It’s March – CLiF hopes you are enjoying longer days, lingering relaxation found during winter break, and hope from good vaccine news. How did you celebrate Read Across America day? CLiF used lock down to thoroughly review our book list and audit it for diverse authors and characters. Like many libraries, and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, we made important decisions to remove some classics from our list so to offer more “mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors” to all children. CLiF has many resources for diversifying collections and navigating difficult conversations around racism in children’s books; we are here to help!
FOR EVERYONE
- Why, no matter your age, you should read picture books
- Mo Willems – a NEW lunch-time doodle for his new book
- Empower parents to improve academic improvement
- Funding school gardens
- Colleagues of Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) at the Civil Rights Memorial Center are accepting submissions for a community poem. Before the March 10 deadline, encourage your students to submit their original poems about the fight for justice for all. This spring, author Kwame Alexander will choose lines from submissions to create a community poem that will be displayed in the CRMC in Montgomery, Alabama.
- Using elder volunteers
- Eric Carle Museum’s We Heart Books and Art series
- Watching and interacting with animals online – great story material!
- National Geographic’s Mapmaker Interactive
- Program ideas from tryengineering.org
- Creating communities with read alouds
- Quick tips for creative engagement online
- How can programs, interactions, and lessons build background knowledge?
- From FirstBook: Empowering Educators is a series of free resources to help educators engage students in effective, courageous conversations about race and social justice
- Letter writing as a cure for isolation
FOR TEACHERS
- New PBS Teacher Planning Kit for January-March
- Tips for teaching in person and online at the same time
- Culturally responsive teaching texts
- Interested in a virtual teachers lounge?
- 6 ways to make more equitable classrooms
FOR LIBRARIANS
- Some COVID adaptations by libraries and more and an outdoor work space with wi-fi
- Equity and remote learning – tips from librarians
- Hosting a virtual book tasting
- Libraries Transforming Communities – grants, resources, trainings
- Rural Library Network
- Remember National Library Week, April 4-10, 2021
FOR PARENTS
- Techniques to help your kids love to read
- Reluctant middle grade readers and 10 myths about them debunked
- Why you and your kids should re-read and re-watch favorites
FOR EARLY EDUCATORS
- Recognizing potential learning disabilities in preschool
- 25 ways to make reading fun
- Using books to teach empathy
