by Leah Langby | Dec 15, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids, Uncategorized
Circle of Security International LogoI learned about Circle of Security as an approach to parenting and parent education the other day at a meeting, and I just had the chance to poke around and see what it is all about. There are some great short animated...
by Leah Langby | Dec 13, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
A parent and child play together in HawkinsMany of you have been trained in the Every Child Ready to Read curriculum, emphasizing helping parents and caregivers understand the importance of five early literacy practices (Playing, Talking, Singing, Reading, and...
by Leah Langby | Dec 12, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
A child playing in BloomerEvery several months, I have a chance to get together with early childhood professionals from around western Wisconsin, and it is often some of the most fruitful time I spend. Not because I get a lot of taks ticked off my list, but...
by Leah Langby | Dec 6, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image from PixabayWhen you see the call to present at a state conference or an IFLS workshop, do you assume the people asking for presenters are talking to other people? Believe it or not, those calls are meant for YOU! There are lots of reasons to ignore...
by Leah Langby | Dec 5, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image from PixabayThe Young Adult Library Services Association is sponsoring a series of FREE webinars–you don’t have to be a member to participate, and you don’t have to pay. This is pretty exciting! The topics cover everything from teen...
by Leah Langby | Nov 30, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image from PixabayFor several years, the Youth Services Section of the Wisconsin Library Association has created a lovely Early Literacy Calendar, designed by YSS members to encourage families and caregivers to engage with their children in a variety of playful...
by Leah Langby | Nov 28, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
If you haven’t had a chance to peek at the new super awesome toolkit that is part of the Wisconsin Libraries Coding Initiative, I highly recommend taking some time to do that. Created by our inimitable statewide youth services consultant Tessa Michaelson...
by Leah Langby | Nov 21, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
Image by HafubotiWe had a workshop a couple of weeks ago (already?!) that included a presentation by Renee Grassi about making programs more inclusive, with a special nod to summer programs. She was so inspired about it, she wrote a blog post about the benefits...
by Leah Langby | Nov 20, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
I was talking with a youth services librarian I admire last week. She said something that really struck me, and I asked her if I could share it in my blog. She said yes, but demurred when I asked if I could give her credit, so you’ll just have to let...
by Leah Langby | Nov 17, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
With Thanksgiving coming up, it’s a great time to think about our collections and programs and how they may (or may not!) portray inaccurate stereotypes of First Nation people, or appropriate cultural practices inappropriately (for lack of a better word). ...
by Leah Langby | Oct 30, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
Here’s a frequent question that librarians receive: “What can I give my first grader to read if she is reading at a fourth grade level?”Sometimes kids still enjoy books even if they can read well beyond them (Harry Potter and Mr. Putter and...
by Leah Langby | Oct 27, 2017 | Keeping Up With Kids
Well, data is in that shows Wisconsin is still not doing so great in terms of making sure the children in our state have a fair shake at life–particularly children who are not white. The 2017 Race for Results report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation has...