AASL Invites Concurrent Session Proposals for Its 18th National Conference & Exhibition
AASL invites proposals for concurrent sessions to be presented during its 18th National Conference & Exhibition taking place Nov. 9-11, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona. Complete proposals must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. More information is available at www.ala.org/aasl/rfp.
Idaho and Oklahoma School Librarians Sprinting toward ESSA Implementation
On Nov 1., school librarians and educational stakeholders in Oklahoma and Idaho attended workshops dedicated to unpacking the provisions for school libraries in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The workshops focused on highlighting opportunities within ESSA language for school librarians and school libraries to be addressed in state and local plans.
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School Librarians Working Together in Tennessee, Texas, and Arkansas to Advance ESSA State Planning
Three additional states have added their voice to the call for school librarian participation in the development of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) state implementation plans. More than 175 school librarians and educational stakeholders in Tennessee, Texas, and Arkansas attended workshops Nov. 13-15 highlighting the intersections between ESSA provisions and effective school library programs.
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Amanda Kordeliski Shares the Lives of Two Fallen WWII Soldiers
Amanda Kordeliski, teacher librarian at Norman Public Schools in Oklahoma, is featured in a local news article about her journey to discover two relatives who were soldiers. Kordeliski spent a year researching the soldiers through the Understanding Sacrifice program, a partnership between National History Day, the American Battle Monuments Commission, and the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media.
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Dana Wright Awarded OELMA/Follett Library Resources Outstanding School Librarian Award
Dana Wright, librarian at Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, Ohio, is this year’s recipient of the OELMA/Follett Library Resources Outstanding School Librarian Award. The award recognizes an Ohio licensed school librarian who develops an exemplary school library program, collaborates with classroom teachers, implements technology-integrated instruction, and advocates for school libraries.
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Sue Subel Awarded OELMA’s Outstanding Contributor Award
Sue Subel, district library media specialist at Kenston High School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was awarded Ohio Educational Library Media Association’s Outstanding Contributor Award. The award honors an Ohio licensed school librarian who has made outstanding contributions to school librarianship.
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Submit a Member Spotlight Today
Have you or another AASL member been recognized for an award or published a new article on school librarianship? Let us know. Submit a Member Spotlight today!
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Report Analyzes Students’ Reading Habits
About 54% of students read for less than 15 minutes per day, according to the ninth annual "What Kids Are Reading" report, which includes data from 9.9 million K-12 students at 30,863 schools. The report shows that boys, on average, read about 23% less than girls.
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Students Cannot Distinguish Real News from Fake
Some 82% of middle-schoolers could not distinguish between an ad labeled “sponsored content” and a real news story on a website, according to a Stanford University study. The study is the biggest so far on how teens evaluate information they find online. Many students judged the credibility of newsy tweets based on how much detail they contained or whether a large photo was attached, rather than on the source.
Trump Taps DeVos for Education Secretary
School-choice advocate and former Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Betsy DeVos could be the next US Secretary of Education, pending Senate confirmation. Trump last week announced the nomination, describing DeVos as "a brilliant and passionate education advocate."
Survey Identifies Barriers to Learning
Parent engagement and access to necessary resources at home are some barriers to learning that students face outside of the school day, according to a survey of 4,721 prekindergarten through 12th-grade public-school teachers and principals. Data show such barriers may be more common in schools serving students from low-income families.
New Report on the Reach of Online Harassment
Most US Internet users have witnessed online harassment, and almost half have personally experienced it, according to a report from the Data and Society Research Institute and the Center for Innovative Public Health Research. The report offers national data on the prevalence of many types of digital harassment.
U.S. Children’s Authors Sign Pledge to Tackle Racism
Hundreds of American children’s authors and illustrators have put their names to a declaration citing their commitment to using literature “to help eliminate the fear that takes root in the human heart amid lack of familiarity and understanding of others.”
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Resources for School Librarians
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Helping Students Spot Fake News
Fake news articles circulating on social media and spread by the public highlight the importance of teaching the critical-thinking skills needed to help students distinguish real news from fake, writes media literacy consultant Frank Baker. In this blog post, he shares tips for how to help students think critically about what they read and avoid spreading bogus news stories.
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How to Teach Students about Civility
Teachers can encourage their students to understand how respectful listening and acceptance of other views are important before civil discourse can take place, writes retired English teacher Elyse Scott. In this blog post, she shares an exercise in which students worked through their differences to make a group decision.
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Inspiring Readers through Book Commercials
Having students create commercials based on books they read helps them synthesize story elements while creating a permanent book review online for their peers, fifth-grade teacher Jesse Buetow writes in this blog post. He shares how he structures the project and suggests software tools for making videos.
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Tips to Jump-start Blended Learning
Educators aiming to adopt blended learning should first consider their goals, asserts Bill Tolley, a teacher at the International School of Beijing. In this blog post, he shares several blended-learning goals and how to achieve them.
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3 Ways to Promote STEM among Students
Panelists at SmartBrief Education's annual STEM Pathways event shared three ways to inspire students to develop the skills they need to be successful in science, technology, engineering and math. The strategies include concentrating on the love of learning, exposing students to makerspaces and technical education, and making community connections.
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What Is a Culturally Responsive Classroom?
Creating a multicultural classroom takes a great deal of time, effort and thought, veteran teacher Cheryl Mizerny writes. In this blog post, she defines the classroom and the learning environment that inspire culturally responsive teaching, and shares how examining her beliefs and biases have helped her improve her practice.
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2016-2017 Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries Grants for School Libraries
Applications are now open for the 2016-17 Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries grants for school libraries. The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries provides funds to school libraries to add to and update their book and media collections. Completed applications must be submitted by December 12.
Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program
The Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program provides short-term seminars abroad for U.S. educators in social sciences and humanities to improve their understanding and knowledge of the peoples and cultures of other countries. Each seminar features educational lectures and activities specifically designed for the group. Participants draw on their experiences during the program to create new, cross-cultural curricula for their classrooms and school systems back in the U.S. Deadline: December 28, 2016.
ALA Future of Libraries Fellowship Program
The ALA Center for the Future of Libraries invites applications for its Future of Libraries Fellowship program. The fellowship will provide an individual or group with a stipend of $10,000 to advance new ideas and perspectives for the future of libraries through the creation of a public product—report, white paper, video, resource, tool—that will help library professionals envision the future of library collections, partnerships, services, spaces, or technologies. The deadline to submit materials is January 15
EdSim Challenge
The Department of Education launched the EdSim Challenge, a competition to design next-generation educational simulations that strengthen career and technical skills. Simulated digital learning environments, such as virtual and augmented reality, 3D simulations, and multi-player video games, are an emerging approach to deliver educational content. Developers should submit their simulation concepts by January 17, 2017.
NEH Summer Programs
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) funds tuition-free summer programs for school and college educators. Participants receive stipends to help cover travel and living expenses. Programs are one-to five-week study opportunities focusing on topics, texts, and questions in the humanities. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2017.
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