As librarians and teachers, we are always on the lookout for learning activities that engage and excite our students. We want them to connect to the content we are sharing and have them create their own meaning from these learning experiences in the most authentic ways. Well, there is something new in the world of education that does just that.

Access goes beyond being a core value for libraries. It’s the reason they exist. The idea that any student can check out a book at no cost and be trusted to return it for the next reader says something wonderful and important about our values. But libraries aren’t just about checking out books anymore and access isn’t either. As you reflect on what access means in your school library, here are some things to consider:

As you walk into many school libraries, you will see multiple spaces set up engaging students in different types of independent and self-directed learning. These are called learning centers and are used within libraries and classrooms in a variety of ways. They can be used to teach skills, as enrichment, to explore, and as a place to cultivate individual interests.

The Common Core Standards were developed not only to provide consistent learning goals across states, but also to provide a clear and consistent framework for educators. Blended learning, a method of instruction that combines the use of online instruction through educational technology combined with face-to-face learning, provides unique opportunities to support the Common Core and other state learning standards.

As educational hardware and software improves, technology-rich classrooms are more and more common. However, moving beyond a technology-rich classroom is a classroom using blended learning. Blended learning leverages educational technology, like PebbleGo, to combine face-to-face instruction with online learning. There are many different models and approaches to integrating blended learning into an elementary classroom, but all models involve some sort of online component.

If you have spent any time with children at all, you will know that social media is a huge part of their lives. Not only is it a big part of their lives, but for many of us adults as well. It can be a powerful resource to connect and communicate. So how can you leverage social media as a teacher to help your classroom and career grow?

School librarians work in a unique environment that requires constant adaptability. Whether adjusting to curriculum changes or new technology, librarians need a wide range of skills to be successful. Professional development helps keep skills fresh and helps you adapt to changes. Here are a few resources to help you explore professional development opportunities.