AASL has launched two online surveys to gather insight from a variety of school library professionals and stakeholders regarding its 2018 “National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries.” Using these surveys, AASL seeks to evaluate the… Read More ›
Celebrating what we have chosen to do for our life’s work is steeped in both reflection and joy. School Library Month reminds us to pause in our busy school librarian lives and contemplate for a few minutes what we do… Read More ›
As school librarians, we know that collaboration is an important component of running a successful library program. Once partnerships have been created, collaboration with homeroom teachers can occur regularly. Their curriculum and the library curriculum align easily especially in subjects… Read More ›
School and public libraries offer youth formal and informal learning environments, while providing access to a variety of resources. Librarians can introduce students to computational thinking and coding concepts in low-stakes contexts. This month’s post features Dr. Jennifer Moore (associate… Read More ›
Lately, when I’m in the middle of my high school library research lessons, I’ve been asking the students a question: “How many of you have listened to a podcast?” Usually not one hand goes up. Occasionally, there are a few…. Read More ›
There are times when reading a historically based picture book that I cannot help but make comparisons to today. Primary sources can help me focus that comparison. This was the case when reading the picture book A Lady Has the… Read More ›
Nine years ago I transitioned from my position as an ELA teacher to school librarian. Eager to make an impact in a new environment I applied for and received the Ingram-White Castle Foundation Grant, which enabled me to create the… Read More ›
Hello, my fellow school library colleagues! You know that moment when you give an assignment and then let the learners loose to work on it? Remember that feeling of wondering how they are going to create and learn? That excitement… Read More ›
Beginning with a disclaimer is probably the best way to start off an article about the rising cost of subscription databases. I realize in writing this article many of my peers have no district budgetary support for subscription databases. I… Read More ›
Each time one reads, sees, or hears about another wealthy donor providing some program to improve education, we wonder why our students can’t have the same. Helping students in communities with high poverty is not solely dependent upon an influx… Read More ›
How many of us have gotten that sinking feeling during a lesson or presentation that we’ve lost some participants? The dazed or bored look, side conversations, and of course, looking at the phone. You stand there explaining some idea or… Read More ›
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the practice of noticing and working with feelings. Learners develop skills to manage emotions, build empathy, communicate, persevere, and solve problems. Citizens need these skills to contribute to society. SEL skills are important enough… Read More ›
In last month’s post “Stuck on Standards?” I highlighted two examples of how to implement the AASL Standard Framework for Learners. In both examples, I utilized the same lesson and standard frameworks, scaffolding each for different grade levels. Scaffolding is… Read More ›
Do you remember when states started adopting the Common Core State Standards? The standards’ emphasis on nonfiction had school librarians scrambling to find “readable” nonfiction as they welcomed the opportunity to help teachers with the shift away from fiction. We… Read More ›