How many students learn for the sake of learning? It’s a question I think about a lot in this age of overtesting. In New York, children start with the ELA, Math, and Science tests in the early grades and then… Read More ›
reflection
3 Reasons to Love Passive Programming
In August, I attended #BossLibrarianPD put on by K.C. Boyd. This was a free virtual two-day professional development for school librarians featuring presenters from across the country. One such presenter was Holly Brown (@MsBrownsLibrary). She shared a session called Easy… Read More ›
Space Resources for Day One of Crayola Creativity Week: Endless Possibilities
Star Gazing One recent night when the temperature in New York hovered around 15 degrees, my dog needed to go outside. I had been sitting on the couch reading (ironically!) A Year in Jamaica, Diana Lewes’s memoir from 1889. While… Read More ›
Speed Dating with Nonfiction Books
Every year I collaborate with the 11th-grade English teachers on a nonfiction independent reading project. The goal is to increase student agency and create excitement about literature. While many juniors initially express an aversion to reading, they often show an… Read More ›
Engaging Nonfiction Titles for High School Students
Summer is a reading marathon for me. Each year, as I prepare to go back to my high school library, I take stock of titles I’ve read that might engage my students. I’m not always successful at motivating resistant teenage… Read More ›
Top Knowledge Quest Blog Posts of 2021
Can you dedicate 10 minutes out of your busy day to learn and grow as a professional? If so, I encourage you to get in the habit of reading the Knowledge Quest blog. Here, you’ll find ideas, resources and opportunities… Read More ›
“Auld Lang Syne”: Reflecting at the New Year
“Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?” For almost five decades, I’ve heard at least a few bars of “Auld Lang Syne” every New Year’s Eve. But despite some guesses, I never knew what that title actually… Read More ›
Sock Moments
Have you ever pulled a freshly dried pair of socks straight from the dryer and put them on your feet? If you haven’t, try to imagine that feeling of warm dryer heat covering your cold feet and then drifting up… Read More ›
Speed Dating with Books: The Power of Creative Nonfiction
This year I was thrilled to be back in person for our yearly 11th-grade Speed Dating with Books event. Though last year’s digital version was successful, it could not compare to the energy of a live activity. Amid the chaos… Read More ›
Looking Behind and Looking Ahead: A School Librarian’s Hurdles, Highlights, and Hopes
“Where did you go to, if I may ask?” said Thorin to Gandalf as they rode along. “To look ahead,’ said he. “And what brought you back in the nick of time?” “Looking behind,” said he. –from The Hobbit, by… Read More ›