#school library

Smore is an interactive newsletter builder. The platform allows for collaborative work and simple sharing to email, website, social media, and mass notification systems. Smore makes newsletters accessible to all students and families by offering auto translations in 130+ languages.

Smore also offers hundreds of customizable newsletter templates so that busy teachers and librarians have a starting point.

The feature that most drew me to Smore is the analytics provided. Smore provides educators with easy to understand analytic data that shows how readers are engaging with the content. This allows educators to see if their newsletters are actually reaching their colleagues, students and families and gives them the opportunity to make adjustments that better fit their community.

Would I use this in my classroom? Yes! What sets Smore apart from other graphic design applications like Canva are the elements created specifically to benefit educators, school leaders and their communities.

Rating: 5/5

We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a nonprofit organization created to not only showcase books featuring diverse characters, but assist authors and illustrators in publishing their diverse books and then donating and distributing those titles.

It is important to give students access to diverse literature because building a well-rounded sense of self is dependent on seeing representations of ourselves and of others we may be unfamiliar with. Children’s author and WNDB Advisory Board member Grace Lin uses the terms mirrors and windows to describe these two kinds of representation in media. Without one or the other, children develop a narrow worldview and, as a result of that, have an inflated sense of self or a negative sense of self (TEDx, 2016).  

We Need Diverse Books also offers several resource guides on their website including information on how to diversify your bookshelves, fight book bans, and writing and publishing resources.

Rating: 5/5

Would I implement this in my library? Yes, I would absolutely use the resource guides about where to find diverse books, especially the guides that address specific groups of people or cultures to fit the needs of my students.

References

TEDx. (2016, March 18). The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child's Bookshelf | Grace Lin | TEDxNatick [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_wQ8wiV3FVo?si=EOx8Zx7jeY6eD-Wx

RumorGuard is a platform created by the News Literacy Project dedicated to teaching news literacy by fact-checking viral rumors. This platform works best for students in grades 8-12.

In addition to telling users if a claim is true or false, RumorGuard evaluates the claim based on five credibility factors, source, evidence, context, reasoning and authenticity.

Additionally, each claim presented has related news literacy resources available in the platform, including virtual lessons, infographics, video tutorials and written guides, so that students can replicate the fact-checking process.

Rating: 5/5

Would I implement this in my library classroom? Yes! I think this is a great resource that not only informs students of "fake news," but helps them to build skills to spot misinformation on their own.

Sooth is an internet search engine for students. The search engine is focused on providing students with credible and diverse sources, filtering out less reputable sites and distractions like ads or AI chatbots.

Sooth has several features beneficial to students including the ability to add resources directly to research collections for later, generating citations, and taking notes. Sooth allows students to fine tune search results as if they were using a database.

My hesitations regarding Sooth are that it may limit students from learning about how to safely and effectively navigate the internet and conduct research on their own without the platform. However, I think that is a useful tool for younger grades who are not quite yet learning these skills. I also think it could be used as a tool when conducting research, rather than the sole search engine utilized by the school.

Rating: 3/5

Would I implement this? I am not sure! I can see use for it, but depending on school budget it may not be worth it compared to how much I would use it in the classroom.

Home. (n.d.). Sooth. https://sooth.fyi/

Pixton is a digital comic maker for students in grades 1-12. This resource can be used across multiple grades, subjects, and abilities. Students create comics by selecting a background for the scene, adding characters chosen from literary characters, real people, or customized characters, changing outfits, expressions and poses, and by adding elements, captions and dialogue to the scene. Every piece of the comic is customizable and open for the student to explore.

Pixton also offers ready-to-go lesson ideas for each subject that teachers can add to their account and make changes to. In the example below, teachers can keep track of student reading by instructing students to create a comic reading log. Students would create a scene encompassing each book they've read and include a caption with description and rating.

One thing that stood out to me about the Pixton website was the focus on research and evidence backing the impact on student learning. Several reports, studies, and certificates are liked on the website.

Pixton would be a great addition to library resources because it helps build strong literacy skills through the development of storytelling skills and reading comprehension, enhances writing and visual communication, increases engagement and motivation, and demonstrates student learning.

Rating: 5/5

Would I implement this? Yes.

THEYRE COMING FOR ME