A little help?

Another summer project I would love to do is a "where to?" sign, like this one over at The Adventures of Library Girl.  


So far, the places I have are: 

• Narnia
• Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
• Camp Half-Blood
• Droon
• Deltora
• Spiderwick Estate
• Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory
• The Emerald City
• Wonderland
• Neverland
• 100 Acre Wood
• Whoville
• Where the Wild Things Are

Being in an elementary school, I would love to add a few more picture book lands or places. Any ideas?

Mother's Day Surprise

My husband and I drove down to Putnam, CT to have a Mother's Day lunch with our families today.  Putnam has a cute little downtown with a lot of nice restaurants and antique stores (which I enjoy more than Mr. Lodge).  I've been antiquing in Putnam many times but never realized it is where the Gertrude Chandler Warner Boxcar Children museum is until today when we parked next to a big red boxcar!

  

Needless to say, I was pretty excited!  I loved The Boxcar Children when I was in elementary school.  The boxcar has one end set up with all the different things the Alden children had like Benny's cracked pink cup. The other end is full of historical artifacts related to Gertrude Chandler Warner.  Probably not worth a long drive, but fun if you are in the area!

Jackpot!

I have a long list of library projects to do this summer, including this one.  When I saw Duplo projects on Pinterest, I knew it was something I had to incorporate into my library.  I struggle with poetry and thought Duplo poetry would be a great center during poetry month. The blocks can also be used to write sentences or stories.  I also love having hands on activities like this and Library Trivia Jenga (and so do the kids!).

This morning when I was out for a run, I noticed some signs for a bunch of tag sales around the corner from  me.  I stopped home for some cash and headed over, hoping I could at least find a cute puzzle or some prize books.  This is what I came home with for only $8: 

I am beyond excited about all the fun things I can do with these!!!

Advertising

I think people often don't realize the many, varied ways we can be a support to classroom teachers and to students.  Having only been in my school this year, I'm still building relationships with my colleagues and it is still hard to convince some people to sign up for flex time to do research and use the resources we have available.  These are some of the ways I try to advertise all the library can be. 
One easy way I have found to advertise/publicize is by using the space around the entrance to my library.  This is where teachers line their classes up to enter the library and where they wait for their classes to be dismissed from the library.  Any way they turn, there's something library-related to look at.

I have my blurb wall on my door where I post news and students post their latest book recommendations.  I have a book shelf to the left of the door which I use to display books and highlight authors.

And lastly, I have a bulletin board outside, which I always use.   I also put things around the bulletin board.  I think it is probably a bit much for some people but it definitely catches your attention.

1) Joyce Valenza's "What do TL's Teach?" infographic.  She gave Creative Commons license to reuse.


2) An article from SLJ on how full time library teachers are linked to higher reading scores (my town does not have full time library teachers)


3) My library newsletter that goes home periodically with students


4) Why is reading important? poster made with students' exit tickets


5) Why is library important? poster, also made with students' exit tickets.  I think these posters are powerful statements because they are in students' own words.  The individual notes are a bit small so I have seen parents, students, and teachers standing close to the board to read them, which I hope draws them in to read the other things!  I have two additional "why do you read?" posters on either side of the bulletin board as wel.


6) A list of all the ways I can support teachers - putting together crates of books for a project, introducing the Super3 research process, reviewing or introducing specific resources, teaching notetaking lessons, co-planning a project, etc.

How do you advertise your library?  I would love to hear what other lovely librarians are doing to promote their library program.