Once upon a time, I saw something called "Bathroom Book Talks" in a library Facebook group of which I am a member. (See previous blog post) I stole that brilliant idea - as all good librarians do - and proceeded to post a flyer with the books of the month in the bathrooms around the school. I think this went on for about 2 years. Once COVID hit, my Bathroom Book Talks went virtual. You can imagine my hesitation of going into every bathroom in our building during a pandemic. This year, however, I decided to try once again to put something in the bathrooms. Then that horrible TikTok challenge where students were vandalizing bathrooms hit. So I decided to keep the Book Talks virtual.
I hated the idea of not doing anything because, come on, everyone has to go to the bathroom. It's a captive audience! Then I remembered a session I attended last summer about passive PD. Someone presenting talked about flyers aimed at teachers that they put either in the faculty bathrooms or near the main copier. Genius!
So the concept is not new, but I decided to make it my own. My monthly segment is called "Potty PD." Others have called it the "Toilet Times" or "Get the Scoop while you Poop" or "Learn Something New in the Loo." Well, you get the picture. I started back in August, and I am having fun creating them. I have had some positive feedback. So I keep making them. Just to clarify, these go in the faculty restrooms only. Baby steps. One day, I'll go back to all bathrooms, but this is not the year.
Here is this month's Potty PD . . .
Below is the link to all of the rest that I have created so far this year, and a template of the October edition. I share these with all of the HS & MS school librarians in my district because we all need to work smarter, not harder. I hope you find something you can use.
Template for October (in case you want to use it)
In case you are brave enough to go into the student bathrooms, here is a collection of my Bathroom Book Talks. (Scroll past the virtual Book Talks to find them.)
Enjoy!
