Sparks Fly in the Library Taylor Swift. The name is enough to get the attention of all teenagers (and most adults). When my Teaching Assistant suggested we use the iconic pop star as the focus for a book display, I… Read More ›
student engagement
Library Shelves to Attract the Modern Teen
See and Be Seen Teenagers don’t always notice what’s right in front of them. In my high school library few students take the time to look through the shelves when they need a book. I’m always happy to guide individuals… Read More ›
My Favorite Collaborative Lesson: Celebrating Children’s Week
It can be challenging at the end of the school year for a teacher to keep students engaged and learning while matching their level of anticipation for summer break. This past school year a third-grade teacher came to discuss an… Read More ›
Making Research Exciting Through Student Choice
My favorite option for keeping high school students occupied after end-of-year exams is independent reading. A close second, though, is helping them discover the joy of research. Last year was the first time I collaborated with an AP United States… Read More ›
Popular Verse Poetry For Teens
Verse poetry novels cover a wide variety of topics, are a unique reading format, and can be engaging for more reluctant readers. Over the past few years there has been a rise in the amount of really great verse poetry… Read More ›
Supplemental Books for After AP/IB Exams
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 ›
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 ›
A Passion Project to Help Juniors Enjoy Research
It’s that time of year again when juniors are on their way to being academically exhausted. Our Advanced Placement English Language & Composition teachers tackled this fatigue by introducing passion projects to their 11th-grade classes. Allowing students to choose topics… 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 ›
Celebrating Crayola’s Creativity Week with Kindergarten
What is Crayola’s Creativity Week? Crayola’s Creativity Week will take place on January 23rd – 29th! The goal of this week is to celebrate children’s creativity and embrace innovative thinking. There is a different event planned every day for children… Read More ›