Jean Darnell: Awaken Librarian

Before I begin, I must caution you: This post is for those 12 and up, questioning societal issues!! I overheard some students discussing their rights to protest during their extracurricular events. I didn't reprimand them, because (1) I was eavesdropping and what I heard wasn't dangerous; (2) it's ingrained in my librarian soul for students to exercise their rights to "intellectual freedom," SAFELY; and (3) I was on my way home for the evening. My mind blocked me from educator role; it was focused on leftover, homemade Swedish meatballs! Lol! Nevertheless, I kept tossing and turning that night in bed because I wondered if those students acted on their feelings...and HOW! Before I knew it, I jumped out of my bed looking for resources. I had to teach them how to organize their thoughts and release their emotions in a productive way. In my midnight scurry, I pop outta bed and hurried then obsessively buried my thoughts in Teaching Tolerance's The Soun...

Would you rather be a poet or a rapper?? To some of us...there's little difference. How many times have you heard a lyric in a song so poignant and poetic that it rivets your soul? Like some of you, I can listen to a song and travel back in time. So...being a kid of the 80s/90s and loving all genres of music (like I love all genres of books), I thought I'd collaborate and combine my two great loves: poetry and music...specifically rap music! I came across the idea a couple of years ago via Book Riot's post: Poetry Line or Rap Music. We begin the lesson with a few foundation questions via a Gallery Walk! With 8 poster size sticky notes and the following questions, we were able to build a foundation for the poetry vs. rap: 1. What are some characteristics of poems? 2. How do you encounter poetry in your everyday life? 3. What is poetry to you? 4. What makes a good poem? 5. What makes poetry easy? Difficult? 6. If poetry was a food, then which food and w...

Today's Friday...in April! What does that mean???? THE COUNTDOWN TO THE END OF THE YEAR HAS BEGUN! via GIPHY I self-medicate with classical music! Lol...NOT! There are bountiful benefits in appreciating classical music: 5 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Classical Music! From the time I was 10, I've known music intimately. I played with my high school orchestra, the Houston Youth Symphony , and I played at Baylor University (Hey, Dr. Hardie ). It is my first love...AND believe it or not, I used to be pretty darn good. I even brought my cello out for the kids a couple of Christmases ago... BE FOREWARNED... it's wretched. I told ya! :) Nevertheless, I've injected my kiddos with small snippets of "classical music" appreciation via 2Cellos ! Luka and Stejan were former competitors, who took their zealous love for cello-playing, and blew the stratosphere by combining their talents into the DYNAMIC DUO! Why do I love these guys? Aside from my obvi...