SLS 5/29/26 - O²CM Bookish Bytes

📰 In the News 📰

EdWeek is provided to every educator in O²CM

School Library Journal is provided to each O²CM School Librarian

Please Contact SLS if You Need Access with SLJ Access in the Subject Line

Looking for Summer PD?

Summer Reading Lists from Literacy Junky via School Librarians FB Group

New Book from Barbara Stripling

From Barbara Stripling: I am pleased to announce the publication of Teaching Inquiry as Conversation: Bringing Wonder to Life, a book I co-wrote with Darryl Toerien. It became available electronically on May 14. The print version will be published on June 11. I truly believe that, by using inquiry as a framework to guide our daily conversations and instruction with students, we can foster the development of the whole child and help them master critical and creative thinking skills, develop confidence in their own identities, engage empathetically with others, and learn to navigate and evaluate the world of information, misinformation, and slanted opinion.

Programming: Book Dash

Grab the Receipt Template

Research Upgrade? Yes, Please!!

Student research just got a massive upgrade. With Chrome's new Split-View Tabs, kids can watch a video on the left and take notes on a Google Doc on the right—all in one browser tab. It's so clean! See how to use it: https://youtu.be/RJ-H0eYZnZQ?si=qdLZYGHe1Ar6Rcrr&t=1347

Protocol: Retrieve to Retain

Retrieve to Retain

A retrieval practice protocol that helps students strengthen long-term memory by recalling previously learned information.
Students respond to questions from different time frames, such as yesterday, three days ago, and one to two weeks ago.
They “brain dump” everything they remember, helping reinforce learning through repeated recall.
This strategy also helps teachers identify what students retain and uncover lingering misconceptions.

Video on Protocol

Grab the Google Slide

EDUGem: Bell Ringer by Date

💎 Use the Gem: Gem link

💾 Make your own copy: Gem link

✍️ Created by: Eric Curts (with inspiration from Anna Hanrahan)

📄 Description:

This Gem helps you start every class with energy and relevance by generating a timely "Bell Ringer by Date". Acting as an expert student engagement specialist, it connects the day's historical events, holidays, or fun facts directly to your specific subject area (e.g., connecting "National Pizza Day" to fractions for a math class) while ensuring all content is grade-appropriate and "school safe."

To use this Gem, you will have a collaborative conversation with Gemini. You'll start by providing the Date, Location, Grade Level, and Subject. Gemini will generate a structured resource containing a Headline, Hook, Spark (discussion or journal prompt), and Quote. Once you approve the text, it can even generate a bright, 16:9 student-facing image of the bell ringer to display on your screen.

EDUGem Bell Ringer