About me

Hi!

My name is Trish and I am a Teacher Librarian in an Australian high school where my role is to promote literacy, learning and literature across the curriculum.

Whilst this blog arose as part of my Masters in Education, I found that I enjoyed writing down my thoughts and reflections about my practice as a teacher librarian. This ‘writing for knowledge construction’ has helped my understanding about pedagogy and curriculum grow. I now write for me, to share what I am doing in my practice and in turn have created a space for me to continue my own life long learning experience. So, if you have read this far, and wish to read more, please subscribe to my blog.

Thank you

Trish

  • The Social Life of Books: Why Teen Readers Follow Their Friend
    Reading is widely recognised as a critical skill for young people, supporting the development of strong cognition, mental health and empathy. A growing body of research consistently shows that recreational reading in particular is linked with academic achievement, improved emotional regulation and more nuanced interpersonal understanding. Building a culture of reading, therefore, is not a peripheral task for schools. It lies at the heart of nurturing thoughtful, resilient and socially capable young people. Yet despite these well established benefits, many children and teenagers do not naturally turn to teachers or teacher librarians for book recommendations (Merga, 2012). To be blunt, … Continue reading “The Social Life of Books: Why Teen Readers Follow Their Friend”
  • Termtime tomfoolery: Using lunchtime activities to market the library as a dynamic space.
    Lunchtime in a library can sometimes be overlooked as a quiet or transitional part of the day. In reality, it is one of the most powerful opportunities libraries have to connect with their community. Lunchtime events turn a regular break into a moment of discovery, drawing people into the space, engaging those who may feel unsure or disconnected, and strengthening the library’s role as a welcoming and active hub. Library events are vital for building a rapport between a school community and their library because participating in a simple activity can lead to conversations. From there, it becomes easier to … Continue reading “Termtime tomfoolery: Using lunchtime activities to market the library as a dynamic space.”
  • Historical Fiction: Her-stories are as important as His-stories.
    History is often presented as a clean line of dates and deeds, with women’s voices muted or missing. Yet when I read historical fiction, I hear those voices rise. It is in the imagined conversations, the textured inner lives and the careful stitching of research to narrative that women like Eleanor of Aquitaine step out from the margins and take their rightful place at the centre of the story. Historical fiction does not replace the archive. It complements it. It gives shape to the silences and lets Her story speak. Eleanor of Aquitaine has captivated me for years. She was … Continue reading “Historical Fiction: Her-stories are as important as His-stories.”
  • Language, learning and the power of library.
    Language and learning are inextricably linked because the latter is hard to achieve without knowledge of the former. Language consists of words used in a structural and conventional way which is the principal method or system of communication communities use to engage with each other and the world (Britannica, 2026; Winch et al., 2020, p. 12).  Language can be spoken, written or gestural and its effective use is a fundamental principle underlying a person’s ability to actively engage with their society. Therefore, by this definition and in conjunction with the cognitive model of reading, learning, and literacy by extension, can … Continue reading “Language, learning and the power of library.”
  • The Peaks and Troughs of a Term.
    A term in the life of a teacher librarian is never a simple, steady journey. It rises and falls in energy and pace, shifting between calm stretches, intense bursts of activity and a mid term crescendo that only those who have stood behind a circulation desk during second break truly understand. Teacher librarians do not just follow the rhythm of the school term. We breathe it, support it and often hold it together with a blend of planning, flexibility and a genuine love of learning. The beginning of the term often appears calm on the surface, but behind the scenes … Continue reading “The Peaks and Troughs of a Term.”