Elisa's Library Lens

African American Children's Literature Infographic Reviews for:  Big , by Vashti Harrison From the Desk of Zoe Washington , by Janae Marks Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech that Inspired a Nation, by Barry Wittenstein Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson Black/African American Literature by elisa.scarborough

     Libraries are vibrant gateways to knowledge, and for young readers, they offer an unparalleled opportunity to explore the world beyond their immediate surroundings. International children's literature plays a crucial role in this exploration, fostering empathy, broadening perspectives, and celebrating the rich tapestry of global cultures. These translated treasures not only introduce children to diverse storytelling traditions but also highlight universal themes that connect us all. In this blog post, I've created Infographic Reviews that delve into the importance of international children's literature in library collections and shine a spotlight on prestigious awards like the Mildred L. Batchelder Award, which recognizes excellence in translated children's books and encourages their publication in the United States. International Literature by elisa.scarborough

Navigating New Tools and Finding my Voice My Final Reflection for LSSL 5391 Digital Technology for the School Library     This semester of Digital Technology for the School Library has been a true "deep dive." While some tools presented steeper learning curves than others, the journey has opened my eyes to the immense potential of digital technology in the library setting.       This Reflection Presentation explores my journey through the various digital tools and concepts we encountered. I'm highlighting the highs, the lows, and the potential I see for these tech tools to empower future learners. LSSL 5391 2025 Final Reflection Presentation by elisa.scarborough

    Are you as new to the concept of Universal Design for Learning as I am? Looking for ways to reach students with varying learning needs, but differentiating lessons is becoming too time consuming? In this blog post, I explore my thoughts regarding accomplishing UDL in a Co-Teach approach.        Rooted in brain research, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework helps educators build flexible learning environments that address individual student needs. This is achieved by providing multiple options for how information is presented, how students can express what they know, and how they can stay engaged in learning. UDL aims to design learning from the start to be inclusive and meaningful for all by reducing potential barriers. The three main pillars of UDL consists of designing multiple means of Engagement , Representation , and Action & Expression .   The UDL Guidelines     In my 6th grade classroom, students have jus...

In this short video tutorial, I demonstrate how to search for sourdough starter information online and explain tips for evaluating the websites to find fermenting answers.      My sourdough journey began with a friend sharing a starter from her own batch with instructions on naming her and how to feed her. As I became more interested in the process and variations of my starter, I learned that I in-fact have a Herman starter and not a true sourdough starter. With a quick search on my phone of the steps to create a sourdough starter from scratch, I attempted and failed miserably in my endeavor.      Taking the time to properly search and evaluate websites for clear instructions and visuals has paid off with better references on how to ferment a sourdough starter from scratch.     When explaining how to perform searches online to beginners, a video can best communicate how to decide which results to click. My sourdough starter topic is relevant, enga...

     If you're ready to dive into podcasting, Podbean , Buzzsprout , and SoundCloud are great places to begin your platform research. While these are three popular options, each has its own strengths and weaknesses. I created a First Chapter Friday recording of Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston as my very first podcast episode and recorded myself using my Voice Memos app on my phone. After I finished recording on my phone, I sent the audio through AirDrop to my Mac and saved as a MPEG-4 audio file. This initial step, though simple, illustrates that the journey into podcasting starts with understanding your basic needs and exploring available tools.      A bonus to podcasting is being able to collaborate on an episode virtually! For this blog post, I worked with a classmate to create a podcast episode about reviewing podcast platforms! Again, with my Voice Notes app, I was able to record my findings on these three platforms and send them through ...