Volume 12, Issue 6
September 2013
In This Issue:
Association News
Education News
Resources for School Librarians
Grants & Awards
Partnership News
Association News
Sylvia Knight Norton Named AASL Executive Director
Sylvia Knight Norton is the new executive director of AASL, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), effective Sept. 30, 2013. Sylvia K. Norton comes to AASL/ALA from the College of Communication and Information, School of Library and Information Studies, Florida State University, where she has been school library media internship coordinator and instructor. During this period, she also served as state E-Rate coordinator for the Florida Department of Management Services (2011-2012).
Bring Your Own Lessons into the 21st Century
AASL is offering a six-week course for those looking to reboot their best units with 21st-century skills. During AASL’s e-Academy course “BYOL: Bring Your Own Lessons into the 21
st Century,” participants will gain a greater understanding of two AASL initiatives (AASL’s Lesson Plan Database and Best Websites for Teaching & Learning tools). Participants will also learn to design an inquiry lesson plan based on the criteria in the database and gain experience integrating web 2.0 tools into lesson design. The course will run from September 16-October 25. Visit
http://www.ala.org/aasl/learning/eacademy/byol for more information.
The AASL13 Conference Daily—“Your Name Here”
AASL has launched a new contest to rename the AASL 16th National Conference & Exhibition onsite daily newspaper. Formerly known as the AASL Advocate, AASL members and national conference attendees are invited to submit names and vote online for their favorite submission. The winning name will be revealed with the release of the electronic preview edition on Oct. 14, 2013. The person submitting the winning entry will receive a prize of their choice of one AASL publication. Submissions for the contest will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. On Monday, Sept. 23, three vetted “favorites” will be announced and the online voting period will begin. Votes will be accepted until the 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. To participate, visit
national.aasl.org/daily-contest.
Participate in Banned Websites Awareness Day, September 25
On Wednesday, September 25, AASL asks school librarians and other educators to promote an awareness of how overly restrictive filtering affects student learning. Banned Websites Awareness Day raises awareness of the overly restrictive blocking of legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking tools in schools and school libraries. For more information and resources, visit
http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/bwad.
Honor the Best in the Profession with an AASL Award
Applications for AASL’s 2014 awards season are now available using AASL’s
online awards database. AASL members are encouraged to nominate a colleague or themselves to be lauded for their outstanding talent and dedication to the profession as part of this prestigious program. AASL awards and grants recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the school library field in categories that include collaboration, leadership and innovation.
Rise to the Collaboration Challenge on the AASL13 Ning
All are invited to join the AASL13 conversation by joining the AASL 16th National Conference & Exhibition Ning at
ning.aasl.org. The Ning provides attendees a chance to jumpstart the AASL13 conversation and maintain the connections made while in Hartford. It also offers those unable to attend the chance to share in the excitement of national conference. The conference, themed “Rising to the Challenge,” will be held Nov. 14-17, 2013, in Hartford, Conn. More information is available at
national.aasl.org.
AASL Commends 10 Programs Aligned with Association’s Values and Mission
Moving on recommendations made by its Affiliate Assembly, AASL formally commended 10 programs based on the programs’ support of the school librarian profession. The commended programs include:
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BE A PRO - Digital Literacy for Families
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Cleveland Plain Dealer "Tapping Into Parent Power"
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Common Ground 2013: Leading and Learning in the Digital Age (Maryland’s Premier Professional Development Event)
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Gary Literacy Coalition
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Humanities Tennessee Student Reader Day Program
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Librarian to Librarian Networking Summit
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Library: A Weinberg Project (Weinberg Foundation)
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Second and Seven Foundation “Tackle Illiteracy”
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Tennessee First Lady’s Read20 Book Club
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YALLFest: Raising Local Literacy through Great YA Authors
To be considered, programs must align with AASL’s learning standards and program guidelines as well as the principles expressed in the AASL mission and value statements.
AASL Learning Standards and Program Guidelines Available on the Go
AASL has released e-book versions of its learning standards and program guidelines publications “Standards for the 21st-Century Learner In Action” and “Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs.” Both titles are now available in print and e-book formats, as well as in a print/e-book bundle. These and other AASL publications can be purchased through the
ALA online store.
Get a Headstart on Your Back-to-School Preparation
AASL offers a collection of repositionable graphics in a new spin on AASL’s popular
21st-Century Skills Set. This poster set reinforces the message that school librarians participate as active partners in the teaching and learning process. Remind administrators, faculty, parents, and students of the important skills needed for becoming lifelong learners. Culled from the
Standards for the 21st-Century Learner these mini-posters can stand alone or in conjunction with the larger 21-Century Learner Poster.
They adhere to walls, windows, or any smooth surface.
ADVERTISEMENT
Education News
NCES Releases 2011-2012 SASS Report
A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) finds that during the 2011–12 school year, about two-thirds of library media centers in traditional public schools (79,000 of 85,500) had full-time, paid, state-certified library media center specialists, while one-third of those in public charter schools (2,200 of the 4,500) had this type of staff. It also found that in traditional public schools, 20 percent of library media centers did not have any paid, state-certified library media center specialists (full or part time), and 56 percent of those in public charter schools did not have this type of staff. In the 2007–2008 report, 92% of traditional public schools (80,100 out of 87,190) had a media center, with 62% having at least one full-time, paid, state-certified library media center specialist.
Next Generation Science Standards Not in Alignment with Common Core State Standards
A report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute finds that the Next Generation Science Standards do not appear to align with the math components of the Common Core State Standards. It states, “Given the critical overlap between science and math, as well as the NGSS authors’ intention to align their science expectations with the common core math standards, these shortcomings signal a need for caution on the part of states that are serious about implementing the [common core] but that are also considering adopting the NGSS.”
Engaging Parents with Technology
A new survey from WeAreTeachers finds that though most parents want to participate in their child’s school or district, not enough technology options exist to help them communicate with educators and school leaders. The survey, titled “Parents Volunteer in the Classroom,” outlines how parents and teachers can better work together and use technology to boost participation, involve more working parents, and increase parent engagement in support of student success.
Most States Teaching to Common Core State Standards
A report from the Center on Education Policy finds that most states adopting the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are already teaching to them. These states are preparing teachers and principals to implement the standards, but state education agencies are struggling to secure adequate staffing and resources for implementation and teacher training. In 30 of the states responding to a survey, curricula aligned to the Common Core in math and ELA are being taught in at least some grades and districts. Some states are phasing in CCSS-aligned curricula by grade span, district, or both.
Teens Determine Privacy Settings on Their Own
A survey from Pew Internet & American Life Project finds that many teens aged 12-17 figure out how to manage content sharing and privacy settings on their own. Focus group interviews with teens suggest that for their day-to-day privacy management, teens are guided through their choices in the app or platform when they sign up or find answers through their own search and use of the platform. When they do seek outside help, only 9 percent said they ask a teacher; however, a few predominantly low-income focus group participants mentioned teachers as a reliable source of advice about privacy on social media.
Parents’ Views on Standardized Testing
A poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 61 percent of parents say their children are given the right number of standardized tests, and three-quarters want student performance on statewide exams used to evaluate teachers. Fifty-six percent said classroom observations should also be part of evaluations, and 74 percent want districts to help struggling teachers. It also found that 52 percent of parents have heard little or nothing about the Common Core, and a third are unsure if they live in a state using them.
Grading Schools and the Common Core
The seventh annual Education Next poll finds two-thirds of Americans favor the Common Core State Standards, similar to last year, and 13 percent oppose them, double a year ago. Half of poll participants give local public schools a letter grade of A or B; only a fifth say the same for public schools nationally. For local private schools, three-fourths give an A or B. Seventy-five percent of respondents feel local schools meet the needs of more-talented students, but 45 percent think they fail less-talented students.
Americans Oppose Using Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teachers
A survey from PDK/Gallup finds that a majority of Americans now oppose using student test scores to evaluate teachers, and more believe that increased testing has hurt rather than helped public schools. Nearly two-thirds of Americans polled also oppose the public release of student test scores of individual teachers—a shift from two years ago, when a majority supported it.
Most American Adults Have High-Speed Broadband Connection
A survey from Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project finds that 70 percent of American adults ages 18 and older have a high-speed broadband connection at home as of May 2013, up from 3 percent that reported having broadband in 2000. It also found that 3 percent of American adults go online at home via dial-up connections. As found in previous research, groups with the highest rates of home broadband adoption continue to be college graduates, adults under age 50, and adults living in households earning at least $50,000, as well as whites and adults living in urban or suburban areas.
New Report Links Physical Activity to Academic Achievement
A new report finds that increasing the students’ level of physical activity during the day not only makes for happier students but also improves their grades. “Extensive scientific evidence demonstrates that regular physical activity promotes growth and development in youth and has multiple benefits for physical, mental, and cognitive health,” the report states. “Physical activity is related to lower body fat, greater muscular strength, stronger bones, and improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health, as well as to improvements in mental health by reducing and preventing conditions such as anxiety and depression and enhancing self-esteem.”
Infographic Highlights Students’ Social Media Use
A new infographic from Best Master's in Education outlines how frequently students are using social media. The graphic shows that 96 percent of students with Internet access said they use social networking technology, and 56 percent of those students talk about education-related topics while they’re online. Fifty percent of students who use social networking to talk about education said they talk specifically about schoolwork.
Resources for School Librarians
Essentials of Bulletin Board Displays
Make a great first impression this year. Use these ideas from AASL’s Essential Links to create exciting displays and bulletin boards that catch the attention of your students and teachers. Great displays send good materials out into the school community, and great bulletin boards signal that your library has lots to offer.
Get inspiring ideas here!
Department of Education Hits the Road with Back-to-School Bus Tour
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and senior ED officials are hitting the road once again for the Department’s annual back-to-school bus tour this week. This year’s tour, themed
Strong Start, Bright Future, will run September 9-13 and includes visits to states throughout the Southwest. Each stop will highlight the importance of ensuring that all students benefit from high-quality educational opportunities, including Preschool for All, college affordability, ConnectED, first-term education efforts, and comprehensive immigration reform’s impact on education. For more information, visit
http://www.ed.gov/blog/.
Declaration for the Right to Libraries Webinar
Join ALA President Barbara Stripling and 2012-2013 ALA President Maureen Sullivan as they discuss the Declaration to the Right to Libraries and Stripling’s overarching “Libraries Change Lives” campaign, on Monday, September 23, 2013, from 2–3 p.m. CST. The webinar will provide an overview of Stripling’s vision for the Declaration; practical uses of the declaration as a means to spark community conversation, and some of the declaration successes to date. Future plans, including a school library focus launching in October, will also be covered. Registration is mandatory, and limited to 100 participants. Visit the Adobe Connect event page to sign up today:
http://ala.adobeconnect.com/e2ej5zyrxee/event/registration.html.
How to Redesign the Classroom with Students in Mind
Teachers headed back to the classroom can redesign the spaces with students in mind by keeping it simple, education design strategist David Bill suggests in this blog post. Among his eight tips are to involve students in the process, research and brainstorm possibilities, remove clutter and obtain supplies and support. He also shares suggestions and resources to make new uses for items already in the classroom or at home.
Tips for Improving Co-teaching Relationships
In this blog post, literacy and special-education teacher Elizabeth Stein offers four ideas to help co-teachers establish positive relationships at the beginning of the school year. Stein offers a list of questions to help educators learn about each person's teaching and classroom-management routines. "Once we find ourselves in a positive co-teaching relationship, we are in a much better position to talk about how we will teach and assess for learning," she writes.
K-12 Pinterest Resources for Teachers
Pinterest, an AASL Best Website for Teaching & Learning, is becoming a go-to resource for teachers--where more than 500,000 education-related items are posted each day and educators can share teaching ideas, suggests Kendra Cameron Jarvis, a middle-school instructional coach. In this blog post, she writes about the increasingly popular social-media site and includes links to some top K-12 resources. Cindy Dearman, a sixth-grade math teacher in Asheville, N.C., said Pinterest "allows me to enter the classrooms of teachers all over the nation."
Grants & Awards
2013 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award Deadline Extended to Sept. 27
Encourage your library users to nominate you or a fellow librarian for the 2013 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. Nominations are now open through Sept. 27. The award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of librarians in public, school, college, community college and university libraries for their efforts to improve the lives of people in their community. Up to 10 librarians will be selected as winners. Each will receive a $5,000 cash award, a plaque and a travel stipend to attend an award ceremony and reception in December in New York. The nomination form is available at
ilovelibraries.org/ilovemylibrarian.
Kids in Need Foundation Teacher Grants
Kids in Need Foundation Teacher grants provide funds for classroom teachers with innovative, worthy ideas. Projects may qualify for funding if they make creative use of common teaching aids, approach curricula from an imaginative angle, or tie nontraditional concepts together for the purpose of illustrating commonalities. The program is designed to be the sole funding agent for a project, and a budget must be included with the application. Maximum award is $500. K–12 certified teachers working at a public, private, charter, or parochial school in the subject of the project are eligible. Deadline is September 30, 2013.
GEF/Gardener’s Supply Company Green Thumb Challenge
GEF and Gardener’s Supply Company are calling on schools and youth groups to submit chronicles of their garden projects. The award is designed to support the continued sustainability of an exceptional youth garden program that has demonstrated success and has impacted the lives of kids and their community. Maximum award is $1,000. Existing garden programs involving children currently in grades K-12 from schools and youth groups nationwide are eligible. Deadline is September 30, 2013.
P. Buckley Moss Foundation Educator Grants
P. Buckley Moss Foundation Educator Grants aid and support teachers who wish to establish an effective learning tool using the arts for teaching children with learning disabilities and other special needs. Maximum award is $1,000. Programs in the planning stages or in existence for less than two years that use the arts to educate children who learn differently are eligible. Deadline is September 30, 2013.
IRA Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Award
The International Reading Association Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Award honors an outstanding elementary teacher of reading and language arts dedicated to improving teaching and learning through reflective writing about his or her teaching and learning process. Maximum award is $2,500. Regular classroom elementary teachers of reading and language arts grades K-6 in a school in which at least 60 percent of the school’s students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch are eligible; teachers also must be IRA members. Deadline is November 15, 2013.
NSTA Distinguished Service to Science Education Award
The National Science Teachers Association Distinguished Service to Science Education Award recognizes those who, through active leadership and scholarly endeavor over a significant period of time, have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of education in the sciences and science teaching. Maximum award includes formal citation, three nights’ hotel accommodation, and up to $500 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference, April 3-6, 2014, in Boston. NSTA members who have shown long-term dedication to science education are eligible. Deadline is November 30, 2013.
Delta Education/Frey-Neo/CPO Awards for Excellence in Inquiry-based Science Teaching
The Delta Education/Frey-Neo/CPO Science Awards for Excellence in Inquiry-based Science Teaching will recognize and honor three full-time preK-12 teachers of science who successfully use inquiry-based science to enhance teaching and learning in their classrooms. Maximum award includes $1,500 toward expenses to attend the NSTA National Conference, April 3-6, 2014, in Boston; and $1,500 for the awardee. PreK-12 teachers are eligible. Deadline is November 30, 2013.
Partnership News
Partnership for 21st Century Learning Launches New Site
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has launched a new online initiative to capture and share the 21st century learning practices that are improving schools and student learning in classrooms and communities across the United States.
Patterns of Innovation: The 21st Century Learning Exemplar Program showcases schools, educators, and students from around the country that have embraced the P21 Framework to increase educational options and outcomes for all children.
