The SLLN (School Librarian Learning Network) Podcast

Guest: Alice Reinert, Teacher-Librarian From: Wanamaker Elementary Topeka Kansas Grade(s) Taught: Pre-k, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: Beyond Checkout: Engaging Staff to Help Promote a Positive Reading Culture -Slides with pictures of staff activities-- https://docs.google.com/p...

Guest: Kelly Hincks, Lower School Librarian From: Detroit Country Day Lower School Michigan Grade(s) Taught: Pre-k, K, 1, 2, 3 Kelly's Previous SLLN Episode: 017. "Learn About Each Other Using Hexagonal Thinking" from Kelly Hincks Resources: Creating a Sense of Wonder with a C...

Guest: Vicky Finney, School Librarian From: Topeka - Washburn Rural High School Kansas Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Keva Plank Challenge: Program Rules : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Mx1pTnwW_wSPM96kC8nIlrUN2I8bE2wCLcFC83B-ed8/edit?usp=sharing Proglam flyer...

Guest: Amanda McCoy, Teacher Librarian From: Lawrence Kansas Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: Bookmark Contest: https://www.ahoymrsmccoy.com/how-we-library/bookmark-contest Book Break: Cute Animals That Could Kill You Dead by Brooke Hartman, illustrated by Maria Ga...

Guest: Stacy Gilbert, School Librarian From: Alexandria Virginia Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Building Cultural Fusion Artifacts Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wjExcVw4vsbMtNLjX4UZ-eUOSr6uizDZ/view?usp=drivesdk Grapic Organizer: https://drive.googl...

Guest: Christine Szeluga, School librarian From: Cranford High School, New Jersey Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Cranford Dixie Giants : https://www.ala.org/news/2025/04/cranford-dixie-giants-receives-aasl-roald-dahls-miss-honey-social-justice-award Add'l Links: htt...

Guest: Steve Tetreault, School Librarian From: New Jersey Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8 Resources: DIY Librarianing! (A Turning the Tables Episode): https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/building-your-literal-tool-kit-hand-tools-to-improve-your-school-library-experience/ Add'l Links: https:...

Guests: Rachael Welsh, School Librarian; Carolina Medina, Spanish Teacher; Melissa Vera, Dual Language Math Teacher From: Pearland, Sablatura Middle School TX Grade(s) Taught: 5, 6 Resources: Bilingual Book Club: Students read the same book in English and Spanish and our conve...

Guest: Helen Farch, Library Manager/Library Technician From: Forest Hill College, Melbourne Victoria, Australia Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Library Borrowing Loyalty Card program: https://canva.link/qq188j95zgmbq2g Book Break: Australian Author Edition! Mad...

Guest: Alexa Dumas, Middle School Librarian From: Plattsburgh NY Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8, and I'm also a public librarian! Resources: The POWer of Graphic Novels: Utilizing Comics in Classroom Instruction to Create Culturally Aware Youth : https://canva.link/jus4dtjnv0fyi8j B...

Guest: Kristen Williams, School Librarian From: Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School- Indianapolis Indiana Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Annual Winter Puzzle Competition: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHCcuzOh3c/m031jvBiOjlg201HTv18Ew/view?utm_content=DAHCcuzOh3c&utm_...

Guest: Monisha Blair, Head Librarian From: Key Middle School (Springfield, VA) Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8 Guest: Deborah Sran, Senior Manager, John Lewis Leadership Program From: Virginia Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12, Central Office administrator Resources: Lewis Leadership Progr...

Guest: Miranda Quintero, School librarian From: Fort Worth, TX | Daggett Elementary Texas Grade(s) Taught: Pre-k, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: I Am Every Good Thing: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUgj10VCR9Y/ Add'l Links: https://youtu.be/UBCw2iK1JOA?si=i341qAVruJCBrfuW Book B...

Guest: Kristin Hancock , Middle School Librarian From: St. Louis Missouri Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8 Resources: Ditching Decimal Points in Dewey and Adding Topics : https://docs.google.com/ spreadsheets/d/ 1RERE6oGFlOddqqb922H5fJmUYseuj TC3Rg2S6_s_Zfs/edit?usp= sharing Book Brea...

Guest: Amanda McCoy, Teacher Librarian From: Lawrence Kansas Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: Culturally Rich Read-In: Google Folder including: 1. Email to Readers and School (in document tabs) 2. Google Form for potential readers 3. Scheduling document example 4. ...

Guest: Meredith Butts, Library and Information Scientist From: New Jersey Grade(s) Taught: 5, 6, 7, 8 Resources: QUEST Website: questlearning.net/ Book Break: The Night Country by Melissa Albert Where to find Meredith Butts, Library and Information Scientist: Website: questlea...

Guest: Stacy Gilbert, School Librarian From: Alexandria Virginia Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Presentation Skills, Or How NOT to Bore Your Audience to Tears: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xKsRzqGD90febFrda0NoeneFN6nu3Uuk/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=1145...

Guest: Rachel Grover, School Librarian From: Virginia Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8 Resources: Helping Students License Their Own Artwork: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/ Add'l Links: SLLN Episode 054. Building Conversational English Skills in the Makerspace with Rachel G...

Guest: Marcia Kochel, Teacher Librarian From: Druid Hills Middle School, Decatur Georgia Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8 Resources: BFF Reading Initiative: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG7PGgtdK0/Ju4ghpwXfBS0z-05w32iKA/view?utm_content=DAG7PGgtdK0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium...

Guest: Kannan Cangro, School Librarian From: Northern Virginia Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Resources: True Book Fair: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MqG6n-VZHCzPYuhcuOq6-OCcoeWH31KHy0ggW3ZPRvQ/edit?usp=sharing Add'l Links: First Book: www.fbmarketplace.org Maura ...

Guest: Dr. Heather Thore, School Librarian From: Robert Anderson Middle School, South Carolina Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8 Resources: Mini Mic Monday: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQCzHvWkpr7/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DSBJ996kvLg/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DSTbMsHkYxd/ https:...

Guest: Maura Madigan, Librarian From: Fairfax County VA Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 Resources: The Winter Games: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fgZaxdpNThP_bIWltnykdiQTxcTThG6EqJGPvfA1mvs/edit?usp=sharing Add'l Links: https://alastore.ala.org/content/maura-madigan SL...

Guest: Rain Smith, School Library Media Specialist From: Whiteland Comm HS, Whiteland Indiana Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Broken Books Build Community: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG1qowq230/G6SVB7D06O4uK_amKSzLlg/view?utm_content=DAG1qowq230&utm_campaign=desig...

Guest: Stacy Brown, Director of Innovation and Professional Learning (previously the Media Specialist and 21st Century Learning Coordinator) From: The Davis Academy Georgia (with a strong dose of Texas) Grade(s) Taught: Pre-k, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Resources: Book Club Bas...

Guest: Melissa Snider, School librarian From: Jackson - Munger Mountain Elementary School, Teton County School District #1 Wyoming Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: Winter Book Give-Away: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jZtqbFm2DzLzj8Mgb6MzAl4ZEVHrFHYlJDu6KGZDqG...

Guest: Pamela Verfaillie From: Valdez High School Alaska Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Topic Tasting for research projects: Are you tired of the same old topics for student research projects? A topic tasting, similar to a book tasting, might be just what you're loo...

Guest: Quentin Taylor, School Librarian From: Legacy Elementary School, Macclenny Florida Grade(s) Taught: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: Read Out of the Box: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JL2TBaNAaQ8JRtm2fD90tAuhvdaKNcOW/view?usp=sharing Add'l Links: https://drive.google.com/dri...

This is a super-short bonus episode - First, we want to announce the winner of the raffle winner from Episode 54, where guest Rachel Grover set up a raffle to give away a copy of the book Life After Whale . Congratulations to the winner, Heidi Sumner! Second, we want to encour...

Guest: Nicole Smith-Schultz,M.Ed, School Librarian Media Specialist From: New Jersey Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: Poem in your Pocket flyer: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGiGQj3NJc/hOyX-EobuIGWEJMMkK7dgA/view?utm_content=DAGiGQj3NJc&utm_campaign=designshare&ut...

Guest: Michael Czajkowski Resources: "Boost your brain with boredom" from May Clinic "Human Information Behavior" by T.D. Wilson "Parasocial relationships, social media, & well-being" by Cynthia A. Hoffner & Bradley J. Bond Check in with us, and check us out! Have an idea, a q...

Guest: Amy Brownlee, Librarian & Reading Teacher From: Kansas Grade(s) Taught: Prek-12 Resources: Active Learning: Mapping the Library: https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/mapping-the-library-at-student-orientation/ Add'l Links: Call number location activities https://drive.google...

Guest: Rachel Grover , School Librarian From: Virginia Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8 Resources : Building Conversational English Skills in the Makerspace: https://groverscornerofthelibrary.com/2016/10/29/conversational-english-in-the-makerspace/ Book Break: Popcorn by Rob Harrell (rea...

Guest: Katie McNamara , Teacher Librarian & Program Director From: Central California CA Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12, Higher Ed Resources: Author Visit : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fNlU1ZiBMUio06LeiDQzO5xldBmx4vSEP518XmN3R78/edit?tab=t.bwb4b0l15rk3 Book Break: This...

Fellow New Jerseyan Meredith and I randomly crossed paths on Bluesky, and I'm glad we did! Meredith's lesson is great, and our conversation blew my mind in about five different dimensions. Guest: Meredith Butts , Library and Information Scientist Grade(s) Taught: 5, 6, 7, 8 Re...

Sarah joins us all the way from Mumbai, India! And she brings some great ideas for building reading culture with active and engaged students. Guest: Sarah Ducharme, Head of Secondary Library Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Creating a Culture of Reading: Book...

When I saw Bernadette's post on Bluesky featuring a video of her students serving as bowling alley bumpers, I had to know more! I'm so glad Bernadette was willing to share about this hands-on learning activity she does with her students to teach about, and then reinforce, libr...

My new friend Rachael Welsh shared a great idea on Bluesky, and I had to learn more! Thanks to her generosity, we can now all learn along with her and her students as she shares her interactive history lesson. Guest: Rachael Welsh Grade(s) Taught: 5, 6 Resources: Interactive H...

First-year school libarian Gwen and I stumbled across each other on Bluesky, and I'm glad we did! We had a great time chatting about being new school librarians, and Gwen shared some of her methods for engaging her students with the library space. Guest: Gwen Blumberg Grade(s)...

I had heard Christina discussing her passion for getting publishers to focus on books for our 12-15 year olds on Amy Hermon's School Librarians United podcast, and was completely on board with her message. Months later, I happened to come across Christina on Bluesky, where we ...

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast. Ryan has so many great ideas on collaborating with teachers and bringing writing into the library to complement the reading and reasearch students do. Here...

My friend Mike is back to chat about our different strategies for finding our next reads and keeping track of our TBR lists!

Lindsey is a new friend I made on Bluesky. After years as a school librarian, she moved into school library administration. While our conversation isn't about a specific activity, Lindsey shares some great ideas for making our school libraries and resources more readily availa...

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast. Barbara Johnson blew me away with this amazing program that encourages student engagement and increases their technological literacy. It is also a great op...

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast. The always-amazing Melissa Thom was kind enough to share her lesson plan for a student podcasting lesson. This lesson engages students with research and of...

Texan-by-way-of-the-Pacific-Northwest Heather is a Library Coordinator for a 52-school district, after having moved over to admin from the library. She now supports the school librarians in her district through a variety of means, several of which focus on the librarians' self...

I made a new friend, and she is awesome! Illinois school librarian Jennifer Fox Eberle shared some pictures of an amazing "Library of Things" program and a super-cool cardboard haunted house activity her students did. When we started chatting, she mentioned an AMAZING program ...

Ryan and I first chatted a while back on the One Lesson at a Time podcast (which will be a Throwback episode here in the near future), and I was immediately struck by how Ryan managed to connect writing with the school library. In this episode, Ryan shares more suggestions to ...

I had seen the amazing things Andrea was doing with her students online, and when I first met her in person at TXLA in April 2024, I was absolutely blown away by her energy and enthusiasm. I'm excited to have her share with us some important ideas for working with ALL our stud...

This week, we're doing something a little different. I'm chatting with a life-long friend who is not a school librarian, nor is he an educator. I think it's always a good idea to get some outside perspectives, and I feel this conversation does a great job showing why that outs...

While we've had a "previously recorded" episode with the amazing K.C. Boyd, we have the Boss Librarian herself back with a new program to share! While looking to her copy of Kristina Holzweiss's DEMCO School Librarian Planner, K.C. was inspired by Gratitude Month. She marshall...

This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast. I listen to quite a few podcasts, but I hadn't heard of Smash Boom Best before LaDawna Harrington, a recently retired school librarian from New Jersey, int...

I first met Andrea at our state school librarian conference. She was wearing rainbow colored sneakers, and I had to compliment her on them. We struck up a conversation, and became fast friends. Andrea is a school librarian passionate about providing her students a safe, welcom...

**This episode was originally recorded for the second season of School Library Connection's "One Lesson at a Time" podcast.** I have been fortunate enough to know K.C. for several years now, and she is always doing amazing things with her students - and this lesson is no excep...

Ashley is one of my first stops when I am trying to expand my knowledge of manga, and I was very excited when she shared out this lesson on social media. She is also one of the authors of a book for educators on incorporating manga into schools! This lesson has my brain buzzin...

Friends, I may have earned a doctorate, but Dr. Andrea Trudeau EARNED her doctorate! In addition to all her coursework, she's published several studies on her area of interest, virtual and augmented reality and its effects on students. She is an amazing resource, and I'm so gl...

I was fortunate enough to work with Wendy on the AASL Member Engagement Committee. There, I learned she is a dedicated, hard-working individual who gets stuff done. And on top of that, she does amazing things for her students! Check out her materials on getting an origami prog...

Tim Smyth is a school-librarian-by-association. We've known each other since I met him at a school librarian conference where Tim was presenting on the importance of having comics and graphic novels in classrooms and school libraries. He and I are definintely on the same page!...

Tennessee school librarian Katie Capshaw is one of those people who feels like a friend after you've just met. She's here to share how she introduces her 8th graders to AI. This lesson has lots of adaptability, and could easily spin off some additional lessons. Settle in and e...

It's me again! In the penultimate episode of Season 1, I'm sharing a lesson on information literacy that helped my students start to wrap their minds around two key concepts when it comes to considering any information: Context and Perspective. Guest: Steve Tetreault Grade(s) ...

Your intrepid host shares a lesson he's found helpful in preparing students (and teachers) to do better research in less time. Guest: Steve Tetreault Grade(s) Taught: 7-8, 9-12 Resources: Planning & Visualizing Lesson : https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NBBdpOoktZ66HbodR...

Virginia school librarian Maura Madigan has taken the idea of reading to pets to a whole new level as a way to support her school's literacy efforts. Guest: Maura Magigan Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Resources: Reading Rescue Pet Adoption Program Lesson: https://drive.goo...

Melissa Corey shares so much of her work and so many ideas - and here she's sharing an amazing exhibit, along with ideas for her process of creating museum-like exhibits in her library! Guest: Melissa Corey Grade(s) Taught: 6, 7, 8 Resources: Holocaust Memorial Exhibit Lesson:...

I was fortunate enough to befriend Todd online, and his energy and enthusiasm were always a ray of sunshine on my day! Here, the 2016 SLJ School Librarian of the Year shares a great lesson that ticks so many boxes! While Todd does this with his upper elementary students, this ...

Texas high school librarian Kaitlyn Carpenter shares this great lesson that connects her students' academic work to their yearbooks! Guest: Kaitlyn Carpenter (aka Carpe_Librarian) Grade(s) Taught: 9, 10, 11, 12 Resources: Sociology - School Culture Case Study Lesson: https://d...

I'm back - this time, with an actual lesson! Check out how you can build your own custom search engines that will only search within the sources you select - handy for you, handy for students, handy for staff! Guest: Steve Tetreault Grade(s) Taught: 7, 8 Resources: Build Your ...

This week is a special episode of the podcast. I've been travelling, and haven't been able to record one of our usual episodes with a guest. But I didn't want to leave you hanging, either, so we're doing something different this week. We're going to start with the book break, ...

This week, the SLLN Podcast goes international as Canadian school librarian Christopher Hunt joins us to share his science-focused "Makery Bakery" lesson, where second graders make bread and butter! Guest: Christopher Hunt, Chris (he/him) Grade(s) Taught: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Reso...

Miss Jean Darnell, known online as Awaken Librarian, is a careful thinker and diligent researcher. In this episode, she shares some lessons and thoughts about AI in education. Guest: Ms. Jean Darnell Grade(s) Taught : 6, 7, 8 Resources : Using AI for Literacy Lesson: https://w...

Kelly Hincks has been sharing wonderful lessons over on the Knowledge Quest blog for years - if you've been missing them, be sure to check them out! In this episode, she shares how she has students use hexagonal thinking to get to know each other in a fun and creative way. Thi...

"Everything's bigger in Texas" is not just a saying, as school librarian Deb Zeman will prove in this episode! The lesson is big, the resources are big, the Book Break is big - and the implications for our students are big! Guest: Deb Zeman/MS Librarian Grades taught: 6-8 Reso...

Tennessee school librarian (and generally wonderful human) Laurie Stansbury shares the lesson she does with the book The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan (Illustrator) - and both the book and the lesson are lovely! Guest: Laurie Stansbury Gr...

The ever-delightful Katie McNamara shares how she uses "Game of Quotes" as a lesson in collaboration with her teachers, and gets requests from both students and staff for more! Guest: Katie McNamara, High School Teacher Librarian & Fresno Pacific University Program Director, T...

New Jersey is in the house! 4-6 school librarian Gab Casieri shares how she gets research skills and critical thinking embedded in her "Curiosity Project" lesson! Resources : Curiosity Project Lesson: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B8ePsu1vzo_4tdwUKO0sXG-j_GQO98s4tK-WhelO...

Friends, if you haven't gotten to know school librarian Erika Long, what have you been doing with yourself? She is an amazing practitioner, and we're lucky to get to learn from her this week! She's bringing her middle grades "Renaissance Art Tour" to us, and I have no doubt yo...

Ya'll, we've got Dustin Hensley in the house! This Tennessee high school librarian is all about experiential, authentic learning, as his "Community Improvement" lesson clearly demonstrates. (On a completely unrelated note, Dustin is also the KING of grant writing - if you're l...

Tom's online handle is "Captain Library" because that's his school, but it's also a fitting title, because Tom is THE MAN when it comes to all things library - particularly primary sources! (If you haven't checked out The Primary Source Podcast , you are missing out.) He has c...

Resources: MISSION MARS Lesson: https://wakelet.com/wake/r571cioBoL8vU9KHLVAU- Book Break: We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library: The Graphic Novel by Chris Grabenstein Where to find Ali Schilpp : Website: https://linktr.ee/AliSchilpp Han...

While she's known in some circles as "That Librarian", she'll always be the amazing Amanda Jones! The lesson she's sharing was directly inspired by her own experience with facing harassment online. It's a wonderful opportunity to give students space to share their own experien...

Fallon Farokhi brings such a wide array of experience and skills to the school library - it's no wonder her students love coming to the library! In this episode, Fallon shares a lesson that encourages students to engage in authentic inquiry driven by their own curiosity - and ...

If you aren't familiar with Amanda Hunt, you're missing out! "The Next Gen Librarian" is such a wonderful font of shared book reviews, school library ideas - and lessons! Although she calls this lesson "Turkey Bingo", it's not just limited to use around Thanksgiving - this is ...

We have SO MANY great school librarians volunteering their lessons that our usual 2 week release schedule doesn't make sense. So for the foreseeable future, we're bringing you a new episode every week! Stay tuned for more great episodes coming your way soon! Check in with us, ...

If you're seeing this, you are at least passingly familiar with podcasts. I've been a fan of podcasts for quite a while now; I'm a daily listener to a variety of podcasts. It's fair to say I get a large percent of my information about the world from podcasts. And I know I'm no...

Jersey in the house! I'm excited to introduce you to my friend Lisa Manganello, a high school librarian in New Jersey. Lisa is an incredible teacher-librarian, emphasis on the "teacher" part, as she demonstrates with her explanation of how she approaches this media literacy le...

I was excited when THE Cue the Librarian said she'd share a lesson. But I was not ready for how incredibly versatile and engaging this lesson is! So much adapatability, so many possibilities! This TALL Texan school librarian brings it, big time! Even better - this is an incred...

First come some thanks to the folks who helped me figure out podcasting. Then the multi-award-winning Oklahoma high school librarian Molly Dettmann shares her wonderfully named lesson, "Oh Meme! Oh My!" Molly has crafted a lesson sure to engage students in learning more about ...

Georgia school librarian Meggan Ford shares her lesson that combines two October events - Dia de los Muertos and Banned Books Week. Hear about her Ofrendas lesson, and be sure to check out the links! Find Meggan: Twitter , Instagram , TikTok : @msfordfierce Seeds-of-imaginatio...