Category Archives: School Media Specialist

School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Best Digital Tools 2021: Typing.com

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AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

Typing is such an essential skill and this engaging tool makes it fun for students to learn! Plus, it fulfills ISTE and Common Core Standards. If your students like earning badges or winning competitions, they’ll definitely enjoy using this resource!

Grades: K-12

“Typing.com is clean, colorful typing practice for any level  with Common Core and ITSE standards correlations. Scope and Sequence curriculum engages students with gamification opportunities to self-direct towards achievement with class competitions and other games to participate in and badges, stars, and certifications to achieve, print, and share with friends, parents, or colleagues. Class level settings and customizable lesson modules allow educators to  differentiate instruction to accommodate students at any level and pace.”

Common Sense Education has this review of the app and Clever.com gives this overview of the resource which includes many reviews from teachers.

Watch this 4 minute video and learn how to setup the app and use it with your students!

Check it Out:, School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Best Digital Tools: Diverse BookFinder

AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

This week we’re talking about the impressive tool Diverse BookFinder. This resource is focused on sharing BIPOC picture books, with a focus on “who” is portrayed, but also “how” they are being portrayed. Start with the article “What Does a Diverse Collection Look Like?” and try out their Collection Analysis Tool.

Grades: K-3 (target audience) but useful for all ages.


“Diverse BookFinder is a catalog of trade picture books published or distributed in the U.S. since 2002 that includes:A Unique Circulating Collection: Diverse BookFinder collects all depictions of Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC) in picture books. Anyone with a library card can check these books out through Interlibrary Loan.A Search Tool: Diverse BookFinder is first-of-its-kind online, searchable database making it easier for educators to locate and explore picture books featuring BIPOC characters.A Source of Critical Data: Diverse BookFinder provides real-time data on WHO (which BIPOC characters) is depicted and — using unique book categories — HOW they are depicted in diverse picture books.A Collection Analysis Tool (CAT): Diverse BookFinder offers a free, online tool designed to help libraries diversify their picture book collections.”

Learn more about the details of this app from this article by Literary Fusions. Reading Is Fundamental has this blog post explaining more of the tools Diverse BookFinder offers. And this page from I’m Your Neighbor lists books and other resources similar to Diverse BookFinder.

Watch this one minute video explaining their Collection Analysis Tool:

Check it Out:, School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Best Digital Tools 2021: Wakelet

AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

We’re looking at the resource Wakelet this week! It is a FREE tool that this article from Infused Classroom describes as “a more powerful version of Pinterest.” Some ideas for using Wakelet are as a classroom newsletter, making how-to tech videos, or showcasing student portfolios. You can check out this Wakelet all about using Wakelet in the classroom! Common Sense Education has this review of the resource and Free Tech for Teachers has these ideas for classroom activities using Wakelet.

Educators can use Wakelet to “create visual, engaging learning environments for learners. With Wakelet, educators can quickly display any kind of content found on the web, through beautiful looking collections that can be presented and shared with whoever you like. School Librarians can use Wakelet to increase engagement with their students through book reviews, assignments, digital storytelling, reading lists and much more.”

Grades: K-12

Here’s a four minute video that’s a teacher’s guide to using Wakelet:

Check it Out:, School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Best Digital Tools 2021: New American History

AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

This week, New American History makes teaching and learning history a more involved and relevant experience! Definitely check out the Educators Learning Resources page with searchable topics and learning strategies, plus you can see which lessons are trending.
Topics include resources like historical and/or interactive maps, links to reliable articles, graphic organizers, and more.

Grades: 4-12

New American History “helps educators and learners preparing to do research (including their National History Day projects!), develop cross-curricular Project-Based Learning opportunities, develop station based learning experiences, teach students skills to evaluate print and digital resources, and recommend high-quality tools and resources for inquiry-based learning.”

This article from the Washington Post explains why the resource New American History is so important, especially when it comes to teaching students about racial injustice. And this article about the resource from the University of Richmond gives some background information and explains why it is especially useful during times of distance learning.

This video (23 minutes) is a bit long but does get into detail about the resources and shares strategies for getting the most out of its tools:

Check it Out:, School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Best Digital Apps 2021: WWF Wild Classroom

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AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

This week we’re exploring a very cool resource: from the World Wildlife Fund, the Wild Classroom! On their Teaching Resources page, you can find so many ways to engage your students: from Wildlife Arts and Crafts to a whole Lesson Library! They have a Biodiversity Toolkit, ideas for conservation in the classroom, a Workout Your Wild Side activity, and a Find Your Inner Animal quiz! (In case you were curious, I got Warthog, and yes the quiz was very fun!)

Grades: K-12

The WWF Wild Classroom resource “contains a variety of resources that educators and librarians can use with youth to inspire them to help protect the planet. The platform contains activity plans, digital reference materials (including videos and kid-friendly scientific articles), virtual engagement opportunities with World Wildlife Fund experts, online games, and project ideas of ways to get involved in their community. All of the materials are free to access and integrate a range of educational standards, including Next Generation Science and Common Core ELA/Math.”

EdSurge has this evaluation of the resource, and Kahoot! has teamed up with Wild Classroom to create new games for students to learn about biodiversity! Check those out here.

To get an idea of the type of content Wild Classroom offers, watch this 3 minute video on polar bears (I learned so much!)