What happens when everything you’ve worked to build for 10 years is pushed aside and you’re thrown into chaos?
As a school librarian in Ohio, I coordinate a thriving high school library program where I teach students, collaborate with colleagues, and provide professional development on various tech, library, and curricular topics.
But COVID-19 brought allllll that goodness to a halt and I had to pivot, and I mean PIVOT. Suddenly, I was thrust back into special education, teaching 3 grades, online, from my home “classroom” (aka the new corner office of my bedroom).
I have a M.Ed. in Instructional technology, an additional Master of Library and Information Science degree and My Bachelor of Science degree is in Education, with a major in Special Education. I like school.
My license in special education is still active as a k-12 mild/moderate intervention specialist… thus me teaching something I haven’t taught in 10 years. And teaching online.
COVID-19 Forced me to Innovate
But friends, I kinda thrived! I mean, I love a good challenge. Listen, there were a whole lot of days I was mad about the significant damage to our library program, the impact on my students and colleagues at the high school, and more. The struggles my online students endured were difficult.
I was a little stir crazy in a corner of my room cajoling silent screens while teaching online.
But I realized something. The things I LOVE about being a techy teacher librarian, like knowing how to create the right materials to teach a concept using the RIGHT tech tool, were skills I was able to put to use. And, they resulted in some innovative lessons and materials.
I remembered that I was a good reading teacher, and I loved seeing what I created make a difference for a student.
I jumped from grade to grade, unit to unit, and I know that what I did ran smoothly because of the YEARS of preparation I unknowingly had in my role as a school librarian and teacher.
Digital Lessons, Materials and Teacher Collaboration
I create digital lessons, activities and resources to help older learners and teachers. I found myself creating so many things in my free time that I wanted to use in the future, and I want to share them with you!
I’m here because I LOVE to teach, even teaching online! I love to teach educators, librarians, students, and I have SO much to say about my passion for the transformative power of reading, technology and the importance of information literacy in society.
I’ve always thought about how much STUFF is out there –tech tips, edtech resources, digital lessons — and I never thought I should clutter up the universe with my take on it. But what’s the harm? There are tons of great resources out there for teachers and school librarians and I’m offering some more.
By now, if you’ve read any of the other pages on this site, you’ve learned a lot about me. I want you to get to know me, and I want to get to know YOU!
Because keeping to myself isn’t as much fun. I’m a talker and a collaborator, so let’s rock n’ roll!