tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34722022450018960282024-03-12T20:20:44.322-04:00Library SafariMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-8078713084633213272016-09-09T16:06:00.002-04:002016-09-09T16:08:23.758-04:00Library Grand (?) OpeningI got a little excited about the new school year! Our library is unattached from the main buildings, and this was how I decorated one entry. I suppose it wasn't technically a "Grand Opening," but a sign like that would look a little less exciting if it just said "Opening," right?
Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-86009229871855687802016-02-01T15:45:00.000-05:002016-02-02T10:14:21.998-05:00Bookebration: Game Day!It's the end of the quarter, so that means that all of my students who met their A.R. reading goals get to attend the Bookebration! Last time we danced, and this time we'll play - board games, that is. I am truly looking forward to seeing my loves interact with one another and non-digital entertainment!
I can't assume that all of my students will know how to play the games I make available to Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-9847905972311261812016-01-14T23:27:00.004-05:002016-01-14T23:28:46.898-05:00Captivated!
Hope you enjoyed the session. Here is the link to our presentation: Captivated Presentation
Yours happily ever after,
Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-87405440073019111822015-11-10T23:05:00.003-05:002015-11-10T23:05:59.228-05:00BookebrationsOne of the most enjoyable, cheap and easy things I've used as a reading incentive is a bookebration. As the name may suggest, this is a party to celebrate students' reading accomplishments. I took the idea from a presenter at our SCASL conference many years ago and have hosted quarterly bookebrations ever since. Each quarter, students who meet their individualized A.R. points goal while Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-4762665570914470142014-08-04T22:09:00.001-04:002014-08-04T22:12:27.091-04:00Easing Into a New Library PositionChanging districts, schools, and school levels isn't easy, and the many details involved with moving my family allowed me to push thoughts of how to execute the transition to the "back burner." However, I finally reached a point this week at which I was able to begin my new adventure! If you find yourself in a similar situation, let me share my how I eased into the unfamiliar waters of a new Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-25008093959356331612014-04-12T08:34:00.000-04:002014-04-12T08:34:00.668-04:00A Happy ShiftBy God's leading, my husband recently accepted a new position a few hours away from our current home. This will require many adjustments, such as selling and buying homes, transferring schools for my children, AND a new position for me, too! I'm happy to announce that this fall I'll be a MIDDLE SCHOOL media specialist! While I've taught in a middle school, all of my eight years as a librarian Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-81487030720303000522014-03-19T20:46:00.002-04:002014-04-08T20:42:37.224-04:00Pencil Sharpener Giveaway (CLOSED)
A while back, I received a pencil sharpener to try out in my library. It did not disappoint!!! You can read my full review at http://librarysafari.blogspot.com/2013/11/review-classroom-friendly-supplies.html
Regrettably, the picture doesn't do it
justice, but hopefully you can see the elongated tip of that pencil.
It's just BEAUTIFUL! Seriously, it elicited exclamations Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-17511463203100088762014-03-19T19:02:00.001-04:002014-03-19T19:02:54.291-04:00Library Entrance and Exit Tips
In Harry Wong fashion, I've always taught my students procedures for entering and exiting the library. After many years, it has evolved into this: Enter through the door on the right. Line up with one foot on a red square, and wait for instructions. To exit, place one foot on a blue square in front of the Goodbye Door.
The squares are just duct tape, and the colors don't matterMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-18481823174903437182014-03-18T21:06:00.000-04:002014-08-04T17:42:51.751-04:00My Favorite OPAC ActivityI just love when the Lord gives me a wonderful idea that my students enjoy! No other lesson has ever stimulated my students' interest in using our OPAC as much as this one did. As an added dividend, it produces a wonderful display of books related to a particular topic (fall, in this lesson).
BOOK STANDS: Do you recognize the cardboard book stands in the pictures below? They used to come with Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-83581848573052992262014-03-03T20:27:00.002-05:002015-10-02T09:23:26.900-04:00Book Return Sanity SaversSometimes I just don't understand things that perhaps I should. For example, I don't understand having a "book drop" INSIDE my library. My goal is to get the books scanned in and then returned to the correct shelf. While a book cart may be helpful in accomplishing that goal, I can't see where the book drop is of any help at all.
It actually caused quite a few problems. On busy days when IMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-82432316556097347562014-03-02T08:33:00.000-05:002015-02-24T15:43:53.813-05:00Library Circulation Desk Sanity SaversOver the years, I've picked up a few ideas that help students be more independent as they check in and check out their books. Take a look at these pictures, and I'll explain...
There are two computers at the circulation desk. This is the one for checking out books. It's set up for students to check out their books themselves, but we monitor it mainly to make sure they've chosen at least one Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-6102909274084094752014-02-25T22:12:00.000-05:002014-02-25T22:54:15.491-05:00A Great Pet? Quick Research for Younger Students
One of the things I like about Common Core ELA Standards is the emphasis placed on quick research assignments! One of the things I struggled with in doing research projects was how long they could drag out. I love the idea that we get in, enjoy, and get out! It leaves us with a better attitude about research and encourages us to inquire again and again!
I wanted to share a lesson that my Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-64742741277393503262014-02-25T21:12:00.002-05:002014-02-25T21:14:42.133-05:00These snowmen love to read, too!
If your school has a die cut machine, I think you'll appreciate this cute idea from My Classroom Ideas. Our school's snowman die-cut cuts arms that can be folded and glued to a little book cover, two of which can be cut at one time from the 3D cube die cut. Students personalized their snowmen and then created and attached book covers that represented books they liked. Effective, easy and Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-91843557847990369582013-11-03T07:19:00.005-05:002013-11-03T20:45:11.484-05:00Review: Classroom Friendly Supplies Pencil SharpenerI, like most teachers, can rattle off a quick list of frustrations that result from the classroom use of electric pencil sharpeners:
overheating after repeated use, causing one to wait indefinitely for it to start working again
tips breaking off in the blades, with little to no hope for removing them
over-sharpening brand new pencils because there's no indication that it's finished, turning 8 Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-78478054699101088472013-09-26T22:03:00.002-04:002022-01-14T21:36:44.400-05:00FREE Kindergarten Research OrganizerAfter spending over an hour trying to find the printable so many are using for those cute "All About" research projects, I gave up and made my own. You can find it by going to this link or by clicking on the image. I wanted to offer it to you, so you wouldn't have to suffer like I have. "Ain't nobody got time for that!"
UPDATE
I used this with my kindergarten classes this week as part of aMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-43341646905704216402013-08-31T18:32:00.001-04:002013-08-31T18:41:36.989-04:00Teacher Treats - A Giveaway Linky
Enter these giveaways for teacher-types! If you have a giveaway and would like to add it to the list, it must end within 60 days of posting and include an end date.
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Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-6785926309834130292013-08-31T14:06:00.000-04:002013-08-31T18:46:20.211-04:00$20 Amazon Gift Card GIVEAWAY (ends 9/9/13)
Woo-hoo!!! Library Safari just reached 100 Pinterest followers! I think this wonderful occasion calls for Krispy Kreme doughnuts for me and my family, and a giveaway for one of you!
Enter below to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Some entries are worth more than others, and some can be repeated daily. Have fun!
Entry-Form
Yours Happily Ever After,
Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-32546756588764991882013-08-30T18:00:00.001-04:002013-08-30T18:01:48.386-04:00It's Back! Reuniting with A.R.
Well, it's Friday, the beginning of a long weekend, and I'm having a hard time winding down. I feel like I've just stepped off an Accelerated Reader roller coaster after a week-long ride!
Monday: Prepared to begin this year's A.R. program. Excited and focused.
Tuesday: Learned that we would not have A.R. this year. Sad and stunned.
Wednesday: Searched for alternatives. Anxious and overwhelmed.Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-47803817249970418952013-08-29T20:48:00.000-04:002013-08-30T20:58:33.934-04:00Life After Accelerated Reader
If you'd told me three days ago that I'd soon be looking for A.R. (Accelerated Reader) alternatives, I never would have believed you. I was a real fan of A.R. - always had been. Even in library school when I was told that it worked in opposition to its intended goal. Even when my peers spoke ill of it at our district librarians' meetings.
Recently, Renaissance Learning choseMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-22582585811076867832013-08-26T21:16:00.002-04:002013-08-27T19:08:10.474-04:00A.R. Quiz Tutorial VideoI have to admit - I was a little aggravated when the folks at Renaissance Learning changed their look in the middle of the 2012 - 2013 school year, after my students had become used to the look and process. I had really hoped that someone would have made an updated video tutorial by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case. So, here's my homespun A.R. Quiz Tutorial video. Short, sweet and Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-41050419535913237072013-08-18T16:00:00.000-04:002019-06-28T12:04:42.113-04:00Library Welcome Letter to ParentsI wanted to share with you the letter I'll be sending home to parents this week. This "Back to School" letter will give parents an idea of my schedule, what I'll be teaching, and how to contact me. Click on this preview to open the document.
I'm big on conserving my "copy count," so I tried to make the font big enough to be readable after I shrink-to-fit two of these on one page. After you Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-42878148512477620592013-08-16T22:35:00.002-04:002013-08-16T22:35:38.044-04:00The Book Fairy at Back to School Night
I've never really been a key player on Back to School Night. While parents were intent on going to visit their children's classroom teachers, few ever made their way to the library. After reading the Back to School post at Elementary Librarian, I was inspired to make some changes this year! She created a fabulous AR Guide for Parents,
which I downloaded, personalized for our school (some of herMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-46874782210533239732013-08-14T18:37:00.002-04:002013-10-20T17:45:17.025-04:00My Book Fairy CostumeWhile not the most flattering costume you'll ever wear, this DIY "Book Fairy" or "Library Fairy" or (best yet) "Diction Fairy" costume sure is a lot of fun to make! After shopping a few yard sales and the thrift store, as well as raiding my mom's craft closet and dress-up box (for her grandchildren ;), she and I created this...
We basically followed the directions from the original postMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-19185112523491758952013-08-11T00:06:00.002-04:002013-08-11T00:08:08.425-04:00Follow Library Safari on BlogLovin!Follow my blog with BloglovinMikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472202245001896028.post-41455274901223106572013-08-08T11:36:00.000-04:002013-08-08T11:36:15.583-04:00Pinterest Boards for my Library Curriculum MapGreat news! Now the Library Safari Pinterest boards are aligned to the lessons on my Library Curriculum Map! Here's a sample...
Happily Ever After,
Mikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17296470659718164007noreply@blogger.com1