That's a Wrap - Final Reflection!

     Thank you to my loyal followers who have been with me this summer as I've explored a variety of different digital resources. I hope you found my posts informative and are walking away with several new tools to add to your teacher/librarian toolbox! 

    To wrap it all up, I gave one more program a try, and I'm going out with a bang on this one! Animaker is a video editing software that allows users to create animated videos using a plethora of characters and templates. While this program had a much steeper learning curve than some of the other programs I've evaluated, the end result is fantastic. My favorite part was creating a character that looks a lot like me and using lip-sync to record myself narrating the slides while my character moved and "talked" on the screen. 

    Check out my final reflection by clicking here or viewing below!

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

    Did you know that Universal Design for Learning (UDL) started out in the 1950s with a focus on removing physical barriers in building construction (Robinson, 2017)? Then, in the 1960s and 1970s, it "evolved to integrating all people in architectural and environmental designs" (Robinson, 2017, p. 57). It wasn't until 2008 that the Higher Education opportunity Act defined UDL as a framework for education, and it wasn't until 2015 that the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) endorsed UDL.

    So what exactly does this mean in the school setting? According to Robinson (2017), UDL "provides flexibility in ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge and skills, and in the ways students are engaged" (p. 57). It also "reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodation, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are limited English proficient" (Robinson, 2017, p. 57). 

    Given that pretty much every teacher in today's education system teaches a class (or classes) made up of 20-30 unique students, UDL is something all educators should be implementing with every lesson and activity. However, in order to be effective and continue to grow, educators must reflect on what they are doing and how they can improve, as well as address areas where help might be needed from others in the field. 

    Let's take a look at my own personal reflection with regards to UDL and my eight years of experience as a 4th grade language arts teacher:

What am I already using?

Providing Multiple Means of Engagement

Guideline 8: Sustaining Effort and Persistence - Throughout the learning process, I am constantly conferencing one-on-one and in small groups to emphasize the process students are going through, admire the effort they are putting in, showcasing the improvements they are making towards reaching their individual goals, and providing feedback in a frequent, timely, and specific manner. Additionally, I am very proud of the collaboration and sense of community that takes place in my classroom. Students always have one to three partners they can turn to throughout lessons and activities with the expectations of group work clearly defined by means of a rubric and peer interactions encouraged daily through verbal and written reminders. 

Guideline 9: Self Regulation - While I have been fortunate to encounter many students who do not need a lot of guidance with self regulation, I have had my fair share of students that have benefitted from additional supports such as verbal and non-verbal prompts for on-task reminders, daily check-ins for self-reflection, positive feedback when managing frustrations, modeling internal controls for extreme emotions, and various versions of behavior charts that allow students to monitor their own behavior and its changes. 

Providing Multiple Means of Representation

Guideline 2: Language & Symbols - Having a strong background in teaching literacy for the last eight years has given me many tools to provide options when it comes to language and symbols in my classroom. Some of these examples include: pre-teaching vocabulary, highlighting root words for more complex terms, making connections to previously taught structures, highlighting transition words in essays, allowing the use of text-to-speech, providing electronic and paper copies of bilingual dictionaries, embedding visual supports for clarification, and using nonfiction text features to present key concepts. 

Guideline 3: Comprehension - This is an area I have not always been stellar at providing in multiple ways, but it has been my personal, professional goal for several years. I now feel that I do a much better job of using advanced organizers, making explicit cross-curricular connections, emphasizing key elements in texts/graphics, using both examples and non-examples, providing multiple pathways through content when researching, chunking information, removing unnecessary distractions, and providing checklists and sticky notes. 

Providing Multiple Means of Action & Expression

Guideline 6: Executive Functions - In my classroom, goal setting has always been at the forefront of our units. I provide models and examples of the goal-setting process, as well as checklists to help scaffold the steps needed to reach the goals. Additionally, I provide various graphic organizers and note-taking guides that students can use as they see fit. Finally, I provide different types of self-assessment strategies and scoring rubrics, with examples, that students use to monitor their own progress and mastery. 

What could I add to my teaching practice right now?

Providing Multiple Means of Representation

Guideline 1: Perception - This is an area that I feel I can add to my current teaching practice as we kick off the new school year. While many of these things are done for students with IEPs and 504s, I plan to work on making these available for all students by displaying information in a flexible format that allows for variations in text size, color use, volume rate/sound, and font styles. Additionally, I will work to make more resources available with automated speech-to-text and providing alternatives for both visual and sound elements. 

Providing Multiple Means of Action & Expression

Guideline 5: Expression & Communication - While I have made some progress in this area of my teaching practice, I could definitely take time to focus in on this area and provide my students with more options for expressing themselves and communicating. For example, I can allow them to use multiple medias to compose their unit projects and interact via social media or an interactive web tool. Additionally, I can expand my 504 accommodations to all students including spell checkers, word prediction software, and recording devices. 

What do I need help implementing?

Providing Multiple Means of Engagement

Guideline 7: Recruiting Interest - I am not a "one-size-fits-all" kind of teacher with regards to the ways I attempt to engage my students with each lesson. In fact, I feel my "hooks" vary day-to-day, which means I grasp the attention of different groups of students each day. However, my creativity lacks when it comes to recruiting interest in multiple ways for one lesson or activity. I'm all for collaborating with others on my team, teachers within my district, and those on social media/blog platforms when it comes to finding ways to empower my students to take charge of their own learning, connecting their learning to experiences that are meaningful and valuable, and fostering a safe space to learn and take risks. 

Providing Multiple Means of Action & Expression

Guideline 4: Physical Action - As I stated previously, many alternatives are provided to my students with IEPs and 504s with regards to physical action; however, assistance from coworkers who specialize in these areas would be needed for me to effectively implement them in my classroom. Through their help, I can provide students with tools, devices, and environments that make learning physically accessible to all. 

What would I like to explore more? 

    As an educator who is very passionate about technology, I'd love to learn about more ways to incorporate technology into the classroom following the UDL framework. According to Jennifer Snelling (2021), UDL can be implemented without technology, but the "mindset can be optimized through thoughtful use of assistive tech." This is something I will be pushing heavily at my school by means of collaboration within teams, collaboration between grade levels, professional development sessions led by the librarian and technology specialist, and co-teaching opportunities to benefit all staff and students. 

    Below are some excellent resources I plan to use to further my knowledge and create a better learning environment for all my students:

• Digital Tools for Engagement - School Virtually
  
• Digital Tools for Representation - School Virtually
  
• Digital Tools for Action and Expression - School Virtually
  
• The New Assistive Tech: Make Learning Awesome for All! By: Christopher R. Bugaj (Purchase Here)
  
• 30+ Tools for Diverse Learners
  

References

Robinson, E. (2017). Universal design for learning and school libraries: A logical partnership.                  Knowledge Quest, 46(1), 56-61.

Snelling, J. (2021, October 23). Focus on UDL when using classroom technology. ISTE. Retrieved July 24, 2022, from https://www.iste.org/explore/classroom/focus-udl-when-using-classroom-technology 

Testing... Testing... 1-2-3... Podcasting in the Library

    Podcasts are digital formats of a program that can downloaded to a personal device and listened to by individuals on their own time. They are recorded by individuals or groups of individuals, often in a series that connects all the episodes to a certain topic or theme. Many podcasts are free and hone in on a variety of different interests. As you start to listen to different podcasts, you will start to develop a list of favorites, and you may even discover an urge to create your own podcast! That's when you will want to start thinking about what podcasting software will fit your needs best.
    Ashley Laake, a fellow teacher-librarian colleague, and I have taken the liberty to evaluate three software programs available in the podcast world. Keep in mind, there are tons of softwares out there, and we are just providing you with a brief glimpse into what's available. When you're taking the time to build your podcast brand, you'll want to find what works best for you!

Podbean 

    Podbean is a simple tool for creating, promoting, and monetizing your podcast. Currently, there are over 600,000 podcasters who use Podbean. You’ll find a huge variety of podcasters, anywhere from newbies to professionals, so even if you are new to the podcast world, the tools provided will help you create a professional-quality podcast that is sure to wow your listeners!

Advantages Basic package free Easy to publish podcast Publish episodes at designated times set by user Embeddable players Own domain integration No limits on downloads, episodes or recording time User friendly Monetization options (ability to get paid) Professional podcast website with every account

Disadvantages No recording options 3 other package options but start at $14/monthly

Buzzsprout

    Buzzsprout is a podcast option that is great for inexperienced users because it provides free learning materials and customer service. With over 100,000 podcasters using Buzzsprout, you have the ability to be heard by millions of listeners within the platform and beyond. 

Advantages User friendly Integrates with a large network of podcast directories including Spotify and Apple Can upload 2 hours of content each month Has an audio mastering filter Able to embed a blog with a podcast How to blog posts on the website Numerous how to videos on the website Podcasting Q&A Schedule publishing Monetization options

Disadvantages No recording options Upload limits 3 hours or more starts at $12/month Basic plans expires in 90 days so any existing podcasts will be deleted

Anchor

    Anchor is a podcast app owned by Spotify that allows users to create, distribute, and monetize podcasts for free. This is the app we chose because it allowed us to do everything we needed using one platform - built-in uploading, recording, and editing tools. The best part? It is free! It is hard to find the ability to have several people podcast together, especially when not in the same location, unless you buy expensive equipment. This app made it easy to invite others using one link and create professional-sounding podcasts from the comfort of our own homes. 

Advantages Free Ability to record and edit in one platform Multiple options to add music or sounds, without having to do a lot of editing to make it sound professional Unlimited hosting Ability to invite other to join your podcast One tap to publish to Spotify Distribution to all major listening apps Performance tools to help grow your audience Monetization options

Disadvantages Inserts ads into your podcast in order to keep it free Can only host one show Editing the podcast on a desktop was not as easy as on a mobile device and had limited options Recording could not be edited as you went, so you had to start over if mistakes were made

How Librarians Can Use Podcasts:

• Introduce new digital tools for teachers

• Give book reviews

• Talk about important events coming up in the library or promote an upcoming program

• Communicate with parents and the community

• Provide professional development for teachers

How Students Can Use Podcasts:

• Document research process along the way

• Present a final research project

• Oral reading, dramatizations, or interviews

Where can you find educational podcasts?

    A quick Google search for “top educational podcasts” yields a plethora of results that may seem overwhelming at first. A great starting point would be this blog that provides details and rankings for the top 50 educational podcasts available: https://blog.feedspot.com/educational_podcasts/. This particular blog gives readers a summary of each podcast, as well as details on the physical location of the podcast, number of Facebook followers, number of Twitter followers, how many new episodes are released each week/month, how long the podcast has been broadcasting, and the average length of an episode. Additionally, many of the podcasts listed have websites and ways to contact the podcasts via email available right from the blog. 

    Personally, we like to browse the Podcast App available on Apple devices. Two educational favorites include: The Literacy Dive Podcast with Megan Polk, Confetti Moments with Courtney Hinshaw. The Literacy Dive Podcast “offers actionable steps and information for ELA teachers” with new episodes released every Monday and Confetti Moments highlights all things picture books from new releases and reading tips to special interviews with picture book authors and illustrators. Check them out today!

    In addition to exploring some of the educational podcasts listed above, check out our podcast that we created using Anchor. Here we discuss a topic heavily debated in the library world: Genrefication in the Library! 

 

    In the event that technology is not on our side today, you can also access our podcast by clicking here, and a transcript of our podcast can be found here. 

References 

Mabee, M. (2020, October 26). How to genrefy a library: A beginner's guide to getting started. BOOK RIOT. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://bookriot.com/how-to-genrefy-a-library/ 

Sultanik, A. G. (2020, July). Genrefying the children’s fiction collection. Research Journal of the American Association of School Librarians. Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/pubs/slr/vol23/SLR_GenrefyingChildrensCollection_V23.pdf

Comic Strips... To Use or Not to Use?

     Have you ever flipped through the Sunday newspaper searching for the weekly comic section? Have you noticed the enthusiasm spilling out of sections where comic-style novels are located in bookstores and libraries? Comic strips are becoming more and more popular in today's society, especially among younger students, struggling readers, and students diagnosed with learning disabilities in the area of reading. However, comic strips don't have to stop there! They can benefit all students in a fun and engaging way that may not be as possible using traditional texts. Throw in new technology developments with comic strip creating programs and you have just opened the door for a world of new creativity just waiting to be tapped into. 

    According to dictionary.com, comic strips are a "sequence of drawings, either in color or black and white, relating to a comic incident, an adventure, or mystery story, etc., often serialized, typically having dialogue printed in balloons, and usually printed as a horizontal strip in daily newspapers and in an uninterrupted block or longer sequence of such strips in Sunday newspapers and in comic books." In the last decade or so, comic style writing has become increasingly popular among students as graphic novels have hit the library shelves. With comic strips being used to tell a story using three parts - setting, characters, and plot - they are an interesting addition to literacy curriculum for reading skill development and can even be used in writing as students learn to create their own comic strips using the programs I have evaluated below! 

    

    FotoJet is a graphic design platform that can be used to create photo collages, edit pictures, and create a variety of designs including: posters, invitations, social media posts, business cards, and comic strips. While it may be tricky to find the comic strips creator by going to the FotoJet homepage on your own, you can access it quickly by creating a free account here. 

    Check out my comic strip below featuring a Golden Retriever who is ready to play fetch!

    

    Once you've created a free account (I always choose to link mine to my Google account), there are about 10 free comic strip templates to choose from. Honestly, one of the hardest parts was deciding on the topic for my comic strip, and I spent a good ten minutes just thinking about that! Eventually, I chose to create a comic about dogs, and I selected a template that was on the simpler side because I am definitely an amateur, having never created a comic strip before. 

    Some aspects of this program I really liked included:

• Browsing for photos was fun because there were tons of free options for every topic I searched 
• Uploading my own photo using the "library" was simple and allowed me to add my own spin on things
• Adding in shapes (like the heart) only required a few clicks, including making the gradient color fill
• Text boxes that were included with the template could be flipped horizontally and vertically to fit the pictures I was using
• Modifying the layout was easy, and I created two picture boxes in the middle instead of the one originally on the template 
• Downloading and saving to my computer did not require anything extra even with a free account, and the quality of the download produced a clean looking product
• Even with a free account, there were lots of ways to personalize layouts including font styles, font colors, text box colors, and back grounds

    

    A few components that I found tricky included:

• When moving things around, I had to be careful because sometimes I clicked on the wrong item to move and messed up my layout
• It took me a minute to find the undo button because the advertisements at the bottom were hiding it
• When you added new features, they were automatically the top layer, so everything that needed to go on top of that item had to be readjusted individually every time 

    

    When considering the pros and cons, I swing to the positive side with this site. While I would recommend teachers and staff that plan to use this with students practice on their own ahead of time, I think students would quickly grasp the hang of using the program with a few tutorials and would enjoy the creative freedom allowed with such a plethora of resources available in one site. 

    

    Pixton is a program that allows teachers to create a dashboard where students can become comic creators. In addition to comic strips, users can create avatars and class photos within their free account. As a teacher, when you log in there are three options for "play": comic builder, avatar maker, and classrooms. There are also three options for "plan": lesson ideas, comic school, and content packs. 

    Check out my comic strip about a special superpower (screenshots are shared due to my free account being limited *see below*):

    The pros for this site included:

• The lesson ideas, filtered by grade level/objective/subject, provide specific tasks for students to complete using the program 
• Comic builder allowed me to create a blank comic from scratch or browse story starters to get an idea (I chose to use a story starter because my creative juices seem to be on summer break still!)
• So many options exist for adding personal touches including creating a character that looks similar to me
• Adding in character dialogue was simple, and the text boxes were placed in great locations with relation to where my character was located in the panel
• Customizing my comic strip was fun and easy! I could change colors, background, dialogue, captions, facial expressions, character actions, and more! 
• All content was unlocked for the first seven days (This means I may have a skewed view of the features available if many are taken away after the trial period)

    The cons for this site included:

• While characters could be edited in a lot of fantastic ways, I couldn't make mine have brown eyes with blonde hair which was a tad disappointing 
• When adding new panels, the facial expression on the character had to be readjusted from the default every time 
• It was very difficult to move my character around on each panel
• Caption boxes and text were not able to change color or font style 
• Downloading, printing, or sharing my comic was not an option without paying for one of their four plans (which are on the pricier side)

    

    When comparing Pixton with FotoJet, I think students would have a lot more fun creating on Pixton because it follows a more "traditional" comic strip style of creation and has a ton of room for creative explosions. I probably could spend hours making different comic strips using this program and end up with high quality finished products each time! Unfortunately, without paying for a classroom plan ($24.99 per month or $99 per year), it would be hard to utilize the comic strips created in class instruction or on assignments. However, if you have the ability to pay for a plan, I highly recommend putting this at the top of your list!

    Make Beliefs Comix is a platform where users can create their own world through comic strips. In addition to comic strips, this website offers a large selection of printables that target a variety of topics include several geared towards Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Speak another language? This website is able to be translated into 13 languages other than English with just a click of a button! There are also tabs specifically for families, teachers, writing, special needs, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and journaling. 

    Check out this comic strip I created about a conversation between a dog and a duck:

    Unfortunately, this program proved to be rather difficult and heavily limited my creative side. The only part of this program I truly liked was that users have the ability to create a comic from scratch or use a variety of comic starters as guides (I chose to try this after not having a lot of inspiration from what was available). It was a small added bonus that there were so many free ways to save, share, print, and email my comic strip when it was finished; however, I didn't have a quality product that I was pleased to share. 

    

    Things that made this program challenging and, at times, frustrating:

• It was not possible to change the font size within text bubbles 
• Continuing a comic strip using the comic starters proved to be very challenging because I couldn't find the same images among the available characters or backgrounds
• Personalization features were very limited. At times they seemed almost nonexistent with the only possibilities being to change an items location, make it bigger or smaller, or flip it
• There was a cool feature where you could add your own, recorded audio to panels. However, any time I recorded mine and hit "play", it said "audio not found"
• Some aspects seemed to be delayed or required the computer to reboot such as when I clicked on "background" or when I tried to delete a panel I added by accident
• Scrolling for features to add to my comic strip required the use of the mouse and was a horizontal scroll. When you got to the end of a category, the whole page then scrolled down because you have to use the mouse
• Due to the limited availability of features, I had a hard time finding items that fit my personality

    

    Overall, this program would not be one that I would recommend teachers use in the classroom when wanting students to create comic strips. In my opinion, students would find it frustrating to operate and may not like how limiting it is when it comes to creating, especially for students who already have ideas in mind. While I do think this website has a lot to offer in terms of other resources such as the SEL printables, lessons for teachers on using comics in other subjects such as math, and the writing prompts, it would not be my g0-to tool for comic strip creation, as I believe FotoJet and Pixton are much better options. 

So... Now what???

    Comic strips have so many uses in today's classrooms, but many teachers out there don't know how to go about integrating them into the provided curriculum. That's where librarians can come in and save the day! Here are just a few ways I plan to share comics with my teacher-colleagues during this next school year:

1. Create an autobiographical comic introducing myself as their new librarian
2. Video English Language Learners creating comic strips that feature new vocabulary words they have learned and demonstrate them practicing their English speaking with the audio tool
3. Promote team collaboration during our professional development days by having grade levels work together to create a comic strip teaching the staff about the members of their team
4. Use comic strips in my digital citizenship lessons in the library to teach the dos and don'ts of using the Internet (teachers are in attendance during these lessons)
5. Feature student-created comic strips on bulletin boards in the hallway for all staff, students, and community members to see

    For more ways to use comics in the classroom, check out these suggestions on Make Beliefs Comix and read this fascinating article from Edutopia about how comics can be used to teach the 4 Cs (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity)!

    By sharing comics in these ways and demonstrating through co-teaching opportunities how comic strips can enhance the learning already taking place in classrooms, librarians will pave the way for teachers to step out of their comfort zone and try something new that students will find engaging and fun! 

Lights... Camera... Action (Videos and QR Codes in the Library)

    YouTube is a platform for online video sharing that is owned by Google and is very popular, with hundreds of videos uploaded every minute. Through YouTube, users have the ability to enjoy videos and music, upload their own content, and share their videos with friends, family, and others all over the world. From entertainment and how-to videos to news and commentary, YouTube provides a plethora of content to meet the needs and wants of all viewers. 

    My personal use of YouTube usually consists of how-to videos: how-to use my new curling iron, how-to apply my new Color Street nail strips, how-to create project with my new Cricut, etc. I do occasionally frequent YouTube for entertainment purposes, but I've recently been turning to TikTok to fulfill those needs, especially when I am just browsing videos for fun, with no real purpose behind my viewing. 

    COVID-19 brought about a whole new appreciation for how YouTube could be used in the world of education as I created my own lesson videos and other educational content on my very first YouTube channel! Unfortunately, my district had very strict regulations with regards to YouTube (as I'll mention briefly later), but YouTube videos were still the initial platform I used during quarantine and even into the next two years of teaching as a way to keep my absent students as up-to-date with our learning as possible. Moving into a new role as a school librarian got my gears turning again, and I went to the Internet for inspiration on how YouTube, paired with my librarian role, can benefit my new students and school. Here are a few fantastic library YouTube channels and some examples of videos that I think would be helpful and preferred by students. 

The Unquiet Library

Here is a helpful video tutorial on how to find and use Wikimedia Commons images:

While there are many different videos showcasing student work, I believe this particular art showcase will be popular among student viewers:

Pikesville High School Library

This helpful video highlights the various activities and lessons that take place in this high school's library:

Students at this high school were featured in many videos, and viewers will enjoy this one that showcases the fun many students have while in the library:

BBMS Media

Here is a how-to video that is helpful when teaching students the steps needed for creating a website citation using NoodleTools:

It was hard to choose just one library parody created by students at this school, but this is at the top of the list for students to enjoy (and be reminded to "bring their books back"):

How can I use videos to promote my library?

    

    Videos are a powerful tool that bring images and voice together to ignite strong feelings inside the viewer that aren't as possible with just printed words. A school library can utilize videos as a promotion platform in a variety of ways including:

• Book Reviews: Librarians, teachers, parent volunteers, and students can all participate in this marketing technique that not only promotes the library as a whole but also promotes specific books within the library's collection. When doing this, create a clear set of rules for the book reviewers, especially a time frame such as one minute.
• Book Highlights: Create book trailers for new books that have been recently added to the collection or books that could use some visibility to increase their circulation. Place these books in a special place where patrons can view the trailers while seeing the physical copy of the book. This way, when they watch a trailer they like, they can take the book right away to check out!
• Student Spotlights: As students create amazing things in your library (i.e. makerspace builds, research projects, etc.), film the process of creating the items, as well as the finished product. Showcasing student work in this way will make students feel valued and like they have a place of belonging within the library. It will also encourage others to create in the library too!

With all of your videos, make sure you share them on your library website and social media page as able to get other patrons excited and to truly promote your library!

 

What do I do if YouTube is blocked at my school?

    I know this situation all too well. In fact, this past year my district blocked YouTube on student Chromebooks on a random Wednesday in the middle of October! One day, my students could access the YouTube videos I had linked or they had saved for their research project, and the next day they couldn't. 

    One workaround that worked with my district's setup was imbedding the YouTube videos directly to my school website. We use Canvas, and I had the ability to input a YouTube link or upload a video from my Google Drive. Once the YouTube link was pasted, the video would show up directly on my page. Another bonus about accessing YouTube this way was that my students were not redirected to YouTube when they clicked play which meant they did not see additional advertisements or suggestions for other videos to watch. 

    Unfortunately, accessing their own researched links was a little trickier. Some of my students were able to post the links in Google Slides or on their Google Site and access their video similarly to how my Canvas page worked. However, this method did not seem to work for other students. One of life's YouTube mysteries! 

If you are not able to access YouTube on your school computer(s), you can find some helpful alternatives by clicking here.  

    Animoto is a program that allows users to create video presentations using photos, videos, and music. Creating a free account grants users access to various templates that can be used as guides, or users have the ability to start their show from scratch. While the free account has limited access to images, users can utilize Animoto's music choices, slide templates, and upload their own photos. Photos with Creative Commons Licenses can be found on Flickr, Shutterstock, Wikimedia Commons, and Google (using the "Creative Commons" search tool). 

    

Check out the book trailer I made for I Must Betray You by scanning the QR code located below the book's synopsis and reviews.

 

    A #1 New York Times and National Bestseller!

    A gut-wrenching, startling historical thriller about communist Romania and the citizen spy network that devastated a nation, from the #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of Salt to the Sea and Between Shades of Gray.

    Romania, 1989. Communist regimes are crumbling across Europe. Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu dreams of becoming a writer, but Romanians aren’t free to dream; they are bound by rules and force.
    Amidst the tyrannical dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu in a country governed by isolation and fear, Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police to become an informer. He’s left with only two choices: betray everyone and everything he loves—or use his position to creatively undermine the most notoriously evil dictator in Eastern Europe.
    Cristian risks everything to unmask the truth behind the regime, give voice to fellow Romanians, and expose to the world what is happening in his country. He eagerly joins the revolution to fight for change when the time arrives. But what is the cost of freedom?
    Master storyteller Ruta Sepetys is back with a historical thriller that examines the little-known history of a nation defined by silence, pain, and the unwavering conviction of the human spirit.
 
Praise for I Must Betray You:

    “As educational as it is thrilling…[T]he power of I Must Betray You [is] it doesn’t just describe the destabilizing effects of being spied on; it will make you experience them too.” –New York Times Book Review

    “A historical heart-pounder…Ms. Sepetys, across her body of work, has become a tribune of the unsung historical moment and a humane voice of moral clarity.”–The Wall Street Journal 

    *“Sepetys brilliantly blends a staggering amount of research with heart, craft, and insight in a way very few writers can. Compulsively readable and brilliant.” –Kirkus Reviews, starred review

    *“Sepetys once again masterfully portrays a dark, forgotten corner of history.” –Booklist, starred review

    *“Sepetys’s latest book maintains the caliber readers have come to expect from an author whose focus on hidden histories has made her a YA powerhouse of historical ­fiction…Sepetys is a formidable writer, and her stories declare the need to write about global issues of social injustice. For that reason and her attention to detail, this is a must-read.” –School Library Journal, starred review

    *“Cristian’s tense first-person narrative foregrounds stark historical realities, unflinchingly confronting deprivations and cruelty while balancing them with perseverance and hope as Romania hurtles toward political change.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review

    *“Sepetys keeps readers riveted to this vivid, heartbreaking and compelling novel, locked into every meticulously researched detail. I Must Betray Youdemands a full investment from its audience–through poetic writing, sympathetic characters, revolutionary plot and pacing, it grips the heart and soul and leaves one breathless.” –Shelf Awareness, starred review

    “A master class in pacing and atmosphere.” –BookPage

Scan here to enjoy the book trailer!

How can I use QR codes in my library?

    QR codes are a unique type of barcode that can be read by a camera on a smartphone to access websites or other information without having to type in long URLs or follow a series of directions to get to the ending destination. Just as you were able to scan the above barcode and access my book trailer (after a brief advertisement), QR codes can be utilized in many different ways in the library. Using the above video examples as a starting point:

• Book Reviews: Create QR codes for book reviews. Print them out and place them near each book's location within the library shelves. Patrons can use iPads, Chromebooks, or smartphones to scan the codes and watch the reviews right there at the shelves, making it an easy way to locate books that others have suggested!
• Book Highlights: Create QR codes for book trailers. Place these books and their corresponding QR codes in a special place where patrons can view the trailers while seeing the physical copy of the book. Voila! Books will start to circulate more than you ever thought possible!
• Student Spotlights: When students create physical projects that are on display in the library, create QR codes for the videos that showcase the process students took when making the final display seen by patrons. This creates a more interactive display that is sure to capture patrons' attention and make the students feel like stars! 

    Other ways to use QR codes include:

• Placing them on a flyer with the Texas Bluebonnet Book List. These QR codes can link to book trailers and/or a synopsis for the different books on the list to entice readers to give them a try. 
• Use them in makerspace directions to provide students with video directions for completing the stations. This allows the librarian to continue with other duties during makerspace time instead of having to explain directions to groups of students every time they start a new station. It also provides students with the ability to rewatch the directions as many times as needed. 

    In conclusion, videos and QR codes open up a plethora of opportunities to promote your library, engage your patrons, celebrate your students, entice the reading of new or unfamiliar books, and so much more! They may seem a little daunting at first, but give them a try and you're sure to be amazed! 

Sepetys, R. (n.d.). I must betray you by Ruta Sepetys. PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved July 3, 2022, from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/602715/i-must-betray-you-by-ruta-sepetys/