YOUR SCHOOLS SECRET WEAPON Debbie Dees, Principal Brenda
Neisler, Media Specialist Jan Wilson, Media Specialist
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Why? 21 st Century Teachers 21 st Century Students 21 st
Century Skills A Learning Commons is a full-service learning,
research, and project space that encourages patrons to EXPLORE,
EVALUATE, CREATE, & SHARE. From Library to LEARNING
COMMONS
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FROM LIBRARY TO LEARNING COMMONS HOW? Staff Space Tools A
Learning Commons supports a VARIETY OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES
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THEN ALONG CAME COMMON CORE Everyone freaked out! But not media
specialists!
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COMMON CORE IS WHAT WE DO! Crosswalk of the Common Core
INFORMATION LITERACY, READING & CRITICAL THINKING are at the
CORE of the CCS. Media Specialists are trained to teach these
skills. We are text and inquiry experts! Media Specialists are the
SECRET WEAPON!
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COLLABORATIVE CULTURE Supporting the Common Core Collection
Development Instruction Staff Development
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COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT Goals for collection Ongoing evaluation
Common Core changes
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New levels of literacy are required Important to amass a
collection of challenging texts Add well-crafted texts of varying
views and perspectives BOOK STUDY FOR GWINNETT MEDIA
SPECIALISTS
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Students need access to lots of high interest, accessible books
Build text sets that offer multiple perspectives on one topic BOOK
STUDY FOR GWINNETT MEDIA SPECIALISTS
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NEW TITLE AND COVER FOR THE BOOK? New Title and Cover ?
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IMPACT ON COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT Rethink & reflect BITs
Curriculum ~ Instructional Calendar
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IMPACT ON COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT Print collection (books &
periodicals) # of volumes - no longer per pupil requirement fiction
nonfiction vs. informational text Databa$e$
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ADDITIONAL FUNDING Language Arts nonfiction and informational
texts Weed blank books limited points of view New resources provide
background, overview and multiple perspectives
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SUPPORTING INSTRUCTION 5 Shifts in Instruction Lead High-Level,
Text-Based Discussions Focus on Process, Not Just Content Create
Assignments for Real Audiences & Purpose Teach Argument, Not
Persuasion Increase Text Complexity In order to determine a pathway
for implementing the Common Core, it helps to know the standards
inside and out, but it is even more important to know the resources
you can draw upon. Pathways to the Common Core
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SHIFT 1 HIGH-LEVEL, TEXT BASED DISCUSSION Careful understanding
of the text Questions and responses grounded in evidence Attention
to specific details Speaking and listening skills
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WORLD WAR II : HOMEFRONT
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High Level, Text Based Discussion
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SHIFT 2 FOCUS ON PROCESS, NOT JUST CONTENT Student discovery
Gathering info = learning Get students familiar with research
process Short, focused projects Variety of resources & media
Final product is not always the focus Intermediate grading
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PROCESS
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SHORT & FOCUSED RESEARCH 10 th grade Flood Myths
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SHIFT 3 CREATE ASSIGNMENTS FOR REAL AUDIENCES Prepare students
for college and career readiness Authentic experiences Death to the
Poster Board
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Contemporary Issues Health Grading checkpoints for Storyboard
facts Script for audio Works cited REAL AUDIENCE & PURPOSE
Contemporary Issues Health Intended audience toolboxtoolbox
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INFOGRAPHICS
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SHIFT 4 TEACH ARGUMENT NOT PERSUASION Argument Logic and reason
Thesis/claim, evidence, counterargument Persuasion Emotion, values
and beliefs Bandwagoning, plain-folks appeal, glittering
generalities the standards put particular emphasis on students
ability to write sound arguments on substantive topics and issues,
as this ability is critical to college and career readiness.
-Common Core State Standards, Appendix A
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ARGUMENT WRITING Locate relevant information Multiple print and
digital sources Evaluate credibility and accuracy of sources
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SHIFT 5 INCREASE TEXT COMPLEXITY Current text levels
significantly below Dont rely solely on Lexiles or other formulas
Balance in material Text sets multiple sources of information
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LITERATURE IN CONTEXT SERIES Chose book series which includes
study questions and project ideas for bringing the past and present
into focus as it relates to the novel. Text sets !
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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Issues of race, heroism, stereotypes
Scottsboro Trial documents and testimony News stories from 1950s
Alabama Child rearing superstition censorship literacy
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STAFF DEVELOPMENT SWAT TEAM BIT MEETINGS LUNCH N LEARN BROWN
BAG LUNCH
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SWAT team
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STAFF DEVELOPMENT SWAT TEAM BIT MEETINGS LUNCH N LEARN BROWN
BAG LUNCH
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MEDIA BY THE NUMBERS 150+ students/day before school 1,629
students/week extended lunch 18,837 student passes 657 classes
direct instruction 46 SAT review sessions per year 737 website hits
per week
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MAKING THE CONNECTION Space is important ! Staff is key !
Shifts happen ! When the going gets tough, the tough call on a
media specialist.
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QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
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We hope you enjoyed this GaETC session. Please give your
feedback at www.gaetc.org/evaluate www.gaetc.org/evaluate
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WORKS CITED Calkins, Lucy, Mary Ehrenworth, and Christopher
Lehman. Pathways to the Common Core: Accelerating Achievement.
Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2012. Print. Common Core State Standards
Initiative: Preparing America's Students for College & Career.
Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2012. Web. 31 May 2013.
Critical Skills Needs and Resources for the Changing Workforce:
Keeping Skills Competitive. Society for Human Resource Management.
2008 Web. 15 Feb 2012.. Davis, Lauren. "5 Things Every Teacher
Should Be Doing to Meet the Common Core State Standards." Eye on
Education. N.p., 13 Feb. 2012. Web. 01 Mar. 2013. Empowering
Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs. Chicago, IL:
American Association of School Librarians, 2009. Print. Hill,
Rebecca. "All Aboard!: Implementing Common Core Offers School
Librarians An Opportunity To Take The Lead." School Library Journal
(2012): Print. Marzano, Robert J., Debra J. Peckerling and Jane E.
Pollock. Classroom Instruction that Works: Research Based
Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement. Alexandria:
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2011.