Jillian Heise {Hi-Z} is a National Board Certified Teacher with one Masters degree in Reading/Language Arts + another Masters in Library & Information Science. She has been an elementary Library Media Specialist in southeastern Wisconsin since 2017. Prior to that, she taught 7th & 8th grade ELA in the Milwaukee area for eleven years with an additional year out of the classroom as a literacy consultant. As founder of #ClassroomBookADay (inspired by Donalyn Miller’s #bookaday) in 2014, Jillian is a passionate advocate for the power of shared stories to build classroom and school community and engagement. She dedicates her practice to ... read more
An Inclusive Look at Author/Illustrator Studies
I was asked in a #ClassroomBookADay 101 session to recommend author / illustrator studies that would provide more inclusive representation than what is often seen in schools. Requests for ideas for such studies frequently appear in librarian groups on Facebook, and the names that come up most often are straight, cis, white authors and illustrators. As librarians and educators, we… Read More
2024 READ ACROSS the Diverse Regions of AMERICA
I have been sharing titles for Reading Across the Diverse Regions of America for several years now. To help in efforts to have a more diverse & inclusive focus for students, in 2020, I shared a list of 50 inclusive picture book read aloud alternatives. In 2021, I selected 5 titles for each of the 5 regions of the United States (Northeast, Southeast,… Read More
Black History Month & Beyond – A Virtual Picture Book Read Aloud Library – Newly UPDATED for 2024
Newly updated for 2024! A Google Slideshow covering 233 titles, in 7 categories, with book covers linking directly to copyright-compliant video read alouds of recommended picture books. Use for Black History Month & all year! Categories include:(a purposeful, intentional start with positive portrayals)Black Joy & Magic FamiliesNatural HairEmpowering StoriesBlack HistoryExcellence / Innovators / History Makers (Biographies)Racial / Community Awareness Direct… Read More
Support Your Striving (& Thriving) Readers with Graphic Novels!
Let’s begin with the most important thing you can take away from this post: Graphic novels ARE “real” reading!!! In all my interactions with K-8 readers throughout my 17-year career as a classroom teacher and librarian, there has been one constant – graphic novels. They may be even more popular and validated in the publishing world now than perhaps ever… Read More
Brand New #ClassroomBookADay Resources Available!
Over the last 8 years I have done lots of presenting, sharing, recommending, and talking about #ClassroomBookADay in a variety of places. You can always find information easily at www.classroombookaday.com as a first stop. Yet there are two topics I am often asked about: Is there “a list” of books to read & how to make printing book covers for… Read More
Pride Month Picture Book Recommendations 2023
Yes, I realize it’s now July, but since we should be sharing LGBTQIA+ representation throughout the year in our read alouds, I’m posting this list now so you can continue to read with pride! If you’d like to hear more about using these books in the classroom, join me for my Pride & Less Prejudice virtual workshop on 7/26! Incorporating… Read More
Some Favorite Picture Book Dads
In honor of Father’s Day, I’m sharing a collection of 30 of my favorite picture book stories about Dads. 30 Picture Book Stories About Dads Going Down Home with Daddy Hair Love Papa, Daddy, and Riley How to Cheer Up Dad Dad and the Dinosaur Dad Bakes Hike The Perfect Seat Bilal Cooks Daal Astro Girl The Storm Whale Dandy… Read More
Updating the Grad Gift
It’s graduation season! Whether you’re looking for just the right book to share with a graduate in your life, or trying to find just the right message to send to your class moving on the next grade/school, if you’d like something newer than Oh, the Places You’ll Go, these 12 more contemporary books would all make excellent choices. For Every… Read More
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