School Libraries and Literacy:A Logical Link

Janet Dixon – Preston High SchoolMarybeth Snyder – Galt Collegiate Institute

Waterloo Region District School BoardOLA Super Conference 2006

The catalyst…and the outrage!

All other curricular areas were receiving funding from the “new” Think Literacy

initiative, but there was no consideration of school libraries.

We had the resources, the expertise, the cross-curricular perspective… yet we were

considered irrelevant!

The challenge to our members…

We must be recognized as vital; we must show the link…

How can we show the important role we already play in student success?

The challenge we put to the Think Literacy consultant

• We invited her to our Association meeting.

• We came prepared with current professional literature about school libraries and their link to literacy and school achievement.

• We articulated our concern and emphasized that we must be involved at both school and system level.

$4500 for professional development

$7500 for resource purchasing

“to support Teacher-Librarian leadership in the delivery of

literacy PD for classroom teachers.”

The Proposal Offered…

Our Action Plan

We invited Carol Koechlin for a full day workshop to:

•Demonstrate strategies from the Think Literacy: Subject-Specific Resource for Teacher-Librarians.

•Share tools for gathering data, showing the impact of our intervention on students.

Our Action Plan

We planned Success Story presentations for our next Association meeting, to

share the “evidence” with our colleagues.

Our Action Plan

We purchased three professional resources for all Association members, all by Carol Koechlin et al.

Ban Those Bird Units…

Build Your Own Information Literate School…

Info Tasks for Successful Learning….

Our Action Plan

•We compiled a list of recommended professional “literacy” resources.

• We displayed the books at an Association meeting, and order forms were completed by members.

• We coordinated a bulk order, and delivery.

Responses…

“Teacher-Librarians have modelled superb professionalism and leadership. I look forward to further collaboration next year.”

– L. Brien, Think Literacy Consultant

Responses…

“The sharing and support which you give to one another as an Association is evident… you have shown leadership, creativity and initiative.”

– J. Currie, Principals’ Rep.

Responses…

“This whole experience has been very empowering for this group. It re-affirms the critical role that the library program continues to play in student achievement.”

– Anita Brooks Kirkland, ITS Consultant, Library Program

Handouts

Literacy unit descriptions (green)

Reading program initiatives (salmon)

Considerations for a professional library (blue)

Taking up the Challenge (pink)

Taking up the ChallengeIt really does work…

• with an ESL class

• with a Grade 9 Advanced English class• with the OLC Literacy class• with White Pine reading programs• with a school-wide reading initiative

Taking up the Challenge

• How can you promote literacy in your library program?

• Where is the evidence of successful literacy promotion in your library program?

• How will you use your evidence of success?