Resources

This is a local library association in the state in which I intend to become a school librarian. I plan to join this association in order to meet other members, attend their conferences, and collaborate with other librarians. I love that they offer a mentoring program where they pair new librarians up with more experienced librarians to help you grow as a professional. Their Facebook page is also current and up to date with relevant articles concerning issues librarians are having.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools is where I currently teach and also where I plan to become a school librarian. I have worked in several grades during my time as a teacher, but not all of the grades. Having a link to the VBCPS SOL page will help me easily access their curriculum and standards for all of the grades I will be servicing. VBCPS also keeps this page up to date with new testing guidelines and resources (such as writing checklists).
Teaching with Neons is a Twitter and Facebook group for educators. Members share google slide shows, bitmoji classrooms, tips, and more!  All items are free and members are very interactive with each other and truly love to collaborate. It’s an amazing source of information and resources for both virtual and face-to-face educators.
Twitter @teachwithneons

Learning Libraries is a very active Facebook group for librarians around the country. School librarians share funny everyday stories, thematic units, makerspace inspiration, and so much more! A librarian suggested it to me and I have already been able to implement ideas in my classroom so I know it will be a relevant and helpful resource for me once I become a librarian. Cari White is the founder of the page and also runs an informative blog and offers workshops on makerspace.
The Virginia Beach Public Library system will be a crucial partner for me when I become a librarian in VBCPS. I plan to reach out to the local libraries for many collaborations and projects while being a library media specialist. The VB Public Library is well known for its children’s programs, especially the bookmobile. They have summer reading programs, beginner reader programs, and even offer at-home storytimes and STEAM activities that can help my students and their families.
The School Library Journal serves as a one-stop-shop for me as a future practicing librarian. It will help me stay relevant and up to date with library news, books, technology, and diversity. I can find articles, tips, book lists, and even responses to Covid19 by using the School Libary Journal.
Children and Libraries is a journal of the Association for Library Services to Children. Every quarter it publishes research-driven articles that include best practices that are trending in the libraries that work with children. It has a good balance of articles that makes it pertinent to students in library programs, practicing librarians, and also professors.
Edweb.net is an online collaboration site that offers tons of opportunities to collaborate and learn about teaching online. This is an extremely relevant site to help with the current Covid19 pandemic. You can watch webinars and listen to podcasts about online equity, engaging parents, meeting student needs, coding, and more. You can also attend edwebinars and earn CE certificates-and it’s all free! It will be useful to me as a future librarian because it offers members the opportunity to create their own collaboration community with peers, which would be perfect for working with the teachers in the school. The site also offers members the ability to join already established professional communities.

The Virginia Association of School Libraries (VAASL) is the state branch of the AASL.  It offers a plethora of resources for librarians to help them remain relevant in today’s world.  Librarians can utilize the organization to connect and network with other librarians, to find resources on reader’s choice awards and book challenges, to find professional development opportunities and so much more. The organization also offers advocacy ideas and help, as well as, conferences for librarians to attend.  My employer, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, will provide me with professional time off in order to attend local and regional conference opportunities so that I can be better prepared with relevant library ideas for my students.

Teacher Thrive is a website created and run by a curriculum designer named Melissa.  The site features student-centered educational ideas and blog posts that help teachers get creative to reach all students and their needs.  There is a wide variety of activities and programs that can be downloaded for free and also some that require purchasing. This website is a helpful source to me because it provides ideas and activities across the curriculum and for many different grade levels.  Melissa also has several social media sites where she posts pictures of fun and engaging curriculum ideas and resources.

Michael Rawls @Thebookwrangler
Michael Rawls owns and operates the website The Book Wrangler, in addition to several social media sites (Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook). He has over 20 years of experience as an educator and elementary librarian.  His pages include ideas to promote library programs and engaging everyday ideas to promote reading for all ages. His site also features helpful library organization and attention-grabbing displays.  One of my favorite resources is his monthly postings with a wide variety of books to read for the themes or holidays of the months.  His ideas are unique and student-centered.

Diversebooks.org is a non-profit that strives to encourage publishing companies to create more diverse books. Their goal is that every child can see themselves represented in books.  They focus on all aspects of diversity so that all children can be exposed to all walks of life. This organization advocates with a website and several social media channels.

Image Citations:
Children and Libraries (2020). Children and Libraries [photo]. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/alsc/publications-resources/cal.

Diversebooks. (2022).  Diversebooks.org [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/diversebooks.

EdWeb.net (2020). EdWeb.net [logo]. Retrieved from https://home.edweb.net/.

Learning Libraries. (2020). Learning Libraries [logo]. Retrieved from https://librarylearners.com/library-learners-2018/24173098_1494438560605488_8429778511474745255_o/.

School Library Journal. (2020). School Library Journal [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.slj.com/.

Teacher Thrive. (2022). Teacher Thrive [logo]. Retrieved from https://teacherthrive.com/.

Teaching With Neons. (2020). Teaching With Neons [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/groups/teachingwithneons/.

The Book Wrangler. (2022). The Book Wrangler [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/TheBookWrangler/.

Virginia Association of School Libraries. (2022). Virginia Association of School Libraries [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.vaasl.org/.

Virginia Beach Public Library. (2020). Virginia Beach Public Library [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/libraries/Pages/home.aspx.
Virginia Beach Public Library

Virginia Beach City Public Schools. (2020). Virginia Beach City Public Schools [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.vbschools.com/.

Virginia Library Association. (2022). Virginia Library Association [logo]. Retrieved from https://www.vla.org/.