My mentor school librarian was energetic and caffeinated: each morning she brought a 12-cup thermos of coffee to work and proceeded to down the entire thing by the time the school day was over. One afternoon, she asked me what… Read More ›
professional development
School Librarians: We Are Stronger Together
March 2020 seems like ages ago. It’s September, school has started for everyone–either virtually, in a hybrid model, or fully face to face. The coronavirus is still running rampant across the country and is increasing in some areas, while decreasing… Read More ›
Don’t Just Join–Engage!
I have been a member of the Nebraska School Librarians Association (NSLA) since the beginning of my school library career (and even before that as I joined as a grad student). A few years later, a mentor of mine asked… Read More ›
Using Voice Recordings to Support the National School Library Standards
Recently I was reminded of a tool called Vocaroo that allows users to record and share their voices online. There is something more personable about leaving a message for your students, parents, and teachers that includes your voice. The best thing about… Read More ›
4 Takeaways about Applied Digital Skills
You know when you learn about a resource and say to yourself, “Ah, I wish I had learned about this before!” That is how I feel about Applied Digital Skills by Google for Education. Recently, I was fortunate enough to… Read More ›
Is That a Privilege?
Last year I started a professional development journey to help me become a better ally to myself and my colleagues. I wanted to develop empathy, understand my shortcomings, and reconcile some of the feelings that I have experienced as a… Read More ›
Tools and Tips for Engaging Students with Asynchronous Discussions
I have been wondering something about everyone else since we have begun social distancing. Like many others, I am working from home. I have found that I am busier now than I was before the coronavirus. Is this true for… Read More ›
Conferences in a Pandemic
I think about conferences a lot. Anyone who has been a conference chair has a heightened level of appreciation for them. Conferences are yet another thing to add to COVID-19’s current list of casualties. Or are they? Educators are masters… Read More ›
Professional Development Tips in a Virtual Environment
At the New York City School Library System, our number one task is to provide professional learning opportunities for librarians and teachers. When we planned the 2019-2020 school year, the pandemic and remote learning were not on our minds. Our… Read More ›
School Administrators and the Power of School Librarians
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” ― Lao Tzu (n.d.) I love our profession. Look around… Read More ›