Teacher Librarian Jeopardy: the going-back-to-school edition

Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 200 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 200 dollars...the item(s) you cannot wait to share with your students"

Me: "What are BOOKS?"

AT: "Correct!"

I cannot wait to get back to school and share, read, talk about, and/or hand to students boos from the #bookstack of books that I read over the summer.  I think I have the BEST profession.  I spend my days hanging out at the corner of reader and story and witness the magic that happens when these two connect. 

I get to hear and see the excitement a student has after reading a book.

I get to hear inspiring and fun discussions about books, authors, and illustrators.

I get to see students' faces light up when they see or hear something in a story that tickles their funny bone, surprises them, elicits outrage, or scares them.

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Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 400 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 400 dollars... the thing that makes your school community feel like a family."

Me: "What are teacher friends and staff?

AT: "Correct!"

I feel fortunate to work with a staff that is committed to the learning experiences of each and every child that walks through the door. The added bonus is that I like my colleagues. How lucky is that? I work with people that I enjoy spending time with and with whom I have established personal connections. We run together, we watch Jane Austen movies together, and we know enough about each other's lives to share a look, a hug, a card, and/or a poem on just the right day.

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Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 600 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 600 dollars...this makes every day learning experiences more exciting."

Me: "What are literacy initiatives like World Read Aloud Day, WRAD, Picture Book Month, Dot Day, ALA Book Awards, Read Across America, and Children's Choice Book Awards?"

At: "Correct!"

Moving my library beyond the bricks and mortar that creates our physical space is important to me. Connecting with other students, teachers, authors, and illustrators across the country and around the globe makes our learning experiences more engaging, more interesting, more authentic, and more fun.

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Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 800 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 800 dollars...What makes each school year feel fresh and new?"

Me: "What is taking risks?"

AT: "Correct!"

Despite the planning, curriculum mapping and other efforts to plan out a year, there are always new opportunities for collaboration, unexpected events, and fresh initiatives. These learning experiences are often the ones that I remember the most. Each year feels fresh because I like trying new things and exploring new learning experience for the students and myself. 

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Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 1000 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 1000 dollars...These make coming to school each day the only choice you can imagine."

Me: "What are the students?"

AT: "Correct!"

What can I say, the students are the glue that hold everything together, without them the rest of this would be gravy, just nice projects, lessons, and learning experiences. Their energy, knowledge, and presence make everything else worthwhile. They inspire me to be a better teacher and learner every day.

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On Tuesday, I will be welcoming students back into the school and my library. My arms and my heart will be open. Happy New School Year to All!

~jennifer

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