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Collaboration in the Library: An Interview with Mrs. Garland, Media Specialist at Southside Middle School

I interviewed Mrs. Cathy Garland on the Shared Foundation Collaboration. At Southside Middle School, Media Specialist Mrs. Garland fosters a culture of collaboration by actively integrating the library into the instructional process. She works closely with teachers and students, making the library a dynamic space for learning, research, and digital literacy. Guiding Questions During our conversation, I asked Mrs. Garland: How do you implement collaboration in your library? What resources help support collaboration? Do you collaborate with teachers? How? What challenges do you face in collaboration? Do you have any final thoughts on collaboration and the librarian’s role? Collaboration in Action Mrs. Garland participates in teacher professional learning communities (PLCs), offering insights and resources that align with curriculum goals. She helps teachers integrate digital citizenship lessons into instruction and reviews curriculum plans to find ways the library can support learning. S...
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Navigating Inquiry in the Library: An Interview with Mrs. Simms, Media Specialist at Wallace Gregg Elementary

At Wallace Gregg Elementary, a K-5 school, Media Specialist Mrs. Simms has seen significant shifts in her role. We discussed the Shared Foundation Inquiry. With an open schedule designed by her administration to accommodate technology troubleshooting, her ability to focus on inquiry-based learning has changed. Our conversation explored how these shifts have impacted the library and student learning. Guiding Questions During our discussion, I asked Mrs. Simms: How has your library schedule changed? How did your previous schedule support inquiry? What challenges do you face in fostering inquiry now? How does the current focus on ELA and Math impact the library’s role? What strategies do you use to keep inquiry alive? The Shift in Library Scheduling Previously, Mrs. Simms had a fixed schedule, with younger students attending storytime and older students participating in a research lab. She introduced students to essential technology skills, such as using a mouse, navigating a desktop, and...
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Exploring the Love of Reading: An Interview with Mrs. Deborah Daniels at Lucy T. Davis Elementary

Encouraging students to explore books and develop a love of reading is at the heart of any school library. I had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Deborah Daniels, the school librarian at Lucy T. Davis Elementary, a mid-sized K-5 school with approximately 500 students. The library is a vibrant, welcoming space filled with seasonal displays, interactive reading challenges, and opportunities for creative exploration. We focused on the shared foundation of Explore. Guiding Interview Questions: How do you encourage students to explore books and develop a love of reading? What role do play-based learning or hands-on activities (such as makerspaces) play in your library? How do you support students in exploring their creative ideas and storytelling? Can you share an example of a reading challenge, library program, or activity that sparked student excitement? Encouraging Exploration Through Displays and Reading Challenges One of the strategies Mrs. Daniels uses to engage students in readin...
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Curation: Mrs. Susan Lane’s Approach to Building a Middle School Library Collection

 Mrs. Susan Lane, the media specialist at Moore Middle School, focuses on the Shared Foundation of Curate to ensure her library collection meets the needs of students and teachers. She carefully selects resources that support the curriculum, engage student interests, and provide diverse perspectives. However, the curation process comes with both opportunities and challenges.  Guiding Questions for the Conversation:  How do you select resources for your library collection?  What strategies do you use to ensure materials align with teacher needs? How do you encourage teachers to utilize library resources? What challenges do you face when curating your collection?  How do you address concerns or pushback regarding library materials?  Building a Collection with Purpose  Mrs. Lane curates resources using Titlewave to analyze book selections, ensuring they are suitable for middle school students and align with curriculum standards and student interests. She ...
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Blog Post #6 Technology Tools

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Hi everyone,  This blog post was hard for me because I had to learn a new tool and make a video to show how it works! However, I am excited to share information with you about a digital storytelling tool called Storybird. I have been taking a storytelling class for the last six weeks as well, and we have explored lots of different platforms that you can use to tell stories digitally. This one was more user-friendly than some of the others. What is Storybird? Storybird is a unique, web-based platform that allows students to create beautiful, art-inspired stories. By providing artwork and intuitive writing tools, Storybird helps students of all ages and skill levels to craft their own narratives, poems, and picture books. Storybird offers something for everyone.kindergarten though high school.  Why Use Storybird? 1. Encourages Creativity 2. Enhances Writing Skills  3. Promotes Literacy 4. Supports Collaboration 5. Offers Flexibility Watch my video below to learn how to get ...
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Blog Post #5 Cyberbulling

The articles and videos related to cyberbullying were eye-opening and sad to read. I wasn’t surprised by the high rates, but what stood out to me was how bullying has changed. In the past, before technology, bullying would happen at school or other specific locations and times. Cyberbullying can happen 24/7 and can follow the victim anywhere through their devices. The internet's anonymity emboldens bullies to say and do things they might not in face-to-face interactions. This makes the impact on the victim even more severe. The emotional and psychological effects of cyberbullying can be long-lasting and profound, affecting students' academic performance, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Digital citizenship education is key to helping students learn to act responsibly and appropriately online. I’d start by educating students about cyberbullying, how it differs from traditional bullying, and the impact it can have on others. This includes discussing real-life examples and sce...
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Blog Post #4 Resource for Accessibility

VoiceThread is an interactive collaboration and sharing tool that allows users to create, share, and comment on multimedia presentations. It supports including images, videos, documents, and voice recordings, enabling students to engage in interactive and collaborative learning experiences. VoiceThread is useful for students with various learning styles and those who need alternative methods of expression and communication and the best How to get to Voice Thread:   Visit the Website: Go to VoiceThread . Sign Up for an Account: Click on "Sign In" and then "Register" to create a free account or log in if you already have one. Schools and districts can inquire about educational licenses for broader access. Create and Share a VoiceThread: After logging in, click on "Create" to start a new VoiceThread. Upload multimedia content, such as images, videos, and documents. Add comments using text, audio, or video, and invite others to comment and collaborate. Online...
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