Musings from the Front Porch

  Creating a Makerspace in your Library     In the Don't You Shush Me blog, Low Tech Makerspace in the H.S. Library , Kelsey Bogan (2021) described a makerspace she created in response to disruptive and sometimes destructive behavior the students were displaying during free time in the library. She recognized, at the time, the library was a place for the students to engage in passive activities: reading, studying and scrolling on their phone.  Instead of a makerspace tied to academic standards, Bogan identified a need for the students to take a break from the demands of their curriculum. A bookshelf of board games, puzzles and cards was placed in the library. The students did not need to check the items out, just use them in the library and return when they finished. Over time, she added other low-tech and inexpensive items such as coloring sheets and crafts, rotating them monthly. She reported a positive response and decrease in negative behavio...

  Cyberbullying in the School Library One of the biggest challenges in combating cyberbullying is the rapidly changing social media technology. It seems like apps are introduced so quickly it is impossible to know what students are using and how they are using it. For example, when my children were in school, I knew about the big 3 (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) but then they came home talking about the anonymous site, Yik-Yak. As a school librarian, it will be vital to be vigilant about what new apps the students are using but more importantly, the enormous number of places cyberbullying can occur illustrates the importance of teaching students digital citizenship skills that can be applied in any on-line situation. As the research shows in Faucher, Cassidy & Jackson (2015) bullying does not stop when children leave school, it continues into post-secondary institutions and the workplace.   I think it is important to create a culture of acceptance...

 The South Carolina Talking Book Services (Blog #4) Administered by the South Carolina State Library, the South CarolinaTalking Book Services , https://www.sctalkingbook.org/ , provides access to a variety of resources and programming for individuals of all ages that have a difficult time accessing physical books. This includes individuals that have difficulty hearing, seeing and/or physically holding a book.   To access the materials, a person or an organization must complete an application which includes authorization from a certified professional (e.g., physician, nurse, agency).  Application for Individual     Once approved, audio books, Braille and Audio Reading Downloads (BARD), Braille, large print books, audio descriptive DVDs, magazines, and assistive devices can be accessed. Orders for physical items to be shipped can be completed online, by phone, fax, mail, or email. No postage is charged and no fines are levied if items are h...

Learning with Squishy Circuits Squishy Circuits offer students the opportunity to create their own electrical circuits using clay, wires, batteries, LEDs, motors, and fans. The Squishy Circuit website offers a variety of project videos students can replicate such as a flower that powers a small fan to a snowman with illuminated arms. In addition, an app that includes instructions for creating circuits and a place to share creations is available.   In the South Carolina State Academic Standards and Performance Indicators for Science , third grade students are expected to demonstrate an understanding of simple electrical currents (2014, p. 29). Squishy Circuits would be an excellent hands-on activity for students to gain this knowledge and practice creating simple circuits. Circuits could be created by individuals or groups. Initially, students could replicate an example on the website then they could build their own creation and explain the item’s purpose and how it works. ...