In all of the schools where I have taught, I have had a number of colleagues tell me that they have a "Kristina" folder. They actually took the time to create a folder so they could save the emails that I sent to them personally, to their departments, or to the entire school. They knew that I took great care to sift through the plethora of information that I would receive, in order to pass on what they would find useful. Even though they might not have had the time to read about a new web tool or strategy at the moment, they valued what I shared with them, and planned to eventually revisit it.

Sometimes my colleagues would tell me weeks, months, or even a year later about some "new" gadget or gizmo they learned about. I would smile internally, because I knew that there was an email written by me about that same information tucked away in their folder from long ago.

What have I learned from this?
1. Your colleagues will value you when you take the time and effort to solve their problems. “Advocacy only works when you solve someone else’s problem. When you provide solutions, your worth becomes visible and valuable.” Deb Kachel - Affiliate Faculty, Antioch University School of Education
2. Your colleagues might not be ready to learn what you want teach. Don't take it personally. They will learn when they NEED to, and sometimes it might not be from you. That's ok.
​3. Even though this might seem inconsequential, any time you bring value to the library profession is a form of advocacy.

As I was creating a presentation about advocacy today this little factoid jumped into my brain. It was a silly little thing. But then when I began speaking to a graduate class and listening to Joyce Valenza I began to realize that we do need to pay attention to and appreciate "the small stuff." Not everything is a big show. Not everything is unicorns and rainbows. What really matters is the day to day experience, those moments when we make a difference that ignites change. This was an "aha" moment today for me, a truth that I had forgotten and had remembered when I began reflecting on my journey to librarianship.

​A good friend and wise mentor Donna Rosenblum once said to me, "It's all just bookshit." She didn't mean it in a derogatory way. She is an avid reader and was a great librarian before she retired. What she meant was that there are bigger things than the books, the housekeeping, and the management. And those bigger things are relationships. A "Kristina folder" isn't about curation and technology. A "Kristina folder" is about when someone trusts you enough to accept your help, whether or not they think they need it.

"If you build it, they will come." - Field of Dreams

You've designed a nurturing learning environment, and have developed a dynamic library program, but you still haven't been able to connect with some of your colleagues.  Most likely you've been told that these teachers don't have the time, but it could be that they aren't ready to leave their comfort zone.  When I was a middle school librarian, I was fortunate that our school had study hall periods, and most 6th graders had study halls built into their schedules.  This gave me the opportunity to work with students who wanted to visit the library on their own time.  With a flexible middle school schedule, library visitations were with by student choice or scheduled by classroom teachers.

Our library already had a makerspace that I was proud of, but how could I get those students and teachers interested in it if they had never visited it before?  Just because I built it didn't mean that everyone would come.

So I decided to create STEAM makerspace kits that teachers could borrow for their classrooms.  The kits were low tech (KEVA planks, Legos, sewing, coloring) and a few electronics (Snap Circuits and 3Doodler).  Each kit also included a related book to promote literacy.  For example, a kit would include a K'nex Levers and Pulleys set with Archimedes: The Man Who Invented the Death Ray.​

Each kit included a Flipgrid QR code so the students could record their reflections while using the hands-on activity and/or reading the book.  In this way, many more students and their teachers learned about the library program and the other activities we had to offer.  Here are some suggestions for creating your own interactive mobile STEAM and literacy kits:

Remember...if you build it, they might not come.  So, go out to them! 

​How have you used mobile makerspace kits in your library or classroom? I'd love to hear YOUR story!

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​From Artsonia you can purchase...

Print Avery iron-on labels for clothing...

At Zazzle you can design...

Purchase tyvek wristbands in bulk through Wristbands.com...

Purchase silicon wristbands in bulk through Silicon-Wristband.com...

Flipgrid QR Code jewelry also makes wonderful birthday, anniversary, retirement, and graduation gifts.

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:

Mc Squares Stickies are repositionable and stick on anything.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.