Why you need to know your school librarian

Jenny Corrado Michelle Melencio Nan Ropelewski

November 6, 2012

Not your 20th century school librarian

“Shush." Flickr. Yahoo, 24 Sept. 2006. Web. 15 Oct. 2012.  <http://www.flickr.com/photos/circulating/251649357/>.

The 21st Century school librarian

Braun, Linda W. "Next Year's Model." School Library Journal. N.p., 1 Apr. 2012.  Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/articlesinterviews/893927-338/next_years_model_sarah_ludwig.html.csp>.

AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner

Standards for the 21st-Century Learner offer vision for teaching and learning to both guide and beckon our profession as education leaders. They will both shape the library program and serve as a tool for school librarians to use to shape the learning of students in the school.

“Standards for the 21st Century Learner” Web 22 October 2012 <http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf>

AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner

Inquire, think critically, and gain

knowledge.

Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply

knowledge to new situations, and

create new knowledge.

Share knowledge and participate ethically and

productively as members of our

democratic society.

Pursue personal and aesthetic

growth.

“Standards for the 21st Century Learner” Web 22 October 2012 <http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/AASL_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf>

The school library

Photo by Jenny Corrado

The school libraryThe mission of the school library program is to

ensure staff and students are effective users of information and ideas.

The School Library Media Specialist empowers students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers and ethical users of information.

The vision of a school library program is created by the school librarian to support that particular school’s mission and vision.

AASL. (2009). Empowering learners: Guidelines for school library media programs. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Roles of school librarian

Program Administrator

Information Specialist

TeacherInstructional Partner

Photo by Jenny Corrado

Resources throughout the entire school

Print

• books• texts• magazines    

Non-print

• CDs• electronic databases

• e-books• internet resources

Roles of school librarian – examples of services

Investigating electronic tools

to enhance student learning

Professional development of

teachers – training them on

use of tools

Providing resources (print and electronic)

for research

Creating pathfinders for

student projects

North American Biomes – Manor Woods Elementary School

Instructional partners

Teacher and school librarian jointly identify:Student information needsCurricular contentResources to be usedLearning outcomes

School librarian works with:The entire school communityTeachers in designing authentic learning tasks and

assessmentsTeachers in ensuring that content and AASL standards are

met

Association for Educational Communications and Technology, and American Association of School Librarians. Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998. Print.

STEPS TOWARDS COLLABORATION

Example: 3rd grade science teacher asks for books where students can identify and compile a list of materials that can be recycled. (Standard 3.0 – Life Science, Topic E – Flow of Matter and Energy, Objective A)

Cooperation

Coordination

Teacher and school librarian work independently but come together for mutual benefit. Their relationship is informal and instantaneous.

Teacher and school librarian have a more formal working relationship and an understanding of shared missions. More joint planning and communication occurs.

This is the bedrock of trust.

Example: 4th grade science teacher is teaching a unit on genetic traits that are inherited. She asks the school librarian to teach database search skills where students can locate articles on this topic. (Standard 3.0 – Life Science, Topic C – Genetics)

CollaborationRelationship is prolonged and interdependent.

Information literacy in the 21st

century now includes: digital,

visual, textual, and technological

literacy skills.

Teacher and school librarian create a unit of study based on content and information literacy standards. The unit is team-designed, team-taught, and team evaluated.

"Susan Lester and Buffy Hamilton." Flickr. Yahoo, 26 Feb. 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/10557450@N04/4391134586/>.

Example: 3rd grade science teacher asks for books where students can identify and compile a list of materials that can be recycled. Librarian suggests a collaboration lesson on reducing winter waste. (Standard 3.0 – Life Science, Topic E – Flow of Matter and Energy, Objective A)

Example: 5th grade students have a deficit in identifying main ideas and using graphic organizers. The 5th grade team and school librarian develop a sky watching and constellation unit focused on addressing these deficits.

The school’s

instructional

goals are fully

addressed with

data-driven

collaboration.

We live in a standards-based, high-stakes testing age.

Data-driven collaboration

The teacher and school librarian take collaboration a step further. They plan comprehensively based on the results of evidence of student knowledge, skills, and learning.

The purpose is to improve student learning and achievement.

Collaboration: challenges & solutions

Finding a time to planParticipate on school-based teams that plan schedulesAsk your principal for collaboration planning time

Administrative supportKeep administrator in the loop with reports (collaboration successes,

lessons taught) Invite your principal to collaborative planning meetings

School cultureParticipate in school leadership teamsEnlist the trust of colleagues

Federal mandates/testingBrainstorm lists of collaborative projects that address specific deficits in

your schoolData-driven collaboration

Buzzeo, Toni. The Collaboration Handbook. Columbus, OH: Linworth Pub., 2008. Print.

Benefits of collaboration

TeachersCurriculum is reinforced during media

lessonsPartner to share the task of addressing

student deficits

LibrariansChance to directly assess school learning

goals and influence student achievementOpportunity to lighten teacher load in an

age of increased expectations Buzzeo, Toni. The Collaboration Handbook. Columbus, OH: Linworth Pub., 2008. Print.

Benefits of collaboration

AdministrationAssurance that collaborative partners are

working in service of ensuring an effective schoolResulting increases in measurable student skills

StudentsContent units taught with seamless integration

of information, textual, visual, digital, and technological literacy skills.

Reinforcement for skills that have proven difficult on standardized tests

Buzzeo, Toni. The Collaboration Handbook. Columbus, OH: Linworth Pub., 2008. Print.

Building bridges

"Perrine Bridge." Flickr. Yahoo, 11 July 2007. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstorm/933704861/>.