This week's BubbleUp Classroom Take5 is all about reading. Several of our featured articles focus on best practices (for teachers and parents) to help kids become life-long, proficient readers in an increasingly digital world.  In this post we explore why every class needs read-alouds, why it is important to engage in books that focus on life's challenges, why the key to raising a reader is showing that you value reading in your daily life, and more. Plus, we highlight reading challenges and resolutions for the year ahead. So what are you waiting for? Start reading...Take5.

I've been reading about book tastings for years. I first saw the idea on Buffy Hamilton's blog The Unquiet Librarian in 2011, but I couldn't wrap my brain around how a book tasting differed from speed dating with books, already a tool in my toolbox of ways to share books with students. It simply felt like a different costume for the same activity.

This week, I am so excited to share with you an interview with our friend and author, Brian Herberger.  His historical fiction novel Miss E. was recently named a Notable Indie Title of 2016 by Shelf Unbound. As an educator, Brian truly understands the craft of writing. He talked with me about his life as a writer and ideas for bringing writing into all classrooms. 

BubbleUp Classroom is also thrilled about our first giveaway! We have TWO copies of Miss E. that Brian will personalize and sign for our winners.  Please be sure you enter our contest at the end of this post!

​​This week, I ran across an interesting perspective on using graphic organizers for writing, a cool project to encourage student mural creation, advice on differentiating whole group instruction, pointers on developing growth mindset, and a great book list.

Plus, there are a few extra resources in today's Take5 -- a great web site, an audio recording tool, and some posters you can use in your classroom or library. Enjoy!

​I've been mulling over the importance of teaching graphic novels and our current, crazy Presidential election. I'm dreaming of a world in which our students can continue the art of play beyond the early grades. I'm pondering the life-saving powers of books and libraries, and humming Dylan songs.

We are so close to  summer, I can taste it...I can feel the sunshine...I can sense the adventure. I love this time of year for a chance to step back, spend more time with my own children, and slow down a bit. But, I also love what I do for a living and am grateful to have summer to be able to focus more on growing as a teacher and a librarian. I read a lot of middle grades and YA fiction for fun, but I like to consume professional development books when I have more breathing room (shocker: this librarian loves to read!). There are some phenomenal recent titles (and one less recent but still on my list) out there that I know will help me to be more creative and are certain to energize my practice as an educator.