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Michelle Luhtala
- Female
- New Canaan, CT
- United States
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Michelle Luhtala's Discussions
How will you celebrate Banned Websites Awareness Day on 9/28/2011?
Lots of folks have been asking what they should DO on September…Continue
Tags: learning, 21st, century, skills, media-teaching
Started Sep 10, 2011
Michelle Luhtala's Page
Profile Information
- Hometown:
- Westport, CT
- Name of Your School / Library / Organization:
- Born in Mexico. Childhood split equally between New York, NY, Paris, France and Menlo Park, CA. Undergrad at NYU. Started teaching in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in 1990. Challenging times in a challenging 'hood, but great kids. Forty + kids per class and no classroom - taught, science, social studies, English, special education with as many as six preps per day.
In 1991 took a maternity leave and, after a bit, moved to Connecticut with husband to raise our daughter. Rebooted career in 1996 and took a job teaching social studies in a Bridgeport, CT middle school (Read Middle School - prophetic, no?) - 4 preps, class size cap of 30, my own classroom, and again, great kids.
Enrolled in library science program at Southern Connecticut State University in 1999, and was offered a position as school librarian at New Canaan High School in 2001. Had doubts about leaving classroom, but once I started, I was smitten. Became department chairperson in 2004, just before embarking on a three - year building-wide renovation project that involved shifting and/or moving the library collection four times.
Moved back into gloriously renovated NCHS library in 2007, spent the last few years experimenting with emerging technologies to improve student achievement and embed 21st century skills across disciplines. Joined Connecticut Digital Library Advisory Board's Database Committee in 2009.
The 2009-2010 school-year was spectacularly rewarding (see kudos page). In the spring of 2010, joined the Consortium of School Networking's (CoSN) Awards Committee, and started facilitating a free online webinar series at edWeb.net called Using Emerging Technology to Improve Your School Library Program.
Recently joined Connecticut Digital Library Advisory Board. Writing some. Having fun. Was recently asked about what I was passionate. My answer follows:
Knowledge: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Innovation: “Separate space + radical autonomy = innovation” Curtis W. Johnson
Productivity: “Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.” Franz Kafka
- Library, School, or Professional Website:
- http://bibliotech.me
Michelle Luhtala's Blog
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Teacher Librarians of the 21st Century Curated by Mrs. N Ideas and Resources for the 21st Century Teacher Librarian
Libraries as Sites of Enchantment, Participatory Culture, and Learning Curated by Buffy J. Hamilton Ideas and resources to develop the concept of libraries as sites of participatory culture and learning
Personal Learning Networks for Librarians Curated by Donna Watt
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SchoolLibrariesTeacherLibrarians Curated by Joyce Valenza News for teacher librarians
What is a teacher librarian? Curated by Tania Sheko Defining the role of teacher librarians for those who think we just look after books
Teacher librarians and transliteracy Curated by Sue Krust Explore the evolving role of the teacher librarian
Teacher-Librarian Curated by Librarian@HOPE Best sites and resources on the web for teacher-librarians
ResearChameleon on School Libraries Curated by Kathy Malatesta Teaching, mentoring & leading in today’s school libraries
Student Learning through School Libraries Curated by lyn_hay Building evidence of impact through research and professional practice
SCIS Curated by SCIS News and resources about school libraries
Educational Technology and Libraries Curated by Kim Tairi In libraries we teach, we learn and many of us are early adopters of technology. This is your scoop on those things.
21st Century Libraries Curated by Dr. Steve Matthews all things 21st Century library related
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Greetings Michelle,
I'm Mike McQueen, teacher librarian and founder of http://www.GettingBoysToRead.com. Like many school districts, we are in a financial crises. Our school board recently proposed to eliminate ALL 20+ middle school teacher librarians and also cut all 90+ elementary schools to half time. Since we are the biggest district in all of Colorado, we worry this will cause other districts to follow suit. We launched an online movement and are going to do our best to put up a good fight. If possible, please visit our Facebook page and "Like" us http://www.facebook.com/SupportSchoolLibraries . Adding a positive comment and sharing with your friends would help our morale as well. The board finalizes the budget soon so your timely support would be greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Mike McQueen
Teacher Librarian at McLain HS
Lakewood, CO