Back to School

Tiffani Roltgen brings a fresh perspective to the YSS Blog. With blogs from the school library side of things in Verona, WI, we are always excited to hear from Tiffani!

Dear Youth Librarians,

My name is Tiffani Roltgen, and I am the library director/teacher librarian at New Century School and Verona Area International School in Verona, WI. I love my local public library and am thrilled to share some suggestions to help build partnerships between schools and libraries.  

Back to School season brings with it a variety of emotions. Here are some simple and engaging ways to help families with the transition. 

• Set up a Back to School paper chain countdown craft station. Support math and fine motor skills with a simple passive activity that allows students and families to create a way to count down the days until school begins.

Photo by Tiffani Roltgen

• Display Back to School books featuring a wide variety of characters and families. Include titles about the range of feelings students may experience from excitement and anticipation to nervousness and sadness that summer is coming to an end. Be sure to include Your Name is a Song, The Magical Yet, First Day Around the World, The Proudest Blue, and The Day You Begin.

• Create an interactive “Summer Memories” board where students and families can post their favorite activities and stories from the summer months. This will jump start those narrative writing skills and help mark and celebrate the transition from summer to school.

• Offer helpful handouts for caregivers such as information about ways to ease the school transition, how to adjust bedtimes, or laminated morning routine or backpack checklists for families to post and use during busy mornings. Consider hosting a freezer meals or lunchbox workshop to inspire quick and creative nutrition.

• Don’t forget the teachers and staff! Help reacquaint them with public library resources including classroom library cards that allow them to check out materials without worries about charges for lost items, time saving services like placing holds on multiple copies of a book, field trip opportunities, or kits that support classroom activities such as science or mindfulness. 

Photo by Krista Brinkmeier Photography

But until that first bell, enjoy these last days of summer sun! 

Tiffani Roltgen

roltgent@verona.k12.wi.us

WI Bill Signed Improving Literacy Outcomes

 Thanks to the 7/21/23 WLA Newsletter for this information:

Gov. Evers Signs Bill Aimed at Improving Literacy Outcomes for Kids Statewide  

Estimated reading time:  7 minutes, 12 seconds

Gov. Tony Evers today signed six bills, including Assembly Bill 321, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 20. The bill relating to literacy, drafted in coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), makes several comprehensive updates to literacy instruction in the state designed to help improve reading and literacy outcomes for K-12 students.

Library Card Sign-up Month 2019: Toy Story!

Every September ALA and libraries celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month.  This year Pixar and Disney's characters from the upcoming Toy Story 4 movie, including Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, and Woody, will serve as the ambassadors of the celebration.  There are bookmarks, stickers, and posters currently available to purchase and later in the month we will see free library card artwork become available.  This should be a fun way to partner with schools at the start of their year and get library cards in the hands of kids everywhere.  To infinity and beyond!

Find out more at ALAnews HERE.

Gimme a C (for Collaboration!): Let’s Talk

We know school collaboration and outreach to schools are both important.  But how often do we take the time to stop and talk about the specifics? Why is it a priority and how are we building these important relationships?

The Youth Services staff at the Sacramento Public Library spent the month of February exploring outreach to schools and what to prioritize with their outreach efforts.  The topic at the heart of the discussion was "building relationship with schools."

Why not take a moment in the lead-up to summer to talk with your colleagues about your strategy for building relationships with schools?  Read the conversation starters HERE.