Last month, Steven Yates, 2017-2018 AASL President, wrote about the grants that were available through AASL. The post indicated that February 1, 2018, is the deadline for many opportunities. Given the fact that the February deadline is approaching quickly, you might be wondering about other opportunities that exist later in the year.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are two more organizations that offer grants that school librarians can apply for. With this in mind, I am going to continue writing about the “AASL ESLS Research Symposium” that I attended during the conference. (Please note that the professional development for this month is listed below.) Besides going over the standards, we also talked about research and writing grants. Participants were treated to an interactive webinar with Dr. David Campbell, the NSF Program Director in the Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings, and Dr. Marvin Carr, the IMLS STEM and Community Engagement Advisor.
It is not everyday that we are able to hear from administrators from top funding agencies and ask them questions about how to make our grants better. While you can contact the NSF and IMLS for an appointment to discuss ideas, asking questions in an informal environment with colleagues is always encouraging. I liked this session, because people asked questions that I would not have thought of. Here are some of the tips provided during the session.
Tips from Dr. Campbell (NSF)
- There are 7 directorates within NSF that have funding opportunities. Although there are a variety of grants to review, there is a page describing funding opportunities specifically for K-12 educators: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/education.jsp?fund_type=4 .
- Universities and school districts make excellent partners. It is helpful when a proposal involves more participants for a broader range of expertise and service within the community.
- Always include STEM education components to make the grant relevant to the mission of the NSF.
- It is a good idea to include collaboration between science teachers and school librarians in NSF proposals.
- Consider sending a one-page summary to the appropriate NSF program director to see if your idea fits.
- The budget for grants must be balanced. Don’t ask for too much or too little. In addition, avoid asking for $2.00 less than the maximum. The budget needs to closely match what you need instead of what you want.
- Always consider if you have the means to collect evidence and data for research questions.
- NSF has a page about how to prepare a proposal: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/preparing/.
Tips from Dr. Carr (IMLS)
- This year, IMLS grants are structured to have two rounds. The first round requires a two-page submission. The second round is by invitation and requires the full grant proposal.
- Currently, IMLS grants can be submitted 2 times a year. See the announcements for more details.
- If a two-page submission for the first round is rejected, review the feedback for tips to improve the proposal.
- IMLS needs more proposals to support pre-service librarians and appreciates collaboration between libraries, community organizations, and universities.
- Various grants are designed to support the areas of research, planning, projects, and new innovations (Sparks).
- Common issues with IMLS grants include missing the basic requirements for the application and missing cost share.
- There is a page on the IMLS website about how grants will be reviewed: https://www.imls.gov/grants/become-reviewer/reviewer-resources. If you read the information, you will get an idea about how to structure an IMLS grant proposal.
General Tips:
- Read the solicitation for the grants and follow the requirements carefully.
- Think “outside of the box” and work with nonprofits such as community organizations and churches to tackle a community problem.
- Write grants to develop programs that can serve as models throughout your state or the nation.
- Remember diversity is not just about race and ethnicity. See my previous post for a holistic definition: https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/upside-kid-diversity-cultures/.
- Experts peer review grants for IMLS and NSF. NSF uses a scale that ranks proposals from poor to excellent. IMLS ranks submissions on a scale of 1 to 5. A score of 5 is the best rating. If a NSF proposal receives feedback that states it is “highly competitive without funding” or states that it should be revised, submit the proposal again. If an IMLS proposal’s feedback is ranked at a 3 or higher, resubmit it during the next cycle after making revisions.
In conclusion, I was thankful that I signed up to attend the symposium because it included researchers in various stages of their careers. Many of the participants were transitioning into careers as academicians and had perspectives on issues from a different viewpoint than my own. Understanding divergent perspectives allows for better programming.
Unquestionably, this shows the importance of collaboration between stakeholders from multiple settings. My biggest takeaway from this part of the symposium was that ideas + collaboration = grant funding. We are more likely to be successful if we work together because we learn from each other to make our communities better.
The grants offered by AASL, IMLS, and NSF give us an opportunity to fund innovative ideas that support our future. Professors and researchers at universities often have the K-12 job experience, networks, and research expertise and resources to write, evaluate, and collect data for grants. Conversely, K-12 educators have access to students and understand the current trends and needs in school districts. Moreover, our community partners are subject area experts, have their own networks of professionals, and are available to support us. Let’s work together more to achieve our common goals. I hope that you are inspired to collaborate and apply for these grants and more. The Grants.Gov and the DEMCO grant search are great places to view more grants.
References
Maialisa. (2017). Currency, cash, bank note [Picture]. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/background-currency-cash-banknote-2152608/
January 2018 Professional Development
Title: Top 10 Mistakes Teachers Make When Using Technology and How to Avoid Them
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 6, 2018 @ 10:00 AM EST
- Description: When you use technology with your class, do you think that you are you using it correctly? Or are you unknowingly making mistakes that you should avoid? In this webinar, join Jerry Swiatek, a district technology specialist, as he covers the top 10 mistakes that educators make when using technology. You will learn not only what these mistakes are, but also how you can avoid making these mistakes in the future.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3044
Title: Standards-based Grading: Make Grades More Meaningful for You and Your Students
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 6, 2018 @ 11:00 AM EST
- Description: Do you use certain grading practices because “this is how we’ve always done it?” Have you ever wondered if there is a more meaningful way to grade student work than simply using a traditional 7-point or 10-point scale? Join Dr. Jayme Linton as she explores how to use standards-based grading as an approach to help you align your grading with specific learning outcomes. She will provide suggestions and tips for using standards-based grading so that grades become more meaningful for you and your students!
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3045
Title: Creative Ways to Share Ideas and Classwork
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 6, 2018 @ 12:00 PM EST
- Description: Do you have all these great ideas, but you can’t decide the best way to share? Do your students need a creative way to share their research or stories that they have written? Join Melissa Edwards on a fast-paced preview, as she highlights a variety of sites that can be used as creative ways to share ideas by creating comics, animations, word clouds, and timelines! Examples of student work will also be shared.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3054
Title: Assessing Digital Storytelling: Setting Expectations for Student Success
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 6, 2018 @ 1:00 PM EST
- Description: Digital Storytelling can be a great opportunity for students to bring their stories to life and to demonstrate creativity and knowledge, but what are the best ways to assess their creations? How will you make sure that students are meeting the standards and your expectations while demonstrating their creativity? Join Monica Burns as she presents tips and resources for assessing your students’ digital story creations. She’ll share activity sheets and rubrics that elementary and middle school teachers can use in their own classrooms to help set expectations and assess results.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3050
Title: An Intro to Flipped Classroom: Making the Flip to Increase Student Achievement
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 6, 2018 @ 2:00 PM EST
- Description: Wouldn’t it be great to put the responsibility for learning back where it belongs – with the students? Wouldn’t it be amazing to get to spend class time engaged in authentic learning experiences rather than dissemination of content? Join Lauren Boucher as she discusses the instructional strategy of flipping your classroom. She will explain where flipping came from, how to get started, tools to use, and things to consider when moving forward with “the flip.”
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3051
Title: Mobile Apps for Supporting Struggling Readers
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 6, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: Do you have students who are struggling with reading – and therefore struggling to learn? In this webinar, Jenna Linskens will share effective uses, applications, and creative ways to use tablets and mobile apps in the classroom to support struggling readers and writers in the primary and intermediate grades. She will show how to use the applications with students to improve student performance and understanding of concepts through creation, not just consumption.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3052
Title: Extra Cash for Your School: Pro Tips for a Successful Advertising Program
- Organization: net
- Date: January 8, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: Schools and districts are always looking for ways to fund projects or find extra sources of income to help cover expenses. Schools are also a prime opportunity for businesses to advertise to reach their target markets. If you do not have an advertising program yet, this session will help you get started. If you already have an advertising program, you’ll hear tips to ensure you have it set up correctly to maximize funding options.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/engagement20180108/
Title: Citations Needed: Build Your Wikipedia Skills While Building the World’s Encyclopedia
- Organization: WebJunction
- Date: January 10, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: Librarians have the power to make Wikipedia better and more reliable. Once you understand how this collaborative, community-driven encyclopedia works, you’ll see the value of contributing your expertise and knowledge. Wikipedia Library’s annual #1lib1ref (“One Librarian, One Reference”) campaign provides a simple and fun way to get started. This global initiative invites all library staff to improve the verifiability of information on Wikipedia by adding at least one reference during the campaign, which runs from January 15 through February 3, 2018. During this webinar, Monika Sengul-Jones, OCLC Wikipedian-in-Residence, will illuminate the inner workings of Wikipedia to build your confidence in its viability as a resource. Emily Jack, community engagement librarian at UNC Chapel Hill Libraries, will share what library staff love about participating in #1lib1ref—and why engaging with Wikipedia makes sense for libraries. Learn how you can participate in #1lib1ref, confidently add a citation to Wikipedia and connect with other librarians who are motivated to contribute to this popular resource used by information-seekers around the world. Join the community of librarians who Wikipedia!
- Link: http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/wikipedia-1lib1ref.html
Title: Former Newtown Superintendent: K-12 Safety Best Practices
- Organization: net
- Date: January 10, 2018 @ 4:00 PM EST
- Description: School communities across the country have worked diligently to enhance school safety. The role and responsibility of community and school leaders is never complete regarding safety, as the process is always ongoing for enhanced optimal outcomes. In this edWebinar, Dr. Joseph Erardi, recently retired Newtown Superintendent of Schools in Newtown, CT, will share lessons learned from the mass shooting at Newtown’s Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. Dr. Erardi will discuss best proactive practices, the importance of high-level partnerships pertaining to safety, and the critical need to have safety information updated and understood by all within the district.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/schoolsafety20180110/
Title: Mixing Green Time with Screen Time
- Organization: net
- Date: January 11, 2018 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST
- Description:In this edWebinar, attendees will hear from Mary Clark, CEO of Agents of Discovery, who is on a mission to make teaching more engaging for students and more effective for teachers. After completing her Master of Education, which examined the capacity that education technologies and mobile gaming hold for facilitating science learning, Mary had the revolutionary idea of combining “green time” with “screen time.” Using an app that takes learning outdoors, kids move while they learn. This presentation will stress the benefits of tech education, such as increasing technological skills that are necessary in a modern world; increasing time spent moving outdoors; increasing engagement in academic material due to the connection it has with fun; and honing skills gained from games, such as puzzle-solving and facing challenges head on. There will be time for questions after the presentation. Teachers, superintendents, librarians and other educators working at the primary education level are invited to attend this edWebinar.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/gaming20180111/
Title: Teacher Wellness: How Curriculum Can Support Teacher Confidence
- Organization: net
- Date: January 16, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: In this engaging edWebinar, Kevin Baird will refocus the question of curriculum efficacy from one that looks only at student achievement to one that also considers the teacher’s sense of confidence and well-being as a classroom’s instructional leader. Instead of asking simply “How does this help students accelerate learning?”, Kevin will propose that decision-makers look at everyone affected by a curriculum implementation. Topics we will cover include: 1) Current research on the state of teacher wellness and the link to classroom outcomes 2) Highest impact areas for teacher enablement and 3) Pragmatic and practical steps to increase support to teachers that translates directly into student learning.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/differentiate20180116/
Title: Alan November: Creating a New Culture of Teaching and Learning
- Organization: net
- Date: January 16, 2018 @ 4:00 PM EST
- Description: Access to timely information and communication tools can empower educators to focus on the individual learning needs of their students. These same tools can lead to a wealth of benefits, such as greater collegiality, stronger relationships, self-directed students, curriculum-aligned technology, authentic work, rigorous and motivating assignments, and the development of a strong learning community. In this edWebinar, Alan November will explore this potent new culture of empowered teaching and fearless learning. There will be time after his presentation to get your questions answered. All educators, administrators, and librarians—especially those serving at the elementary grade level—are invited to this session. Join us to learn about creating a new culture of teaching and learning at your school!
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/adaptiveliteracy20180116/
Title: My Students Need That! Chrome Features & Extensions for Accessibility
- Organization: TeachersFirst
- Date: January 16, 2018 6:00 PM CST
- Description: Do you have struggling learners in your classroom? Harness the power of Google Chrome to support diverse learners and build an inclusive classroom. Join us as we explore Chrome’s built-in accessibility features and free apps and extensions that allow you to accommodate and differentiate the needs of your students. Efficient and user-friendly, these tools can be a game-changer for your students.
- Link: https://events-na8.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/1116418017/en/events/event/shared/1127345348/event_landing.html?sco-id=2197792807
Title: Cutting-Edge Research to Empower Schools to Support Students with Reading Disabilities
- Organization: net
- Date: January 17, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: Current approaches to identifying students with reading disabilities are problematic. Students with reading disabilities are not being identified as soon as they could be, and diagnosis is not very accurate. When you can’t diagnose effectively, you can’t help your students with reading disabilities succeed. However, important advances have been made that will result in substantial improvements in diagnosis of reading disabilities within the next few years. In this edWebinar, Rick Wagner, Associate Director for the Florida Center for Reading Research, will share recent research results that are leading to improved approaches for identifying students with reading disabilities that also can lead to positive outcomes for your students.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/readers20180117/
Title: Office 365 for Education: An Overview
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 17, 2018 @ 4:00 PM EST
- Description: Would you like have access to your Microsoft Office programs and documents from anywhere and with any device? Office 365 for Education allows you to do just that – it gives teachers and students access to the Microsoft Office Suite of programs at any time and from anywhere. And perhaps most importantly, since it is available for Windows PCs and tablets, as well as for Mac, iOS, Android, and Blackberry devices – you can access it using almost any device.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3039
Title: Multiple Intelligences: A New Look at an Old Theory
- Organization: ASCD Webinars
- Date: January 18, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: In this webinar, author Thomas Armstrong will examine how multiple intelligences theory has declined in popularity because of the accountability movement that swept across the nation in the 2000s. But now, Armstrong argues, multiple intelligences teaching is more important than ever in countering the datafication and standardization that prevails in many schools. Armstrong will highlight the new chapters in the latest edition of Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom (4th edition) and explore how multiple intelligences theory can contribute to better personalization programs, deeper use of learning technologies, and more positive ways of helping neurodiverse populations.
- Link: https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=reg20.jsp&partnerref=ASCDweb&eventid=1571653&sessionid=1&key=680996886CFC6A831A741375808A5FC5®Tag=&sourcepage=register
Title: The Opiate Crisis: What Libraries Can Do
- Organization: Infopeople
- Date: January 18, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: This webinar discusses the history and depth of the opiate problem in this country and how it has come to the attention of libraries and their staff. Dr. Steve Albrecht is a former San Diego Police Reserve Sergeant and a member of the California Narcotics Officers Association, trained in Drug Abuse Recognition (DAR) and Advanced DAR. In this session he will focus on how library staff members at all levels can recognize the signs and symptoms of opiate users who are either under the influence or in withdrawal (which makes them act erratic, irrational, threatening, and even violent). He will cover what to do when faced with an overdose patient; the safe and effective use of Narcan (a drug that reverses the effects of opiate overdose); getting help from social services agencies and substance abuse professionals, and the police. This session will also discuss how to make your library facility and its restrooms safer and less likely to become a haven for opiate users.
- Link: https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D743%26reset%3D1
Title: STEAM: Innovations That Solve Real World Problems
- Organization: net
- Date: January 18, 2018 @ 4:00 PM EST
- Description: Explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) and the foundational pillars of this project-based learning approach: Create. Present. Respond. Connect. In this edWebinar, Cheri Sterman, Director of Education for Crayola; Lucie Howell, Director of Learning and Engagement for The Henry Ford; and James Wells, Innovative Teaching & Learning Manager for Crayola, will: 1) Draw upon objects and stories of innovation from the Henry Ford collection to discover how the museum approach to education can be brought into the classroom. 2) Discuss using Crayola authentic assessment rubrics to help students do self and peer assessment for teachers to learn via STEAM projects. 3) Explore the intersection of social change and technical innovations through the history of technology, looking at how problems were solved yesterday—with the same growth mindset that helps solve the problems of today and tomorrow. 4) Examine what makes STEAM projects rigorous, standards-based, and highly relevant. And 5) Consider why STEAM is an approach, not a curriculum.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/creativity20180118/
Title: Encourage Class Discussion and Collaboration using Free Web Tools
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 20, 2018 @ 10:00 AM EST
- Description: Do you have a difficult time engaging students in dialogue during class discussions? Would you like to have an equitable platform for all students to share their thoughts without feeling the pressure from others? In this webinar, join Tia Simmons as she discusses five online collaboration tools you can use with students that provide them with an opportunity to “chat” or share their thoughts. Tips and examples of how you can use them in the classroom will also be covered.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3048
Title: Breaking Down the Four Walls of Your Classroom with Skype
- Organization: simplek12
- Date: January 20, 2018 @ 11:00 – 11:30 AM EST
- Description: Skype is an incredible tool for keeping in touch with friends and loved ones all over the world, but did you know that thousands of educators are using Skype to break down the four walls of their classrooms? In this session, we will explore many Skype resources and various ways Skype can be used to bring the world in to your classroom. We will discuss how to find experts and how Skype can be used to enhance your curriculum. Learn how easy it is to collaborate with classrooms and educators all over the world using this free tool.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3049
Title: Twitter for Beginners: The Basics of Setting Up Your PLN
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 20, 2018 @ 12:00 PM EST
- Description: Have you joined Twitter yet? Maybe you’ve been thinking about it, but just aren’t sure how it will be useful. Or maybe you joined, but you really don’t know what to do next. Twitter is an excellent way to start building your Personal Learning Network (PLN). In this webinar we will cover some of the basics of using Twitter as a component of your PLN, as well as share some resources and tips for using it to maximize learning and communication.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3053
Title: Pass That Exam! Strategies for Preparing Students to Pass Standardized Tests
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 20, 2018 @ 1:00 PM EST
- Description: Exams can be stressful for both teachers and students. Teachers want to ensure that learners are well prepared so they pass the tests. How can we help learners be prepared for their exams without teaching to the test? Is it possible to make exam prep enjoyable? In this presentation, join Shelly Sanchez Terrell as she shares ideas for helping learners prepare for their exams in engaging ways so that learners will have confidence on the day of their exams.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3056
Title: Awesome STEM Resources For K-5
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 20, 2018 @ 2:00 PM EST
- Description: With the push to generate more interest in STEM topics, many elementary teachers and schools are incorporating more STEM activities and subjects. There are a plethora of resources out there for teachers wanting to add STEM activities in their classrooms, but it can be time consuming to wade through all of them to find the gems. In this webinar, Meredith Martin has done the work for you! Join her as she takes a look at a variety of hand-picked STEM resources for grades K through 5. Whether you are going full hands-on, using a computer or Chromebook, or even a mobile device like an iPad or tablet, you will finish with a toolkit of high quality STEM resources you can begin using immediately.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3057
Title: School-by-School Spending: How ESSA’s Reporting Mandate May Shape the Policy Debate
- Organization: Education Week
- Date: January 23, 2018 @ 2:00 PM ET
- Description: Funding is the lifeblood of local schools, and ESSA for the first time requires states to give the public a school-by-school accounting of how much they spend on each student. It’s a complicated process—that’s why the U.S. Department of Education has given states some extra time to tackle it. In this webinar, learn how advocates, parents, and policymakers can get the most out of this information, and how districts can navigate the hurdles of making detailed and technical financial data both accurate and user-friendly. Guests will include a state leader with experience in the funding debate, and an expert in how to put fiscal data to good use in the policy arena.
- Link: https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=reg20.jsp&partnerref=TOC&eventid=1553534&sessionid=1&key=2609D25F9BFEDE104839F592DAA39F11®Tag=&sourcepage=register
Title: Achieving Media Balance in a Tech-Immersed World
- Organization: org
- Date: January 23, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: How can educators help families and students achieve media balance in today’s tech-immersed world? What strategies and tools can educators offer families? Media balance is an important issue for families in the modern tech-savvy world. Let Michelle Cooper, Library Media Specialist at White Oak ISD in Texas, share tips and strategies to help reduce screen time and increase family time. In this edWebinar, you will discover how to implement a parent outreach program that includes family media agreements, device-free dinner resources, and tools to combat technology addiction. Michelle also will discuss ways to find time to teach character strengths and life skills.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/commonsense20180123/
Title: Improving Student Performance on Online Assessments
- Organization: net
- Date: January 23, 2018 @ 4:00 PM EST
- Description: Data indicates that students who have strong digital literacy skills often score higher on online assessments like PARCC, SmarterBalanced, and AZMerit. Students may not be able to demonstrate mastery of key concepts and skills in math, reading or writing simply because they lack the digital literacy skills now required to answer many questions on online assessments. In this edWebinar, hear from Technology and Digital Literacy Specialists at Flagstaff Unified School District in Arizona, who will share how their students have improved their performance on online assessments by focusing on digital literacy skills and offer suggestions on how to evaluate online assessment programs, curricula and instruction.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/digitalworld20180123/
Title: Google This! The Research Process Revisited
- Organization: net
- Date: January 24, 2018 @ 5:00 PM EST
- Description: Do students confuse a single Google search with research? How do students research? Is there a “right” way? What are their research strengths? What are our instructional challenges? How can we best teach the inquiry process? Is there a “best” way? In this edWebinar, Michelle Luhtala and guest Tasha Bergergson-Michelson, Instructional and Programming Librarian at Castalleja School in Palo Alto, CA and former Search Educator at Google (2010–13), will answer these essential questions. Tasha will also share her “obsession with search.” There will be time for questions after the presentation. All librarians are invited to attend this live, interactive session.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/emergingtech20180124/
Title: Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out
- Organization: ASCD Webinars
- Date: January 25, 2018 @ 3:00 EST
- Description: The field of social and emotional learning (SEL) is rapidly expanding as educators bring a sharper focus to helping children build skills beyond academic knowledge. School climate initiatives, antibullying work, positive behavior supports, and other SEL efforts are now embedded in schools and out-of-school-time (OST) settings across the country. Join Stephanie Jones, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, to explore the idea of kernels of practice drawn from top elementary SEL programs in the United States. Jones and a team of Harvard researchers wrote an in-depth guide to 25 evidence-based programs aimed at elementary schools and OST providers, Navigating Social and Emotional Learning from the Inside Out (The Wallace Foundation, 2017), detailing curricular content and programmatic features that practitioners can use to make informed choices about their SEL programs. In this informative webinar, we will review the guide and the tools it provides to support educators as they compare curricula and methods across top SEL programs, and we will explain how programs can be adapted from schools to out-of-school-time settings, such as afterschool and summer programs. The session will integrate concrete examples on the specific skills targeted and instructional methods that are applicable for K–6 settings.
- Link: https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/EventLobbyServlet?target=reg20.jsp&partnerref=ASCDweb&eventid=1571674&sessionid=1&key=B1D682A9641D9D18A429258EE3A26A97®Tag=&sourcepage=register
Title: Tasks Before Apps: How to Change Your School Culture on EdTech Integration
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 30, 2018 @ 3:00 PM EST
- Description: What does it mean to put the learning first when integrating technology into instruction? Join Dr. Monica Burns, author of Tasks Before Apps: Designing Rigorous Learning in a Tech-Rich Classroom as she shares big ideas and ready-for-tomorrow strategies for bringing meaningful, sustainable and scalable change to your school. In this webinar you’ll learn about different frameworks for technology integration to help you make the most of Chromebooks, iPads, interactive whiteboards, or any type of technology in your school. Monica will also share her favorite tools and activities for creation, collaboration, and curiosity in the classroom.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3065
Title: From Facilities to Trauma: Disaster Planning and Community Resiliency at Your Library
- Organization: WebJunction
- Date: January 30, 2018 @ 3:00 PM
- Description: Recent catastrophes have highlighted the important role public libraries play in enhancing their community’s resiliency and post-disaster recovery efforts. Many community leaders now view libraries as ad hoc disaster recovery centers and recognize librarians as Information First Responders. This presentation will help you and your library embrace this new role as Information First Responders, who quickly enable people to get back to work, back to their lives, and ensure recovery of the community’s economic life. Learn what you need to prepare before disaster strikes, guided by New Jersey State Library’s Disaster Preparedness & Community Resiliency Toolkit, which has been emergency-tested by libraries. Your library can be at the forefront in providing that safe haven in times of crisis and helping your community return to normal life.
- Link: http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/disaster-planning-community-resiliency.html
Title: Teaching Media Literacy in the Classroom
- Organization: net
- Date: January 30, 2018 @ 4:00 PM EST
- Description: Media literacy is an important skill both in and outside of the classroom for students of all ages. The average teenager spends 9-10+ hours a day in the digital space while tweens and younger-aged children are spending an average of 4-6 hours. How do these students decipher between what is real and what has been fabricated online? We, as educators and family members, must teach them how to use their close reading skills to become critical thinkers and give them tools to analyze and evaluate the content presented to them. Join myON’s Susannah Moran for a robust edWebinar where we will discuss the impact teachers can have on this important topic. We’ll share best practices, classroom tips and examples from schools across the country who are successfully implementing media literacy into their daily routines.
- Link: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/readingk820180130/
Title: Measuring What Matters: Choose the Data Analytics to Drive Your School’s Continuous Improvement
- Organization: simpleK12
- Date: January 30, 2018 @ 4:00 PM EST
- Description: Few methods offer more promise to improve student learning and development than does the power of data analytics. How can we know how we’re doing, what’s working, and how we can do better without studying the results of our work? But standardized testing isn’t enough, and as school leaders, we shouldn’t let ourselves be dictated to about how we evaluate our own school’s effectiveness. Join Jonathan Martin as he discusses how school leaders and teachers can reclaim the work of data informed decision-making by choosing what to measure, widening their measurement tools and techniques, and implementing a local process for using the resulting data for continuous improvement.
- Link: http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/view.asp?id=3058
Title: Engage & Inspire: Comics in the Classroom
- Organization: TeachersFirst
- Date: January 30, 2018 6:00 PM CST
- Description: Looking for an easy way to infuse visual literacy in your instruction? Try using comics in the classroom. Visual literacy is quickly becoming a “must-have” skill. Infusing comics in your instruction can help students easily learn and practice these skills. In this workshop, you will learn to help students create comics that both show their visual literacy skills and demonstrate comprehension of the content they are learning.
- Link: https://events-na8.adobeconnect.com/content/connect/c1/1116418017/en/events/event/shared/1127345348/event_landing.html?sco-id=2197833024

Author: Daniella Smith
Daniella Smith, PhD. is a former school and public librarian. She is currently the Hazel Harvey Peace Professor in Children’s Library Services at the University of North Texas.
Categories: Advocacy/Leadership, Blog Topics, Community/Teacher Collaboration, Professional Development, STEM/STEAM
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