I still enjoy creating my monthly calendars, and December is no exception. This month we have lots of Fri-YAY activities, colors sheets, puzzles and more. We are writing Christmas cards to the Troops overseas. Our National Day Give Away this month is National "Buddy the Elf" day; we have candy canes and Elf stickers to give out on Dec. 18th. Definitely some fun stuff!
I have been creating monthly calendars since the Spring of 2018. Then and now, I usually send out the calendars out on social media, in newsletters, the library website and our Canvas Course. Over the years, the calendar has definitely changed.
Here is a bit of a comparison.
- My first monthly calendar . . . March 2018
- My latest monthly calendar . . . December 2023
Some of main differences I see now that I am comparing the two are . . . migrating from Google Docs to Google Slides, the integration of Bitmojis (which happened during Covid), and the interactivity of the more recent calendars. That March 2018 is pretty stagnant. I guess the reason why is I modeled the calendar off the old public library calendars which were conducive to making copies or posting to a website; it was information only.
Once Covid hit and everyone went home, my calendars grew more interactive. It was more about having an experience, not just giving out information. When everyone came back to school, my calendars shifted again to a hybrid experience. Some activities the students have to come into the library to do, and some activities are digital. For instance, if you go to the December 2023 calendar, almost all of the pictures go to an activity or an extension. That definitely wasn't happening in 2018.
Yes, the calendars do take time. At the end of the year, I try to make blank ones for the next school year. That has helped. I have also found ways to use the calendar as part of my appraisal document. So it's definitely a win-win.
