Fellow New Jerseyan Meredith and I randomly crossed paths on Bluesky, and I'm glad we did! Meredith's lesson is great, and our conversation blew my mind in about five different dimensions. 

Guest: Meredith Butts, Library and Information Scientist

Grade(s) Taught: 5, 6, 7, 8

Resources: 

• Information Organization Lesson: https://edushare.ing/organizinginformationbymeredithb 

• Add’l Links: https://edushare.ing/deweychallengefororganizinginformationactivitybymeredithb 

Book Break: 

• Ways of Attending: How our Divided Brain Constructs the World by Iain McGilchrist

Where to find Meredith Butts, Library and Information Scientist: 

• Handle: TheMeriLibrarian / @bemeredith.

• I can most regularly be found on: Bluesky, LinkedIn (I don't do much on there, except keep a profile)

• Bluesky: TheMeriLibrarian @bemeredith.bsky.social  

• Other Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithbutts/ 

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

Sarah joins us all the way from Mumbai, India! And she brings some great ideas for building reading culture with active and engaged students.

Guest: Sarah Ducharme, Head of Secondary Library

Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Resources: 

• Creating a Culture of Reading: Booktalks & more Lesson: Various activities: https://oberoi-is.libguides.com/OGC-Secondary/OISReads  

Book Break: 

• Everything We Never Had by Randy Ribay

Where to find Head of Secondary Library: 

• Website: https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/

• I can most regularly be found on: Bluesky, LinkedIn

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/sducharme.com

• Other Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scducharme/

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

When I saw Bernadette's post on Bluesky featuring a video of her students serving as bowling alley bumpers, I had to know more! I'm so glad Bernadette was willing to share about this hands-on learning activity she does with her students to teach about, and then reinforce, library materials organization. 

Guest: Bernadette Roche

Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Resources: 

• Biography Bowling video: https://bsky.app/profile/must-luv-books.bsky.social/post/3ljbtd4k43c24 

Book Break: 

• We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang, one of the 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Award winning books. My K-1 students remembered the book for weeks after reading it. Most of my classes remarked that their favorite part of the story was how people were kind to each other no matter what the aliens looked like. 

Where to find Bernadette Roche: 

• Website: linktr.ee/must.luv.books - has all my socials

• I can most regularly be found on: Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

• Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/must-luv-books.bsky.social 

• Instagram: instagram.com/must.luv.books

• Twitter: twitter.com/Oh_the_Places

• Facebook: Must.luv.books

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

My new friend Rachael Welsh shared a great idea on Bluesky, and I had to learn more! Thanks to her generosity, we can now all learn along with her and her students as she shares her interactive history lesson. 

Guest: Rachael Welsh

Grade(s) Taught: 5, 6

Resources: 

• Interactive History Lesson: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGVAMqSWxc/vUSYg5HVNeki2Ys0pMIWQw/view?utm_content=DAGVAMqSWxc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h8254712e03

• Add’l Links: https://wakelet.com/wake/0iPP8bzy4gnhu5JJ9_JqO

Book Break: 

• Author Lindsay Currie's Scritch Scratch, It Found Us, The Mystery of Locked Rooms

Where to find Rachael Welsh: 

• Handle: @rachaelreads

• I can be found on: Instagram, TikTok

• Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/rachaelreads.bsky.social

• Instagram: instagram.com/rachaelreads

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachaelreads_

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

First-year school libarian Gwen and I stumbled across each other on Bluesky, and I'm glad we did! We had a great time chatting about being new school librarians, and Gwen shared some of her methods for engaging her students with the library space. 

Guest: Gwen Blumberg

Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Resources: 

• Strengthening Library Skills to Increase Independence & Engagement Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BwfwPZq5MHZVsokxd2L1_TbUMEg2CquA3VjULCuMcbk/edit?usp=sharing 

• Additional Links: The Card Catalog Effect, as explained by Courtney Milan on Bluesky

Book Break: 

• Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

• Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian 

Where to find Gwen Blumberg: 

• Handle: @gwenblumberg

• I can be found on: Bluesky, Instagram

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gwenblumberg.bsky.social  

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gwenblumberg/# 

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

I had heard Christina discussing her passion for getting publishers to focus on books for our 12-15 year olds on Amy Hermon's School Librarians United podcast, and was completely on board with her message. Months later, I happened to come across Christina on Bluesky, where we were able to connect and share some ideas. And now she's here to share some of those ideas with you, too! 

Guest: Christina Chatel

Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8

Resources: 

• Troybery Author Blitz Lesson: https://troymiddleschoolmediacenter.weebly.com/troybery.html 

• Add’l Info: The Troybery Author Blitz supports our Troybery Reading Program, now in its 25th year. Annually we choose a list of around 20-30 titles. Students vote them down to the top 10 and then Troybery Award winner. As part of Troybery, we host the Author Blitz, where we offer a virtual author visit every hour of the school day. Teachers from across curriculum tune in to these 30 minute author visits, where authors plead their case for students to read their books and vote for them. The librarians moderate the Q&A portion with pre-submitted and live questions. Teachers and students look forward to this event every year--we tell teachers, "Let your librarian do your lesson plans for the day!"

Book Break: 

• Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi

Where to find Christina Chatel (say it "SHUH-tell"): 

• Website: https://troymiddleschoolmediacenter.weebly.com/troybery.html 

• I can be found on: Bluesky, Instagram

• Bluesky:  bsky.app/profile/medialoguer.bsky.social

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/young_teenlit/ 

• Other Social Media: www.youngteenlit.com, @youngteenlit.bsky.social

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast.

Ryan has so many great ideas on collaborating with teachers and bringing writing into the library to complement the reading and reasearch students do. Here he shares how he teaches students how to use research skills to add depth to their creative writing! 

View Ryan's lesson plan, catch the original version of the episode, and even get a PD certificate! 

Follow the link: https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Home/Display/2294332

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

My friend Mike is back to chat about our different strategies for finding our next reads and keeping track of our TBR lists! 

Lindsey is a new friend I made on Bluesky. After years as a school librarian, she moved into school library administration. While our conversation isn't about a specific activity, Lindsey shares some great ideas for making our school libraries and resources more readily available; because it doesn't matter how great our libraries are if no one is using them! 

Guest: Lindsey Kimery

Grade(s) Taught: 6th-8th for 20 years; K-12 for 5 years

Resources: 

• Removing Barriers to Access document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w80IM-ydBhXooyn5N7bUupeK7ww4md1PKfYKQD6jFSY/edit?tab=t.0

Book Break: 

• The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Where to find Lindsey Kimery: 

• Website: https://www.mnps.org/learn/academics/library-services

• Handle: @LindsKimery (IG & X); @lindseykimery (bluesky)

• I can be found on: Bluesky, Instagram

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lindseykimery.bsky.social

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindskimery/

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast.

Barbara Johnson blew me away with this amazing program that encourages student engagement and increases their technological literacy. It is also a great opportunity to highlight the many ways school libraries support students beyond books - which can be some great PR and library advocacy! 

View Barbara's lesson plan, catch the original version of the episode, and even get a PD certificate! 

Follow the link: https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Article/2296550

Check in with us, and check us out!

• Have an idea, a question, or a lesson you want to share? Email [email protected]

• Check out the curated list of free online resources & events at www.SchoolLibrarianLearningNetwork.org

Some Bluesky Resources

Starter Packs - These give you a list of accounts you might be interested in following. You can selectively choose among the accounts, or "Follow all" with one click!

• School Librarians by @techielibgrl.com

• UK School Librarians by @ljwattswales.bsky.social

• K-12 School Library Professionals in Canada by @dnevillebooks.bsky.social

Feeds - These are collections of posts that meet certain search criteria. They're a great way to see topics you're interested in! You can add feeds to your account for easy repeat viewing. 

• School Librarians Feed by ‪@davidbfox.com‬: Follow the feed to see posts that include "schoollibrarian," "schoollibrary," "School Library Journal," "LMTS," "AASL"

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@tljamesa.com‬:  This is a feed of posts from and for school librarians, teacher librarians, library media specialists, etc. #TLChat #FutureReadyLibs #SchoolLibrary #SchoolLibrarian #TLsky

• School Libraries Feed by ‪@debbieohi.com‬: Picks up posts that include hashtags related to school libraries and school librarians. Search parameters still being tweaked.

• TLSky Feed by ‪@techielibgrl.com‬:  - TLSky is a feed for Librarians. Share by using #tlsky