Laptops in the Library

 

    What type of technology integration is the most important for a librarian? Many school librarians would agree that having 1:1 computer for students is the most important technology to have in a school.  Allowing students to have their own laptop makes it so much easier for librarians who want to use technology in their lessons. 

        Of course, there are some school districts where each student having a computer is just not a reality; however, it is becoming the norm more and more often.  So, what are the advantages of each student having a laptop? Let’s get into it, because there are so many ways laptops can help a librarian successfully deliver a lesson to students.

         First, let’s consider a research project.  If each student has their own laptop, the librarian can assist the students after introducing the resources.  This will allow the librarian to collaborate with the teacher.  Another example is with a digital breakout! Each student having their own laptop makes the game so much more fun and engaging.  3D printing is much easier as well, since all students can be working at the same time.  There is no lag time waiting to use a laptop.  This keeps students on task and engaged.

         This in no way indicates that laptops should replace the tradition of a librarian reading to a class or students having time to pick out books of their choice. Laptops allows more opportunities for librarians to engage their students in fun, STEM or STEAM related activities.   

Reading at bedtime - why is it important?

 Ever wonder what you can do to help your child become motivated to read? It’s simple! Read a good bedtime story! This simple activity will lay a strong foundation for reading skills. So, what does that look like and how can families make reading at night a soothing transition to sleep?

Nightly reading is a wonderful bonding experience for children and parents.  Picking out a book to read at night is a great way to engage your child. A trip to the library will help engage your reader. If your child has a particular genre they like, the librarian can help guide you to a book that will be age appropriate.  Reading a book at bedtime allows families to spend time together, while also fostering a student’s love for literature.  While reading, parents can ask open-ended questions to get the child thinking about the story. In addition, discussing the meaning of words will help to grow your child’s vocabulary. Hearing their parents read exposes them to proper fluency and expression. 

Make it fun! Change the voices and the tone while reading. Use funny gestures. Don’t be afraid to be silly! Talk about what you are reading.  Discuss the pictures, if available. Stories that reflect different emotions can help a student develop empathy as well as the ability to recognize their own feelings. Stories that explore different social scenarios can help a child develop better social skills. Not only are you helping to motivate your child to read, but you are also creating a memory that will last a lifetime.

 

Worried that a class read aloud is a waste of time? Trust me, it isn't!

A class read aloud is something that I have loved since I began teaching upper elementary 20 years ago.  There is just some kind of special magic when a good book is pulled out in front of the class.  Looking at those eager students, excited to hear what is happening next to their favorite characters, a teacher can't help but smile! The benefits of a class read aloud are extensive.  The teacher is able to model expression and fluency, expose students to vocabulary in context, encourage critical thinking during discussion, and develop empathy through understanding of the character.  With all those positives, how could we not want to read a book to our students?

My love for a good book goes all the way back to when I myself was a child and my grandmother, who was a teacher in the 1920's, gifted me a book every Christmas. Some of my favorite titles were "Heidi" and "Little Women".  I would line up all my stuffed animals and read to them for hours.  Once my own children were born, a book was read each night before bed.  My own granddaughter was read to from birth.  Today, as a second grader, she reads at a 5th grade level. I'm positive it is because of her exposure to books from so many people in her family. The love for reading has been encouraged and nurtured her entire life. 

An important thing to remember when reading aloud to students is that it is an excellent opportunity to model expression and fluency to them.  For our struggling readers, this is extremely important. By listening to someone read effortlessly, a student hears what it sounds like to use expression. This is something a struggling reader isn't able to do themselves.  They spend most of their time decoding words, so there is little left for comprehension, expression, and fluency.

Also, a class read aloud is a great time to have discussions! This discussion time helps the students make sense of the text. Students can share their thoughts about the character's actions and make predictions about what is coming next in the book.  One of my favorite things to do is leave the class with a cliff hanger! They love to predict what will come next and can't wait until the next day to see if they were right. 

Yet another benefit of a class read aloud is its ability to improve vocabulary. The discussions that teacher and students have encourage the use of content rich vocabulary.  Students often hear new words in context that help them understand the meaning.  Learning vocabulary in context is much more beneficial than learning vocabulary in isolation.  

A great read aloud can help strengthen the student-teacher relationship.  I have students that I run into many years later, and they will often talk about a particular book I read and how much they enjoyed the book.  In fact, just the other day a student of mine said that a 7th grade friend of hers mentioned that we will probably read "Wild Robot" and how much she loved it! She is right by the way, that book is coming next week! The time that I spend reading to my students is a time when we laugh together, discuss together, and sometimes cry together.  

One of my favorite times to read to my students is after specials, recess, or lunch. These are unstructured times that sometimes leave students "wired".  The act of reading aloud has a calming effect on students.  It allows them to settle their bodies and their minds.  Turning off the lights increase the relaxation. I find that it is important to stick with a scheduled] time for the class, so they know they will have that calming time. 

One of my favorite parts of reading to my class is the opportunity to foster empathy. Spending time discussing the character's choices and actions, gives the students opportunities to think about the impact the character has on others. We often discuss how they would feel if what was happening to the characters happened to them.  This time to reflect allows them to connect to the character's feelings and to think about problem solving strategies.

 There are several books that I recommend for a read aloud for students in upper elementary.  Holes, Hoot, Wild Robot, Restart, and Rules are a few of my favorites! These books are excellent for student engagement, rich vocabulary, and critical thinking during discussion.  

In conclusion, doing a class read aloud with your students is a fantastic way to engage your class! It is an excellent tool to calm down your students. It will help build relationships with your students and create wonderful memories for them.  Academically, students will benefit from hearing you model fluency and expression, hear context rich vocabulary, and participate in critical thinking during class discussions.  With all these benefits, why would you not? 

Why reading aloud to children boosts literacy. Warner School of Education - University of Rochester. (2025, May 14). https://www.warner.rochester.edu/blog/why-reading-aloud-boosts-literacy-among-children

Sanderell, H. (2025, May 16). The wide-ranging positives of read-alouds. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-read-alouds-benefit-young-students/

The Hidden Power of Read alouds. ASCD. (n.d.). https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/the-hidden-power-of-read-alouds

 J., & Okello, Dr. B. (n.d.). The power of read alouds // how to perform an effective interactive read aloud. The Power of Read Alouds // How to Perform an Effective Interactive Read Aloud | Institute for Educational Initiatives. https://iei.nd.edu/initiatives/notre-dame-center-for-literacy-education/news/the-power-of-read-alouds-how-to-perform