LIBRARY STACKS
Region 10 Library Services Newsletter- February 2025
Happy February!
As we move into the heart of winter, may your days be filled with cozy moments, inspiring books, and eager readers. Thank you for all the incredible work you do to spark curiosity and create a love for reading in our students. Your passion and dedication make a world of difference—especially during these chilly months when a good story is the perfect escape.
Keep shining! Stay warm and read on!
February Observances
Black History Month
4 Thank Your Mailman Day
11 National Inventor's Day
14 International Book Giving Day-The event is about sharing the love of books, and the goal is to get books into the hands of as many children as possible. It's easy to celebrate: just give a book, leave a book, or donate a book.
17 President's Day
National Thank a Mail Carrier Day is celebrated on February 4th. It's a day to acknowledge the important role mail carriers play in our daily lives.
To celebrate "Thank Your Mailman Day" with students, you can have them create personalized thank you cards with drawings or messages, write a class letter expressing appreciation, design a mail-themed craft, engage in pretend play "post office," learn about the mail delivery process, and even consider sending a small, collectively-bought treat to their local mail carrier as a class gesture. This is a perfect opportunity to teach letter writing.
National Wear Red Day is an annual event. It's a day to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke, and to encourage people to take action to reduce their risk.
For a "Wear Red Day" in the school library, you can organize activities like a "Red Book Scavenger Hunt," a "Red Cover Book Display," a "Read Aloud in Red," a "Red-themed Storytime," a "Red-colored Bookmark Design Contest," or even a "Red Character Quiz" where students identify literary characters known for wearing red clothing.
Meet BOOKS DEL SUR free Author Talks
While attending a conference, I stumbled upon a sign at a booth that said "Free Author Talk" Sign Up. I know that some are frustrated by the limited availability of Spanish titles, so, of course, I had to explore!
Books del Sur curates authentic Spanish literature for dual-language education. The author talks connect you with renowned authors, explore new perspectives, and enrich your love of reading. Classrooms can participate virtually and students can even ask questions.
Information:
- All Author Talks are held monthly on a Friday at 11:00 AM Central Standard Time (Chicago).
- The Author Talks typically run for about 30 minutes. If you need to leave early, no worries! The event will be recorded, so you can catch up on anything you miss later.
- Everyone is welcome! These events are family-friendly and designed primarily for Spanish-speaking classrooms. However, individuals and families often join as well.
The next Author Talk is February 21, 2025.
Get them in the door with themed events related to the month of February
Valentine's Day themed activities:
- "Love to Read" book display: Showcase books with romance themes, love stories, or characters with strong relationships. Examples: https://www.pinterest.com/suefitz123/library-displays-february/
- "Blind Date with a Book": Wrap books mysteriously and let students pick one based on a short description, creating a "blind date" with a book experience. Examples: https://www.etsy.com/market/blind_date_with_book
- "Write a Love Letter to Your Favorite Book": Have students write letters expressing their appreciation for a beloved book or author. Example: https://literacywithmissp.com/2020/04/07/13-write-a-letter-to-your-favourite-author/
- Contests and giveaways: "Read-a-thon": Encourage students to read a certain number of pages or books for a prize.
- "Book Review Contest": Have students write reviews of their favorite books for a chance to win. Examples: https://aislnews.org/library-contests-part-one/; https://forallourkids.com/book-review-contest-2024/
- "Library Scavenger Hunt": Create a scavenger hunt around the library to discover hidden books and information.
Read Across America Day/Week is Coming Soon! Do You Need Guest Readers?
Need Readers for Read Across America or African American Read Ins?
Well, the R10 Guest Reader program can help...
"R10 Guest Readers" is a group of Region 10 employees who have volunteered to come out to campuses to read to classes.
To request readers, simply send me an email. Tell me about your event, let me know how many readers you need, and I will get you set up.
National African American History Month Activities
Sat, Feb 1, 2025 – Sat, Mar 1, 2025
Black History Month is a period in February where the United States celebrates and recognizes the achievements and contributions of Black Americans throughout history, highlighting their impact on American culture and progress; it's a time to reflect on the experiences of Black people and their struggles for equality.
The national theme for Black History Month 2025 is "African Americans and Labor," focusing on the significant contributions and experiences of Black people in the workforce throughout history, encompassing various forms of labor.
Resources for librarians and teachers:
Martin Luther King, Jr. for Kids
30 Meaningful Martin Luther King Jr. Activities for All Ages
Smithsonian Black History Month Resources
Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr. – A Virtual Story Time
Black History Month Picture Book Lesson Ideas
Black History Month ready-to-use lesson plans, activities, collection guides, and research aids
Black History Month Lessons & Resources
Book Recommendations for the African American Read-In (If you need readers, contact me.)
Valentine's Day Activities
Valentine's Day in school libraries can be celebrated with activities that promote connection, love, and learning. These activities can also help students develop social and emotional learning skills like gratitude, self-love, and respect.
Resources:
Ideas for Secondary Librarians
How to Host Book Speed Dating in Middle or High School ELA
15 Tips & Tricks for First Chapter Friday
17 Times Libraries Had the Best Valentine’s Day Displays Ever
Media Literacy & the Super Bowl
It’s that time of year when students are discussing football and their favorite teams. They come to school talking about what happened at the latest playoff games. Excitement builds with each passing week. That’s why this is the perfect time to hook students with a great lesson focusing on media literacy skills. I’ve got a fun and engaging lesson using Super Bowl commercials that will create quite the buzz in your elementary library!
Explore these media literacy lessons
Source: The Trapped Librarian
Professional Development for Librarians
If you have a training that you would like to present or see presented, let me know. angela.ellis@region10.org
Region 10 ESC Library Services
Email: R10library@region10.org
Website: linktr.ee/r10library
Location: 400 East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972.348.1330
Twitter: @R10library
Email: angela.ellis@region10.org