Back at It

source: Library of Congress

Yesterday marked the start of my third semester of grad school. In January, nearly ten years after I finished my undergrad degree, I dove headfirst into a professional writing program. I’m learning lots of cool stuff – developing grants, web design (I made a website, guys!), technical writing, and managing digital media. It’s been an interesting adventure to step back into that student role, doubly so with an online program.

If you’re thinking about going back or are in the middle of it like me, here are some of our many resources to help you along the way…

Get Started 

• Managing the Graduate School Experience: From Acceptance to Graduation and Beyond
• Should I Go to Grad School?: 41 Answers to an Impossible Question
• Peterson’s Graduate and Professional Programs: An Overview, 2014

Get Through It 

• Mastering Mobile Learning: Tips and Techniques for Success
• Power Up: A Practical Student’s Guide to Online Learning
• Make it Stick: The Science of Successful Learning
• College Success Strategies
• Make the Grade: Everything You Need to Study Better, Stress Less, and Succeed in School

Get that Money

• 501 Ways for Adult Students to Pay for College: Going Back to School Without Going Broke
• Earn a Debt-Free College Degree!: No Scholarship? No Problem
• The Graduate School Funding Handbook

Good luck, fellow learners!

– Jess

Back to School Countdown

This time last year was tough for me. My first born was getting ready to start kindergarten and every night I laid awake in bed wondering where the years had gone. I bawled my eyes out after she got on the bus and I even hightailed it to the school to watch her walk in the doors for the first time. Slowly we found a rhythm and while there were a few bumps in the road she had a good year.

This August, as the new school year (and first grade) approaches, I am still a little sad to be sending my baby off to school but also excited for her to head back to class, make new friends, and learn even more about herself and the world around her.

If you are getting your kids ready for kindergarten (or 1st or 2nd grade) here are some fun picture books we have been reading around my house that may help you with the transition from summer to school!

11 Experiments That Failed by Offill & Carpenter

This book is the literary embodiment of my daughter. Crazy science experiments that make big messes? Perfect. If you have a budding scientist on your hands they will love seeing their own crazy experiments mirrored in this picture book. Better for slightly older kids.

Mom, It’s my First Day of School by Hyewon Yum

I loved this book last year, and I still love it this year! Mom, It’s My First Day, takes the first day jitters and gives them to Mom, instead of the kid. The little boy reassures his mom that everything will fine and before she knows it he will be back home!

Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School By Herman Parish

I loved Amelia Bedelia as a kid, and I love the newer kid version too. Amelia makes some silly mistakes on her first day of school, but that is okay: school is for learning and with a brand new teacher to help her she is sure to make lots of fun memories this year!

Dinosaur Vs School by Bob Shea

The Dinosaur vs. series is a favorite in our house. In this installment Dinosaur heads off to school for the first time and the day is broken into segments that any pre-schooler or kindergartener would be familiar with; storytime, music, snacks, and, of course, clean up! Perfect for younger kids who are wondering exactly what they will do in school.

School for Bandits by Hannah Shaw

Mr. and Mrs. Raccoon are worried about their son Ralph. His behavior is awful: he is thoughtful, clean and polite! How will he ever fit in at Raccoon Bandit School? Turns out it is okay to be yourself and being polite can be very good! Longer text.

Marshall Armstrong is New to Our School by David Mackintosh

Marshall Armstrong is very different from everyone else at school but that doesn’t mean you can’t be friends! Worried about making new friends? This is a great book to remind kids that everyone is different, and that’s okay, its our differences that make us special.

First Grade Stinks by Mary Ann Rodman

Haley is worried about first grade because it is so different from kindergarten. But with a caring teacher and new friends she begins to love first grade as much as she loved kindergarten.

Let the count down to the first day BEGIN!

-Natalie

New Beginnings and Back to Basics

It’s that time of year again. Back to School (and Library card sign up month!). This is only the third fall that I am not going back to classes, and it is a whole new experience. So in honor of back to school, I picked out some of my favorite books that I would read during the school year and that anyone can request with a library card.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I first read this book when I was a Sophomore in high school and it is a book that I have actually read over again, and I do not do that often. It’s a well-written book with an excellent story and so many lessons for any reader to take into consideration. Oh and to make this book even better, it’s on the list of Banned Books but is still read widely.

1984 by George Orwell. 1984 is a dystopian novel, and one of the first ones I ever read. It is a big reason why I continue to read dystopian novels. It is a great book that makes the reader think about a lot of different possibilities and is another banned book (are you seeing a pattern?)!

Last but not least, Looking For Alaska by John Green. Many readers would know John Green because of his book The Fault In Our Stars. It was a great book in my opinion and Looking for Alaska is another great book in his collection. It’s the story of a boy and his adventures and lessons during his time at school. If you are looking for other recommendations, you don’t have to look very far because CLP has a Back to School, Teens page!

Whether these are repeat reads for some or new recommendations for others, I hope this post inspires you to pick up a new book in celebration of the new school year.

— Abbey