#TXLchat Archive
The #TXLchat provides a forum for Texas librarians (but not limited to Texas librarians) to create collaborative connections, share educational resources, and foster life-long learning.
Tuesday January 12, 2016
Welcome to Please introduce yourself and say hello to our special guests Andy Plemmons & LitWorld!
So happy you two are joining us tonight!!
Sue Fitzgerald librarian in Justin, Texas and hello to all.
Jean D. ES Librarian! I hope your # New Year is off to a great start!
Hi Everyone! Excited to swap World Read Aloud Day ideas & share love for the read aloud tonight! https://t.co/kOafNO3YgZ
Welcome to Please introduce yourself and say hello to our special guests Andy Plemmons & LitWorld!
Elementary Librarian from San Antonio TX. Can't wait to discuss
Linsey Taylor elementary librarian
I am here, traveling home from a great conference! Happy to be at !
Thank you for joining us!!!!
. So glad you are here for
Elementary librarian from Jacksonville ISD ready to chat
Elementary librarian in Frisco ISD
Brittni elem lib. BISD.. Hey everyone! Welcome
hello from the Kilgore side of HISD
, hello all feeling honored with our special guests - Robin Spencer - elementary librarian from Copperas Cove, TX
Sharon from East Texas and member. Just finished Niven's All the Bright Places. . Trying to multichat tonight.
Jean D. ES Librarian! I hope your Year is off to a great start!
Hey, y'all! SO looking forward to tonight's Sonja, HS librarian from beautiful Nacogdoches, Texas
Hi, Ro, ES Librarian, Mesquite, TX.
Junior high librarian from S. C. Lee Junior High, Copperas Cove, TX
Hello Karyn- Elem librarian from Houston checking in!
Good evening. Hill Country Elementary librarian, dyslexia teacher, and reading interventionist.
Nancy Jo here. Almost didn't make it! Kids, bedtime, etc. I am at a HS in Frisco! How'd all!
another East Texas attendee for . So happy to be here.
Jean D. ES Librarian! I hope your is off to a great start!
Julee here from Corpus Christi with one eye on Shadowhunters too.
Excited to talk about tonight! Definitely one of the most fun weeks in the library! It always takes more than a day!
Q1 World Read Aloud Day will be celebrated on February 24th. What type of special events do you have planned?
So great to have a friend join !!
I was looking for Kilgore Rangerette books/ DVDs today for our drill team!
and a student in her final semester at TAMUC lis cert program!
Librarian-in-Waiting (degreed, waiting for hiring season) in Katy, TX. Hi, everyone!
Hi y'all. Middle school librarian from Lubbock.
Hello to my Cove peeps! Glad you could make it!
Hi, all! Elem librarian from Seattle, but came to and loved TXLA last year. Kids eating dinner here :)
I'm recording it! No spoilers! ;-D
A1: We stretch out over several days so that we can Skype and GHO with schools & authors around the world.
A1: Honestly I have no firm plans but hope to be inspired tonight.
A1: We are skyping with authors! and I’m planning to have guest readers for the times between authors.
A1: This year Ss are reflecting on the 7 strengths of reading aloud & recording on Hoping to get some folks to join too!
Hi everyone! Representing and tonight!
A1: I love the opportunity this celebration gives to connect readers to other readers & authors!
So glad you are joining us!
Sorry, I'm a bit late. So happy to be with you. I'm Asst. Superintendent in the district where the fabuous works.
A1 Book Fair week for me. Don't have any set plans yet...
I agree w - no firm plans, just wants some beginning idea
A1: It's cheesy but I would like to do a campus-wide choral reading. Synch our watches & have our voices shake the roof!
A1 No plans since this year I am at HS. I have a Library Club, Book Club, & Comic Book club though I want to involve!
Jenny Lussier here from Durham, CT.
A1: Ss are reflecting on 1 question each week leading up to
Wher I work with fabulous folks! https://t.co/uljquYNZjf
Sorry, I'm a bit late. So happy to be with you. I'm Asst. Superintendent in the district where the fabuous works.
A1: Read aloud to as many kiddos as I can! Hoping to share this years and award winners
A1: One of our HS librarians is connecting with elementary classes within our district and some beyond.
A1. no firm plans yet. looking for inspiration---good thing I'm here!
So awesome to have a "higher up" joining us!
Love how you use to gather thoughts of others.
Not cheesy at all! I love it and may steal the idea!
A1: I connected with many authors from this list to connect my Ss with great stories! https://t.co/ASEiWJNJ8O
Hoping for an author to Skype w/ your class on World Read Aloud Day? My updated volunteer list is here: https://t.co/X3QVXPZp7F
Q2 What are your favorite resources for ?
A1: All my classes (even Preschool), will be reading aloud via - it is the most fun to connect w/amazing tchrs!
. I love how easy lets multiple voices join together around a common question
Welcome to our long-distant friends! Thank you for joining us tonight
Karen Meno, Elementary Librarian Rockwall ISD
Hi! Elementary librarian from Fort Worth, TX
A1: Lunch and Listen for upper grades. In-class visits for lower grades. Skyping would be new and fun.
I saw that, 7 Strengths. Can you tell us more about it?
Yes. There is a list of questions. This week is curiosity week. I'll share that!
A1: Last year I asked a manager of the Astros and the weatherman from a local TV station (ABCCh. 13) to read with us. Such fun!
A2: We've used Skype in the past but there are many reliable alternatives such as Zoom.
A1 No plans yet, hoping to get some great ideas!
A1: For curiosity week, Ss are answering "What kind of reading makes you curious and fills you with wonder? https://t.co/UAONOn5u5T
A1: I love it when High school Ss read to my younger Ss. We try to connect w/ authors too. has a great site for that!
There are so many possibilities for and connecting globally!
A1: I'll be posting a new blog post each week with the reflection question and link
A2: With the overwhelming amt of tech my Ss have and use at home, sometimes low-tech and in-person makes it more meaningful.
A2 Skype ! Upper elementary grades reading to a whole class of younger children a book we have practiced that is interactive.
It is great to be here! I'm pretty passionate about this topic. So many great TX friends!
Behind on the weekly themes - we just moved in to our new building and don't have a library set up yet.
. Yes. I schedule guest readers in person for one day during this time for all classes.
Thank you for the taking the time to join us on Our students are so lucky to have admin like that truly CARE!
Some of my most favorite connections happen during !
RT Some of my most favorite connections happen during !
A2 has classroom kit, free logo, community kit & downloadable picture book! All resources are free! https://t.co/hG2HE5jJBh
Q3 How can we make connections with other libraries & schools for projects?
I love this! Thank you for sharing!
A1 - we do an at home reading challenge for the month of March - includes lots of activities with Dr. Seuss books and website
That's where I'm at a lot of the time. Now to get the community involved.
A2: Favorite resources for - site, blog, & GHO
A2 Reading stories that have snow in them. Preparing a display for Ss to chose their own snow books.
We are hosting our school-wide Book Brawl during that week in prep for district competition in March.
A1. celebrations are diverse from read alouds btwn older/younger buddies to special guest readers from the community
Didn't or share those earlier this month/week?
Yes my friend! And it's even better when we meet in person!
A3: connect with other classes in my district
Looking for middle school ideas. Love Love Love the lunch and listen idea!
This post is the best place to connect!
A3: Follow and the hashtag - connect with fellow tweeters!
A2: We love books we can take turns reading - Elephant & Piggie, Interrupting Chicken, Crankee Doodle. Such fun!
A3: Use Google Hangouts or Skype to connect and read aloud with other schools/groups.
Ooh! I like this! A perfect use of pre-existing reading buddies!
A3: Easiest way to connect is signing up on the doc. I've met some of my closest friends through "blind date" connections.
I'm going to try! Kids will love it!
A2. is a special guest for a reason, check out his flipgrids!
A3: We most often use Skype but also use GHO especially if we want to record or share a doc to collab on.
A3 I am going to take a look at the kit and hope to connect with other schools
A2. We are also working w/ to offer more ways to connect/collab between classrooms. Details are coming soon!
Want MS ideas? can get you going. She is always looking for ideas to implement.
A2: I love to document our connections using Google Tour Builder so we have a map with summaries and pics. https://t.co/HhETFNOe2r
A3: Have one campus have a w/a sister campus & or the results!
A3 Use the hashtag to make connections with other libraries and educators!
Q4 Are you celebrating Read Across America on March 2nd? What special event do you have planned?
A1: My reading teachers create an assembly. I hear there will be a special guest this year. Can't wait to find out!
Thanks so much! I'm loving those questions. Such a great addition this year!
Kate Messners list and searched for authors on Skype in the Classroom. Emailed them & have had 4 replies.
A3: Have one campus have a w/a sister campus & or the results!
A4: I have a volunteer setup signup genius to schedule 2 guest readers in every room for Read Across America.
A3 Much like GRA setting up an edmodo board where we make connections & dates with other schools to share the love of reading.
A4: As behind as i am for , feel okay about read across america: Kazu Kibiushi is visiting the next day.
Yes, March 2nd. I have preschool 3 and 4 year olds and first graders that day.
A2: I also seek out local authors. Sometimes it is their 1st skype.
Ive been wanting to try Google hangout and this is a fantastic place to start, either within my district or beyond.
March is dedicated to our MS district-wide March Madness and our district Book Brawl competition. I've been writing quests.
A3 Through a platform such as Skype & Padlet we can share our thoughts on a RA, on the author, share our favorite part of a story.
A1: Don't forget about the illustrators too! I have had some fabulous skypes with them as well.
A4: I am glad they are diff. wks this year! I usually have "Seuss Senters". Might bring back mystery rdrs. https://t.co/Tn6obdFZct
Q4 Are you celebrating Read Across America on March 2nd? What special event do you have planned?
Thanks! Anyone who has admin support has to be a great reaource!
A3: My students love sharing book ideas too. We've gotten some terrific title ideas from other students.
love it! would love the deets on your book brawl!
Q5 What resources are available for Read Across America Day?
a4Last year seuss visited & read & told history.This year tx history SH SFA Seuss come alive 2 teach https://t.co/8xEPY4V7hT
A4: One year, had a red/white/black clothes day for Read Across America. K's made Seuss hats in class. Hmm...should do this again.
Awesome! I can't wait to give it a go!
sam Houston Stephen f austin dr Seuss will read and tell their history on March 2
Love the idea https://t.co/epNObeuAt5
A4: I have a volunteer setup signup genius to schedule 2 guest readers in every room for Read Across America.
A5: I'm certain that will have some great ideas for ways to go beyond the books for &
when I was ES I contacted guest readers from our community to read to every class - super PR & school awareness
We did too with after school book club and the football players in for tutoring! They ALL loved it!
Great partnership between community & school. https://t.co/PsmDNDaGAt
when I was ES I contacted guest readers from our community to read to every class - super PR & school awareness
. I love having the community in the school, especially families and leaders in the community.
A4 I use the Cat in The Hat Camera app for amazing pics at our Read Across America events. Great fundraiser!
I have S aides that also produce S news show. I may discuss a read across the school video they can design and show.
A5 Read Across America artwork & downloadables (posters, certificates, calendars, poems & more.)
https://t.co/IFn7J8PMNE
Thank you for joining us! Special thanks to & !!! Thanks co-moderators &
I have a list of authors who are on Twitter - Use your classroom Twitter to connect with them! https://t.co/VE9DiWuMwn
A5: Is there a ready-made program associated with ?
A5: Is there a ready-made program associated with ?
It was fun! I hope you will all add your schedules to the doc and find some great connections.
Thanks all! Great chat w/ ideas & resources for all!!!
This was a terrific chat! Thank you so much!
Thank you all for moderating and to our guests. Love 2 learn.
Thank you ALL for your amazing tonight! am excitedly pondering the possibilities! https://t.co/mv2Amen67i
Thank you for joining us! Special thanks to & !!! Thanks co-moderators &
Encourage students, teachers, and families to add their voices to those links. They are a space to join our voices
Thank you for joint us tonight!
Thanks for a great inaugural ! Lots of great ideas. Will be visiting that schedule soon! :)
Look for the archives tomorrow afternoon.
gr8t share - see if I can evolve to HS S's
Thank you for all the great ideas! More planning for me! lol
A5. For kids' own celebration ideas = best resource! Get them involved in book selection & planning!
A5 There's an app that takes a picture of you with different Dr. Seuss character accessories and hats. We did a whole faculty wall.
Thanks to all for the energy, inspiration and creativity around bringing the joy of the read aloud to all! https://t.co/PHQMa1mIxd
Thank you for joining us! Special thanks to & !!! Thanks co-moderators &
Thank you for joining us tonight!
A5: Yes! We want to remember to give students a voice. It's what makes the difference.
always inspired how about GH Skype readers from hs on & Seuss & tx hist dress up days
Thanks for all of the great ideas!
Perfect timing: wrapped up as my kids lost their collective calm at the dinner table. Adios, y'all!
Trying to follow the and is exhausting! LOL
