Grad School Real Talk – Halfway Point

So, just to keep it real, I wanted to reflect on my past year (3 semesters) of grad school, as my next to last semester is well underway. Hallelujahs: I've been way more successful grade-wise and sanity wise than I expected, and other than getting a bit crazy towards the end of last spring and …

Storytime Thursday: Animals in Cold Places

So today's storytime threw me for a loop! First I realized I wanted to make a polar bear mask, but thanks to ditching Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You See, I had a made Tuesday scramble for a polar bear book!  Secondly, my little muchkins were babies, rather than the usual toddler/preschool blend.  Thankfully, some quick …

Storytime Thursday: Snow and Cold

I knew this week's storytime would have a science focus, so I had some upfront fun playing with making the very best snow dough. Cornstarch is the most moldable, but baking soda has the best sandy texture.  Conditioner works better than lotion, and makes for an evaporatively cooled dough even if you can't chill it.  …

New Year, New Texas Award Books

It's 2018, which means time for new Lonestar and Bluebonnet lists! Right now I'm gathering ways to promote and celebrate this year's Texas youth lit award lists.  So far, I've made padlets for this years' awards, although many books still lack book trailers and have not been widely read yet. https://padlet.com/heatherlin_rowan/86ph9eserdop https://padlet.com/heatherlin_rowan/t361pobch78e I've barely begun …

Pinterest Programming Part 1 – Dot Journaling

This year I'm kicking off a series to appeal to teens and adults inspired by popular Pinterest crafts. I'm also trying to work STEAM learning goals in where I can! Our January workshop is DotJournaling, and I've had a blast collecting supplies and learning about how to get started. As always, I recommend Ryder Carroll's resource …

Reflections on a Year in Color

2017 was the year I decided to include more non-white voices in my reading, especially after examining the white hegemony of voices filling my social circle and political sphere. Watching the debate over pinky pussyhats and the way intersectionality got derailed in January made me decide to choose diverse books. I had a great time …