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NJ Teacher of the Year Blends Reading and Technology

In recent years, books typically placed in the hands of children have been swapped out for cell phones and tablets. But one New Jersey teacher is striving to return this love of reading to the younger generation; she does this, of course, by utilizing modern technology. Chelsea Collins, the 2015-2016 NJ State Teacher of the Year, encourages every single one of her students to read.

However, instead of condemning technology, the Woodstown Middle School teacher utilizes it to peak her student’s interest in literature.

“A lot of times, people are in our classes and they’re surprised that I’ll say, ‘Get on the blog,’ and out come the cell phones, and [the students] are on our blog, and they do it right in class with their cell phones,” says Collins. “That’s the way of the world today; I get authors’ tweets on my phone and e-mails, and I check blogs on my phone, as well. So let’s show students that that’s a great way to fall in love with reading.”


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This Teacher of the Year Combines Reading and New Media

Collins continues: “You know, as an educator, every day we wake up and we want to influence students’ lives. And the reality of it is, some things they’re going to leave remembering and some things they’re not. But if we can leave and have a child love reading and just have this intrinsic motivation to pick up a book, then we can sleep at night knowing that we’ve really touched a child.”

Steve Adubato, PhD., met with Collins at the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Convention in Atlantic City where they discussed her commendable teaching career, how she gets her students interested in reading, and why reading is so important. To learn more about Collins and the power of reading, check out this edition of Caucus: New Jersey with Steve Adubato.

For more stories that impact New Jersey residents, click over to our Hot Topics in NJ series.


Caucus Educational Corporation

Hero (Top) Feature Image: © “Classroom Closeup” / NJEA

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