Explore our end-of-year review collections for elementary and secondary classrooms.
Virginia’s Black History Icons
Discover the stories of Virginia’s Black history icons—trailblazers in civil rights, education, politics, and the arts.
Digital Citizenship Week Is Here!
Empower your students to become responsible digital citizens with quick, engaging lesson ideas from eMediaVA.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with eMediaVA media resources for K-12!
The Art of Giving Effective Feedback
Discover how to transform your feedback approach to foster continuous improvement and development in your mentees and students.
VR Tips and Tricks
Explore how virtual reality (VR) can enhance your classroom experiences with practical tips and tricks from Albemarle High School librarians Erica Thorsen and Michelle Banaszak.
Journey of Growth: Reflection on a Year of Teaching
Discover how reflecting on your teaching practices can enhance your effectiveness and professional growth, setting you up for an even better school year ahead!
Celebrating Pride Month: Inclusive Picture Books for the Classroom
During Pride Month, many teachers want to be inclusive but aren’t sure where to start. Why not try a picture book?
Ways to Celebrate and Reflect on Your Year
This blog highlights the importance of self-reflection for educators at the end of the school year, offering strategies and questions to help you appreciate your achievements and plan for future growth.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week from eMediaVA!
Thank you for all you do in your classrooms and community! Explore ideas for celebrating this week on the eMediaVA blog.
Embark on a Journey Through History: Announcing New Virtual Tours of Fort Monroe!
Embark on an immersive exploration of Fort Monroe’s rich and diverse history with our brand-new virtual tours.
Linking Libraries
Read about Story Safari in Spotsylvania County, a program where high schoolers create audiobooks of picture books for younger students, boosting reading skills in a fun way.
Attention Educators: Exciting Solar Eclipse Happening Soon!
The solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will be the last solar eclipse visible from parts of the U.S. until 2044! Don’t miss the opportunity to share this exciting event with your students.
Engaging Elementary Students with Culinary Adventures!
Inspire students in culinary exploration with fun, healthy recipes and integrated learning opportunities that emphasize international cultures.
The Quiet (But Mighty) QR: A Digital Learning Day Reflection
Unlock the potential of QR codes in education as we explore innovative ways to enhance digital learning experiences within the library.
March: A Month for the Arts
Learn about exciting opportunities and resources for celebrating Youth Art Month in March!
6 eMediaVA Resources for Women’s History Month
Women are the embodiment of strength, resilience, and innovation! Here are 6 of our favorite resources for Women’s History Month.
Celebrate Read Across America Week with These Five Essential Steps
Explore ideas for embracing Read Across America Week, March 2nd-6th, 2024.
Hidden Figures of Revolution: Sharing the Untold Stories of Three Influential Women
Explore the compelling stories of revolutionary women, offering valuable resources to enhance your curriculum and inspire your students.
Presidential Pursuits: Exploring Virginia’s Historical Gems
Explore the legacy of eight U.S. presidents with visits to their Virginia homes.
Celebrating Black History and Culture Beyond February: A Guide for Inclusive Classrooms
Explore ideas for extending the celebration of Black history and culture beyond February.
New Year, New Password: Why You Should Change to a Passphrase
Explore the importance of password security in the digital age with sage advice from educator Patrick Hausammann.
Do You Have English Language Learners in Your Classroom? Boost Their Achievement with eMediaVA
Boost the achievement of English Language Learners in your classroom using eMediaVA’s diverse resources and effective integration strategies.
Winter Wonders: Unveiling the Science of Snow for Elementary Explorers
Explore snow’s scientific marvels through videos, crafts, experiments, and more for elementary students.
Love Where You Live: Gardner’s Naturalist Intelligence
Educator Kristen Strickland shares advice on embracing naturalist intelligence in your classroom for enriched, memorable learning experiences.
Rethinking Education: A Plethora of “What Ifs”
Educator Tammy Byram explores ‘what if’ scenarios and envisions a future where kindness & curiosity define the classroom experience.
Embracing Diversity in December: Exploring The Winter Holidays Collection
Explore the enchanting tapestry of winter holidays, from the festive traditions of Christmas and Hanukkah to the cultural richness of Kwanzaa.
Beating the Winter Blues: A Teacher’s Guide to Combating Seasonal Affective Disorder
Empower your teaching journey with practical tips to overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Recharge and Revitalize During Winter Break!
Elementary teacher Toymeka Raymond offers valuable insights on making self-care a priority during your winter break.
Exploring Top AI Tools Tailored for Teachers
Explore top AI tools for teachers, including MagicSchool for diverse question categories, Diffit for easy differentiation and sub plans, and Perplexity for empowering student research with sourced answers.
Embark on an Exciting Journey with Project-Based Learning!
Explore the transformative realm of Project-Based Learning, where students engage in real-world projects that foster meaningful learning experiences.
Starting SOL Science Review Now
It’s never too early to think about SOL review! Learn how to use collections to create self-paced review activities for your classroom.
Uncovering a Hidden History: The Albany Movement and the Fight for Civil Rights
Humanities teacher Evan Liddiard shares about incorporating a little-known Civil Rights event to tell a fuller history.
Curing the Ostrich Effect
The news can be overwhelming. Librarian Tammy Byram shares ideas for using current events in instruction without feeling in over your head.
Five Ideas for Celebrating Veterans Day
Explore lessons, activities, and resources that will help your students celebrate service men and women past and present.
Quick Ways to Teach about Elections in Elementary School
Elementary librarian Tara Williams shares ideas for teaching elections with videos, books, and classroom activities.
Exploring eMediaVA’s Election Resource Collections
Explore our favorite resources for teaching elections this November.
Constitution Day: Planning for September 17th
Constitution Day is September 17th. Social studies teacher Anne Walker shares her favorite resources for elementary and secondary classrooms.
Fall eMediaVA Webinars | Register Now!
Join us this month for back to school webinars focused on SOL-related content and engagement strategies.
Five Things You Can Do This Summer to Return Refreshed In The New School Year
Veteran teacher Kristen Strickland shares ideas for using your summer break to relax and mentally prepare for next school year.
What Happens in the Frame
Tammy Byram shares ideas for using images as an educational tool in the classroom and library.
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Explore ideas for celebrating National Physical Fitness and Sports Month during May.
Resources for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Social Studies Specialist Nick Dzendzel shares lesson ideas and resources for integrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month into every classroom this May.
Secondary Reading Lessons to Support SOL Review
SOL season is upon us! Kristen Strickland shares review ideas for the reading SOL.
Celebrating Earth Day: Interactives Resources for All Grades
Looking for Earth Day lesson ideas?
Virtual Learning Tools for the Primary Grades
Explore tools for the future with online kindergarten teacher Toymeka Raymond.
Supporting Students during Ramadan
Factor in students’ opinions and feelings when creating a welcoming space during Ramadan.
Resources to Help Teens Understand Healthy Relationships
Learn more about helping students navigate dating relationships with resources from high school librarian Erica Thorsen.
Register Now for Our Spring Webinar Series!
Register now for our spring webinar series, with relevant and engagement training topics this March!
Extending Student Learning at Home: Resources for Families
eMediaVA’s home education resources for children to learn at home add fun to distance learning and home learning.
5 Resources for Teaching the Harlem Renaissance
Explore five of our favorite resources for teaching the Harlem Renaissance this school year.
Leveraging Social Media Platforms to Connect with Students
High school librarian Erica Thorsen offers advice on using social media to connect with students and raise awareness of the library’s collections.
Presidents’ Day Scavenger Hunt
Create a Presidents’ Day Scavenger Hunt for grades 2-12! See an example from Nick Dzendzel, eMediaVA Ambassador.
A Structurally Sound Library: Supporting ELL Students
Learn how to help English language learners make the most of the school library with advice from middle school librarian Tammy Byram.
Summer Workshops To Apply To Now!
Learn more about FREE professional development opportunities for teachers this summer!
Classroom Fun with Scattegories
Research shows that using games in teaching can help increase student participation, foster social and emotional learning, and motivate students to take risks.
Resources for International Holocaust Remembrance Day
This year, Friday, January 27th, is designated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day for current and future generations to commemorate the Holocaust.
Sesame Street in Communities: Social-Emotional Learning Resources for Young Learners
We all know Sesame Street but have you explored the Sesame Street in Communities collections? Read more to learn how educators are using Sesame Street resources to increase the social and emotional intelligence of young learners.
Using NOVA Labs To Teach Biology
In this content spotlight, learn how science teacher Carolyn LaRoche uses NOVA Lab interactives, labs, and videos to teach evolution in her Biology class.
eMediaVA Winter Webinar Series: Register Now!
We’re kicking off 2023 with a winter webinar series on topics like science media, SEL, and media literacy. Register to join us in the New Year!
12 Self-Care Tips for the Holiday Season
December is a busy and stressful time, especially for teachers. Tanisha Ricks goes over self-care strategies you can use this holiday season and throughout the year.
Teaching the Winter Holidays
Want to teach your students about many different holidays celebrated in the winter? Here are inclusive ways to use media to talk about winter holidays!
How We’re Celebrating Computer Science Week
ITRT Patrick Hausammann shares resources for celebrating CS Week and Hour of Code in your school and classroom.
4 Ideas for Connecting Music to Classroom Content
Elementary teacher Amanda Knighton shares how she uses music to teach science, social studies, and more.
Celebrating Thanksgiving: Resources for Decoding the Neglected and Historically Misunderstood Holiday Between Halloween and Christmas
Did you know there is an ongoing debate on where the first Thanksgiving really took place? Educator Dale Harter shares details.
Celebrate Thanksgiving in Your Classroom Without Stress: Connecting Your Lessons to Social-Emotional Learning
Elementary teacher Toymeka Raymond shares resources for emphasizing SEL through Thanksgiving classroom activities.
A History Teacher in a Psychology Classroom
Social studies teacher Anne Walker shares her favorite eMediaVA resources for her first year teaching Psychology.
Celebrating Veterans Day with Our Students
Librarian Aubree Mitchell shares ideas for honoring Veterans Day in our classrooms on Friday, November 11th.
Teaching the Upcoming Midterm Elections
Midterms are November 8th! The election season is a great time of year to explore the impact of midterm elections with your students.
Fun Songs for Changing the World: The GreenBeats℠ Video Series
GreenBeats℠ is a WHRO-produced series of animated songs that focuses on critical environmental issues and themes for elementary learners.
It’s Media Literacy Week!
Media Literacy Week is October 24th-28th. Librarian Dale Harter shares his favorite resources for media literacy to use this week and all year long.
It’s Spooky Season: Our Favorite Edgar Allan Poe Resources
It’s spooky season! Check out our favorite Edgar Allan Poe resources in eMediaVA and register for our Poe webinar!
Scary Good October Webinars: Register Now!
Join eMediaVA staff and teacher ambassadors for two PD opportunities during October: teaching the midterm elections and the best of Edgar Allan Poe resources on the web!
Ideas for Digital Citizenship Week
Digital Citizenship Week starts October 17th. ITRT Patrick Hausammann shares lesson ideas and advice for DCW!
SEL: Strategy Songs for Our Youngest Students
Explore how songs can be used to emphasize social and emotional learning practices with young learners.
Back to Basics: Encouraging Authentic Questioning in the Library and Classroom
Librarian Tammy Byram is getting back to basics this school year by emphasizing listening, questioning, and analysis with students.
Promote Social-Emotional Learning at Home and at School
Explore eMediaVA resources that support teachers and parents in integrating social-emotional learning strategies into young learners’ everyday environments.
4 Alternative PD Ideas That Teachers Will Thank You For
Educational Technology Manager Janie Everett shares modern methods of administering asynchronous professional learning sessions during teacher work days.
Back-to-School Night Ideas
If your back-to-school night needs a refresh, ELA teacher Heidi Speece has you covered with fun ideas to improve the experience for you, students, and parents!
Your Best First Day Ever: Five Tips to Make It a Success!
Nervous about the first day? New and returning teachers can benefit from educator Kristen Strickland’s tips for a great first day!
Register Now for the Back-to-School eMediaVA Webinar!
Register now for our back-to-school eMediaVA webinar on August 23rd!
Dig Into Dinosaurs at Home and at School
Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? From videos and learning activities to crafts and games, check out our list of dino-themed learning resources.
10 Fun Summer Activities for Your Kids
If school is out for the summer where you live, check out these fun activities to help the kiddos have fun at home while also learning.
Three Low-Cost Ways to Reward Yourself This Summer
It’s been a challenging year for all of us. Unwind and relax this summer with these ideas from ELA teacher Heidi Speece.
Celebrating July 4th with eMediaVA
Explore ideas and resources for celebrating the 4th of July at home or in the classroom!
Using Books to Bring Empathy Back
Learn more about supporting students’ social and emotional learning through reading and instruction with tips and resources from media specialist Tanisha Ricks.
The New eMediaVA Is Here!
The redesigned eMediaVA is finally here! Read more about the new features and resources you’ll experience June 13th.
Summer Reading, Summer Learning
Librarian Dale Harter shares how summer learning benefits students, teachers, and parents.
Teaching the Tulsa Race Massacre
Social studies teacher Anne Walker discusses resources for teaching the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Podcasting with Students of All Ages
Learn how Denyse Phelps is promoting student voice at her school with podcasting.
Citizen Science or Community Science? Science Events in the Library
Librarian and eMediaVA Ambassador Dale Harter shares his experiences hosting a Citizen Science event in the school library.
Where’s My Stuff? Getting Students Organized with Wakelet
Learn more about how Wakelet can be used by teachers and students alike.
Iceberg Straight Ahead: Multi-Disciplined Research and the Titanic
English teacher Heidi Speece outlines a new approach to student research projects, using the Titanic.
Tips for Increasing Children’s Appetite for Reading
Increase your child’s love of reading with these tips from eMediaVA Ambassador Janel Kelley.
It’s Free! Finding Fun, New Resources to Add to Your Curriculum
Educator Kristen Strickland shares her favorite FREE digital resources for PreK-12 educators!
Celebrating Student Art
Educator Tammy Byram shares practical ideas for integrating Youth Art Month into your classroom, library, and school.
Music: The Sound of My Heart | Music in Our Schools Month
March is Music in Our Schools Months. Around the country, music educators and students celebrate and explore the lasting impact music has on our lives.
Lesser-known Virginia Women for Women’s History Month
As Women’s History Month approaches, teachers begin thinking about what notable women they can introduce to their students. Here are some of the less touted Virginia women your students should know.
Dream Class: Using Google’s 20% Time to Build Student Engagement
Enhance engagement in your classroom and libraries with 20% Time! Get started with advice from educator Kristen Strickland.
Presenting Multiple Perspectives in History
We all learned history in different ways. No matter what level of education, your knowledge of history can be based upon certain perspectives that have been presented to you in your learning.
Top 5 eMediaVA SEL Resources for Secondary Educators
eMediaVA Ambassador Kristen Strickland’s favorite eMediaVA SEL resources.
Finding Balance in Students’ Digital Lives
Students’ use of technology is the highest it has ever been. It’s our responsibility as educators and parents to help students find balance in their digital lives.
Using Media Literacy to Support Reading Literacy
Resources and advice on supporting reading literacy from Norfolk Public Schools Media Specialist, Tanisha Ricks.
“When a Dog Bites a Man”: Using eMediaVA Resources to Teach “What Is News?”
There’s an old saying that goes like this: When a dog bites a man, that’s not news. When a man bites a dog, now that’s news!
Developing Inquiry in Your Classroom
Strengthen inquiry in your classroom with tips and ideas from eMediaVA Ambassador Nick Dzendzel.
Ruff Ruffman Helps Teach about Media Literacy
ITRT and eMediaVA Ambassador Monica Mitchell explains her favorite resources for Digital Citizenship Week.
Generative AI & Students: It’s Not Just About Cheating
Explore safe tools for any grade level to begin teaching students responsible use of gAI tools.
Take Your Students on a Virtual Adventure!
Explore museums, landmarks, and even outer space with virtual field trips that are fun, free, and easy to use in any classroom.
Bringing Math Home: Resources to Support Family Learning
Looking for ways to support families with math at home? eMediaVA offers engaging, easy-to-use resources that bring math into everyday moments.
Read Across America Day: It’s Not Just for Elementary Anymore!
Celebrate Read Across America Day in every subject! From science fiction to historical documents, discover creative ways to make reading meaningful across the curriculum.
STEM Challenges for Snow Days: Simple Engineering Projects with a Winter Twist
With February snow in Virginia, it’s the perfect time to bring STEM learning to life with hands-on, winter-themed challenges!
Exploring U.S. Presidential Inaugurations in the Classroom
Explore classroom activities to engage students in learning about U.S. presidential inaugurations and their significance.
Ten Minutes of Impact—Without Adding to Your Workload
Discover how eMediaVA helps teachers save time and create impactful lessons with quick, engaging resources for any subject or grade level.
Celebrate the December Holidays: 3 Fun and Engaging Ideas
Explore diverse winter celebrations with your students with 3 engaging activity ideas for your classroom!