This school year, it feels like we're learning to teach all over again. Whether you're a seasoned educator or a parent who never thought you'd be a classroom teacher, we can all use a little extra help, time, and encouragement. To help with that, this week we're presenting a few ideas you can use right now. 

Password Pal

Clever Library Media Specialist Karen Arendt came up with this simple solution for digital resources! Fill out this half sheet Password Pal with icons for each of your students' virtual resources. They can fill in their own usernames and passwords, or you can fill it out for them. For distance learners, you can send these by email or drop in their virtual folders. Easily print the half sheets and store them inside laptops or iPad covers at the end of the school day, so you'll always have your resource login information at hand! Click here to download the template. Thanks to Ms. Arendt for sharing this resource with us!

Download one half sheet | Download 2 on a sheet

Virtual Bookshelf

In school or at home, a virtual bookshelf of audiobooks makes it quick and easy for students to find titles. With the latest update to our browser-based player, you can use the URLs from titles to create listening lists tailored to specific topics, grades, or interests.

To create a virtual bookshelf, log in to Tales2go on any web browser. Browse for relevant titles. When you find a title you'd like to include, copy the URL from the browser and paste it into a Word document, Google document, or onto your own webpage. Once students log into Tales2go, they can click any of your links and be taken directly to those titles. No browsing or searching the player needed! As a bonus, you can right click and copy the cover art for titles also! For ideas, take a look back at past blog posts right here!

Back to Basics

One smarty who's chosen to remain anonymous shared an idea from their classroom. Their school is fully remote, but teachers are allowed in their classrooms in anticipation of a mid-year return to school. This teacher dug out a projector from their storage closet and hooked it up to their computer. Instead of using video chat software to share their screen, the projector shows the screen on the wall and the webcam is pointed at the wall. This way, it's easier to show parts of the actual classroom, and physically point to areas on the screen. "Kind of an old school hack, but it works and is much less stress than sharing the right screen or app when I'm online with the kiddos!" 

If you have some hybrid learning hacks - or any other ideas that are helping you right now, please send us an email telling us all about it. We can all help each other by sharing ideas!