Building Bookworms

AI as a Learning Partner

Monday, April 13, 2026

As a parent, I try to limit screens as much as I can. With tablets, school devices, phones, and TVs everywhere, finding a healthy balance often feels like a constant tug-of-war. And as a school library media specialist and instructional technology educator, I know how powerful screens can be — both for learning and for distraction.

For a long time, that left me feeling conflicted. I knew the research about too much screen time, but I also knew that digital tools are now part of how kids learn, communicate, and create.

So I asked our pediatrician.

What he told me changed my perspective.

He said that screens themselves aren’t the enemy. What matters most is how they’re used and whether an adult is involved. When technology is paired with a caring, engaged adult, it can actually increase learning, conversation, and understanding.

That fits perfectly with what I see in the school library every day. My role is not to hand kids devices — it’s to help families and teachers use technology in ways that build curiosity, comprehension, and independence.

This isn’t about kids being alone on screens.
It’s about kids learning alongside adults with smart tools Want a simple, printable guide to get started? Enter your email below and I’ll send you my AI Parent Guide.

📚 AI Is Not a Shortcut — It’s a Support

AI works best when it is used like:

A tutor
A coach
A thinking partner

Not something that does the work for a child.

When parents use AI with their kids, it can:

Explain confusing ideas
Break learning into steps
Turn practice into play
Build confidence instead of frustration

🎧 Notebook LM: A Powerful Tool for Older Students

For upper-elementary, middle school, and high school students, Notebook LM is one of the most helpful AI tools available.

Students can upload:

Class notes
Articles
Study guides
PDFs and handouts

Notebook LM can create Audio Overviews — podcast-style explanations of their own school material. That means kids can listen to what they’re learning while riding in the car, doing chores, or studying for a test.

Because it only uses what the student uploads, it stays focused on their actual schoolwork, not random internet content. Parents can listen along and talk about what they hear, turning study time into shared learning time.

📖 AI Can Make Any Text the Right Level

AI can make learning more accessible for every child.

Parents or teachers can copy any worksheet or article and say:

“Rewrite this at a kindergarten reading level and add a simple picture.”

“Make this more challenging for a 5th grader.”

This allows the same topic to meet every learner where they are.

🧠 Using AI as a Parent’s Learning Coach

AI works best when it is not handed to kids — but used by parents to support kids.

Think of AI as your digital teaching assistant:

It helps you explain things
It gives you ideas
It adapts lessons
It turns practice into play

You don’t have to be a teacher to use AI well — you just need to guide the tool and stay involved.

🎯 How to Get the Best Results from AI

One of the most powerful strategies is simple:

Tell AI who to be, then give it a task.

Examples:

“Act as an elementary reading teacher…”
“Act as a math coach…”
“Act as a science tutor…”
“Act as a homeschooling helper…”

This helps the AI respond in the right voice, at the right level, and with the right goal.

✨ Parent-Friendly AI Prompts for K–5

Reading

“Act as an elementary reading teacher and explain this paragraph in simple words.”
“Rewrite this story at a 2nd-grade level and add a simple picture idea.”

Writing

“Act as a writing coach and help my child improve this sentence.”
“Give my child three story ideas about a dog.”

Math

“Act as a math teacher and explain this problem step by step in a kid-friendly way.”
“Show me another way to solve this.”

Spelling

“Act as an elementary teacher and turn these spelling words into a fun game.”
“Create a silly story using these spelling words.”

Science & Social Studies

“Act as a science teacher and explain this topic in simple words.”
“Explain this like I’m in 3rd grade.”

🧰 Free, Parent-Approved AI & Learning Tools

(For Homework, Homeschooling, and Family Learning)

These are tools families can use together to support real learning:

Notebook LM (Google) – Turn notes into summaries and podcasts
LittleLit AI – Kid-safe homework help and learning support
Socratic by Google – Step-by-step math and science help
Khan Academy + Khanmigo – Guided math, reading, and concept practice
Quizlet – Flashcards, spelling, and study games
Read-Aloud & Speech-to-Text tools – Built into Chromebooks and iPads
Kiddle – Kid-safe search for research projects

These tools help parents coach, explain, and guide learning.

🎨 Putting Kids in the Creative Seat

It’s important that kids understand something powerful:

AI is only as smart as the people who create and guide it.

When kids:

Build games
Create stories
Train simple AI models
Design projects

They learn that there is always a human behind the technology.

AI is here, and our kids will use it for the rest of their lives.
Our job is to teach them to use it thoughtfully, ethically, and creatively — not passively.

🧩 Kid-Focused AI & Creative Learning Tools

(Best used with a parent or teacher)

These help children create with AI, not just consume it:

Machine Learning for Kids – Build simple AI models
Cognimates – Create games, robots, and AI projects
Kubrio – Gamified coding and AI learning
AIWorldSchool / AIClub – Structured AI and coding projects
Code.org & Scratch – Foundational coding and computational thinking

💙 Final Thought

AI doesn’t replace parents, teachers, or libraries.
It supports them.

When used thoughtfully, AI becomes:

A reading partner
A writing coach
A math tutor
A study helper
A creative tool

And that’s exactly what our kids deserve — learning with support, not alone.

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden: Celebrating Curiosity, Confidence, and What Makes Us Unique

Monday, April 6, 2026

Some picture books invite students to lean into curiosity instead of fear. Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden does exactly that, using a whimsical and slightly spooky garden to tell a story about self-expression, confidence, and embracing what makes us different.

This fiction picture book follows Millie Fleur, a girl who moves to a new town and decides to plant a very unusual garden — not roses or tulips, but strange, poisonous plants with dramatic names and appearances. While others are unsure what to think of her garden, Millie loves it and takes pride in what she’s grown.

Rather than hiding what makes her different, Millie invites others to explore her garden, showing that curiosity and openness can change how people see the unfamiliar.

🌼 March Theme Connection: Independence, Curiosity & Ownership

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden is a strong fit for our March theme of Independence, Curiosity, and Ownership.

Millie shows independence by confidently creating something that reflects who she is — even when others don’t immediately understand it. Her curiosity drives her to explore unusual plants rather than shy away from them, and she takes ownership of her garden with pride.

This story encourages students to:

Take ownership of their interests
Be curious about things that feel unfamiliar
Feel confident standing by what makes them unique

It’s a powerful reminder that independence doesn’t mean going it alone — it means knowing who you are and being proud of it.

The Good

This book shines as a SEL-rich story about identity, confidence, and acceptance. The playful tone and imaginative plant names immediately draw students in, while the deeper message encourages empathy and open-mindedness.

From a classroom and library perspective, Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden supports:

Self-acceptance and confidence
Respecting differences
Curiosity over fear
Creative thinking

Students who enjoy books with a slightly spooky or quirky feel — similar to Wednesday or The Addams Family — will be especially drawn to this story.

The Not-So-Good (From a School Librarian Lens)

The spooky aesthetic may surprise some younger readers at first, but the story itself is gentle and affirming. With a brief introduction, most students quickly understand that the book celebrates curiosity rather than fear.

Classroom & Library Connections

This story works especially well as a launch point for deeper learning:

Local Plant Safety

Discuss real plants students should watch out for, such as poison ivy
Talk about how knowing more helps keep us safe

Plant Adaptations

Why might a plant develop poison as protection?
How do plants defend themselves in different ways?

Fiction to Nonfiction Pairings
After reading, pair this book with nonfiction titles about:

The Venus flytrap
The corpse flower
Other “weird and wonderful” plants

These connections help students move from imagination to real-world science.

Overall

Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden is a delightful fiction picture book that uses imagination and atmosphere to explore meaningful ideas about confidence, curiosity, and belonging.

For educators looking to connect SEL, science curiosity, and student interest — especially within themed units — this book is a flexible and engaging choice.

Recommended Grade Levels

Grades K–3
(Also works well as a discussion starter in upper elementary.)

Why Your Students Will Love It

Students love Millie’s confidence, the dramatic plant names, and the slightly spooky feel of the garden. The story encourages kids to celebrate what makes them different and to approach unfamiliar things with curiosity instead of fear.

How I Keep a Pulse on What Students Care About (and Why It Shapes My Teaching)

Monday, March 30, 2026

One of the biggest shifts in my teaching over the years hasn’t been a new program or a new tool.

It’s been this:

I stopped planning in isolation — and started paying closer attention to my students.

What they talk about.
What they ask for.
What they abandon.
What they return to again and again.

That information shapes my teaching more than any pacing guide ever could.

Students Are Always Interested in Something

When a lesson falls flat, it’s rarely because students don’t care.

It’s usually because:

the topic feels disconnected from their world
the examples don’t resonate
the material feels outdated or abstract

Students are always engaged in something — we just aren’t always tuned into it.

The real work is noticing what that “something” is.

How I Keep a Pulse on Student Interests

I don’t use surveys or formal tracking systems.

I pay attention to patterns.

Things like:

Which books are always checked out
Which displays empty fastest
What students talk about while browsing
What they ask for but can’t find
What topics come up in casual conversation

These small observations tell me more than any data dashboard.

I also wrote more about this in a previous post, What’s Hot Right Now: A School Librarian’s Look at Today’s Student Interests, where I shared some of the trends I was seeing at the time and how they influenced my programming.

How I Learned to Pay Attention (Public → School Libraries)

Keeping a pulse on pop culture became essential to me when I worked in public libraries.

If I didn’t know what kids were into, I couldn’t connect them with books, programs, or even basic services. Families would come in asking for things I hadn’t heard of yet — and I quickly learned that staying current wasn’t optional. It was part of building trust.

When I moved into school libraries, that instinct stayed with me.

The context changed, but the need didn’t.

Students still want to feel understood.
Families still want to feel supported.
And relevance still matters just as much as content.

Paying attention to what students care about isn’t extra work — it’s how relationships are built.

Using Student Interests as a Warm-Up

One simple way I keep a pulse on student interests is by asking directly.

Sometimes this becomes a library warm-up, such as:

“What are you really into right now?”
“What’s something you’ve been watching, reading, or playing?”
“What do you wish we had more of in the library?”

These conversations:

take just a few minutes
build relationships
and give me immediate insight into what matters to students

They also help students feel like their voices shape the space.

Using Pop Culture as a Bridge (Not a Distraction)

Pop culture doesn’t replace curriculum.
It supports it.

I use it to:

anchor examples
frame inquiry questions
design displays
choose discussion topics

If students are interested in:

animals → we explore habitats
mysteries → we practice inference
records → we analyze nonfiction
fantasy → we talk about world-building

The interest becomes the entry point.
The learning still runs deep.

A Real Classroom Example: Fact vs. Opinion

One recent example was a fact vs. opinion lesson.

Instead of using generic headlines, I chose ones I knew students would react to and care about.

Some of the statements were:

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce break up (Fake)
K-Pop Demon Hunters is getting a TV series and a new movie (True)
Adopt a mini capybara (Fake)

Students had to decide:

Is this real or fake?
How do we know?
What evidence supports it?

Because the topics felt relevant, students were:

more engaged
more willing to debate
and more thoughtful about evaluating information

The skill didn’t change — only the framing did.

Responsive Teaching Isn’t About Being Trendy

It’s about being present.

Keeping a pulse on student interests doesn’t mean chasing every trend or changing lessons constantly.

It means:

listening before planning
adjusting examples
updating references
allowing space for student voice

It’s a mindset, not a method.

Why This Feels Especially Important in the Spring

By this time of year, students:

are more independent
are more vocal
are more ready to question and explore

They’re also more likely to disengage if things feel repetitive or disconnected.

Spring is when relevance matters most.

Noticing what students care about helps learning stay alive.

A Quiet Shift That Makes a Big Difference

I used to think strong teaching meant having everything planned perfectly.

Now I think it means being flexible enough to notice what’s already happening — and building from there.

The best lessons often start with:

“I noticed students were really interested in…”

And that’s where real engagement begins.

What to Read in March: Picture Books About Growth, Curiosity, and Care

Monday, March 23, 2026

March is a month of transition.

Winter routines are familiar, spring hasn’t fully arrived, and students are beginning to look outward again — asking questions, noticing change, and showing curiosity about the world around them.

For March read-alouds and library displays, I look for picture books that reflect that shift. Not books that rush us forward, but books that invite students to notice, wonder, and care.

Below is a curated list of picture books that work especially well in March. These titles support focus stamina, spark curiosity, and open the door to conversations about growth — personal, environmental, and communal.

🌱 Books About Growth & Change

March is a natural time to talk about growth that happens slowly and unevenly.

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

A story about one small act of care that transforms a neglected space.

Why it works in March:
This book reinforces the idea that change doesn’t have to be big to matter — a powerful message as students begin to take more ownership of their learning.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

Shows the visible and invisible changes happening as a garden grows.

Why it works in March:
It encourages careful observation and patience, making it a strong bridge between reading and science.

Grandpa’s Garden by Stella Fry

A gentle story that highlights care, routine, and passing knowledge down over time.

Why it works in March:
It emphasizes responsibility and consistency — values students are practicing as independence grows.

👀 Books That Spark Curiosity & Observation

As spring approaches, students are more ready to notice the world around them.

The Listening Walk by Paul Showers

A quiet book that invites readers to pay attention to everyday sounds.

Why it works in March:
It supports focus stamina and mindfulness, helping students slow down and notice details.

Outside In by Deborah Underwood

Explores the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Why it works in March:
It helps students see themselves as part of the natural world, even when learning happens inside.

A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

Follows one object through many perspectives and seasons.

Why it works in March:
This book encourages sustained attention and flexible thinking — perfect for developing inquiry skills.

🌍 Books That Encourage Care for the World

March is a gentle entry point for conversations about stewardship and responsibility.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

A bright, accessible introduction to planting and care.

Why it works in March:
Its simple structure supports focus stamina and pairs easily with science or art activities.

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates

A story about inclusion, community, and making space for others.

Why it works in March:
Care isn’t just environmental — it’s social. This book supports empathy and community-building.

Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers

A reflective introduction to caring for the planet and one another.

Why it works in March:
It encourages big-picture thinking without overwhelming students.

🧠 Why These Books Work This Time of Year

These March picture books:

Reward patience and observation
Support focus stamina without pressure
Invite questions rather than quick answers
Connect naturally to science, SEL, and sustainability

They’re especially useful when students are ready for more independence but still benefit from structure and calm.

📚 How I Use These Books in March

I use these titles to:

Open lessons with a calm read-aloud
Spark discussion before inquiry projects
Support science and sustainability units
Anchor quiet reflection time

They work well as:

Read-alouds
Display books
Storytime selections
Browsing options

A March Reading Reminder

March isn’t about racing toward the end of the year.

It’s about noticing growth — in students, in routines, and in the world around us.

The right picture books help make that growth visible

The Teacher of Nomad Land: A Powerful WWII Story About Education, Resistance, and Survival

Friday, March 20, 2026

Many students study World War II through well-known events and perspectives, but there are still countless stories that remain largely untold. The Teacher of Nomad Land offers an engaging and powerful look at a lesser-known WWII experience, reminding readers that education, courage, and humanity persisted even in the darkest circumstances.

This novel centers on a teacher whose role extends far beyond the classroom. Set against the backdrop of war, the story explores what it means to protect knowledge, preserve dignity, and guide young people when everything familiar is being stripped away. Rather than focusing solely on battles or strategy, the book highlights the human cost of war — and the quiet acts of resistance that often go unnoticed.