Author Archives

I am a School Library Coordinator for the New York City Department of Education's Department of Library Services. I plan and deliver workshops, provide on-site instructional and program support to school librarians, coordinate programs, administer grants, and am program coordinator for MyLibraryNYC, a program administered with our three public library systems.

• Being an Active Collaborator 

  By Leanne Ellis on 04/21/2021 • ( 0 )

  If there is one consistency in our ever-changing school library profession, it is the need to tell the world who we are, what we do, and why we’re essential workers. Remote Collaboration Collaboration is always difficult for educators. But this… Read More ›

• A Vital Resource for Women’s History Month: Women and the American Story

  By Leanne Ellis on 03/16/2021 • ( 0 )

  When you think of Women’s Rights, what are the terms that come to mind? What events? What individuals? I think most educators and students would have similar responses. And if you think of those responses, what do they indicate about… Read More ›

• Using Sway to Create Dynamic Resource Curation

  By Leanne Ellis on 02/17/2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Every month in the school calendar is thematic. So school librarians collate resources to share with students and teachers to build knowledge and understanding. Are the resources used? Hard to measure without anecdotal comments or website page traffic. But one… Read More ›

• A Tool for Struggling Readers: Word’s Immersive Reader

  By Leanne Ellis on 01/22/2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Let’s face it: Google dominates the educational landscape with its Classroom program and endless apps: Forms, Slides, Meets, etc. And there are so many technology tools popping up to make learning fun: Wakelet, Flipgrid, Kahoot, with hundreds more to come…. Read More ›

• Your Partner Down the Street: School and Public Library Collaboration

  By Leanne Ellis on 12/16/2020 • ( 0 )

  It seems obvious, right, to collaborate with your public library partner, especially during this challenging pandemic year. But like all partnerships under crisis, it’s easy to fall into our respective silos.  So I thought a post reminding us about this… Read More ›

• Making Online Discussion Fun and Interactive with Google’s Jamboard

  By Leanne Ellis on 11/19/2020 • ( 0 )

  

  Inviting Participation Many students are reluctant to ask questions or comment with a large group during discussions. The virtual environment makes this worst. Maybe they don’t want their whole face taking up the screen or posting to the chat under… Read More ›

• All the Literacies

  By Leanne Ellis on 10/21/2020 • ( 0 )

  Literacy is one of those terms with academic cache like critical thinking or problem-solving. It has a nice intellectual ring to it, a sense of student accomplishment. Every academic standard, unit and lesson plan, school mission, and vision is stuffed… Read More ›

• Critical Thinking through Conspiracies

  By Leanne Ellis on 09/18/2020 • ( 1 )

  The moon landing is fake. The earth is flat. 5G radio waves cause COVID-19 and suppress the immune system.  What do these claims have in common? They are conspiracy theories.   Renee Hobbs, Professor of Communication Studies, Director Media Education Lab, University… Read More ›

• Reopening School Libraries: A Plan of Action

  By Leanne Ellis on 09/09/2020 • ( 1 )

  

  The COVID-19 pandemic brings exceptional challenges to school districts nationwide. Do schools reopen to students in-person, online, or as a hybrid model of blended learning? And a decision made one day could change the next. Most importantly, working in a… Read More ›

• Whose Stories Should We Tell?

  By Leanne Ellis on 07/23/2020 • ( 0 )

  Whose Stories Should We Tell? Education in America is an ongoing struggle between our ideals and the less than optimal reality we inhabit. But where we can empower students is broadening what we teach to include more perspectives, events, and… Read More ›