Bunhead With Duct Tape: Making Learning Stick
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8 UNIQUE WHITEBOARDS TO Boost creativity and productivity

12/1/2019

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I have a confession.  Over my 25 years of teaching I've developed focusing problems ("Squirrel!).  I find myself reading the first few lines of an article, jumping to the end, and then going back to the middle if I'm still interested.  I am a victim of information overload, a product of our increasingly technologically dependent society. 

I've tried everything to keep myself organized and focused, from apps to web tools, I always find myself becoming even more unfocused throughout the school day.  One day in the library a student saw all of the sticky notes that I had posted around the circulation desk to remind me of my daily tasks.  He went over to the shelf where I stored personal dry erase boards for my students and handed one to me.  Yes, this is what I needed.  I needed something that was in my face, gave me the physical satisfaction of crossing a task off of my to-do list, and could be modified when needed.

Here are 8 unique whiteboards to boost YOUR creativity and productivity:

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Mc Squares Stickies are repositionable and stick on anything.

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Carry your notes with you in a Nu Board dry erase notepad.

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Keep your hands free while teaching or making by wearing this dry erase board on your wrist.

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Use the Noteboard in meetings and workshops, and then fold it up to put into your backpack for travel.

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This 3 sided dry erase board by OnTask stores your markers while also providing for lots of space to write your lists.

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I was able to order 10 of these standards through the Scholastic Bonus Rewards catalog.  They are wonderful for group discussions and maker stations.

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Many of us get our best ideas when we are relaxed and alone.  Now I can write my thoughts in the shower!

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Make those boring professional development workshops and faculty meetings interactive with foldable dry erase tables.

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INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN 2019

12/1/2019

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Here are some awesome products that you can use to increase student engagement WITHOUT using mobile devices, tablets, or computers.

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LARYSSA'S LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

9/26/2019

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I never shared my 20th anniversary present with you from last year, so here are some photos.

Last year, like every good husband, Mike asked me if I would like a new piece of jewelry to celebrate our anniversary. I told him no. I wear the same pieces every day...my engagement ring that he designed, my wedding ring, the Maleficent watch he ordered from Disney World, the very first ring he ever bought me (my birthstone), the silver ring that also my sister Jen wears and my sister Laryssa used to wear, and two pendants (one that says mother in Korean and one that says mother in Chinese). I don't need anything else.

What I did ask for was this Little Free Library that Mike installed, with help from our kids, at the end of our driveway. We stock "Laryssa's Library" with books that our children are willing to discard from their bedroom libraries. Each book carries a message in it for the new owner to post a photo or video of a rubber duck in Laryssa's memory. This has been the best anniversary present ever, and a happy reminder of Laryssa.

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Update: Thank you to Linda Prout who inspired me to register Laryssa's Little Free Library, and even took it upon herself to send send me the information I needed.  I value your friendship.

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library houses

Smart Apparel for Smart People! Your one-stop shop for geek STEM clothing for adults, kids dresses, and babies. Our Ms. Frizzle dresses defy the gender norms & celebrates all of those amazing women pioneers. ....Did we mention our dresses with POCKETS?? We now have teacher clothing! Plus size clothes available too!

Use this link to receive 20% you first order over $50:
​https://librarian.rocks/Svaha20percentoff50?

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MEMES

9/22/2019

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Memes are a creative way of promoting literacy with visuals and text. You can create them digitally with Canva, Buncee, and Google Slides. Or you can go "old school" with pictures cut from magazines and writing.  There are many ways to do this:
* You provide the content, and your students find an image.
* Your students apply the content to your image.
* Your students choose the content and the image.
* Your students choose the content and create the image.
* Your students create the content and the image.
* You provide the content and a variety of images, and your students match them.

Create video memes with Flipgrid by adding text and images while recording.

Sites for Royalty-Free Images:
https://pixabay.com
https://morguefile.com
https://avopix.com
https://www.pexels.com
https://www.publicdomainarchive.com
https://unsplash.com
https://www.stockvault.com
https://nos.twnsnd.co
https://gratisography.com
https://picjumbo.com

*Please use your discretion when recommending sites to your students.

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A TWIST ON THE LICENSE PLATE GAME

9/3/2019

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A trip to my local Target Bullseye's Playground Bargain Spot inspired this license plate game Fliphunt! It's perfect for family road trips & field trips. You can play too at https://flipgrid.com/4334b927 before a Mystery Skype session.  Your students can also design license plates about themselves, famous people throughout history, and fictional characters/settings.

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ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO WEAR THAT APRON?

7/25/2019

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As a matter of fact, yes.  Yes, I'm going to wear that apron in the library and here's why...
1. Making is messy.
2. Here's to the end of calling myself from the library phone to find my cell phone.
3. Who needs to see the sauce spot on my shirt from my lunch?
4. A granola bar is just what a teacher needs to wolf down on between classes.
5. It's always handy to have a pen and post-it notes to jot more things down on the endless "To Do" list.
6. Librarians are always "cooking up" something, especially during book tastings.
7.  Pockets are perfect for holding change for kids who forgot their lunch money.
8. Students can scan the QR code on my apron to access their Flipgrid of book recommendations.
9. If students are already late to their next class, don't waste time by finding a hall pass.
10. Book fairs can be busy, and an apron can help you be organized.

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I just love this photo of my co-author Stony Evans and his co-librarian during a book tasting.

Here's a cool hack:
Use Wakelet, Buncee, or Flipgrid create a digital cookbook. Then print the generated QR code on an
 apron. You will have access to a wonderful collection of recipes whenever you scan a QR code.  What a wonderful gift for a teacher if each child submitted a recipe from their culture.

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WAKE UP WITH WAKELET!

7/25/2019

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So proud to be able to present one of my favorite tools (Wakelet!) with three of my favorite people (Kathi Kersznowski, Amy Storer, and Brad Dale!)

​​Wake Up! Top 10 Ways to Boost Productivity and Creativity With Wakelet - ISTE 2019 People's Choice Panel Presentation 

Wakelet Webinar: Top 10 Ways to Use Wakelet in the Classroom


10 Awesome Ways to use Wakelet in School Libraries
https://blog.wakelet.com/2019/02/19/use-wakelet-libraries/

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USE FLIPGRID TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS

7/25/2019

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​Turn the tables on the first day of school. Instead of discussing supplies and syllabi, build relationships. Ask your students to record Flipgrid videos about themselves, with their preferred names and pronunciations. Then YOU go home and study!

​Here's a video of one of my graduating 8th graders watching a video of himself when he first entered the middle school.

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ADVENTURES IN CREATING A SENSORY WALK

7/18/2019

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I've always believed that there should be opportunities for students to learn with their heads, their hands, and their hearts.  Our students may understand the effects of the Cold War, how to balance equations, the scientific method, the proper format of a persuasive essay, how to speak another language, score a goal, mix watercolors, and play in tune but what will any of that matter if they don't develop a sense of compassion for others and pride in their work.

This year I was fortunate to continue my career in a district where I met an occupational therapist with a focus in assistive technology.  She and I were both familiar with the benefits of sensory walks for ALL children.  These walks reminded me of the painted footprints that I used to follow from the lobby to the Children's Room in the basement of my public library.  If you have never seen a sensory walk before, check out this video.

While brainstorming we began thinking, "Wouldn't this be a wonderful opportunity for kids to do something FOR kids?"  My colleague invited two special education elementary classrooms in our district to be part of our pilot program.  Then we approached a special education teacher who helps to prepare students for work study opportunities.  With her advisement, a graduating special education senior was invited to become the project manager for this endeavor.  Applying the skills that she had learned in the program, she created a Google survey for pilot classrooms, assisted with cutting and weeding the designs created by the Cricut Maker, and even created a PowerPoint presentation about proper line up procedures that she shared with the elementary students.  This student developed leadership skills that will last a lifetime.

Using the Cricut Maker to design and cut the shapes...

The Cricut Maker in action...

The student project manager teaching the elementary students about proper line up procedures...

Trying out the sensory walk before it is installed...

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These first sensory walks are fairly simple designs, and we look forward to working with classrooms in other district elementary schools on more elaborate projects.  Although sensory walks are available for purchase, the benefits of this project were more far reaching...
* using technology and resources already available
* ability to customize during the creation process
* making connections among schools in the same district
* involving special education students in the process so that they can apply what they have learned in the classroom
* empowering students and educators

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free library newsletter wakelet template

7/12/2019

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Some of my favorite professional development moments are during Twitter chats.  Last night while moderating the monthly #wakeletwave chat (archived under the portfolio tab), I saw Erin Flanagan's post about monthly newsletters that she had created.

I just added 12 monthly newsletter templates on @wakelet you can copy, remix, and use this school year! Grab them at the link and be sure to follow me because I'll be adding more templates this summer! #thehumansarecoming #wakeletwave https://t.co/bV9y3d2S8Q pic.twitter.com/4IuHvLH75D

— Erin Flanagan (@Erintegration) July 10, 2019

Erin's idea was simple, user friendly, and a timesaver...all ingredients for an epic hack!  This immediately got my mind going.  What about a Wakelet newsletter template that LIBRARIANS could use? So here it is...

Save time and money by using Wakelet to create a library newsletter each month! With Immersive Reader technology by Microsoft, your newsletters will automatically be read aloud and even translated. Embed the newsletters on your website, and share them through email, social media, or Remind. Remember...this is just a template to get you started. Have fun and be creative by adding your own images, videos, links, tweets, PDF files, and Google Docs. 

1. Log in to Wakelet.
2. Make a copy of the newsletter at 

https://wakelet.com/@lieberrian.  Scroll down until you see my logo.
​3. Edit it by deleting, adding, and modifying information. 4. Then share it with your students, their families, and your colleagues.
5. Each month you can copy, create, and title a new newsletter.

TEMPLATE LOGO

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LIVE VERSION OF THE NEWSLETTER TEMPLATE

IMMERSIVE READER DEMONSTRATION

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  • HOME
  • LET'S CONNECT
    • JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP
    • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT ME
    • "BOOK" ME
    • CHILDREN'S AUTHOR VISITS
  • BLOG
  • BOOKS
    • HACKING SCHOOL LIBRARIES
    • SCHOLASTIC MAKERSPACE TRUE BOOKS & ROOKIE STAR
  • PORTFOLIO
    • PRESENTATIONS
    • FLIPGRID PD
    • RESOURCES
    • ARTICLES & BLOGS
    • TWITTER CHATS
    • TWEETBEAM
    • ONLINE COURSES
    • INTERVIEWS & VIDEOS
    • AWARDS, CERTIFICATIONS, & GRANTS
  • A FEW FAVORITE THINGS
    • DUCKS 4 LARYSSA
    • SLIME
    • LONG ISLAND LEADS
    • LI STEAM EDCAMP
    • FLIPGRID BUS TOUR 2019