New books are here. Students have an option to explore them virtually in genrefied collections or "live" by browsing the shelves. It's about a 50/50 split which surprised me. Students want to touch the books! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

This is a beautiful celebration of Black authors & illustrators. Amanda's intentional planning provides a wonderful experience for students and staff alike. I love the anonymous feedback loop that provides her with insight into many classrooms to make tweaks & improvements for the next one. #TLSky

I am using part of my Snow-icane day to plan out this year's #StudentsRebuild project. I am grateful for the resources available that are serving to help me focus our thinking: buff.ly/G9u3DCa #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

This university #Makerspace had students repairing clothes, creating a book, and several other groups of students were actively creating. I also spied some games and windows of plants. This is a space I would retreat to if I were a student! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Here is a great example of community partnerships. These students must feel like a million bucks - their art is spreading throughout the community! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Here is a fun way to reuse a card catalog! I spied this gem at a University Library! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

We are wrapping up our #SibertSmackdown at our early childhood center. Teams of students are poring over the illustrations in Washed Ashore by @kellycrull.bsky.social to find the hidden pictures. I think these 3 and 4 year olds are better at this than my 3rd & 4th graders! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Black History book displays fill our shelves. I am reliant on volunteers to pull these and do the work. A volunteer team is essential to operations here. Without them, there are no displays. My time is very limited in each building. #MakingItWork #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Amanda always chooses the BEST books for this! I build my list from her selections. Who needs professional journals when you have @illinimccoy.bsky.social? #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

We are filling the window with things we discovered on our databases today. Periodically I like to revisit resources students may have forgotten about. #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

I am starting a new volunteer program at my new-to-me school. A simple call for help = 13 willing folks signed up & ready to go. We have a schedule, reminds set to go out the week they come in, and stacks of books ready to be labeled. This is how I will get things done! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Best. Sibert. Read aloud. EVER! Student AND staff responses are a riot! Then, we exercise our fine motor skills in center choices. @bobshea.bsky.social #TLSky #SchoolLibraries #SibertSmackdown

1st graders are finding mirror and window moments in picture books and sharing these with each other. Sticky notes makes it tangible and sharing them with each other helps us build community and get to know one another better. buff.ly/RI7nxAw #TLSky

Yes! Us folks who teach ALL students are perfectly poised for this kind of work. We know all students and have known many of them for YEARS! #TLSky

3rd graders are learning about how AI works. We used buff.ly/6PJK8lh to identify "blorgs" and I was thrilled that our sorting game translated to Spanish! buff.ly/XPCngId #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

5th graders are thinking about the ethics of AI. They discussed a question with their group and played a game. buff.ly/Cw0YUVX #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Always be proud of the steps you are taking to grow areas that you identify need growth. Steps come in all sizes. It looks like Amanda has taken some big ones!

"Nine brains? They are smarter than Siri!" - K student. We are fascinated by octopuses! #SibertSmackdown @suefliess.bsky.social #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Kdg wrapped our author study of Antoinette Portis by reading her new title, To Activate Space Portal Lift Here, and built a spaceship to visit the aliens inside! (I try to line up our building challenges in multiple grades so the blocks can stay out) #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

It's #SibertSmackdown time at our early childhood center! Three books, three criteria, one theme. Here we go! @suefliess.bsky.social @bobshea.bsky.social @kellycrull.bsky.social #TLSky #SchoolLibrarians

5th graders watched a deep fake movie trailer and brainstormed positive and negative reasons why people make these. #TLSky

4th graders are examining what AI does well (this week) and what it does NOT do well (next week). buff.ly/33Eoh1O #TLSky

3rd graders compared two robots to see how their actions differed. They are exploring what coding looks like versus AI. Shout out to my colleague who created this chart that enables us to visually see how different they are. #TLSky

Students move, write, and EXPLORE in Amanda's library. They are so lucky to have a Librarian who sees the whole child and creates active learning experiences to engage them! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Need to know where to catalog something? Ask the students! The verdict is in on these two tricky titles. If I had an "outdoor" section, I would have put it there, but we do not. So... I let the students tell me where they would expect to find it. #TLSky

We had an abbreviated class due to an assembly. Sending students to our databases for a quick peek was the perfect use of just a *few* minutes of our time. Some wanted to return to investigate more on their choice time! #TLSky

These students can't get enough coding! They are very motivated by the code.org music lab and share their creations. I get to dance my way through class. It's a win/win! #TLSky

Today in 2nd grade we started an illustrator study of Juana Martinez-Neal with her excellent Fry Bread. One S told us all about fry bread at their house and how they sell it at powwows! Then we explored the library’s collection of cookbooks with a recipe scavenger hunt. #TLSky #SchoolLibraries

Students are coding and I wanted to give them language to ask for help. These are at tables to help them troubleshoot who/how to ask and what to ask for. #HourOfCode #TLSky

I try to partner a read aloud with a #nonfiction title. Unite for Literacy buff.ly/oCEu3W9 is such a tremendous resource for this purpose! #TLSky

Coding time! Students are directing the mouse to the "cheese," but can't get caught by the cats! #HourOfCode #TLSky

I love your thought process, @thenextgenlib.bsky.social! This is a very intentional word to carry you through 2026. It speaks to my heart and I imagine I am not the only one.

Y’all, I just got approved to host our school’s 1st African-American Read-In! We’ll host it in February to celebrate Black History Month, books, black creators, and community. I am SO STINKIN’ EXCITED!!! #TLSky #SchoolLibraries ncte.org/get-involved...

Our volunteers keep our library decorated for the seasons. 🎵 Do you want to build a snowman? 🎵 #TLSky

We ran out of tables for groups to work. No worries - that's what a library shelf and some storage crates are for - a standing desk! #TLSky

We are kicking off the year with some small group practice, talking about our books and why we chose them. I created sentence frames to support students. It feels like this is just what we needed! #TLSky

I visited the Family Trees: A Celebration of Children's Literature over the break and fell in love with this "Bathe the Cat" tree! Cleaning supplies and letters cover this creative tree. What made this even better? Doing it with @ldelia.bsky.social! #LibrariansOnVacation @alicebmcginty.bsky.social

A quiet end to a full, beautiful day.

"Thank you Mrs Garland for spending all this time to give us something really fun to do!" - 5th grader. Wow. I am blown away. This was how I started my last full day of teaching before break and it carried me through. And now... I rest and recharge. #TLSky

Those last few days before vacation needed something super engaging. A snowman hunt it is! Even the preschoolers were invested! #TLSky

A library volunteer created this flowchart for processing books. I am so grateful for the gift of an incredible volunteer team (including this one who is working on her MLIS). They keep things in working order while I teach all day, every day. #TLSky

I have NOT had a very positive Ozobot experience overall, but this is one cute little dance that made me smile (and made me imitate it and get some giggles out of group of 4th graders). 🤣 #TLSky

Keeping it real. I have been quite frustrated with our new Ozobots and writing code for them. Thank goodness for my colleague who walked me through her process and the MOST valuable piece of information - ditch the Ozobot markers and use Crayola! Who knew? #TLSky

Today was a milestone and I survived it. It was the 67th day of school. Kids wore crowns, doors were decorated. I heard about it ALL DAY LONG. I am so grateful that tomorrow is day 68!

It's "Decembear" in our early childhood library and this movement activity nailed it! We move, freeze, AND learn polar bear facts! I need more of these! buff.ly/l9lhaFT #TLSky

This year's #HourOfCode integrates Ozobots into the curriculum. Here, first graders turned their Ozobot into an ancient Egyptian traveler, visiting a pyramid, the Sphinx, and the Nile River. #TLSky

Well this just says it all! Students are LOVING learning to use Ozobots. Stay tuned for the integration of Ozobots with our new curriculum! #TLSky

I always learn something new when I spend time in a kindergarten classroom. Today, the brilliant teacher had bells and pipecleaners in the magnatile center with some fun gingerbread people. Yes! Of course! Why didn't I think of that? #TLSky

The Book Doctor apparently now has a full-time job. The Book Hospital is filling. (A library volunteer created this AND is the expert in all things book repair). #TLSky

I spy a 6/7! (And am NOT surprised). "Go Little R2D2!" - 3rd grader. #TLSky