I want all school librarians to be advocates for school libraries. It’s not just during budget season, and it’s not just when your job is on the line. That’s too little, too late. It’s not “just one more thing” to… Read More ›
advocacy
Themes in School Librarianship, Part 1: Advocacy
I was recently at the School Library Journal’s Leadership Summit 2019. I was very excited to check out the many amazing learning opportunities over the course of a weekend. As the weekend rolled along, I was surprised to realize that… Read More ›
Data Tells a Story
When I stumbled upon the gorgeous, graphic visualization website Information Is Beautiful, I was lost for an hour. Then I raced to our science department and shared the site with some colleagues, then back to the applied academics department… Read More ›
A Media Minute…Curating Resources
Curating Resources with a Media Minute Vlog Hello from North Carolina. Last month when I wrote my blog post, I mentioned our Affiliate Assembly’s upcoming annual conference, #NCSLMA19. Well, if you have ever had the good fortune of serving on… Read More ›
5 Parts of the ALA Annual Conference
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., for the first time. This was made possible by receiving a professional development stipend from the Library of Michigan. As I reflected on my experience I… Read More ›
Positive connections to end the year
The last two weeks of school are hard. We see the finish line in sight, but there are so many steps to reach it. Our classroom teachers feel the same way. This is a great time to encourage others and… Read More ›
Inquiry Framework: What Makes Sense?
I’m on a quest to refine my teaching to be both student-centered and relevant. This has evolved over time to mean that I talk a lot less now, and put more effort into the design of the learning experience. How… Read More ›
Ask the Hard Questions
Not quite a year ago, I saw a Twitter post by our state commissioner of education. The post was not out of the ordinary. He was sharing information about updates to state standards of accreditation. As I read through… Read More ›
Teamwork: Advocating for School Librarians & School Libraries
There seems to be an ever-increasing movement across the nation to do one or more of the following: Reframe the school librarian position as something less than a teacher. Do away with credentialed school librarians. Do away with school libraries…. Read More ›
Open Door vs. Out The Door Policy
The best administrators are those who welcome conversations and new ideas, collaborations, and support. Many school administrators accomplish this lofty goal by instituting an “open door” policy where teachers and students can feel free to come in if the door… Read More ›