# research skills (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover research skills. Page: Feed: --- ## [Our Reading Year](https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/2025/05/our-reading-year.html) _2025-05-02 · Sarah Ducharme · Try Curiosity!_ Yikes! I just realized there are only two cycles left with my Grade 6-10/MYP students! That gives me two sessions: one for reflection on our reading this year and one to kick off our Summer Reading Program. First Activity for "Our Reading Year" Students complete my annual questionnaire about their own reading habits, preferences, and recommendations for how I can improve our library's offerings.… ## [Books-into-Movies Bingo](https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/2025/04/books-into-movies-bingo.html) _2025-04-15 · Sarah Ducharme · Try Curiosity!_ It's time for my annual move into a "Pop-Up" Library for six weeks - a smaller cozier space so grade 11 + 12 exams can happen in our large library. I'm going with a "popcorn" theme, so for this cycle's library time I'm doing Books-into-Movies booktalks. The opening nugget is about how reading AND watching can deepen our understanding of a story (including narrative nonfiction). It does not matter… ## [Rules for Reading](https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/2025/04/rules-for-reading.html) _2025-04-01 · Sarah Ducharme · Try Curiosity!_ Library time is fun, but.... I still expect READING to happen which, for some students, is decidedly "un-fun." After nearly 15 years of book talks and library lessons, I'm finally happy with my Rules for Reading . I always aim to strike the right balance between positive and firm expectations and this set of rules has helped me set that tone. Note : These are my rules for our library reading time… ## [Save-a-Buck Booktalks](https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/2025/01/save-buck-booktalks.html) _2025-01-30 · Sarah Ducharme · Try Curiosity!_ It's a common teacher-librarian problem: We prepare booktalks about a set of titles and generate so much excitement with students that all the books get checked out! Ack! It's super frustrating to see a kiddo get excited about a story and not be able to have it. Sure, they can hold it, but it's just not the same. Enter Save-a-Buck booktalks: I only talk about books that are IN the library . If… ## [Beat-the-Clock Booktalks](https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/2024/11/beat-clock-booktalks.html) _2024-11-17 · Sarah Ducharme · Try Curiosity!_ So many books, so little time! This week, I'm doing "Beat the Clock" booktalks. The challenge is to talk about each book within 25 seconds before the slide moves ahead! Students will hold up a "yes" or "no" card to show if they're interested in the book and then I'm on to the next book - no discussion - gotta keep moving! We have a "Top 100 Middle Grade Books" on a visual and resource list, but I… ## [Bingo Book Tasting](https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/2024/09/bingo-book-tasting.html) _2024-09-02 · Sarah Ducharme · Try Curiosity!_ Here's a quick and fun way to ensure students are actually reviewing the titles we put out for them to sample: Combine a book tasting with a bingo board. Grade 9 is coming to see our collection of books about WWII - and we have a ton! Fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, true survival stories, true rescue stories, DK books with engaging timelines and maps - it's fabulous but.... it can be overwhelming.… ## [Visual Booktalks](https://trycuriosity.blogspot.com/2024/08/visual-booktalks.html) _2024-08-22 · Sarah Ducharme · Try Curiosity!_ Here's a quick way to add context when talking about a book: add pictures! As I was preparing booktalks for this cycle's library time with grade 6-9 students, I found myself wanting to show some maps and "local color" like foods, vegetation, and settings to help students gain background about the story. So after my usual bullets to highlight key characters and events, I added a collage of images…