Don’t you just LOVE the start of a new school year and putting up new displays?!  That’s one of my favorite things to do when we first go back to help me “get in the mood” for a new and fabulous school year!  Most off my new displays were inspired by things I saw on Pinterest (I could pin all day!)  Let me tell you about them!

Change #1: Advertising Books!
The first thing I did was decorate this long wall that behind the library by our elevators.  In the past I had up posters to help our kids remember to use the 7 Habits. 

Change #2: Bookprints for Open House Night!
     I followed a link one day on Pinterest to something called “Bookprints”. Scholastic had originally had it on their website, but it seems that they’ve moved it now to Pinterest.  Scholastic defined a Bookprint as “a list of five books that leave an indelible mark on our lives, shaping who we are and who we become.”  They interviewed an amazing array of people from all walks of life and you can see their bookprints here.
     I follow EdTechChic and found her blog about Bookprints here.  I fell in love with this idea, and thought it would be super cool to have our campus each do one for our Open House Night so that the students and parents could begin to get to know their teachers.  It also would help promote discussions on books and hopefully encourage students to try out new stories throughout the year!  I hung each grade level’s bookprints near the restrooms/water fountains for their class, and all the other teachers/faculty were placed throughout the school.  It’s been really fun to see the books that teachers put on their list, and many of us have started a new “Books We Have To Read This Year” List! 

Change #3: Library in My Pocket
     I had begun to teach my students last year about creating a “Library in their Pocket” to help highlight different apps and links to put on their devices that would help them throughout the year.  This year, I wanted to involve parents a little more so I created this bulletin board set that you can find here, and I hung it up right outside the library doors, which is also right by the front office. 
      I will be going over this with all 3rd-5th grade students and we’ll work together to create a “Library in Their Pocket” on their personal devices in the next couple of weeks. I’m also having my 5th grade leaders help me set up Library in My Pockets on all our iPads at the school so that these APPS/Links are easily accessible for everyone.  I’m hoping that by having it out by the front entrance, more parents will ask questions about it.

Change #4: Texas 2×2 Reading Nook!
     We have always done activities with the Texas Bluebonnets books for 3rd-5th grade, but this year several librarians got together and we decided to create something for Kinder – 2nd grade using the Texas 2×2 books.  So, I went to work and create a new reading nook highlighting those books.  Over the next few weeks, I will introduce the set of 20 books, and use them as part of our lessons.  I will be encouraging Kinder – 2nd to read as many of the books as they can/want, and sometime in February we will vote on our favorite.  We haven’t figured out all the ins and outs of this “contest” but will post more soon!

Change #5: Makerspaces!
     There has been A LOT of discussion on Makerspaces in the library lately, and they have a wonderful website full of ideas here!  I decided to try this out this year, but will move SLOWLY in the implementation!  So far, at each library visit, classes have learned about one new center.  You can read more about my centers here.  Here’s my schedule for this year: