[CASL-L] Fwd: KQ Express – August 2015

[Kwidz]

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> From: AASL <mfeatheringham at ala.org>
> Date: August 3, 2015 at 5:02:19 PM EDT
> To: Irene <kwidz at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: KQ Express – August 2015
> Reply-To: <us1-7de76e4687-b14c49d1ca at conversation01.mailchimpapp.com>
> 
> 
> The American Association of School Librarians empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.
> View this email in your browser
>                                                                     
> New Name for AASL's Monthly E-Newsletter--Welcome to KQ Express!
> In order to align AASL's communication vehicles under the Knowledge Quest brand name, AASL's monthly e-newsletter Hotlinks has been renamed KQ Express! The name change is a continuation of AASL's efforts to bring together school librarians and educators into one community. KQ Express will still contain all the information you need, including brief article and news summaries, previews of upcoming association activities and continuing education programs, news from AASL, valuable Web resources, and summaries of new articles from AASL's print and online journals. Be sure to check out the new KQ website, too!
> Meg Featheringham
> Editor Knowledge Quest/KQ Express
> Forward this email to a friend
> Volume 14, Issue 5
> August 2015
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> 
> In This Issue:
> Association News
> Member Spotlight
> Education News
> Resources for School Librarians
> Partnership and Collaborator News
> Grants & Awards
> Association News
> Early Birds Save $100 at AASL National Conference
> By registering before the Aug. 13, 2015, early-bird deadline, conference attendees will save $100 on registration rates for the AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition. The conference, themed “Experience Education Evolution,” will be held Nov. 5-8, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio, and is the only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school librarians and their roles as educational leaders. A full list of rates and deadlines can be found at national.aasl.org/registration.
>  
> Deadline Extended: AASL’s Educators of School Librarians Section Call for Papers
> The Educators of School Librarians Section (ESLS) of AASL invites submissions for proposals for papers on original research focusing on school library practice or school librarianship. Selected papers will be presented in a concurrent session at the AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition to be held Nov. 5-8, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, the selected papers will be automatically considered for publication in School Library Research (SLR) (pending the journal's peer review process). Proposals for papers that report preliminary findings on research in progress should be submitted no later than 11:59 EST on Monday, Aug. 10, 2015.
> 
> Rita Williams-Garcia, Sonia Manzano, and Matt de la Peña to Discuss Diverse Voices at AASL’s Author Banquet
> 
> Award-winning authors Rita Williams-Garcia, Sonia Manzano, and Matt de la Peña will appear at an author banquet presented during the AASL 17th National Conference & Exhibition. Williams-Garcia, Manzano, and de la Peña will discuss books, characters, and voices of color at the Friday, Nov. 6, event themed “Diverse Authors, Diverse Voices.” Registration and more information regarding the event can be found at national.aasl.org.
>  
> Call for Articles for Upcoming Jan/Feb Knowledge Quest
> Interested in writing for Knowledge Quest? The deadline for submitting a manuscript for the Jan/Feb issue of KQ is August 14. KQ is seeking original, unpublished manuscripts that address the integration of theory and practice in school librarianship and new developments in education, learning theory, and relevant disciplines. Knowledge Quest is devoted to offering substantive information to assist building-level school librarians, supervisors, library educators, and other decision makers concerned with the development of school library programs and services.
> 
> Volunteer to Serve on ALA and Council Committees for 2016-2017
> Julie Todaro, American Library Association (ALA) president-elect, encourages members to volunteer to serve on ALA and Council committees for the 2016-2017 term (terms start on July 1, 2016). Committee appointments will be finalized at the 2016 ALA Midwinter Meeting, with notifications sent out in early spring, 2016. Todaro chairs both the Committee on Appointments (COAppt) and the Committee on Committees (COC). The online committee volunteer form opens on Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, and closes on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. To volunteer, please complete and submit the form electronically (be sure to select "ALA" in the drop-down menu on the main form to volunteer for both ALA and Council committees).
> 
> I Love My Librarian Award
> The New York Public Library has joined as one of the cosponsors of the I Love My Librarian Award. The award invites library users nationwide to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. The award will be funded through 2017 thanks to a $200,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, which has been the award’s primary sponsor since ALA took over administration of the award from The New York Times in 2008. Nominations will be accepted through September 28.
> back to top
> Member Spotlight
> Debra Kachel Authors Article in Defense of School Libraries
> Debra Kachel, Professor of School Library and Information Technologies Program at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, published an article in The New Republic that explores why, despite readily available evidence that shows school libraries’ impact on student achievement, budget cutters are targeting school libraries. “We need a national agenda and our elected officials to take a stand and ensure equity of library services and certified school librarians to teach the next generation to find and apply information to solve problems, think critically, and develop innovations,” she writes.
> 
> Lesley S. J. Farmer Awarded Two National Awards
> Lesley S. J. Farmer, Coordinator of the Teacher Librarianship program at California State University Long Beach, recently garnered two national awards. The Special Libraries Association Education Division honored her with the Anne Galler Award for professional excellence. In addition the ALA Library Instruction Round Table awarded her their Librarian Recognition Award for her work in information literacy and instruction.
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> Mega Subramaniam and Beverly Mullen Featured in Article on STEM
> Mega Subramaniam, associate professor at the University of Maryland, and Beverly Mullen, librarian at B. Banneker Middle School in Silver Spring, Maryland, are featured in an article from STEMwire, a Carnegie funded group out of the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication, which develops stories that engage audiences to take action on STEM educational issues. In the article, Subramaniam outlines how school librarians can help students develop their “identity” towards STEM, while Mullen explores the many different tools and resources school libraries can offer STEM students.
> 
> Katherine Lester Awarded Wayne State University’s Professional Service Award
> Katherine Lester, school library media specialist at East Middle School in Brighton, Michigan, was awarded Wayne State University’s Professional Service Award. Lester has worked throughout Michigan as a school librarian. In 2012, her library in Howell won the State Librarian’s Excellence Award. Lester was instrumental in obtaining support from the Michigan State Board of Education to pass a resolution supporting school libraries staffed by certified personnel.
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> Loreli Stochaj Named School Librarian of the Year by Bammy Educators Voice Awards
> Loreli Stochaj, librarian at the Franklin School Library in Summit, NJ, was named School Librarian of the Year by the Bammy Educators Voice Awards. The Bammy Educators' Voice Awards honor those in the general education community for their exceptional contributions, collaborative spirit, and modeling of what it means to be a 21st-century educator. Educators' Voice honorees automatically become members of the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences’ Council of Peers.
> 
> Diana Rendina Named a Finalist for Bammy School Librarian Award
> Diana Rendina, media specialist at Stewart Middle Magnet School in Tampa, Florida, was named a finalist for the 2015 School Librarian Bammy Award. Rendina and the other finalists for the Bammy Awards received the most community votes in their categories. Finalists for the Bammy Awards were selected because they are either world-class collaborators, made significant contributions to the field, or have modeled a valued quality of a 21st-century educator. The Bammy Awards will be handed out Saturday, September 26.
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> Education News
> Victory for School Libraries!
> The Senate made great strides to ensure needed reform to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). After much debate and across the aisle discussion, the Senate overwhelmingly passed S. 1177, the Every Child Achieves Act, by a vote of 81-17. The inclusion in the bill of the bi-partisan Reed-Cochran amendment makes S. 1177 a monumental step forward for schools, their libraries and the millions of students they serve. Most importantly, the amendment (approved 98-0) makes explicit that ESEA funds may be used to support school libraries and “effective school library programs” in multiple ways. The bill passed thanks in large part to the enthusiastic response from AASL members and its state affiliates.
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> NEA Approves National School Library Study
> The National Education Association is set to launch a study to measure student access to school librarians and libraries. The study will include, but not be limited to:
> Information on the current state laws regarding school libraries and staffing
> Staffing patterns in school libraries by grade level and state
> The ratio of professionally qualified school librarians to students, by state
> The number and grade levels of professionally qualified school librarian positions that have been eliminated using the last 10 most recent years of available data by state
> The number and grade levels of schools that have closed their libraries entirely, by state
> A breakdown of access to school librarians and libraries by income and demographic data.
> 
> How Libraries Are Integrating Tech and Hands-on Learning in Schools
> School libraries are at the forefront of engaging students in hands-on learning and technology integration by guiding research projects and offering maker spaces, a report shows. This article highlights ways libraries around the country are paving the way for new learning trends. The research was jointly conducted by the New Media Consortium (NMC) and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
>  
> Personalization, Tailored Instruction Vital to Blended Learning, New Report Says
> The International Association for K-12 Online Learning examines blended learning's role in K-12 systems today in its report, "Blending Learning: The Evolution of Online and Face-to-Face Education From 2008-2015." The paper argues in favor of creating classroom and school environments that seek to meet different students' individual needs. It offers case studies of schools and districts that the authors say have employed blended-learning models.
> 
> How Much Tougher Is the Common Core?
> In an early glimpse of how much tougher state tests could be in the Common Core era, a National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)/National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) federal report shows that early adopters of the controversial standards are assessing their students using far higher bars of difficulty. It indicates that one of the original purposes of the standards—challenging students in math and reading more so they’ll be better prepared for the rigors of college and their careers—seems to be proving fruitful.
> 
> States’ Definitions of “Proficiency” Vary
> There is significant variation in states' definitions of math and reading proficiency, according to a report by the National Center for Educational Statistics. Findings show standards for fourth-grade students in some states are comparable to standards for seventh- and eighth-grade students in other states.
> 
> NAEP Exam to Collect Data on “Grit”
> The National Assessment of Educational Progress will begin in 2017 collecting data on students' "grit" and "desire for learning." Students will self-assess their levels of grit and desire. The background survey will include five core areas--grit, desire for learning, school climate, technology use, and socioeconomic status--of which the first two focus on a student's noncognitive skills, and the third looks at noncognitive factors in the school.
> 
> Why Part of Teachers’ Evaluations May Be Out of Their Control
> Teachers in 42 states now are evaluated, in part, based on students' test scores, according to the National Center for Teacher Quality. This article shines a light on how this provision affects educators who do not teach subjects -- or grade levels -- directly tied to standardized tests.
> 
> Study Finds Tech Access Does Not Guarantee Success
> Structure and guidance may be key to using smartphones to enhance learning, according to a longitudinal study funded by the National Science Foundation. Researchers found that simply giving students access to such technology did not necessarily increase academic success.
> 
> Study Explores Academic Benefits of “Minecraft”
> "Minecraft" can offer lessons in problem-solving, research, creative thinking and social interaction, according to a recent study. Video games paired with hands-on projects can help foster greater understanding of complex subjects, says Scot Osterweil, educational game designer and creative director of MIT's Education Arcade. The research comes from Australia.
> 
> How Socioeconomic Factors Affect College and Career
> Family income may influence a student's choice of college major, according to a review of National Center for Education Statistics data. The review found that lower-income students are more likely to study computer science, math and physics. Students from higher-income families more often major in history, English and the performing arts.
> back to top
> Resources for School Librarians
> How to Add Complex Texts across Literacy Blocks
> Educators can incorporate more complex texts into literacy instruction by including more rigorous selections into the "guided" and "independent" reading times during literacy blocks, writes Ryan McCarty, a teacher coach. In this blog post, he includes ideas on working complex texts into all areas of literacy instruction.
> 
> Early Childhood Education Offers Lessons for Common Core
> Early childhood instructional methods may offer a blueprint to help teachers implement the Common Core State Standards, writes educational leadership professor Maria Boeke Mongillo. In this blog post, she suggests several instructional methods that can work for students of all ages.
> 
> Tips to Helps Teachers Use Twitter for PD
> The flow of information on Twitter can feel like drinking water from a fire hydrant for some teachers who are new to the medium, writes principal Matt Renwick. In this commentary, he suggests ways teachers can manage their favorites, use lists and strike a balance on their main feeds.
> 
> Ideas to Deepen Learning through Reader-Response Activities
> Reader-response activities can push students to interact deeper with fiction and nonfiction text and apply their close-reading and annotation skills to written work, teacher Marilyn Pryle writes in this article. She offers examples of five activities that she uses, such as writing a Twitter conversation and a character's to-do list.
> 
> How to Teach about the Media with Iconic Celebrity Images
> Teachers should include iconic images of celebrities that put a face on a health or social issue in their media-literacy studies, media-literacy expert Frank W. Baker writes. He offers several examples of the concept -- from Lou Gehrig to Caitlyn Jenner -- and suggests students analyze the images using close-reading techniques.
> 
> How to Use Doodling as a Tool for Note-Taking and Assessment
> Research shows doodling may improve students' listening skills and help them make connections to their learning. This blog post highlights how two educators implemented doodling as a tool for note-taking and formative assessments by having students draw their notes and then share them with classmates to fill in gaps.
> 
> Tips to Implement Flipped Instruction
> Flipped instruction can change teaching practices dramatically, educator Ed Bates writes. In this blog post, he reveals how he implements flipped instruction. "My role as teacher can now be more of a problem solver, rather than a lecturer," he writes.
> 
> How to Help Students Understand Complex Primary Sources
> Students may struggle with some primary sources of history because of complex language and themes, according to eighth-grade history teacher Sarah Cooper. In this blog post, Cooper shares three ways to teach with primary documents so that students can grasp the context of the text and time period and ask questions that boost their understanding, with examples including the Dred Scott decision.
> 
> How to Promote Resourcefulness in the Classroom
> Resourcefulness, which requires students to process information both intellectually and emotionally, can be taught in the classroom through planning, organizing, decision-making and problem-solving exercises, developmental psychologist Marilyn Price-Mitchell writes in this blog post. Price-Mitchell offers seven ideas for educators to foster this skill in the classroom.
> 
> Using Play to Engage High School Students in Learning
> High-school students would benefit from creative outlets and the integration of play into classroom lessons -- just as younger students do -- educators and experts say. This article highlights several ways to use play to engage high-school students in deeper learning.
> back to top
> Partnership and Collaborator News
> Tips to Help Schools Become Future Ready
> The Future Ready movement -- an initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Education and the Alliance for Excellent Education -- was the topic of an ISTE conference session. This article includes eight things for future-ready educators to keep in mind.
> 
> Many High School Students Not Prepared for College and Career
> High-school graduates often are not adequately prepared for college or career, according to a recent survey. Findings from Achieve show that 14% of university professors say students were prepared for college, and 29% of employers say students were prepared for the workforce.
> 
> New Infographic on Student Data from Data Quality Campaign
> The Data Quality Campaign released a new infographic titled What Is Student Data? The infographic breaks down the basics about what the types of student data are and how they can work together to help form a fuller picture of student information.
> back to top
> Grants & Awards
> ALA Great Stories Club
> ALA’s Public Programs Office invites libraries to apply for the Great Stories Club, a reading and discussion program for at-risk teens. Eligible libraries are located within, or working in partnership with, organizations that serve at-risk youth, such as alternative high schools, juvenile justice organizations, homeless shelters or teen parenting programs. Libraries selected to participate in the Great Stories Club “Media” series will receive copies of three theme-related books to use in reading and discussion groups of 6 to 10 people; travel and lodging support to attend a national orientation workshop in November 2015; and a variety of programming support materials. All types of U.S. libraries located within or working in partnership with an organization that serves at-risk youth are eligible to apply. Applications are due Sept. 15.
> 
> Siemens: Competition in Math, Science, and Technology
> The Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology fosters intensive research that improves students' understanding of the value of scientific study and informs their consideration of future careers in these disciplines. Maximum award: $100,000 college scholarship. Eligibility: students must enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) during the 2015-16 school year, individually or as a team. Deadline: September 22, 2015.
> 
> I Love My Librarian Award
> The New York Public Library has joined as one of the cosponsors of the I Love My Librarian Award. The award invites library users nationwide to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. The award will be funded through 2017 thanks to a $200,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, which has been the award’s primary sponsor since ALA took over administration of the award from The New York Times in 2008. Nominations will be accepted through September 28.
> 
> Wild Ones Seeds for Education Grant
> Wild Ones, a nonprofit environmental education and advocacy organization, is accepting applications from projects designed to enhance and develop an appreciation for nature using native plants. Through the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund, grants of up to $500 will be awarded for projects that emphasize the involvement of students and volunteers in all phases. In addition, local nurseries identified by Wild Ones will supply seeds, plants, and advice to grant recipients. Schools, nature centers, houses of worship, and nonprofit places of learning that focus on educating elementary through high school students in the United States are eligible. Qualified applicants must have a site available for the project. Applications are due October 15.
> 
> 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, 2015.
> 
> Best Buy Foundation Youth Technology Program
> Best Buy seeks nonprofit partners to create hands-on learning opportunities for underserved teens to engage them in experimenting and interacting with the latest technologies to build 21st-century skills. The overall goal is to provide youth with access to new technologies and help them become interested and fluent in digital learning while developing skills to help better prepare them for future education and career success. Maximum award: $200,000. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) out-of-school programs with a fundamental commitment to youth ages 13-18, operating within 25 miles of a Best Buy store or other Best Buy center of operations. Deadline: November 1, 2015.
> 
> FFVF Leavey Awards for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education
> The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Leavey Awards for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education to honor outstanding educators who excite a commitment in their students to the free enterprise system and unleash the entrepreneurial skills of their students at the elementary, junior high school, high school and college level. Maximum award: $15,000. Eligibility: teachers at schools (K-12), colleges, and universities. Deadline: November 1, 2015.
> 
> Vernier/NSTA: Technology Awards
> The Vernier/NSTA Technology Awards promote the innovative use of data-collection technology using a computer, graphing calculator, or other handheld device in the science classroom. Maximum award: $1,000 in cash for the teacher, $3,000 in Vernier Products, and up to $1,500 toward expenses to attend the annual NSTA National Convention. Eligibility: Current teachers of science in grades K-College. Deadline: November 30, 2015.
> 
> 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 in 2015 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 Stonybrook, NY; Charlotte, NC; Fargo, ND; Redmond, WA; Las Colinas, TX; and St. Louis, MO. Maximum award: free attendance to camp. Eligibility: girls grades 9-11 in the 2015-2016 school year, 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. 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.
> 
> 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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> AASL Hotlist
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> Member Currents
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> 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.                         
> School Library Jobs
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> Librarian Needed for Johnson Elementary in Henrico, Virginia, for the 2015-2016 School Year.
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> Central Linn School District (between Salem and Eugene, Oregon) is looking for a tech-savvy librarian.
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> Exploring Apple's Library of Free Multi-Touch iBooks for Education
> (Clicking these links will first prompt you to log in to the AASL website.)
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> AASL Calendar
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> September
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> 30: Banned Websites Awareness Day
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> November
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> 5-8: AASL National Conference & Exhibition, Columbus, Ohio
> Latest KQ Blog Posts
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> School Libraries on the Brain: Brain-Based Learning and Your Library
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> Ideas for Using AASL Best Websites: 2015
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> Teaching about Justice through Partnerships with Brown v. Board of Education NHS
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> How to Lead a Successful Problem Based Learning Project: 2nd Grade Reduces Garbage in the Cafeteria
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> You Say “Library”, I Say “Learning Commons”: What’s the Big Diff?
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> It’s July. Enjoy!
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> Victory for school libraries!
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> The Science, Technology and Literacy Connection
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> Early Birds Save $100 at AASL National Conference
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> The Art of Self-Promotion
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> The Transformative Effects of Professional and Personal Learning Networks
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> You Want Me to Work With Who? Tips to Collaborate with Any Teacher
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> Daring Greatly: Lessons from Cadillac
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> Becoming a Tweep: A Novice Tale
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> Let’s Get Together Thursday – Librarians Reflect: How Did My Collaboration Go This Year?
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> Landmark victory for school libraries and students!
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> School Library/Community Connection to help with summer slide
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> The Past is Past
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> 10 Reasons to Check Out the New ALA Intellectual Freedom Manual
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> Monday Means Leadership: Intellectual Freedom
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> AASL, 50 E Huron St., Chicago IL 60611 
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