[CASL-L] AASL Hotlinks – October 2014

IRENE KWIDZINSKI kwidz at sbcglobal.net
Mon Oct 6 15:01:36 PDT 2014

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On Monday, October 6, 2014 5:19 PM, AASL <mfeatheringham at ala.org> wrote:

AASL Hotlinks – October 2014
The American Association of School Librarians empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.
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Volume 13, Issue 7
October 2014

In This Issue:Association News
Member Spotlight
Education News
Resources for School Librarians
Partnership and Collaborator News
Grants & Awards
Association News
New Resource for School Library Conversations
A new digital magazine issue, featuring articles from prominent members of the profession, showcases the way school libraries and school librarians transform learning. “School Libraries Transform Learning,” an American Libraries digital supplement produced in partnership with AASL, is available electronically in ebook format and as a downloadable PDF at www.ala.org/aasl/transforming.

Innovative Researcher David Loertscher to Present at AASL Fall Forum
David Loertscher, innovative educational researcher and learning commons revolutionary, will exemplify the anywhere, anytime learning concept by facilitating an online working session during AASL’s 2014 Fall Forum. Dr. Loertscher will work simultaneously with nine sites across the country during School Librarians in the Anytime Anywhere Learning Landscape taking place Oct. 17-18, 2014. For more information and to register, visit fallforum.aasl.org.

AASL Webinar Helps School Librarians Release the Leader Within
With help from a new webinar from AASL, school librarians with reluctant or unrealized potential can unlock their inner leader. Presented by Ann Martin, “Coaching the Leader Within” will take place at 7 p.m. Central on Tuesday, Oct. 7. For more information and to register, visit ecollab.aasl.org. Ann will also present at AASL's Fall Forum, School Librarians in the Anytime Anywhere Learning Landscape, Oct. 17-18.

AASL Awards Showcase the Best in Transformative Teaching and Learning
Applications for AASL’s 2015 awards season are now available using AASL’s online awards application. 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.

Join in AASL's Share the Wealth Campaign
AASL members have the opportunity to “Share the Wealth” with your colleagues--and win prizes! Extend AASL’s reach, recognition, and resources by communicating with your friends, colleagues, and state association about the benefits offered through AASL membership. For each member you recruit, your name will be entered into:
* A monthly drawing for a complimentary year of AASL membership (a $50 value)
* A grand prize drawing for a complimentary AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition registration, airfare to Columbus, Ohio, and a three-night hotel stay (a $1500 value)
Multiple referrals will be accepted and increase your chances to win! For complete program rules, tips, and recruitment tools, visit www.ala.org/aasl/join/STW. Share the wealth today!

School Librarians Shine as Connected Educators in October
This month, AASL joins more than 300 major education organizations in celebrating Connected Educator Month (CEM). Originally developed by the U.S. Department of Education in 2012, CEM offers diverse and engaging activities to educators at all levels, with the ultimate goal of sparking collaboration and innovation. AASL has been a participating partner in the CEM initiative since its inception.

Six Programs Commended for Support of School Libraries
Moving on recommendations made by its Affiliate Assembly, AASL formally commended six programs based on the programs’ support of the school librarian profession. The programs are:
* Indiana Pacers (and Foundation)
* Homeport’s Bright Ideas Book Bank
* Hoosier Family of Readers
* Reading Rocks!
* School Librarians’ Day – University of NE Omaha
* College Readiness Dialogues: Together We Learn!
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.

School Librarians Invited to Apply for $5,000 Humanities Programming Prize
The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. School libraries, public or private, that served children in grades K-8 and conducted humanities programs during the 2013-14 school year are eligible. The winning library will receive $5,000. Applications, award guidelines and a list of previous winners are available at www.ala.org/jaffarianaward. Nominations must be received by Dec. 15, 2014. School librarians are encouraged to self-nominate.

ALA Seeks Feedback on ALAConnect
ALA is conducting its largest feedback survey to date to learn how ALA Connect is working for you and how it can be made even better. Please take a moment to fill out the online survey, which will be open through Sunday, October 12, 2014. Everyone who completes it will be entered into a drawing for an iPad Mini. ALA is also seeking ALA members who will participate in a one-hour site review and feedback session with $75 compensation. Please contact helen at urbaninsight.com if you're interested in participating in this more granular feedback session.

ALA Carnegie Whitney Awards Open
The American Library Association Publishing Committee provides a grant of up to $5,000 for the preparation of print or electronic reading lists, indexes, or other guides to library resources that promote reading or the use of library resources at any type of library. Funded projects have ranged from popular, general-reader proposals such as "ReadMOre," a reading list for Missouri's state-wide reading program, to more specialized, scholarly proposals such as "Librarianship and Information Science in the Islamic World, 1966-1999: An Annotated Bibliography." Applications must be received by November 7, 2014. Recipients will be notified by the end of February 2015.
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Draw upon our experience with thousands of schools to help make your transition to digital content even easier. We offer the largest collection of eBooks, audiobooks and streaming video on a single website with the most device compatibility. Learn how OverDrive can be your central digital content solution today.
Member Spotlight
Amanda McCoy Wins a Year of Free AASL Membership
By sharing the wealth of AASL membership with a colleague, Amanda McCoy in turn won a free year of AASL membership for herself. McCoy’s name was drawn as the first monthly winner of AASL's new Share the Wealth Campaign. "To me, belonging to AASL means that I'm joining forces with folks around the country that believe in the importance of school libraries the way that I do," said McCoy. "I love knowing that I belong to an organization that will stand up and fight for our profession and our students' right to libraries and librarians."

Chris Harris Appointed OITP Fellow for Youth and Technology Initiatives
Chris Harris was appointed to the Office for Information Technology Policy’s (OITP) emerging program on Children and Youth Initiatives. In his other life, Chris is the director of the School Library System for the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership, an educational services agency supporting the libraries of 22 small, rural districts in western New York. Most recently, Chris integrated his personal interest in gaming with his passion for education and non-traditional learning and is editorial director of Play Play Learn.

Andy Plemmons Named School Librarian of the Year Finalist
Andy Plemmons, school library media specialist at David C. Barrow Elementary School in Athens, Georgia, was named a finalist in School Library Journal’s School Librarian of the Year Award. Andy strives to "expect the miraculous"—his school library's motto, an idea drawn from Kate DiCamillo's Newbery Medal-winning book Flora and Ulysses. “I feel like I have an obligation to give support and ideas,” says Plemmons. “I’m not just supporting the people in my building. There’s a larger community out there.”

Laura Fleming Featured on Edutopia Blog
Laura Fleming, school librarian at New Milford High School, shares how she reimagined the traditional library in a blog post on Edutopia. Students at her New Jersey high school not only have access to a physical library that encourages collaboration, but they also have access to a virtual library. Fleming “designed our virtual space to include five rooms: a theater, a hall, large meeting rooms, and different learning spaces.”

Elissa Malespina Awarded 2014 School Librarian Bammy Award
Elissa Malespina, coordinating supervisor of educational technology at the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District in New Jersey, was named the 2014 Bammy Award recipient in the school librarian category. One of Malespina’s reviewers on the Bammy Awards website wrote, “Elissa is a dedicated, passionate and innovative educator and librarian who is motivated by raising the levels of student engagement...Additionally, her willingness to share her experiences, knowledge and passion allow her to be a mentor, friend and resource to her colleagues, students, the community and members of her PLN from around the world.”
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Education News
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Study Details Online Literacy Gap
A new study shows that lower-income students lag behind more affluent students in their ability to find, evaluate, integrate, and communicate the information they find online. The study demonstrates a general lack of online literacy among all students, indicating that schools have not yet caught up to teach the skills needed to navigate digital information. The study compared two schools, one in which families earn a median income of more than $100,000 and one in which families earn a median income of $60,000.

State Standards Vary Widely
A report from the American Institutes for Research finds that standards used to measure student progress vary widely among states. It finds that the “expectations gap” is so large that it is more than twice the size of the national racial achievement gap. In addition, there are "vast differences in what is considered proficient" by state. The difference between the standards in the states with the highest standards and the states with the lowest standards is about 2 standard deviations, with the highest and lowest standards representing three to four grade levels. The percentage of proficient students for most states declined when compared with international standards.

New York Insists on More School Librarians
New York State Education Commissioner John King Jr. has rejected New York City’s request to employ fewer librarians in schools, in part because the city took too long to come up with an alternative plan to provide library services to students. King said he was troubled by the number of city schools that don’t have librarians on staff, a violation of state regulations. In a decision he issued to the city and union lawyers representing librarians last week, King ordered the city to begin following the rules immediately.

NCES Releases "Teacher Attrition and Mobility: Results From the 2012–13 Teacher Follow-up Survey"
Of the 3,377,900 public school teachers who taught during the 2011–12 school year, 84 percent remained at the same school (“stayers”), 8 percent moved to a different school (“movers”), and 8 percent left the profession (“leavers”) the following year. Additionally, about 30 percent of public school teacher movers and 10 percent of public school teacher leavers left their 2011–12 positions involuntarily. Among public school teachers who left the profession in 2012–13, about 8 percent moved to an occupation outside the field of education.

U.S. Department of Education Announces Commit to Lead Campaign

In August the U.S. Department of Education announced a new campaign titled Commit to Lead, a new opportunity to advance teacher leadership. Since the announcement, nearly 400 educators have signed up for Commit to Lead and are weighing in about advancing teacher leadership across the country. The U.S. Department of Education is looking for more educators to get involved by:
* Exploring the ideas that have been posted by others.
* Using the social media buttons at the top of each idea to share the ones you believe are most promising with your network on Facebook and Twitter.
* Voting on the ideas you like best so they rise to the top.
* Sharing feedback on ideas by posting a comment.More Teachers Use Video Games as a Teaching Tool
Teachers increasingly are using video games to deliver academic lessons in the classroom, but even as their popularity as a teaching tool grows, some say few studies have examined a connection between gaming and academic achievement. Some assert that the greatest opportunity for gaming may be among students who have struggled with traditional teaching methods.

Revised Standards for School Leaders Released for Public Comment
The Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Policy Board for Educational Administration have published revisions to the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards. The standards seek to establish what school leaders need to know to prepare students for college and career.

Study Outlines How to Use Technology to Serve At-Risk Students
A report released recently by the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education offers five keys to using technology to help at-risk students. Among them, the report suggests setting a goal of establishing a one-to-one technology program and making sure Internet connections are sufficient.

A Framework for ELL Students
The Council of the Great City Schools has released A Framework for Raising Expectations and Instructional Rigor for ELL Students. Its purpose is to define a new vision for English Language Development, to share examples of instructional delivery models, and to provide step-by-step guidance for selecting instructional materials that will accelerate the acquisition of academic language and grade-level content for all English learners in urban school districts.

Survey Identifies Obstacles to Using Games in the Classroom
Teachers lack time and knowledge when it comes to integrating games into instruction according to a recent survey from the Games and Learning Publishing Council. The survey asked 700 teachers to identify and rank the major barriers to using games in the classroom. Other obstacles include lack of tech resources, lack of familiarity with the technology, and difficulty finding games that fit the curriculum.

Online Education Company edX Offering Free High School Courses
Twenty-six free high-school courses will be offered through the online-learning collaborative edX, making it the first provider to offer massive open online courses to high schools, according to the collaborative. The courses, which will be open to students worldwide, focus on various subjects, including biology, computer science and calculus.

Examining Whether Test-Score Gains Are Real
An article from Education Next examines whether schools that raise test scores of disadvantaged students do so by improving underlying cognitive capacities or by “artificially” boosting scores to higher levels than predicted, based on measures of cognitive ability. Researchers found that attending a school that produces strong test-score gains does not improve fluid cognitive skills. However, longitudinal studies also indicate that gains in processing speed support gains in working memory capacity (crystallized knowledge) that in turn support fluid reasoning.

Schools Increasingly Use Mobile Technology
Mobile technology is becoming more popular in today's classrooms, according to a recent survey. A majority of educators—86%—who responded to the survey said mobile technology bolsters student engagement, and 67% said it helps support personalized learning.

Bilingualism in Infancy May Boost Cognitive Development
A study in the journal Child Development showed that babies raised bilingual had better recognition of familiar images compared with their monolingual counterparts. Researchers also found that bilingual babies paid closer attention to new images than babies exposed to one language.

Students Support Technology in the Classroom
Students are optimistic about the role mobile technology can play in their education, according to a recent study. Data show 81% of students surveyed believe such technology helps personalize learning. Nearly 90% said mobile technology makes learning fun.

Exercise during Recess Linked to Higher Reading and Math Scores
Researchers in Finland found that children who participated in physical activity during recess performed better in reading and those who participated in organized sports had better math tests than less physically active peers. The effect of exercise on reading skills was more pronounced among boys, according to the study in the journal PLoS One.

Music May Help Underprivileged Students Succeed
Music may help bridge the achievement gap between underprivileged students and more-affluent peers, according to a recent study. Researchers found that students who participated in two years of music instruction were better able to process complex sounds, which could result in improvement with learning and language skills.
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Resources for School Librarians
Library of Congress Releases Free Interactive Ebooks for Tablets
The Library of Congress invites students everywhere to touch, draw on, and explore some of its most valuable treasures—all via a new set of free interactive ebooks for tablets. The new Library of Congress Student Discovery Sets bring together historical artifacts and one-of-a-kind documents on a wide range of topics, from history to science to literature. The sets are designed for students, providing easy access to open-ended exploration. A Teacher’s Guide for each set, with background information, teaching ideas` and additional resources, is available on the Library’s website for teachers, www.loc.gov/teachers/.

FBI Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge
Last month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launched the FBI Safe Online Surfing (FBI-SOS) Internet Challenge for the 2014-2015 school year. Open to all public, private, and home schools nationwide, the initiative is a free, age-appropriate, competitive, and fun online program that promotes cyber citizenship and teaches students in third through eighth grades how to recognize and respond to online dangers—like Internet predators and cyberbullying—and covers topics such as social networking and gaming safety.

Tips for Using Tablets to Teach Middle Schoolers Informational Texts
Tablet computers can be effective tools to help middle-grades students find, take notes about and synthesize informational texts in assignments, teacher and educational consultant Monica Burns writes in this blog post. She suggests teachers allow students to experiment with iPad apps, such as iMovie to make a public service announcements, or Grid to make a graphic organizer for notes.

How Mindfulness Can Enhance Co-teaching Relationships
Special-education teacher Elizabeth Stein in this blog post shares three ideas for co-teachers to incorporate mindfulness practices into their working relationships. "Each co-teacher should value the thinking of the other and take a stance to observe and allow the expertise of each teacher to find its way naturally in the process of instruction and assessment," she writes.

Tips on Exploring Johnny Appleseed with Various Grade Levels
Kindergarten teacher Brian Smith in this blog post shares tips and resources to help teachers integrate Johnny Appleseed into lessons for students across grades. He writes that the lessons offer a unique, fun way to incorporate nonfiction in the classroom. Smith notes that he likes to celebrate this month's birth date of John Chapman, the folk hero's real name.

Ways for Teachers to Keep up on Education Technology
It can be hard to keep up with evolving technology--and the way it is used in education, Edutopia Assistant Editor Todd Finley writes in this blog post. To help teachers successfully integrate technology in the classroom, he recommends they take time each week to learn a tool and to interact with students using technology, among other ideas.

Students Would Benefit from Writing across Disciplines
Today's students would benefit from being given writing assignments across all disciplines, author and educator Katherine McKnight argues in this blog post. "Writing every day, in every class, encourages students to read, analyze and create arguments across content, applying the valuable skill of evidence-based thinking in every subject area," she writes.

How to Use Technology to Teach Grammar and Writing
In this blog post, educator Troy Hicks describes how he incorporates technology into a writing lesson on sentence combining. He includes examples and links of his and his students' use of screencasting and audio-recording tools to highlight their thinking processes as they experimented with grammar and structure in this exercise.

Success of BYOD Program Relies on Trusting Students
A teacher in Missouri who has implemented a bring-your-own-device program says the success of the arrangement relies on establishing an environment of mutual trust with students. Amy Walker, a Spanish teacher, says BYOD allows students to take more responsibility for their learning while allowing her to provide individual support and more open-ended learning opportunities.

How One Mobile Device Can Transform a Classroom
Teachers don't need a suite of smartphones or a tablet for every student to make an impact with iPads and iPhones, asserts Christy Crawford, an elementary teacher in New York. In this blog post, she shares 10 ways teachers can transform lessons with a single device, such as students taking turns on a tablet to learn how to code.
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Partnership and Collaborator News
ASCD Seeking Members to Fill Position on Board
The 2014-15 ASCD Nominations Committee is now seeking qualified candidates to fill two positions on the 2015 Board of Directors. To access the application form and information for qualifications for office and the time commitment involved (Board members serve a four-year term) visit www.ascd.org/nominations. All applications must be completed by Oct. 31. Contact governance manager Becky DeRigge at bderigge at ascd.org with any questions.

P21 Releases Framework for State Action on Global Education Framework
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills released a Framework for State Action on Global Education. The Framework offers states a comprehensive and actionable strategy to ensure students have the global competencies and international understanding that will prepare them for work and life in the 21st-century. The framework provides state leaders with six essential elements with which to build a robust state strategy for global education. Each essential element includes specific and actionable steps for implementation.

November Is Picture Book Month
November is Picture Book Month. The website, PictureBookMonth.com, will feature essays from thought leaders in the children’s literature community. This year’s Picture Book Month Champions are: Chris Barton, Aaron Becker, Kelly Bingham , Sophie Blackall, Arree Chung, Anna Dewdney, Johnette Downing, Ame Dyckman, Jill Esbaum, Carolyn Flores, Lupe Ruiz-Flores, Robin Preiss Glasser, Deborah Heiligman, Marla Frazee, Stefan Jolet, Kathleen Krull, Rene Colato Lainez, Loreen Leedy, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Brian Lies, Kelly J. Light, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Alexis O'Neill, Sandra Markle, Ann Whitford Paul, Aaron Reynolds, Judy Schachner, Linda Joy Singleton, and David Schwartz.
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Grants & Awards
The Lilead Fellows Program
The Lilead Fellows Program is an advanced and intensive professional development program designed to empower, enable, and equip school district library supervisors to think differently about their library programs and to be effective and inspirational leaders for change in their districts. Conducted in part with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Lilead Project is accepting applications through October 13, 2014.

Departments of Education/Health and Human Services Preschool Development Grants
The U.S. Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services announced that applications are now available for the Preschool Development Grants, a new $250 million federal program that will support states to build, develop, and expand voluntary, high-quality preschool programs for children from low- and moderate-income families. All states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are eligible to apply for these grants. Applications are due Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. Grants will be awarded in December 2014.

ALA Office for Diversity Achievement in Library Diversity Research
The ALA Office for Diversity is seeking nominations for its 2014 Achievement in Library Diversity Research award. The award recognizes ALA members for contributions to the profession through research on LIS diversity issues. Nominations will be accepted through October 15.

2015 YoungArts Awards and Scholarships
Each year, the YoungArts Foundation offers financial support to foster the next generation of leaders in the arts. The awards honor top high school artists in the visual, performing and literary arts, who are in grades 10-12 or are 15-18 years old. To apply, a high school student must submit an application, as well as a portfolio or audition. Honorees are considered for U.S. Presidential Scholars status, have access to master classes, and are eligible to apply for scholarships and other financial awards. Top prize is $10,000. Deadline: Oct. 17, 2014.

GRAMMY Signature Schools Awards
Does your school have an excellent music education program? Or maybe your school’s music program needs funding to further its impact? Either way, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program can help. Each year, awards are made to high school music programs across the country, and awards are available based on excellence and/or needs. Prize: Grants up to $10,000 are available for high school music education programs. Deadline: October 22, 2014.

Farmers Insurance: Thank a Million Teachers
Farmers Insurance wants to thank teachers all across the country and have a genuinely positive impact on the lives of teachers and their students. Every educator that has been thanked on ThankAMillionTeachers.com is eligible to apply for a grant. The winners must use the money to purchase school supplies through AdoptAClassroom.org or have the funds applied toward a professional certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Maximum award: a $2,500 grant. Eligibility: current K through 12 teachers in the United States who have submitted a qualified proposal on www.thankamillionteachers.com. Deadline: October 31, 2014.

State Farm Foundation Grants
State Farm is committed to meeting the needs of our communities by focusing our giving in three areas: Safe Neighbors (safety), Strong Neighborhoods (community development), and Education Excellence (education). Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code; Canadian charitable organizations, educational institutions, and governmental entities. Deadline: October 31, 2014.

IRA Teacher as Researcher Grant
International Reading Association Teacher as Researcher grants support classroom teachers who undertake action research inquiries about literacy and instruction. Maximum award: $4,000. Eligibility: All applicants must be members of the International Reading Association (IRA) and practicing pre-K-12 teachers with full time or permanent half-time teaching responsibilities (includes librarians, Title I teachers, classroom teachers, and resource teachers). Classroom teachers will be given preference. Applicants may apply as a collaborative group or individually. Deadline: November 1, 2014.

Character Lab Teaching Innovation Grant
The Character Lab is sponsoring a contest asking teachers to send great ideas for cultivating character strengths in the classroom. The seven teachers with the best ideas will each win $10,000. Ideas must be designed to develop any one of the 24 character strengths classified in Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman’s landmark publication, “Character Strengths and Virtues.” Deadline for applications is Nov. 2, 2014.

The Trust Challenge: Connected Learning Technology Development Grants
The Trust Challenge is encouraging educational institutions to develop tools that foster trust in connected learning environments. Projects that include collaboration between multiple organizations and have the potential to scale are given preference. Prize: Year-long development grants are available between $10,000 and $150,000. Additionally, organizations can apply for $5,000 technology grants. The grant pool contains up to $1.2 million in funding. Deadline: Nov. 3, 2014.

NCTM Professional Development Grants for Grades PreK-5
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Professional Development Grants for Grades PreK-5 Teachers support professional development to improve the competence in the teaching of mathematics of one or more classroom teachers. Maximum award: $3,000. Eligibility: current (as of October 15, 2014) Full Individual or E-Members of NCTM or teachers at a school with a current (as of October 15, 2014) NCTM Pre-K8 school membership, currently teaching grades PreK-5 level and with three or more years teaching experience. Deadline: November 7, 2014.

Student Video Storytelling Contest from Take2
This contest sponsored by Take2 and WeVideo Education Channel encourages students to learn more about the refugee situation in Sudan. From Take2: “What if you lived in a Sudanese refugee camp? How would your life then be? Tell the story of how you lost everything, how life in the refugee camp is and your dreams for the future.” To get started, take a look at the rules, links to provided footage, and information about the Sudanese refugee situation. Prize: Winners receive GoPro cameras. Deadline: Nov. 24, 2014.

Verizon Innovative App Challenge
Verizon's Innovative App Challenge encourages teams of 5-7 students, led by an adviser, to develop a concept for an app that addresses a need in their school or community. Submissions are judged by their need, usefulness, and the audience they will reach. To apply, student teams submit a concept overview and summary, along with a 3-5 minute video essay. Prize: Regional and state winners receive funding and online technical support from MIT experts to help build their app. Deadline: Nov. 24, 2014.

NSTA Wendell G. Mohling Outstanding Aerospace Educator Award
The Wendell G. Mohling Outstanding Aerospace Educator Award recognizes excellence in the field of aerospace education. The recipient of the award will be honored during the Awards Banquet and the Aerospace Educators Luncheon at the annual NSTA Conference. Maximum award: $3,000, and $2,000 in expenses to attend NSTA’s National Conference. Eligibility: educators in informal education settings (e.g., museums, government, science centers). Individuals must be nominated for this award; self-nominations accepted. Deadline: November 30, 2014.

NGA Youth Garden Grants
National Gardening Association Youth Garden Grants support schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. Priority will be given to programs that emphasize educational focus or curricular/program integration; nutrition or plant-to-food connections; environmental awareness/education; entrepreneurship; and social aspects of gardening. Maximum award: a $500 gift card to the Gardening with Kids catalog, seeds and plants from Bonnie Plants, an Ames tool package, and educational materials from NGA. Eligibility: schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups throughout the United States. Deadline: December 5, 2014.

eCYBERMISSION STEM Competition
eCYBERMISSION challenges educators and students to explore how STEM works in their world. A team of sixth through ninth-graders will propose a solution to a real problem in your community and compete for state, regional, and national Awards. Register by: December 17, 2014.

Walmart Foundation Community Grant Program
The Walmart Foundation is accepting applications through its Community Grant Program. Through the program, grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded to local nonprofit organizations within the service area of individual Walmart stores in support of initiatives in the areas of hunger relief and healthy eating, sustainability, women's economic empowerment, and/or career opportunities. Deadline for applications: December 31, 2014.

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. Plus, 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.

Adobe Software Grants
Educators at Title 1 schools are encouraged to apply for software and teacher development grants from Adobe. The program is designed to increase access to Adobe creative tools through the White House’s ConnectED initiative. In addition to software, educators also receive access to on-demand professional development, including webinars, workshops and collaborative courses to learn more about utilizing Adobe creative programs in the classroom. Prize: Schools receive access to a variety of Adobe tools, including Adobe Photoshop Elements and Adobe Premiere Elements. Educators also receive access to online PD courses. Deadline: Rolling.

Classroom Newspaper Subscription Grants from USA TODAY
On a rolling basis, the USA TODAY Charitable Foundation awards teachers digital and print subscriptions to USA TODAY. Currently, the foundation is awarding digital subscriptions to teachers on a first-come, first-served basis; print subscriptions are unavailable at the moment. Teachers must submit a short online application to be considered. Prize: Classroom subscriptions to the e-edition of USA TODAY. Deadline: Rolling.
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AASL Hotlist

Member Currents
Melanie Lewis was promoted to Program Director of Teacher Librarian Services at Fresno Pacific University.

Did you land a new job, attain a new degree or position, or change your name? Tell us about it! Through Member Currents, AASL will provide a forum for updates on its members. Types of updates include graduations, certifications earned, changes in job positions, retirements, name changes, and death notices.

AASL Planning Guide: A Framework for Professional Growth

Talk-Alouds: A Different Approach to Read-Alouds

(Clicking these links will first prompt you to log in to the AASL website.)
AASL Calendar

October17-18: AASL Fall Forum, “School Librarians in the Anytime Anywhere Learning Landscape”
Latest AASLblog posts:Let’s Get Together Thursday – Keys to Collaboration, Part 5 – Reflect, Rinse, Repeat

Tuesday Tech Tips – Photo Fun

Monday Means Leadership: Coaching the Leader Within Webinar

Friday Finds

Let’s Get Together Thursday – Keys to Collaboration, Part Four: Promote Yourself

What to Read Wednesday – eGalleys

Tuesday Tech Tips – Student Technology Club Anyone?

Ideas for Using AASL Best Websites: Gibbon

Friday Finds

Let’s Get Together Thursday – Keys to Collaboration Part Three: Choosing a Collaboration Partner

Tuesday Tech Tips – Google Chrome Fun

Monday Means Leadership: Supporting the Right to Read

Updates on Ebooks

Let’s Get Together Thursday – Keys to Collaboration Part Two: Be Collaboration Worthy!

Tuesday Tech Tips – YouTube Your Way

Monday Means Leadership: Engaging Students

Friday Finds

Let’s Get Together Thursday – Five Keys to Collaboration Part One: Warm and Welcoming

What to Read Wednesday – THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS by Rae Carson

Tuesday Tech Tips – Merge Ahead!

Monday Means Leadership: Blogs to Follow

Friday Finds

Let’s Get Together Thursday – Collaborating with Your Local Public Librarian

Tuesday Tech Tips – Snappy snag.gy

Monday Means Leadership: Defining Leadership
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