new technologies. I'm also in a newer school facility. I actually worked in this district years ago during my last year as a school band director before transitioning to school librarianship in 2008. The facility is new and updated compared to where I worked my last year in education. Let's just say, I am beginning again. It is exciting! There are new students and teachers to help and build relationships with. There are new connections to be made in the school, community, state, country, and world. One of the things I like about education is that it is always evolving. No two class periods are alike. No two school years are alike. No two school districts are alike. The map of this journey will unfold every day as we explore and adapt to what the learning community needs. 

Physical Space

The Malvern Middle School Library Media Center serves grades 7 and 8. There are approximately 260 students in the school. The library space is near the entrance of the building. It has seating and tables for a standard class size of around 28-30 students. We have access to two large screens (one is a TV and the other is a Promethean Board). The library's fiction collection has been organized by genre. I am really excited about this. It is a terrific organization method for kids to be able to find what they want. We have Chromebooks and desktop computers. There is also a workspace with a laminator, a Cricut, and other various organizational tools. Click below to get a walk-through tour of my first day of school. 


Network and Relationships

I do not work well in a vacuum. Since returning to school library work, I have reached out to many of my former colleagues. One of my special connections was with Elizabeth Hutchinson of York, England. She reached out to me in 2016 and after that we connected many times for collaborations with our students and teachers. We spent one morning this summer discussing school libraries, AI, and more. I have also spent time talking to Dr. Brian Johnson of Springdale, Arkansas. We have connected our schools many times in the past (and I hope to find opportunities to do more of this). He is always trying innovative activities with the students and teachers at Springdale's Lakeside Junior High School. 

Morning WhatsApp visit with Elizabeth Hutchinson in York, England

I have been sharing ideas in Northeastern Arkansas with Joni Collier, the Library Media Specialist (LMS) at Wynne Junior High School. In addition I have connected with local Malvern School District LMSs at the Intermediate School (Olivia Martin) and High School (Ashley Nelson). I love to collaborate and share ideas. I will continue talking with everyone that I can to make sure I'm on the right track as I start this new journey. I am also working daily to get to know the students and teachers I serve. Each day provides new opportunities to show the value of the school library to the learning community at Malvern Middle School. That will provide countless possibilities as the year progresses. Anything is possible in a school library.

Looking Ahead

I have found that most of the many book series, graphic novels, and manga I remember from my last year as a school librarian (2019-2020) are still popular. I've been working with the kids to find what books are missing in any specific series so I can replace them or order the latest and greatest. I want to know it all now, but it will take time to get familiar with the collection at the level I want to be at. 

I am amazed at how quickly AI is evolving. I look at this as a powerful opportunity to help students learn the ethics of AI usage with best practices. I am surprised at how many students aren't aware of how AI can help them learn. It is truly amazing! I also see countless opportunities to partner with teachers in using these emerging technologies. It is an exciting time to return to education. I plan to share a blogpost soon illustrate my initial attempts to use AI in the school library. 

Conclusion

It feels wonderful to reflect in this blog space again. It is refreshing to be back seeing kids and teachers each day. I look forward to learning everything I can to help those I serve. I hope to connect to many new friends in the profession as the year progresses. I can't wait to see what happens next! I'd love to hear how your school year is kicking off—share your story in the comments below!


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Monday, October 17, 2022

Tik Tok Book Toks


One of my favorite things to do while attending conferences is to learn how librarians are using the latest technology to reach their patrons. While attending the Arkansas Association of Instructional Media Conference back in April, I attended a few sessions about Tik Tok. One really resonated with me that was done by a Library Media Specialist from Bigelow High School in Arkansas. I was very excited to hear how Dena Meriweather had been innovative with Tik Tok during the pandemic as a powerful literacy outreach to her students.

Pandemic Outreach

As Dena's school was locked down for the COVID-19 Pandemic, she wanted a way to reach her students. She began by emailing video book talks to her students while the school was virtual. From this idea, she decided to start sharing her book talks using the Tik Tok social media platform. This continued through the pandemic. She found that this was a great way to reach her students since so many of them use the popular platform. She typically videos her "Book Toks" at various places in the library, outside, and even at the golf course!

Impact 

Dena mentioned that she now has students and parents following her on various social media platforms in addition to Tik Tok. When she posts a "Book Tok" video to Tik Tok, she also shares it on Facebook and Instagram. She is able to reach more people that way. The students and parents have let her know they enjoy watching her "Book Toks", and she always has students coming into the library to ask about the books she advertises.



Next Steps

Dena plans to keep making her Tik Tok videos. She said it is a great way to reach the public to show some of what she does in the school library. She is thinking of branching out with more than "Book Toks" in the future. After seeing Dena's conference presentation, I also tried using Tik Tok this summer to share how our Luxer One book locker works at the public library where I now work. It has received over 800 views since June! I'm still not fully comfortable with Tik Tok but plan to keep experimenting with it in the future. I'll keep learning from innovative librarians like Dena as I build more confidence with the platform.



If you have questions for Dena about her journey with Tik Tok, she allowed me to share her school contact information:

Dena Meriweather, LMS

Bigelow High School

email: meriweat@bigelow.k12.ar.us

Also, be sure to follow her on Tik Tok, Facebook, and Instagram!

Tik Tok: @BHSBookToks

Facebook: Bigelow High School Library

Instagram: @bigelowhslibrary 



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Wednesday, May 4, 2022

AAIM 2022 Conference Reflections


First Conference to Attend Since Pandemic

I have been away from public school since the summer of 2020. I have spent the past two years working nearly full-time for the Arkansas Army National Guard. In March, I had the opportunity to teach as an adjunct instructor for McDaniel College in their school librarianship program. It has been wonderful to be involved with graduate students preparing to join our wonderful profession as school librarians. After beginning to teach the course, I discovered that the Arkansas Association of Instructional Media had scheduled a conference in April. I thought the timing would be perfect to attend especially since the course I was teaching covered Personal Learning Networks (PLNs). There are few better places for one to develop a PLN than at a conference!

When I was a school librarian, I really loved attending conferences. This was especially true if I could attend one near the end of school in the spring semester. It was always exciting to learn new technology and connect with authors and their new works. I encourage all administrators to send their school librarians to such conferences with the understanding they must bring their learning back to the school. I have always viewed a school librarian as a leadership position since we impact the entire learning community. It was always fun to bring back new ideas and technology to share with teachers and students during the year, especially near the end of school. It always helped me stay energized right up to the beginning of summer. Such energy and excitement are contagious! I couldn't wait to attend the conference since I haven't attended one for several years, pre-pandemic.

In the paragraphs below, I will share highlights of my learning from the 3-day conference. 

Keynote Speaker Todd Nesloney

I really enjoyed hearing Todd talk about his experiences as a classroom teacher and administrator. Some of my biggest takeaways were that we all need to share our stories as school librarians. Todd suggested that if we do not tell our own stories, someone else will tell them for us! He discussed empowering students to help us tell our stories via social media by allowing them to take photos and help create the posts that go out. He also shared that we can Tweet to authors when we read their books. We never know when an author might respond and interact with us. This is important and exciting for students to see!

Another wonderful idea from Todd was his suggestion of inviting school board members, central office administrators, community leaders, and others to read to students. If they can't come in person, send them a Zoom. Everyone should be modeling a love of reading to students at all grade levels. I really love this idea! He also stated that administrators should be able to find plenty of funds to purchase books. There were many more ideas that he shared. Be sure to follow him @TechNinjaTodd on Twitter. 

Book Challenges

I attended a session about book challenges. The best takeaway from this session was the suggestion that school librarians should know their district's selection and challenge policies. School librarians should review these processes with administrators so everyone is aware of the procedure. This should alleviate most problems that would be encountered. In addition, I remember more than one district having a challenge policy that required the complainant to read the entire book being challenged to discourage a select portion from being taken out of context. I also recall one district placing the responsibility to suggest a comparable text on the person making the complaint. This is a topic I want to continue researching since it has become a frequent issue in recent months. There are also resources for book challenges at ALA and AASL.


Tik Tok Book Toks

I have noticed that TikTok has become very popular with young people in recent months. When I saw that Dena Meriweather, the school librarian at Bigelow High School, was having a session about it, I had to check it out. Dena shared her story about how she had the idea to use TikTok to create book talks to share with her students during the pandemic. I thought this was a very innovative way to reach students, especially during the COVID lockdown period. I plan to write more about this in a future blog post. I look forward to sharing information about this with my graduate students!

Malvern ELA Teacher TikTok

I was excited to attend a session by a middle school ELA teacher from Malvern. Claudine James discussed how she had to evolve as an educator during the pandemic. After she discovered the COVID crisis was going to continue into the fall of 2020, she realized she had to adjust her strategy to reach students that were frequently not at school. After she talked to her students about posting lessons on YouTube, she realized few students were watching her videos. She then started posting her lessons on a new TikTok account. Her students helped her come up with the username @iamthatenglishteacher. She immediately began gaining hundreds and eventually thousands of followers. By January 2021 she had 100k followers. One of her lessons gained 54.5 million views. She has now gained national attention. I love seeing educators step out of their comfort zones to reach students where they are! The most important takeaway for me is that she asked her students what they thought might be the best approach. What can we learn from this? 

Copyright and Creativity

I attended a session about the Copyright and Creativity resources website (copyrightandcreativity.org). The session was led by Brittany Fleming who is also a trainer for the site. I was very excited about this since it is a resource we share in the class content I have been teaching at McDaniel College for Learning Technologies. Brittany gave a brief overview of copyright laws, the four factors to consider, and the website resources at Copyright and Creativity. The site features a copyright-related curriculum for grades K-12. The content is free and only requires a login registration. I plan to write more about this wonderful resource in a future blog article.

PLN and Modeling Best Practices for My Graduate Students

One of the topics we cover in my current class at McDaniel College is Personal Learning Network development and social media. I used this conference as a way to model best practices for my graduate students. I sent Tweets, Instagram posts, and Facebook posts to the #SLM508 and #AAIM22 so they could observe highlights of my professional learning at the conferences. I have always connected with other professionals by using this practice at conferences and other learning events. I hope my students will enjoy building their PLN via social media as they move forward in their careers. Sometimes being a school librarian can be a lonely place since most schools only employ one. With a PLN, we are never alone as professionals. There is always a learning conversation happening via social media, especially Twitter.

Next Steps

There is so much to unpack and reflect upon from this three-day conference. I plan to write a piece about Dena Meriweather's TikTok Book Toks very soon. I think this is a great way to reach students with popular social media. I also want to share more about the Copyright and Creativity site. There are so many excellent resources to explore and it needs to be done in a dedicated blog article. 

I hope you enjoyed reading the highlights of what I experienced at the conference. Learning online during a webinar or a Twitter Chat is a wonderful thing, but in my experience, it doesn't have the impact that an in-person conference can have on personal learning. Being able to meet colleagues and visit is priceless. The fact that we get to hear leaders speak in sessions and share their best practices inspires us to take action. I hope that this can become a regular happening for all educators as things continue to improve following the pandemic. 

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