Today’s students are used to constant entertainment, making it challenging for teachers to capture their attention. But a disengaged classroom is even scarier. Join Amanda Zieba, the Word Nerd from YouTube, as she shares practical, engaging strategies for middle school ELA classrooms and libraries. Learn how to create fun, captivating lessons without the pressure of a song-and-dance act. From reading routines, writing practices and reading recommendations to using technology and kinesthetic learning, discover techniques that make students WANT to be in your classroom and ENJOY learning. Increased engagement leads to increased achievement—and happier teachers!
Amanda Zieba, the founder of the Word Nerd Collaborative, a middle school ELA teacher membership, is an author, educator, content creator, transforming the educational experience for teachers and students. She has worked with educators around the world to increase student engagement... Read More →
Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
BCC Boardroom
Join us for a lively and engaging session as we showcase our favorite things in the library world! In this fun and interactive presentation, we'll highlight the best of what our library has to offer—from innovative resources and useful technology to efficient processes and exciting programming that engage our students and staff. We’ll explore the tools and equipment that make our work easier and more effective, share tips on creating memorable library experiences, and reveal the behind-the-scenes strategies that keep everything running smoothly. Whether it's a new gadget, a favorite database, a beloved event, or a breakthrough in library services, you'll leave with fresh ideas and inspiration you can bring back to your own library.
Digital Learning Specialist, Pulaski Community School District~ Wisconsin
After 18 years in the classroom, Sara now shares her experiences and her passion for technology integration as a Digital Learning Specialist for the Pulaski Community School District. She is passionate about leveraging technology to support all students while increasing student agency... Read More →
Director of Instructional Technology, Pulaski Community School District
In my role as Director of Instructional Technology for Pulaski Community School District, I enjoy the opportunities and challenges my current position brings as well as the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for integrating technology and literacy with students and staff. My past... Read More →
Many of us believe our libraries are “safe” or perhaps “brave” spaces. But how do we make these spaces safe? Who feels safest? Are ground rules at odds with free speech? What happens when someone causes harm with their words or actions? Do safe spaces even exist?
Sarah Beth shares her research on brave spaces along with lessons learned from open mic shows and storytelling workshops. We will plan strategies for creating and holding brave library spaces such as: including participants in creating rules of engagement, setting participant expectations around being brave, articulating consequences of transgression, and following through on consequences. There isn’t one “right” way to create a brave space so workshop participants will use this time to consider which brave space practices will work best with their libraries.
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Sarah Beth Nelson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. Before becoming a professor, Sarah Beth worked in public and school libraries. In addition to researching oral information, she studies the American reality (true, personal... Read More →
Come learn some templates and activity ideas that are ready to go with minimal set up that can be used in the library and shared with all staff. See what I love to use and leave with inspiration galore!
Amber Houslet has been the Library Technology Specialist for the Pardeeville Area School District since 2010. She spent the first 6 years of her teaching life in the classroom before transitioning to her current role.She is a Google Certified teacher and has participated in many Technology... Read More →
Merge Edu is a platform that has been around for quite a while and many educators have a Merge Cube (or many) sitting on a shelf, unused. If you don't have one, don't fret, as all attendees of this session (up to 30) will receive a free cube.
Merge has grown to be a well-known augmented reality tool with science-aligned lessons. We love watching educators get excited about Merge--if the educators can get this excited, imagine what your students will think!
We will explore the Merge EDU platform and you'll get a free trial. Some features will be free forever, some are subscription based. No matter your subscription type, you'll leave this session energized and full of ideas.
Please bring an ipad, chromebook, or phone (some sort of technology that will allow you to downlad apps)
Mackin is a long-term education distributor for print, ebooks, and makerspace products and other library and classroom materials for grades PK-12.Known throughout the world over for exemplary service and a stringent attention to detail, we have access to over 18,000 publishers and... Read More →
As I continue to have conversations with my fellow librarians in a climate where book selection and the intellectual freedoms in school libraries are being heavily scrutinized I wonder often how to select books for my shelves. Let's talk about it! Join me and your colleagues in a conversation around book selection, library procedures for checkouts, and how to create trust in the process with administrators, and the community.
Library Media Instructional Technology Specialist, West De Pere High School
I am a high school Library Media/Instructional Specialist, and I also serve as the building's Talent Development Coordinator. Prior to this position, I was a high school and middle school English/Language Arts Teacher.
Looking to revitalize your library programs and engage your middle or high school students? Join us for a collaborative session where together we'll dive into practical strategies and share ideas for planning and implementing exciting library initiatives. In this session, we will discuss programming ideas for events like National Library Week and monthly reading challenges. We will share ideas around how to create eye-catching and themed displays to spark student interest, and we will explore low-effort, high-impact activities for your library and makerspace through passive programming. This interactive session will provide you with fresh inspiration, practical tips, and the opportunity to connect with fellow librarians. Let's work together to transform your library into a vibrant hub of learning and creativity!
I am the Library Media Specialist of Central Heights Middle School in Sun Prairie, WI. I started my career as an English Language Arts teacher for 10 years and now have been living it up in the library for 8. I started my library career at a middle school in Madison Metropolitan School... Read More →
Library Media Technology Specialist, Madison Metropolitan School District
I am the Library Media and Technology Specialist at La Follette High School in Madison. Prior to my current role, I was a middle school and 4th grade classroom teacher in Illinois and the Verona Area School District as well as a K-5 librarian in Verona. This diverse range of experience... Read More →
lighting the Path to Engagement: Transforming Learning Experiences empowers teachers and librarians to captivate students through interactive, multimedia-rich learning. Lightbox Learning provides a dynamic platform that merges traditional content with digital features, creating immersive experiences that appeal to diverse learning styles. With its blend of videos, audio, maps, quizzes, and more, Lightbox transforms passive reading into active exploration, sparking curiosity and deeper understanding.
For teachers, Lightbox serves as a tool to differentiate instruction, offering multiple entry points for learners of all abilities. Its interactive elements foster critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, making learning more relevant and engaging. Librarians can use Lightbox to expand access to high-quality, diverse resources, ensuring students are not just consuming information but interacting with it meaningfully.
Whether used in classrooms, libraries, or at home, Lightbox makes learning an active, engaging process. It helps educators create vibrant, student-centered environments where curiosity thrives and students are inspired to explore topics more deeply
Are you an elementary librarian on a fixed schedule? Are you wondering how to understand the layers of your position? We have got you covered! Join us for the ABCs of being an elementary librarian. We will discuss all the things from A to Z, like budget, lesson plans, STEM, engaging readers, ordering, inventory, displays, collaboration ideas, book processing, utilizing volunteers, and so much more. You will be given an A to Z organizer to customize during the presentation for useful ideas you can take back to your own library!
The School District of Beloit Turner's library and technology departments will share their process for growing their EC- 5th Grade STEM program where teachers are empowered to lead lessons. Aligning our lessons with standards provides students with STEM learning experiences that encourage creativity and exploration. We’ll share how our library media specialist and IT director develop instructional activities that include VR, Legos, Ozobots, Bloxels, WeVideo, Digital Storytelling, Bee-Bot, Sphero, 3D printing, and more. You’ll see how we were able to create and coordinate STEM lessons that teachers of all comfort levels are able to deliver successfully.
Director of Technology, Beloit Tuner School District
I am the Director of Technology in Beloit Turner School District . This is my 5th year supporting teachers with integrating technology into their classrooms. Before supporting teachers with integrating technology into their instruction I was a 7-12 business teacher.
This session will demonstrate how you can use Titlewave to analyze, weed, and build a library collection.
Titlewave is an online collection development and curriculum support tool for librarians and administrators, and it features professionally curated content and support tools that help you find the best educationally relevant materials.
This session will provide a deep dive into Titlewave and will provide time for questions.
