Author Archives
Steve has been teaching for over 20 years, mostly middle school English Language Arts. He has earned an M.Ed. (2006) and an Ed.D. (2014) in Educational Administration and Supervision, and completed an M.I. degree in Library and Information Science (2019). He is certified as a teacher, school library media specialist, supervisor, and administrator. He is an old dog constantly learning new tricks!
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We’re #BetterTogether: Sharing What Works
Sharing Online So much of our world, both professionally and personally, has moved online. One benefit of being digital is the “virtuous cycle” of colleagues both near and far sharing ideas. These online shares often receive lots of replies from… Read More ›
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By Any Other Name – Inclusion and Finding Non-Gendered Terms for Students
What’s in a Name? Calling a rose by another name would not make that rose smell less sweet. But when it comes to talking to students, it’s important to recognize that a lot of common English terminology highlights males, heteronormativity,… Read More ›
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What If We Were “Just Book Slingers”?
Perceptions versus Reality Okay – WE all know that school librarians are the “Swiss Army knives of education.” (Thanks for that phrase, guest on School Librarians United!) But too many people are confused about the many diverse aspects of being… Read More ›
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Recreation as Professional Development
Whew! The 2019-2020 school year was unprecedented; the arrival of the pandemic caused a lot of educational shifts in the latter portion of the year. But it felt as if the 2020-2021 year saw its predecessor, said “Hold my beer,”… Read More ›
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Digital Tools to Encourage Student Voice and Choice
Student Reading Recommendations I love having students discuss the books they’ve read and enjoyed. They are empowered by taking ownership of, and pride in, their reading. And their peers benefit from hearing about titles they could add to their “Want… Read More ›
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#NJASLSpring21, Part 2: Lessons from a Virtual Conference
We Did It! All the planning paid off! The NJASL Spring Mini-Conference was an unqualified success! As with any event, there were last-minute changes and hiccoughs. But everything came together, and we received lots of positive feedback from both attendees… Read More ›
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#NJASLSpring21, Part 1: Planning a Virtual Conference
Social Distancing… We are all exceedingly aware of how COVID-19 has dramatically impacted public gatherings. One need only check a preferred news source to read about the terrible social cost this past year has taken. Many are feeling isolated and… Read More ›
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School Library NJ: Support for an Entire State – and Beyond!
School Librarians’ Online Resource Collections You’ve undoubtedly heard of the amazing INFOhio site. It is a wonderful collection of resources designed by school librarians that supports educators across Ohio. Several other states offer similar efforts, such as Connect, Create, Lead… Read More ›
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Helping Dr. Biden Hear Our Voices
Hope for Education In August 2020, when the Democratic Party nominated Joe Biden for the Presidency, Biden announced his acceptance from the library of the high school where his wife used to teach. And Dr. Biden addressed the nation from… Read More ›
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How to Cultivate Powerful School Library Advocates
Cultivating Allies Too often, educators–and school librarians in particular–are reactive in advocacy, rather than proactive. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Developing relationships with those within school districts who have both initial recommendations and ultimate… Read More ›