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AASL CLASS Research Summit Call for Participants
AASL invites doctoral students and professors to submit their interest to be part of the Causality: School Libraries and Student Success (CLASS) Research Summit in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 7, 2016. The CLASS Summit II intends to bring a national focus and agenda to research surrounding causal evidence that school libraries make positive contributions to student achievement. Applicants must submit a one-page cover letter and two-page curriculum vitae no later than Feb. 7, 2016. Applicants will be notified of final decisions by Feb. 15, 2016. More information can be found at www.ala.org/aasl/CLASS.
AASL and GameRT Invite You to GAME
 A new two-day event from AASL will focus on how games encourage critical thinking, problem solving, and creative activities. Co-sponsored by the ALA Games and Gaming Round Table, GAME – Gaming As Meaningful Education – will be held September 23-24 in Rochester, N.Y. Attendees will explore how to implement interactive learning opportunities in their library programs through all types of games. They will also discover how these strategies connect communities – students, parents, and educators – through the educational, recreational, and social value of games. Early bird registration is open through May 1, 2016, at www.ala.org/aasl/GAME.
Registration Now Open for Learn2Tweet
The AASL eAcademy course "Learn2Tweet: Build Your Twitter Talent 140 Characters at a Time" is back by popular demand! Facilitated by Jane Lofton, the course is designed to help attendees become active tweeters during School Library Month in April--and beyond! The course is open to AASL members who have never used Twitter or who feel like a novice taking advantage of it for learning, networking, and advocacy. The course will be held February 29 through March 25.
Standards and Guidelines Update from the Editorial Board
 Last week Marcia Mardis, chair of the AASL Standards and Guidelines Editorial Board, posted an update on the standards and guidelines revision project and the research to the Knowledge Quest website. This post includes an infographic developed by the editorial board that illustrates several interesting high-level findings from an online survey with AASL membership and the profession.
AASL eCOLLAB Evolves with the Addition of National Conference Sessions
 Concurrent sessions recorded at the AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition are now available on AASL’s newly enhanced professional development platform. With the addition of the eighty national conference sessions, AASL eCOLLAB | Your eLearning Laboratory offers school librarians more than 300 on-demand learning opportunities. eCOLLAB contains webcasts, podcasts, and resources from AASL professional development events. It also contains a web-version archive of AASL’s print journal, Knowledge Quest, with the latest issue available for view before the issue mails. More information can be found at ecollab.aasl.org.
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AASL Past President Jacqueline Morris Has Passed Away
 AASL Past President Jacqueline Morris died peacefully on January 11, 2016, in Hillsdale, MI. Morris worked as a school librarian in Forest Park, GA; Greensboro, NC; and Fort Wayne, IN. She was a library consultant for the Wisconsin Department of Education and worked for many years with the Indiana Department of Education, where she was Director of the Office of Learning Resources. She served on the Selection Committees for the Newbery and Caldecott Awards. She also taught at Indiana University and at Western Michigan. After retiring in Indiana, she moved back to her hometown of Hillsdale to take the job she had dreamed of as a young girl, Librarian at the Mitchell Public Library. She was instrumental in planning and securing funding for the current Hillsdale Community Library, where, in her second retirement, she continued to work one day a week.
James Allen Profiled in Kentucky Teacher
 James Allen, teacher librarian at Eminence Independent Schools in Eminence, Kentucky, is profiled in Kentucky Teacher, a publication of the Kentucky Department of Education. In the article, Allen expounds on the importance of joining your state library association, his goals as president of the Kentucky Association of School Librarians, the trends he sees in the school library field, and his three favorite apps to use with his students.
Judi Moreillon's Book Chosen for Literacy Campaign
 Judi Moreillon's book Read to Me was chosen for a joint literacy initiative between the Dallas Public Library, Friends of the Dallas Public Library, and the Parkland Health & Hospital System. Copies of the book are being given to all mothers who give birth in the Parkland Health & Hospital System. The library campaign aims to help children born into low-income households, whom studies have shown are less likely to be ready for kindergarten than children born into higher income households. Moreillon’s book encourages parents to talk, play, sing, and read to their babies to help promote family literacy and brain development, as well as a love of reading.
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Exchanging Handwritten Letters Strengthens Children’s Literacy Skills and Family Ties
 Young children who write letters back and forth to extended family members improve their literacy skills, a University of Texas at Arlington study finds. The study, titled “Why Downt You Riyt Back to Me?” demonstrates that when children have an audience and purpose for writing their writing improves, their ability and motivation to spell and write legibly improves and that family letter writing helps develop stronger family bonds.
The Trouble with Talking Toys
Just because a toy’s packaging says it’s educational doesn't make it so, according to a new study in JAMA Pediatrics. The study found some toys being marketed as language promoters got in the way of learning. It found traditional blocks and puzzles stimulated more conversation than the electronic toys, and books outscored them all. While traditional toys fell short of books in interaction quantity, they kept pace in terms of quality.
High-School Graduation Up, College Enrollment Down
The US high-school graduation rate is at an all-time high, but data show fewer students are enrolling in college, according to an article in The Atlantic. Experts say there are various potential factors contributing to the trend, such as more students choosing to join the labor market now that jobs numbers have improved since the Great Recession.
Are SAT Results the Best Indicator of College Performance?
A new study questions the accuracy of the SAT college entrance exam to predict academic success of students. Researchers say the failure of the SAT to predict either success or failure mostly affected women and minority students. The study's authors say high-school grades may be a better indicator of how students will perform in college.
Using Computers Widens the Achievement Gap in Writing
High-performing fourth-graders may perform better on computer-based writing exams than lower-performing peers, according to the results of a study by the US Department of Education. The findings suggest the use of computers for exams could widen the writing achievement gap.
Microsoft to Launch New Version of Minecraft for Schools
 Minecraft: Education Edition will be available to schools this summer. Microsoft recently announced plans to release the new version. It also will acquire the existing version for schools called MinecraftEdu. The new version will include a multiplayer mode and social media component.
More College Admissions Officers Are Checking Applicants’ Social Media
 A new survey from Kaplan finds that approximately 40 percent of college admissions officers check applicants' social media accounts. Kaplan offers five questions students should ask themselves before posting.
Standing Desks May Reduce Sedentary Time
School-age children may sit less and watch less television if they use standing desks during the school day, according to an analysis in Pediatrics. Children in one study spent 71 fewer minutes a day watching TV and using computers after standing desks were added to the classroom.
AP Credits May Boost College-Graduation Rates
Students may be more likely to complete college in four years if they receive college credits for Advanced Placement courses, suggest researchers from the College Board and Harvard University. The findings are based on AP test score and college-outcome data for 4.5 million students.
King Serves as Acting US Education Secretary
 John King Jr. is the new acting US secretary of education -- a title he will retain through the remainder of President Barack Obama's term. Some lawmakers have called for a formal nomination and vetting process for the position. King, in his acting capacity, has the full authority of the secretary position.
Complaint Questions Security of Education Department Database
The Electronic Privacy Information Center has issued a formal complaint to the US Department of Education asserting that its new student database does not do enough to protect student information. The system is designed to collect data and transfer those records to private contractors.
College Degree Gap Grows Wider between Whites, Blacks, and Latinos
The number of white students graduating from college outpaces the number of black and Latino students, according to a report from youth-advocacy group Young Invincibles. Still, data show all three groups are earning more degrees overall. Report author Tom Allison says rising tuition costs could be one reason for the racial gap in college-graduation rates.
Top Colleges Should Create Admissions Preference to Help Low-Income Students Overcome Barriers
 America's top colleges and universities should institute an admissions preference for low-income students because such students – even when they are high-achievers academically – now face unjustified barriers and make up a mere 3 percent of enrollment at the elite schools, according to a report issued from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. The report found that such a "poverty preference" for admissions to selective higher education institutions, akin to existing preferences for athletes and the children of alumni, would create a more level playing field for disadvantaged students.
Many States Need to Improve Financial-Literacy Education
Twenty-six states lag behind in financial-literacy education, according to a report released by Champlain College's Center for Financial Literacy. The report graded all states and the District of Columbia on an A through F scale. Utah was the only state to receive an A-plus.
Authors Guild Files to Take Google to the Supreme Court
The Authors Guild has officially asked the Supreme Court to hear its case against Google—a long-running dispute over whether copyright law allows for Google to scan and post excerpts from books for its Google Books service. The group filed a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court on December 31. The Authors Guild states it does not want to shut Google Books down, but it does want Google to pay copyright fees.
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Resources for School Librarians
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NLM’s Division of Specialized Information Services Releases Three New Apps
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Division of Specialized Information Services released three interactive, educational iOS apps for students studying genetics, chemistry, and environmental health science. These free, readily accessible resources help students learn concepts such as DNA base pairing, the Bohr model of the atom, and environmental conservation. Designed in collaboration between high school educators and the SIS K-12 team, Bohr Thru and Base Chase reinforce content taught in the biology/chemistry classroom. A third game, Run4Green, reinforces concepts like environmental conservation and introduces students to the value of “green” alternatives.
Using Stuffed Animals as Literacy Tools
 Incorporating stuffed animals into literacy activities integrates play into learning and builds student interest, third-grade teacher Alycia Zimmerman writes in this blog post. She suggests six strategies for using the toys, including building fluency by reading aloud to them or teaching character and voice by writing from the animal's perspective.
6 Steps for Evaluating Mobile Apps for the Classroom
Free mobile apps inadvertently may expose students to unwanted advertisements, inappropriate images, and other content that teachers -- and parents -- would rather avoid. This article includes six tips to help teachers choose free apps for the classroom.
National Library of Israel Releases Collection of 200 Maps of Jerusalem
The National Library of Israel has released a collection of 200 high-resolution unique maps of Jerusalem, part of the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection, in collaboration with Wikimedia Israel. The collection of ancient maps, spanning from 1486 to 1947, contains a variety of styles and languages. Wikimedia Israel encourages the Wikimaps community to use the maps in Wikimedia initiatives and other open source projects.
New York Public Library Makes 180,000 High-Res Images Available Online
The New York Public Library released more than 180,000 of its public-domain items—including maps, posters, manuscripts, sheet music, drawings, photographs, letters, ancient texts—as high-resolution downloads, available to the public without restriction. It’s the latest push by NYPL Labs, the library’s internet-oriented tech and outreach team, to make the library’s holdings more accessible to the public. NYPL Labs also released a visualization of all the materials, sortable by date, genre, collection, and even color.
3 Ways to Assess Necessity of Classroom Technology
 The integration of classroom technology should be purposeful, principal Matt Renwick writes in this blog post. He shares three research-based assertions to help guide educators' decisions to use technology in teaching and learning.
How Educators Can Identify the Leader within Themselves
All educators are leaders, whether they have a formal title or not, teaching coach and author Elena Aguilar asserts in this blog post. Aguilar encourages educators to embrace their role as leader, identify their leadership style, and spend time reflecting on leaders they admire and how to best to emulate their traits.
How Co-Teachers Can Recommit to Collaborative Relationships
Midyear is a good time for co-teachers to reflect on and review what is and isn't working about their partnership, instructional coach Elizabeth Stein writes in this blog post. She offers ideas on how teachers -- especially those struggling to collaborate in the classroom -- can improve their working relationship.
3 Ways ESSA Supports Teacher Voice
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) opens the door for more teacher voice in policy and reform, Maddie Fennell, a teacher-leader in residence at the US Department of Education, writes in this blog post. She highlights three ways the new federal education law supports teacher voice.
How to Connect Math to Everyday Life
 Third-grade teacher Meghan Everette in this blog post highlights two projects—pixel art and tiny-house construction—for connecting math lessons to students' everyday lives. "We know that showing students how classwork applies to their everyday world is key to making connections from abstract to concrete, as well as fostering understanding," she writes.
How to Use Twitter to Share Teaching Moments
Teachers should create a class Twitter account to share "great moments of student learning" with principals, parents and the community, writes Karen Larson, an academic technology specialist for the Office of Education in Santa Clara County, Calif. In this blog post, she also suggests using Twitter as a teaching tool.
10 Strategies for Writing Instruction
Teaching students how to write can transform their academic -- and personal -- lives by helping them gain confidence in their abilities and critical-thinking skills, educator and author Regie Routman writes. In this article, she shares 10 teaching strategies to improve students' writing, such as providing an audience, demonstrating the writing process in class and sharing personal struggles with writing.
Tips to Help Teachers Use Browser Tabs Effectively
In this blog post, Ari Flewelling, a staff-development specialist for Riverside Unified School District in California, offers tips to help educators save and share browser tabs. One suggestion is One Tab, which allows teachers to save a group of tabs and share them as a link with students.
Lifting Learning with Student-Centered Classrooms
 Student-centered classrooms foster mastery, personalized learning and competency education, Marcia Powell, who works with curriculum and learning in online, blended and face-to-face settings, writes in this blog post. She explores trends in 21st-century learning theory.
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Partnership and Collaborator News
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NEA's Read Across America Day Is March 2
The National Education Association's Read Across America Day is March 2, 2016. NEA's Read Across America Day is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. This year, Read Across America Day will take place on the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss.
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2016 PBS LearningMedia Digial Innovators Program
 Educators from across the country who excel at using technology and digital media to support student learning are encouraged to enter the 2016 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Program. Educators are asked to submit a 60- to 120-second video to showcase their innovative use of digital technology and tools in their classroom to inspire students. Entrants will also be asked to complete a profile and answer two essay questions. The call for entries officially will remain open through February 8, 2016.
Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature Dia Program Grants
The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature is pleased to announce grants for your library's 2016 Día program, El Día de Los Niños/El Día de Los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day), with an African American Focus. The grant award amount is $500 in selected multicultural children's books for your library. Application must be received by February 29, 2016.
ISTE Annual Awards
 The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has opened nominations for its 2016 awards honoring exceptional leaders and educators who are leading the way to connected learning. ISTE’s annual awards recognize individuals whose exemplary work provides a model for teaching, learning, and leading in the digital age. Award nominations are reviewed by a committee of ISTE members, staff, and/or board members. The deadline for submitting nominations is Feb. 29, 2016, and the six award recipients will be announced in April.
ALA IFRT 2016 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award
The American Library Association (ALA) Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) is extending the deadline for nominations for its 2016 Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award. The Gerald Hodges Intellectual Freedom Chapter Relations Award recognizes an intellectual freedom-focused organization that has developed a strong multi-year, ongoing program or a single, one-year project that exemplifies support for intellectual freedom, patron confidentiality, and anti-censorship efforts. The award consists of $1,000 and a citation. The IFRT is now accepting nominations through March 1, 2016.
Museum of Chinese in America National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute
This summer the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) is hosting its very first National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute, "The Chinese Exclusion Act and Immigration in America.” The two-week Institute will provide K-12 teachers with the opportunity to learn from leading scholars in the field and work with primary materials and artifacts examining the impact of exclusion in the United States. Teachers will explore new perspectives on the history of immigration and citizenship. Teachers will also get a $2,100 stipend for their participation during the Institute dates – July 10-22, 2016. Applications are due March 1, 2016.
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Grants
The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, which fosters children’s love of reading and creative expression, celebrates the 28th year of its Mini-Grant program—and Keats’s 100th birthday—with a call for proposals that reflect the work and vision of the program’s namesake. Approximately 60 grants of up to $500 each will be awarded to qualifying teachers and librarians at public schools and libraries across the country. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2016.
Beacon Society Grants
The Beacon Society grants are now available. The grants, in honor of Sherlockian, Jan Stauber, will provide up to $500 to fund the development of a project that will introduce young people to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories about his famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes.The grant period will be from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017. The deadline for 2016 grant applications is May 1, 2016.
Department of State-Sponsored Study Abroad Programs
Applications are now being accepted for the Department of State sponsored study abroad programs for U.S. high school students for 2016-17:
- National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
- Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Abroad (YES Abroad)
- Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) with Germany
These merit-based scholarships include international airfare, tuition, and program costs, as well as meals and living accommodations (often with a host family). The programs have no language prerequisites and gap year students are encouraged to apply as long as they meet the age requirements. Each program has a separate online application process, and application deadlines vary from late October through early January. Visit the program websites or www.exchanges.state.gov for specific information and application deadlines.
GreenPal Small Business Scholarship
Greenpal Lawncare is accepting applications for the annual GreenPal Small Business Scholarship to assist a motivated, driven student and future business leader. The program is open to any graduating high school senior, college freshman, or sophomore who owns and operates his/her own small business or has put together a business plan to start a business while in college. In addition, applicants must be in a graduating high school's senior class or be currently enrolled in a college of business with a 3.0 or higher GPA; demonstrate high ambition and desire to be an entrepreneur or business owner; and have a declared major in a college of business.
Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp
Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp for girls works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry. During the camp session, the girls listen to executive speakers, participate in technology tours and demonstrations, network, and learn through hands-on experience in workshops. This year camps will take place at various dates throughout the summer in Lehi, Utah; Charlotte, NC; Fargo, ND; Reno, NV, Redmond, WA; Las Colinas, TX; and St. Louis, MO. Maximum award: free attendance to camp. Eligibility: girls grades 9-11 and at least age 13 at time of application, with some location exceptions. Deadline: varies by location.
Fund for Teachers Grants
 The Fund for Teachers provides funds for direct grants to teachers to support summer learning opportunities of their own design. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: teachers who work with students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12, with a minimum of three years teaching experience, full-time, spending at least 50 percent of the time in the classroom at the time grants are approved and made. Deadline: varies by state.
Grants to Increase Access to Healthy Foods from the No Kid Hungry Foundation
Providing students access to healthy and nutritious meals is the focus of No Kid Hungry Foundation grants. Currently, the foundation supports projects that increase access to summer meal programs, school breakfast and after-school snacks and meals, as well as advocacy efforts, including anti-hunger issues and needs and educating families about SNAP and the Women, Infants, and Children programs. Interested schools can submit letters of inquiry year-round. Prize: Average grants range from $5,000 to $10,000. Deadline: Rolling.
The Awesome Foundation Grants for Projects
The Awesome Foundation funds projects that challenge and expand our understanding of our individual and communal potentials, bringing communities together, casting aside social inhibitions and boundaries for a moment. Maximum award: $1,000. Eligibility: all people and organizations; there are no prerequisites. Deadline: rolling.
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