Gray's Blog

The AASL Best Digital Tools lists are always an excellent resource, but this year, with our increased focus on virtual teaching and learning, it is critically important. I selected Code Spark and Facing History. Both of these tools are valuable… Continue Reading →

Several times over the last two years, I’ve thought that I really need to learn how to use coding both in the library and to collaborate with classroom teachers. This assignment forced the issue, for which I am very grateful!… Continue Reading →

I was initially disappointed when this year’s ODU Summer Institute was moved online due to Covid, but after seeing how well things were done virtually in my LIBS 677 (Knowledge Organization and Access) class this spring once the pandemic hit,… Continue Reading →

While I looked at all the websites in this week’s sandbox briefly, I chose two elementary school library websites and one middle school library website to examine in-depth. I think the virtual learning format that looks likely to happen this… Continue Reading →

I’ve been interested in the idea of doing a virtual field trip with my students but hadn’t previously had time to explore the idea or select a destination for us to visit virtually. I found dozens of expeditions that look… Continue Reading →

I attended the VAASL (Virginia Association of School Librarians) conference this past fall, November 2019. I cannot even begin to list the myriad amazing ideas, books, and makerspace projects I encountered, and one of the highlights of the conference presentations… Continue Reading →

Like the rest of the country, we ended the school year with what my district called remote learning. This required an enormous amount of creativity on the parts of all educators, not to mention the need to learn and then… Continue Reading →

This time last year, I was tasked with creating a nursery rhyme poster using one of several different presentation tools for a Children’s Lit class. I tried Smore a bit, took a very quick look at Canva, and then defaulted… Continue Reading →

I’ve never previously used audio tools to record something for my website or to share with my students, so this, like everything else in this class, was revelatory! I fell in love with Voki and can think of myriad ways… Continue Reading →

Here is an infographic I created to display the number of nonfiction books of each type in our Hartwood Elementary School Library collection. I’m just finishing up my end of year reports, so collection statistics are on my mind, and… Continue Reading →