Ahnalese Pearson - LIS

Exploring Creativebug: A Digital Resource for School Libraries and Makerspaces What is Creativebug? Creativebug is a subscription-based resource that gives users access to thousands of video classes in art, crafts, and DIY projects.   The platform covers a wide variety of topics including drawing, painting, sewing, knitting, bookbinding, jewelry-making, and paper crafting. Many classes focus on beginner skills, but there are also more advanced workshops for students and staff who want to challenge themselves creatively.   Each class is led by a practicing artist, designer, or maker, and most classes are organized into short, manageable video segments. In addition to the videos, users can access templates, supply lists, and printable patterns to support hands-on learning. Libraries that subscribe to Creativebug provide free access to their patrons through their library card systems or student logins. Users can watch tutorials on demand, making the platform flexible for independ...

Exploring PebbleGo: A Research Platform for Emerging Readers As young children begin to read and make sense of the world, it’s important that the tools we give them match where they are in their learning journey.  PebbleGo , created by Capstone, is a digital resource designed specifically for students in kindergarten through third grade. It supports early research skills, builds content knowledge, and encourages independent learning — all within an age-appropriate, accessible platform. If you’re a librarian, classroom teacher, or tech integrator looking to bring more nonfiction into the hands of emerging readers, PebbleGo is a resource worth exploring. 📚 What Is PebbleGo? PebbleGo is a web-based platform filled with short, engaging nonfiction articles written for early elementary students. The content is broken into five subject areas: Animals Biographies Science Social Studies Health Each database includes hundreds of articles organized by topic. The articles use simple language ...

Exploring Epic! School: A Digital Reading Platform for Elementary Classrooms and Libraries As school libraries continue to evolve into hybrid learning hubs, digital reading platforms like Epic! School are becoming increasingly important. Whether you're a seasoned school librarian or just beginning to curate your digital collection, understanding what tools are available—and how to use them effectively—is key. In this post, we'll take an in-depth look at Epic! School : what it is, how it works, and how it can be incorporated into a school library. What Is Epic! School? Epic! School is a free digital reading platform designed for use during the school day in K–6 classrooms and libraries. It provides educators and librarians with access to a large library of high-quality books, audiobooks, read-to-me titles, and educational videos. Unlike the paid version available to families, Epic! School is tailored specifically for educational use and is available for free between the hours o...

Creating Mindful Digital Citizens: How the Center for Humane Technology's Youth Toolkit Can Transform Schools and Libraries As a future school librarian, one of the questions I return to again and again is: How do we prepare students to thrive in a world shaped by algorithms, attention economies, and digital overload? We talk a lot about information literacy, but what about attention literacy, tech ethics, and digital well-being? That’s where the Youth Toolkit from the [Center for Humane Technology] (https://www.humanetech.com/) (CHT) comes in—a free, thoughtfully crafted resource aimed at helping young people reclaim agency in a tech-saturated world. In this post, I’ll break down what the Youth Toolkit is, how it works, and how educators, librarians, and school leaders can implement it to help students navigate their digital lives with more intention, awareness, and power. What Is the Youth Toolkit? The Youth Toolkit is an educational resource designed to help middle and high sch...