@image /content/dam/pebblegodev/blog/KateLaChanceBlog.png [b]Librarian's Impact on Student Connections [/b] Kate’s great grandmother was a one room schoolhouse teacher. The next three generations to follow carried the tradition of serving children and their community in education. In fact, they all taught in the same school district. Kate is now a Library Media Technology Specialist in Madison, WI. Since she was a child, she dreamed of being a 5th grade teacher. That dream led her through college where she hesitantly stumbled into a library management class after being told she had to declare a minor. Little did she know, that class would shape her future. Kate shared, “I agreed to try one more class, and it was library management with programming and collaborating with teachers... and that’s when I knew, this is where I wanted to be.” Fast forward some years... Kate’s inspiration and pride lie in the connections she builds with her students, and the connections she can help her students build with reading and learning. “Anytime a child comes in and says, ‘You’re right! I love this book!’... You know, getting to know so many children, especially the ones that doubt that there’s ever a book out there where they’ll find something they really love or cling to, and then you get the opportunity to show them something that they then glom onto and want more, and more.” The connections and relationships built with students take time, energy, trust, and a whole lot of trial and error. But for Kate and many other educators, “...the hard days are worth the reward,” Kate shared. “You wonder if you’re making a difference.” The fulfillment rests in watching students grow and become more confident in learning while discovering the world through literature and self-guided research. [b]Dynamic Teaching and Student Engagement [/b] When asked about her favorite part of the job, Kate lit up and said, “It’s so versatile.” Unlike classroom teachers who often follow a set curriculum, she has the freedom to follow the students’ curiosity wherever it leads. If the students come in excited about butterflies, she is able to pivot on the spot and build the lesson around their excitement. If questions pop up while they’re reading, Kate is able to change direction and dive deeper. It’s this flexibility and the ability to follow their interests that keeps the students engaged and makes them feel seen. When she can adjust and change gears, the students feel more excited, more like they belong - not fearful or overwhelmed. For Kate, that freedom isn’t just a perk of the job, “It’s a gift.” The excitement doesn’t stop there... It also carries into how Kate inspires a love of reading. “I’m a little dramatic,” Kate laughed. “I’m known for standing on chairs, tables... singing, dancing.” Kate’s energy fills the library, turning it into a stage, a learning environment, and a safe haven all at once. And when students feel that joy, they begin to trust Kate with more than just book recommendations. They’ll say, “I’m not a good reader,” and Kate will say, “Yeah, you are!” This year, she introduced a new policy she calls “no book left behind.” Every student leaves with a book, no exceptions. If they can’t find one, they can ask for help from a friend, another teacher, or herself. It’s not about forcing them to read; it’s about discovery. “Whether it’s a chapter book or even a cookbook... it’s all reading!” Kate says. By exposing students to all kinds of literature and making the library a fun, welcoming place, she helps her students feel confident, curious, and comfortable exploring the world through books and research. [b]PebbleGo: Student Change-Makers Project [/b] One of Kate’s favorite recent projects using PebbleGo brought the library to life in a whole new way. She created a three-way collaborative research project with a gym class, technology class, and the library on athlete change-makers. Students were all able to access PebbleGo to explore the lives of famous athletes who have made a difference beyond the field, those who have used their wealth to give back and stand up for others. “The kids had so much fun,” Kate said. But more than fun, they were surprised by what they learned. Many of the students didn’t realize how much of an impact that their favorite athletes had made. “It was eye-opening,” she said. The students discovered a lot of common traits among these change-maker athletes, like generosity, courage, and a sense of responsibility. @image /content/dam/pebblegodev/community/GettyImages-1074987232.jpg [b]Enhancing Student Literacy With PebbleGo [/b] When it comes to building literacy skills, Kate has seen firsthand how engagement makes all the difference. PebbleGo has helped make that possible. “I don’t have any kids that find PebbleGo boring,” Kate shared, “Once they get hooked on a subject they’re interested in, they want books to read more about their interests – they send me running all over the library.”. The spark of curiosity leads them to explore deeper. Kate has noticed that even small features within PebbleGo, like the bold vocabulary words, become teaching moments. “Even if they already know what a word means, they’ll click to check. They tell me ‘You need to click those so you understand it better.’” Alongside the reading within PebbleGo, Kate integrates basic research skills and listening practice – encouraging students to take note of important takeaways, revisit the information, and really reflect on what they’ve learned. “It’s good quality information that’s right there, with a plethora of topics." The wide range of topics and ease of access to the information within PebbleGo gives students the freedom to explore what excites them the most. “It’s a great way to learn those ‘boring’ skills, but in a fun way,” Kate shares. Depending on the season, Kate’s students are most often drawn to creepy, spooky articles. But it’s the biographies that have really captured her kindergarteners' attention. They’ve become fascinated by learning about real people, sparking thoughtful conversations and expanding their understanding of people and the world. @image /content/dam/pebblegodev/community/GettyImages-827319880.jpg [b]The Lasting Impact of a Joyful Librarian [/b] It’s easy to see why students light up in Kate’s library. Her energy is contagious, and her approach is rooted in joy, flexibility, and her passion for student growth. Whether she’s standing on a chair to sing a song so loud that surrounding classrooms need to shut their doors, or guiding students through research projects that open their eyes to the world, or helping them find the perfect book that speaks to who they are... Kate’s impact is clear. She isn’t just teaching them how to read – she's helping them find confidence, curiosity, and a genuine love for learning. Thank you, Kate! [b]The PebbleGo Community [/b] Our community is at the heart of what we do! We couldn’t do it without you – and we wouldn’t want to. We’re always hoping to connect with fellow PebbleGo lovers, elementary educators and admins, and educators in general who want to shape the future of digital learning. Whether you want to connect with like-minded folks, learn about the latest Capstone and PebbleGo news, or contribute to making our products the best they can be, we invite you to join us! [url=https://www.pebblego.com/resources/community]Join the PebbleGo Community here.[/url]