tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34107413301936891312024-03-13T20:06:51.569-06:00TxASLTalks Advocacy for allA place to find useful information about school library advocacy for Texas School Librarians managed by the TxASLTalks Editorial Board, a part of the Texas Association of School Librarians.Texas Association of School Librarianshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10101088073422912163noreply@blogger.comBlogger188125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-59588863238950344472021-09-28T10:08:00.000-05:002021-09-28T10:08:32.420-05:00Podcasting in the Library and Amplifying Student Voice<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt;"><i style="font-family: Arial; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Alexandra Cornejo</i></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt;"><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alexandra Cornejo is a high school librarian in Harlingen, TX. She is a member of the Texas Maverick Reading List Committee and hosts a booktalk podcast Allie the Librarian Booktalks. She is an enthusiast of comics and graphic novels and can often be found reading them late into the night with her booklight. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter @allie_cornejo</span></i></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iPod + Broadcast =Podcast, this was the concept that was born in 2004 to offer the world radio on demand. Podcasts are usually audio only and meant for entertainment or news, but have since evolved to provide content on a multitude of subjects. There are actually about 750,000 podcasts or 30 million episodes available today! It's not surprising that educators have found their niche within the podcast sphere and some of my absolute favorite podcasts are Cult of Pedagogy, Overthrowing Education and Educhange. However, my love of podcasts doesn’t stem from listening to them or even hosting my own. I really knew I loved podcasts when I realized they were an essential tool for providing students choice in the classroom or library. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I've been listening to podcasts for years and I've always preferred them over YouTube or even music on the radio. Being an auditory learner, listening to thoughtful conversation has always aided in my comprehension of information. This served as an inspiration to bring this way of learning into the library; an innovative way for students to demonstrate evidence of learning or using it as a method of internalizing information. Choice boards have become popular and education technology is now essential to a quality education, so my hunt for a user-friendly way of recording a podcast was urgent. I needed an app that wouldn’t be hard for students to grasp and made the product easily shareable. Synth was an app I found on library Twitter that offered everything I needed to carry out podcasting for the classroom. Synth, at the time, allowed 4 ½ minutes to record and students could respond to their classmate’s podcast through voice comments. I immediately brought it into my library and had students begin creating their own podcasts by summarizing informational texts and having their classmates, or audience, respond with thoughtful commentary. Podcast projects grew to include reflections for expository writing, book reviews, interviews and eventually, even my Tech Team had a weekly podcast they were publishing. Podcast presentations became a fixture on my student choice boards and after I conducted podcast PD with my teachers, this presentation method was a common tool in my teachers’ digital toolbox. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The benefits I’ve seen from podcasting with students have been numerous, indeed. Podcasts are immersive, which appeals to our sociologically trained ear that is inclined to listen to a story from start to finish, which also diminishes opportunity for distraction. Students develop valuable skills in articulating their thoughts effectively with the limited time they are allowed. Also, my students are their own harshest critics, so when they listen to themselves, they notice every “Um”, “Well”, and “Like” and quickly make the necessary adjustments. One of my favorite benefits, though, has to do with Emergent Bilinguals and the fact that they’re using their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills required for language proficiency when a podcast project requires script writing, voice recording and audience participation. And while Synth is still my preferred way of producing podcasts in the library, the trend has grown and increased in availability on a number of platforms, including Flipgrid, Garageband and Anchor. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOshG_DcsDjQuuh0pQBoodW1wytoNQXkMSxzsI_jOhyphenhyphensrcwKqBKiwHmTPtgVg4k6SSbNGlvmq-dpwYZp8-ZLnVFbD0YyfZH51_c1u4DMr4kfPqalD4sb3FsP_hdQ40U3V0ZEeCdfKZmM/s615/Screen+Shot+2021-09-27+at+8.32.55+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="615" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOshG_DcsDjQuuh0pQBoodW1wytoNQXkMSxzsI_jOhyphenhyphensrcwKqBKiwHmTPtgVg4k6SSbNGlvmq-dpwYZp8-ZLnVFbD0YyfZH51_c1u4DMr4kfPqalD4sb3FsP_hdQ40U3V0ZEeCdfKZmM/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-09-27+at+8.32.55+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a joy to witness my students become expert storytellers and savvy debaters, and I have, especially, enjoyed being able to effectively communicate with parents and teachers through an audio newsletter podcast I embed on my website. Podcasting has become such a passion of mine that I created my own podcast, Allie the Librarian Booktalks, which is available where you listen to your favorite podcasts. Conveniently, recording a podcast is fairly easy to carry out using a variety of devices. Chromebooks, laptops, iPads and smartphones are all great choices for recording. Earbuds with mic capabilities eliminate a lot of noise pollution which increases sound quality but are not necessary. </span><p></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcs8nuG8Dladxe55CRjLQE7-m18WSnLbkgKehfDEFBv7d_ZpERQoEXiiPlqXAfrbsrRa9YzuJ-a-Z7QfXHxvS6a_oteD5mdWBttgKezYtoGxkUk8bFoKxn_ZtwO2XU8rQqaFbF37_CVs/s370/Screen+Shot+2021-09-27+at+8.36.22+AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="184" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcs8nuG8Dladxe55CRjLQE7-m18WSnLbkgKehfDEFBv7d_ZpERQoEXiiPlqXAfrbsrRa9YzuJ-a-Z7QfXHxvS6a_oteD5mdWBttgKezYtoGxkUk8bFoKxn_ZtwO2XU8rQqaFbF37_CVs/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-09-27+at+8.36.22+AM.png" width="159" /></a></div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I do hope you’ll give this a try in your library, as many of our students tend to be anxious creating a video response in class. Let podcasts serve as a way of easing a student out of their comfort zone to create something just as effective and entertaining. This is a trend that will not be going away anytime soon and I’m positive that it has found a permanent spot on our choice boards to amplify student voice. </span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><div><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Amanda Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01256745549049880764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-66615464398623297672021-08-24T10:35:00.002-05:002021-08-24T15:08:01.953-05:00Let's Promote Libraries 2021<i>by Brooke King, Middle School Librarian in Humble ISD, TASL Legislative & Advocacy Chair<br /></i><br />The TASL Legislative & Advocacy Committee began the "Let's Promote Libraries!" campaign in 2017 with the hopes of encouraging school librarians to promote themselves, their programs, and their instruction proactively to our stakeholders. This social media campaign encouraged school librarians to show off what happened in their school libraries each month as a question framed around the <a href="https://www.tsl.texas.gov/sites/default/files/public/tslac/ld/schoollibs/costforstandards/Texas%20School%20Library%20Standards%20E-Version%20FINAL.pdf">Texas Library Standards</a>. <br /><br /><br />This year, we would like to focus on specific stakeholders each month and show those stakeholders a way their school librarian is important to them. Personalize your message to that specific group. <br /><br /><br />We will still share on the 1st of each month, but choose whichever platform works best for your stakeholders. You can post on any social media outlet, send an email, create a newsletter, or write a blog. Choose photos and images to tell your story. <br /><br /><br />Please use <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23txasltalks&src=typed_query">#TxASLTalks</a> so it is easy for all of us school librarians to find and help share our messages. Then use your own hashtags to share your message of the important role school libraries have with students and learning with your local stakeholders<br /><br /><br />It’s easy to participate!<br /><br /><br /><div>Step 1: Look at the current month’s audience and prompt.<br /><br />Step 2: Snap a photo and write your message showing how you do that task or activity to help that stakeholder.<br /><br />Step 3: Post your message and photo on any/all platforms of social media.<br /><br />Step 4: Be sure to use the hashtags <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23txasltalks&src=typed_query">#TxASLTalks</a> and any other key hashtags.<br /><br />Step 5: Repost/retweet/share<br /><br /> <br />Here is an infographic to guide you.<br /><br /> <br />Thank you for participating in this campaign and advocating for the work librarians do that contributes to the success of students and schools!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08IynL4czKI0yJ5pftenwkFdzhS8rMPUDDh5ETHIiqMJ11X91ZuP9WSzzoem9TxnxNEz_1gXkLDhQ1JtCCII_BBLgjeFzTzwbp4nZE3uL-7tTL57N_FiCskAxxlXmXrV2o7qjJYqom2_P/s2000/Let%2527sPromoteLibraries20201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="800" height="891" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08IynL4czKI0yJ5pftenwkFdzhS8rMPUDDh5ETHIiqMJ11X91ZuP9WSzzoem9TxnxNEz_1gXkLDhQ1JtCCII_BBLgjeFzTzwbp4nZE3uL-7tTL57N_FiCskAxxlXmXrV2o7qjJYqom2_P/w356-h891/Let%2527sPromoteLibraries20201.png" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div></div>Brooke Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072309150387255445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-8215521210436955662021-07-16T08:10:00.001-05:002021-07-16T08:21:50.057-05:00Advocacy Doesn’t Stop When Retirement Begins <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxyP4pxIuAc1auWNBZJTVtlTPuw1ZkO_vCcqp2JPxYRj-zM-fQKo1a4CRozNiyBHkahnUZEDmhW8Co5XVgrj6dp55fqvC36vHpNjaotXQV9eMtFhh8xL0lO_muvmamC2pDbO_sJDk8bw/s1920/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1920" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxyP4pxIuAc1auWNBZJTVtlTPuw1ZkO_vCcqp2JPxYRj-zM-fQKo1a4CRozNiyBHkahnUZEDmhW8Co5XVgrj6dp55fqvC36vHpNjaotXQV9eMtFhh8xL0lO_muvmamC2pDbO_sJDk8bw/w643-h160/unnamed.jpg" width="643" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Jennifer Rike, Retired Librarian</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In May 2020, I retired from my high school library position and have spent the past school year trying to figure out how to be retired. During COVID, I stayed in touch with former colleagues, and realized my former peers were experiencing a hard time. It wasn’t just Covid struggles, this went beyond that. One friend could not even talk about it. But sometimes, your gut just tells you to reach out to someone. I’m so glad I did.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fb717e32-7fff-5e5c-9120-c3e7e9e41751"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We began with a conversation about the past year. But then came a shocker. My friend mentioned that in April all elementary principals had been told it would be “okay” to put all their librarians in rotation. My friend’s principal was going to follow that advice. Sadly, the elementary librarians in my former district had no advocate at the district level. My school district of 49 schools doesn’t have a library director. And the person who had suggested rotation? Their district level advocate. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My anger and frustration at the situation forced me to step up. This was a Thursday afternoon and the next school board meeting was the following Tuesday. So there were about four days to pull together some sort of presentation for the board. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So just how do you advocate when you are retired? First, I recruited some other district retiree friends. This allowed me to build a “brain hive”. Secondly, I reached out to library administrators I had worked with through TLA and in advocacy work over the years. This not-so-subtle plug reminds us of why we need to work with our professional organizations. The Texas Library Association has been a large part of my professional development and advocacy training. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The TLA hive was powerful as I prepared my presentation. My local hive helped craft and deliver the message.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The benefits of the hive included:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Help researching talking points </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Curating links to documents.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Perspective in what would resonate with the school board.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Valuable suggestions to improve my presentation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most valuable suggestion was never, ever surprise your superintendent. Send an email with your intent to speak at the board meeting.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Besides not surprising the superintendent, it gave her an opportunity to have an Area Superintendent and the Directors of Elementary Education to call me. This allowed for a conversation. While not extensive, it was a start. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next, I constructed </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/16fGkWQRx8sRVgnkfRyz50UW1g_dOG355aQOhamOnpVg/edit" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 focused questions</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for the school board. Then I sent an </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/123GwRCE3jFIsan3ofmY7Pu5NFGnH_SoCQK7jqVN_6AQ/edit?usp=sharing" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">email</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to my school board with these questions. This variation of the one sent to the superintendent shifted the focus to the board as the audience. It also allowed for continuity of thought. By sending the board an email prior to their meeting allowed them to “listen” more critically. It also allowed me to provide resources for the board to review both prior to and after my presentation.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, another retired librarian and I spoke at the school board meeting. We prepped dividing the information so we maximized our 3 minute speaking time. We distributed to the school board, superintendent, top administrators copies of the advocacy piece created by </span><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-ugK_8sZWgI7KTnWrBT30XBE28Cokh-G/view" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dorcas Hand</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I sent a follow-up email thanking everyone for the opportunity to speak.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How effective was this advocacy work? One of the school board members spoke to the superintendent the next day for 30 minutes. Later, two additional school board members thanked me for letting them know what was going on. Will that result in keeping the librarians from going into rotation? I hope so. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More importantly, I know that advocacy works. Our school board and administrators know there are people in the community who are interested and knowledgeable about how librarians benefit learning and student outcomes. And I have built a “hive” of support for the future.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My advice for current librarians includes: </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reach out to the TLA advocacy folks when you need them. Ask them to become advocates or recommend options. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cultivate your retired peers. The more members of your hive you have, the better your response to the issue. We care and there are no consequences to our job. This is one perk of retirement. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reach out to parents. </span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, remember you are not alone. The phrase “the hive is powerful” is true. </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Together the hive can create a voice of advocacy. Start building your hive today so it can spring into action when needed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Editor’s note: As a District Level Supervisor I can attest that while district leadership will speak on your behalf, parents, retired librarians, and others speaking up through emails, petitions, and talking to Principals, Administrators, and School Board Members is more powerful. Look to district leadership to provide guidance and help with statistics. </span></p><br /></span>Amanda Hunthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01256745549049880764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-13034524078659577142021-06-22T08:08:00.006-05:002021-06-22T08:08:55.659-05:00Looking Ahead: Words from Texas Association of School Librarians Chair 2021-22<p><i>by Jill Bellomy, TASL Chair 2021-22, Librarian, Highland Park Middle School Library and Lead Librarian, Highland Park ISD</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO54QGeJ-6lpz1TiCqkSHNjM9RrYRDx23I7oUH5oB1HHwsNoSkewU__Vvx2GSroc6T6VQpoCBAESchW60vnVf-hjDDm5yvgp8pnfPOU14wiM-Xcc6fjMfQfEwubfdhx3nI4i1mrSNkLo4/s1080/TASL+-++%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TASL" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnO54QGeJ-6lpz1TiCqkSHNjM9RrYRDx23I7oUH5oB1HHwsNoSkewU__Vvx2GSroc6T6VQpoCBAESchW60vnVf-hjDDm5yvgp8pnfPOU14wiM-Xcc6fjMfQfEwubfdhx3nI4i1mrSNkLo4/w400-h400/TASL+-++%25281%2529.png" title="TASL" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>We did it! We made it to the summer after one incredibly trying school year. Last August, did you wonder how we would make it through the first semester yet alone the year? I certainly did. Yet here we are! Throughout the months, we were challenged and stretched. We learned and grew. We creatively met the needs of our students and staff in brand new ways. We served as technology troubleshooters daily. We helped teachers discover different ways to engage students in person and online. We ran our homes while also focusing on the needs of our schools. We kept kids reading and learning. We have so much to be proud of, school librarians! <br /><br />That said, our experiences looked very different from school to school. Many of us could perform the essential functions of a circulating library, but not much else. Some operated full curbside service to get books to large numbers of remote learners. Others could not even circulate materials as administrators called us to serve other duties. Some welcomed students back into their spaces, and others were never able to do so. Most felt they existed in survival mode, facing challenge after challenge and just trying to get to the finish line. <br /><br />Whatever your situation, TASL recognizes that you endured a year like no other. We want to support you as you look ahead. We hope to help all our members take the necessary steps toward running engaging library programs that are again the hub of the school. To move from surviving to thriving! <br /><br />TASL will continue to strive toward our mission of promoting library services and librarianship in Texas school libraries. We will pursue that in many ways that include connection, advocacy, and professional development. These are more important now than ever! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a0395665-7fff-1326-bc52-8991378e6d3f"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: red;">CONNECTION. </span><br /><br />We encourage you to reconnect with colleagues in your area and across the state to form and grow your PLNs. <br /><br /></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li>Thank you to the many members who volunteered for <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X54sQlMTybqiEJP7ixDLEbU3O6pR33lSbEZVTqpUaR8/edit#gid=0">TASL Committees</a>! <br />You will form new connections and will help us do the vital work of the division. If you missed the chance to volunteer this time, watch for another opportunity to assist in the spring.</li><li>To stay up on the latest, be sure to follow <a href="https://twitter.com/txasl">@TxASL</a> on Twitter (if you aren’t already.) <a href="https://twitter.com/HeatherHornor">Heather Hornor</a> and our exceptional <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X54sQlMTybqiEJP7ixDLEbU3O6pR33lSbEZVTqpUaR8/edit#gid=1791118731">Social Media Team</a> <br />keep us in the know, and the TASL members are constantly posting innovative ideas. So follow for inspiration and new connections!</li><li>Watch for an exciting new online community coming soon to TLA. This community will replace the listservs and will allow members to engage in more dynamic, meaningful conversation. Some TLA members are beta testing the platform this week, and it looks very promising. </li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red;">ADVOCACY. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">TASL continually promotes librarians as valued teachers and leaders on our campuses, advocates for strong school libraries at the state level, and fosters advocacy skills in our membership.</p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">You will find <a href="https://txla.org/tla-groups/divisions/texas-association-of-school-librarians/advocacy-resources/">advocacy resources</a> curated for you on the TASL website. Bookmark these to help you stay proactive in your efforts!</p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/bookwormbrookek">Brooke King</a> and the<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X54sQlMTybqiEJP7ixDLEbU3O6pR33lSbEZVTqpUaR8/edit#gid=1472211215"> TASL Legislative and Advocacy Committee</a> do an excellent job of providing additional resources throughout the year. For example, last year’s School Library Bingo was fun and effective.</p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One meaningful way we advocate each year is by presenting and exhibiting at the <a href="https://www.txpta.org/launch">PTA Launch Annual Conference.</a> This year’s conference is July 30 - August 1 at The Gaylord Texan, Grapevine. Watch for a chance to sign up to work a shift (or two!) at the TASL booth. Serving at this conference is a great way to champion school libraries and to sharpen your advocacy skills! </p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: red;">PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.</span><span style="font-family: Didact Gothic, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Didact Gothic, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></p>We provide professional learning at conference and throughout the year to help our members grow in the many roles we play in our schools.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; text-align: left;"><li><span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">We are already hard at work planning </span></span>for <a href="https://txla.org/annual-conference/">TLA Annual Conference 2022!</a> This year’s theme is perfect: Recover. Rebalance. Reconnect. Start making plans to attend April 25-28 in Fort Worth <i>in person</i>, if you can!</li><li>Thank you to all who submitted proposals. There are many innovative submissions! We will be in touch as we evaluate the submissions and select the best learning opportunities for our members. </li><li>Watch for more learning offerings from Lakeisha Branch and the <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1X54sQlMTybqiEJP7ixDLEbU3O6pR33lSbEZVTqpUaR8/edit#gid=1087168528">TASL Membership Committee</a> in the months to come.</li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Echoing the sentiments of our TLA President Dan Burgard, it is now time to take a much-needed breath. You deserve some self-care after serving so many for so long. Rest, recharge and reflect over the upcoming weeks. If you think of ways TASL can help you or have ideas to strengthen our division, please share at <a href="https://bit.ly/TASLfeedback">https://bit.ly/TASLfeedback</a> or reach out to me at jillbellomy at gmail dot com.</p><br />This year, we rose to the challenge before us, gathered strength and knowledge from each other, and persevered. Now, we can take the lessons learned and move forward stronger than ever. With smoother waters and sunnier skies ahead, the future is bright, school librarians!</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p>Julie Bremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210121090356578298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-62275927304900664092021-04-27T03:00:00.001-05:002021-04-27T03:00:00.266-05:00School Administrators Conference Session at TLA <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>by </i></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">April Stone, Librarian at Four Points Middle School in Leander ISD, TxASL Talks member</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaviE75VCWte8ahuy7IBka5Vc3kquy37ri_dCbaUWkf8Vqiiv_dMS628rWUDK8ZpXyX0LTWUGUTDdXfZR0Z89EXQFpDYHZrhzXSao-GqQrXvoz02fiCFFQvLiOdn8-2iOeq5XNCWKfkNY/s800/school+admin+conf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaviE75VCWte8ahuy7IBka5Vc3kquy37ri_dCbaUWkf8Vqiiv_dMS628rWUDK8ZpXyX0LTWUGUTDdXfZR0Z89EXQFpDYHZrhzXSao-GqQrXvoz02fiCFFQvLiOdn8-2iOeq5XNCWKfkNY/s320/school+admin+conf.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></i></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">In March 2020, Steve Crawford (the</span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> principal of my middle school) </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">and I were invited to TLA’s School Administrators session at the annual conference. Travel plans were set and we eagerly anticipated using our learning to create new goals for our school’s library program. I was especially looking forward to visiting my hometown of Houston for TLA that year. As you may already know, the conference moved to a virtual setting last year and the Administrators session was postponed. Fortunately, TLA extended the invitation to us for a second time in 2021. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The School Administrators session is a unique opportunity for school administrators to learn about issues and trends impacting school library services, and how to leverage the expertise of their school librarians to impact student achievement. It is free for those who register for the TLA Conference. Librarians recommend their administrators for this session.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3eae617a-7fff-7073-bcf3-87f870254f4c"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps the most valuable part of the experience was that my principal carved out an entire afternoon to focus on our library program. So often administrators are incredibly busy and interruptions are the norm. We were able to collaborate during and after the sessions. I took some time to ask him about his impressions of the experience. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3eae617a-7fff-7073-bcf3-87f870254f4c"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: What were your thoughts going into the conference?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crawford</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: I wanted to learn about how to include the library into the epicenter and culture in everything we do. I wanted to learn how our library can reflect the needs of our current kids by updating the space to reflect spots for the curation of books, MakerSpace, etc. I wonder what a modern library looks like that still includes traditional things.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3eae617a-7fff-7073-bcf3-87f870254f4c"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: What did you learn?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crawford</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: I am well equipped to reinforce and I am reassured that I can handle a diverse library. It has renewed my interest in what we can do to update the library to serve the needs of a new generation. The library is the hub of all things. How can the librarian enhance instruction beyond that?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3eae617a-7fff-7073-bcf3-87f870254f4c"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stone</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: What surprised you?</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crawford</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: The challenge of books is not only here. A lot of people are trying to diversify their libraries, not only culturally, but also in content. It is throughout the entire state and nation. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3eae617a-7fff-7073-bcf3-87f870254f4c"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After 13 years as a librarian, this was the first time that I had considered inviting my administrator to this conference session. I feel our working relationship and our vision for the library allow us to collaborate effectively and imagine a world of possibilities. Please consider recommending your administration for next year’s TLA School Administrators Conference Session.</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-3eae617a-7fff-7073-bcf3-87f870254f4c"><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>April Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11794944471919479969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-28055522127754395272021-04-14T17:12:00.006-05:002021-04-15T11:51:19.202-05:00TLA 2021: Celebrate Differences, Empower Voices<span>by Kristi Starr, TASL chair 2020-2021, librarian at Coronado High School, Lubbock ISD<div class="separator" style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwg0MxTH1CMUWSjZSxgDQI_HTSxadhxbyhuGXdXgliDG9UEe6summ6PmN1MMPZjMzGyU9PJC4Uc8ZvsPs8QuREtyYNbBxlDv_lT0oYiP6R_U5sPdhqiZrB2deBNYevXfbDBAGHN4tHIkWY/s428/TLA+2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwg0MxTH1CMUWSjZSxgDQI_HTSxadhxbyhuGXdXgliDG9UEe6summ6PmN1MMPZjMzGyU9PJC4Uc8ZvsPs8QuREtyYNbBxlDv_lT0oYiP6R_U5sPdhqiZrB2deBNYevXfbDBAGHN4tHIkWY/s320/TLA+2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2021 Texas Library Association conference is rapidly approaching, and I hope you’ve decided to attend. Though things look different from our usual beloved conference, we still have many opportunities to connect and interact. Thanks to an early decision on the part of the Programming Committee co-chairs, TLA executive board, and TLA staff, we've had ample time to plan a wonderful online conference. I can’t give enough props to ProCo co-chairs Valerie Prilop and Melanie Scales, TLA president Christina Gola, ProCo/TASL liaison Ann Vyoral, and of course the amazing staff at TLA for all their work. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I’m excited about what you’re going to experience next week. We have a variety of sessions: live, simulive with live chat, simulive with live Q&A after, and on-demand. Live sessions offer exactly what their name implies. The simulive sessions are pre-recorded but provide either a live chat with the presenter(s) during the session or a live Q&A with the presenter(s) immediately following the recording. On-demand sessions may be viewed at any time. ALL sessions will be available to watch through June 22. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you’ve registered for the conference, look for an email on Monday, April 19, that contains your log-in credentials and provides more information about the conference and platform. If you have more questions, check out the <a href="https://txla.org/annual-conference/tla-2021-faqs-2/tla-2021-faqs/">conference FAQ page</a> at any time. We invite you to follow along and contribute to online conversations using the Twitter hashtag #txla21 Also be sure to check out the conference schedule in the winter edition of the <a href="https://issuu.com/txlibraryassociation/docs/tlj-winter-2020_final"><i>Texas Library Journal</i></a>. </div><br />TASL is featuring two speakers who are new to TLA - Michelle Easley and Julie Stivers. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL5qDVh-DYFJek7ZOXSuRm1HcPU5NVhVsLskmDiz-OMHDgyWhQ9xf_9upBxAFii8wmvA1irL6_NvaM6IJ8FIH6uRpDfBi03yBvxK2PWcxDoKTyzIIYNR3CsiKTcMisNbSJNxTgGDxtdJ9/s277/Michelle+Easley.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="277" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL5qDVh-DYFJek7ZOXSuRm1HcPU5NVhVsLskmDiz-OMHDgyWhQ9xf_9upBxAFii8wmvA1irL6_NvaM6IJ8FIH6uRpDfBi03yBvxK2PWcxDoKTyzIIYNR3CsiKTcMisNbSJNxTgGDxtdJ9/w200-h192/Michelle+Easley.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.michelleeasley.com/meet-michelle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Michelle is the founder of Positive Push Press, a publishing and consulting company. She is an experienced librarian and accomplished library leader both in Georgia and at the national level. I first heard Michelle when she served as a powerful voice on AASL past president Mary Keeling’s Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We are fortunate to have her join us this year for two sessions - “Open Your Virtual Doors” (Friday, 1:45) and “Disrupt Inequity With Your School Library Program” (Friday, 4:00). Michelle is also the author of<i> Increase Diversity in School Library Collections and Programs</i>. Find out more about Michelle at <a href="https://www.michelleeasley.com/">https://www.michelleeasley.com/</a></div><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uyA6v3ZYg5bTPPpT9_0LGLCew-PGr1H0IBhNU1dhEqEeNBNHoGtJHczOU2_YvYdw9-yDvPx2qcqnIGBio8qq1NJAlF1CH1wVYUIaTtBpR1PVpy0ZT7xausl7mrPVONnA9WCGEUUCcMuQ/s360/Julie+Stivers.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="288" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uyA6v3ZYg5bTPPpT9_0LGLCew-PGr1H0IBhNU1dhEqEeNBNHoGtJHczOU2_YvYdw9-yDvPx2qcqnIGBio8qq1NJAlF1CH1wVYUIaTtBpR1PVpy0ZT7xausl7mrPVONnA9WCGEUUCcMuQ/w160-h200/Julie+Stivers.JPG" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory<br />=julie-stivers-movers-shakers-2019-change-agents</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Julie Stivers is the librarian at Mount Vernon Middle School in Raleigh, NC, part of the Wake County Public School System. Attending Julie's presentation at the 2019 AASL conference in Louisville, KY, was one of my highlights. Julie is a champion of inclusion and student voice and authored <i>Include</i>, one of six volumes in AASL’s Shared Foundation Series. She was named one of<i> Library Journal</i>’s 2019 Movers and Shakers. Julie’s TLA sessions are “Auditing Our School Library Space & Program With an Equity Lens” (Saturday, 10:15) and “Equity: Moving Beyond Intention to Inclusive Practice” (Thursday, 3:00). You can find Julie and her campus library program at <a href="https://mtvernonlibrary.weebly.com/" style="text-align: center;">https://mtvernonlibrary.weebly.com/</a></div><br />The other live TASL sessions are <br /><ul><li>“Advocate This, Not That” with Stacy Cameron, Brandi Dawson, and Emma McDonald (Thursday, 10:15)</li><li>“Letters About Literature: Student Engagement and Inclusion” with Rebekah Manley and Abby Harrison (Friday, 1:45)</li></ul>Simulive sessions with live Q&A at the end of the presentations are <br /><ul><li>“LGBTQ+ Advocacy in the Library and in The Classroom” with Heather Hornor, Mahoganie Gaston, and Camille Stafford (Thursday, 1:45)</li><li>“Windows and Mirrors: Mexican American Literature for Youth with the Rivera Book Award” with David Bowles, Xelena Gonzalez, Dr. Sandra Murillo-Sutterby, and Priscilla Delgado (Thursday, 4:15)</li><li>Digital Playgrounds for MS and HS: Using Choice” with Claire Hogg and Angie Pidgeon (Friday, 10:15)</li><li>“Library 24/7/365: How to Promote Your Program to Families at Home” with Brooke Corso, Keris Christie-Law, Tracy Frey, Paige Miller (Saturday, 10:15)</li><li>“Science and Library Collaboration for a Curriculum-Aligned Makerspace” with D’Anne Mosby and Rhia Johnson (Saturday, 1:45)</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">We have many more familiar names and faces as well as some Texas school librarians presenting for the first time at TLA. Whether new or familiar, I’m quite confident you’re going to find amazing content. Additionally, you’ll have access to ALL conference content until June 22, so you won’t be limited in the number of sessions you can attend. Be sure to check out the TASL sessions, but don’t forget the Young Adult Round Table (YART) and Children’s Round Table (CRT) programming, Programming Committee sessions, and so many more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">I look forward to “seeing” you at #txla21 and face-to-face in 2022 in Fort Worth where we will embrace the aptly-worded theme “Recover, Rebalance, Reconnect.”</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTN9YunZ-q7e-6n4-KHhWYcb4c-RPPFaUZfYk5EGtwuPhErB7gQESJ-Ed5zL1djs2mSwjUEMu9lGDJapIZRNQFWPRl8HbNVhoh-592FXsDJItKpJxfvO_XO2krybmh7Tu7BmLSveLNBtP/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1951" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTN9YunZ-q7e-6n4-KHhWYcb4c-RPPFaUZfYk5EGtwuPhErB7gQESJ-Ed5zL1djs2mSwjUEMu9lGDJapIZRNQFWPRl8HbNVhoh-592FXsDJItKpJxfvO_XO2krybmh7Tu7BmLSveLNBtP/w233-h128/TLA2022-Logo_RGB-tag.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>Kristi Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815425823778250030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-26994341668368736602021-03-30T05:30:00.001-06:002021-03-30T12:20:12.495-06:00It's Not Just Books and Bonbons<p><i> by Deborah Zeman, Coppell High School </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZFcbqAtIbQ5HlYWZxS_jv9Q1fPAzmn5SLfyEDGCYaNs4m-g251YHB6c9lfw2HUOLzRwFGaU_HRLXjF0ZU7PO1PtbK_igVmvIv45clD4RkaKUPBcviswS9J467aq8eL7wby94L-ne9Xq4/s640/meet-clubhouse-the-voice-only-social-media-app_cc-by-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Clubhouse logo" border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZFcbqAtIbQ5HlYWZxS_jv9Q1fPAzmn5SLfyEDGCYaNs4m-g251YHB6c9lfw2HUOLzRwFGaU_HRLXjF0ZU7PO1PtbK_igVmvIv45clD4RkaKUPBcviswS9J467aq8eL7wby94L-ne9Xq4/w320-h214/meet-clubhouse-the-voice-only-social-media-app_cc-by-20.jpg" title="https://ccnull.de/foto/meet-clubhouse-the-voice-only-social-media-app/1038705" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">https://ccnull.de/foto/meet-clubhouse-the-voice-only-social-media-app/1038705</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; text-align: left;">Lizenz: CC-BY 2.0 </span><span class="fab fa-creative-commons ml-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Brands"; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; margin-left: 0.25rem; text-align: left; text-rendering: auto;"></span><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #212529; text-align: left;"> Marco Verch</span></span><span class="fab fa-creative-commons-by" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; display: inline-block; font-family: "Font Awesome 5 Brands"; font-size: 16px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; text-align: left; text-rendering: auto;"></span></div><div><br /></div><br />The last year of Covid has thrown a wrench into everything: everyday life, connecting, collaborating, you name it. As an edtech librarian, I’ve been searching for ways to collaborate more with librarians in the same boat as me: trying to build a collaborative partnership with teachers while in a remote setting. It hasn't been easy, until now. Over the past few months, I have been playing around with the Clubhouse app.<br /><br />You might be thinking to yourself, “Oh great, another app to add to my already overloaded plate. What IS this thing called Clubhouse?" It is an audio-only social media platform where users can listen in to discussions or panels, start conversations, and network with other like-minded professionals. <br /><br />At first when I joined, I was skeptical. Clubhouse reminded me of another audio platform that I wasn’t super set on. However, I decided to give Clubhouse a shot. After a couple of weeks of maneuvering around, making connections, listening in to panels, I discovered it was definitely a place to create a space for librarians, whether academic, public and school. For myself, I joined clubs that are all about books, such as <i>What Are You Reading?</i>, <i>Diverse Shelves</i>, <i>Entrepreneurs on Etsy</i>, and <i>Education Innovation</i> to name a few. I’ve joined chats over edtech, diverse books, young adult fiction, and even chats with Elon Musk and Ashton Kutcher. In some I have jumped up on stage and joined the discussion; during most, however, I just listen and learn. The sky is truly the limit on Clubhouse.<br /><br />I made a lot of connections with other professionals in the edtech world, however, my search for fellow librarians was coming up empty. My original search came up with maybe fifteen other librarians but no librarian groups. As I became more frustrated I thought to myself, “Wait, why can’t I build a Librarians’ Clubhouse, one where librarians can discuss topics from advocacy to connecting with patrons, to favorite tech tools and books genres?” From there, with a little help from Twitter & Facebook, <i>It’s Not Just Books & Bonbons</i> librarians’ Clubhouse was born. (The idea for the name will come in a later post.)<br /><br />First stop - <a href="https://classtechtips.com/blog/">Monica Burns</a>’ blog. This helped a lot. Here are some of her best tips to get started on the app:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>First, download the Clubhouse app to get on the waitlist or reach out to a friend for an invite. (NEED to have an iPhone. Android app is coming soon!)</li><li>Next, follow educators on the platform by searching for keywords related to your area of interest.</li><li>Then, listen in to rooms on different subjects to get a feel for how the app works.</li><li>Finally, check your notifications and set an intention for using the app.</li></ul><br />These tips helped me find my way around the app and guided me with starting up a librarians’ Clubhouse. <a href="https://twitter.com/ClassTechTips">Monica</a> started a clubhouse specifically for edtech tips. She offers weekly edtech tip chats on Mondays, 7pm EST & Thursdays, 7pm EST. I always discover some new tips that help with getting around on Clubhouse.<br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/TxTechChick">Tisha Poncio</a>, my best friend and design guru, created some very helpful infographics to get started!<br /><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-58fe9a76-7fff-d813-253f-caa479bcad47"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 237px; overflow: hidden; width: 202px;"><img height="237" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3Tq4h3Cs4QqsG0ei5-Sv0lrdyfxoDPWVM8w6LfAwJBFabvNSMH0ewT6J6lYjjFg09M2HeNPboJJPVguCbtstCJWut1tc-x75SV9LgMyOQKTza82ilV9rmllMRr3BfDMDBbKROC8U" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="202" /></span></span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 253px; overflow: hidden; width: 228px;"><img height="253" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/MN8CbK3bz6GX1Bil9jdqVgZpAP1sdNBIar6WKrXXXL88TbvxFYmzFhxz3c1MdXZn8IfvvpvNCtuoIiVgm6c6ymC8t9Aj1xtzuGPBTBIkpQu0302p4ambcYCkY9q6776107FzB6iV" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="228" /></span></span><span face="Raleway, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 228px; overflow: hidden; width: 182px;"><img height="228" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IuQdSOidGFL6IdcBO_PR63FXFJSK9QwjawuKYBZi-28IE2pbPztXkp2tFWKKRZuNFY0Ms6Sf4kDo5ixj5TqUAArcTKZ5Ln8u9k5qnfK_XkbUXvH0TOww85Q65YK_KINknANXUony" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="182" /></span></span></p><div><br /></div></span><div><br /></div>From there, as invites were added to my account, I started posting on Twitter & Future Ready Librarians’ group on Facebook. I invited fellow librarians who I knew would want to be a part of this growing community. My friends <a href="https://twitter.com/thenextgenlib">Amanda Hunt</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LMS_United">Amy Hermon</a>, & <a href="https://twitter.com/heatherlamb08">Heather Lamb</a> moderate the rooms with me. The actual clubhouse was not yet approved, so to build momentum, we scheduled weekly chats on Wednesdays at 7:15 pm CST.<br /><br />The first chat started out small, which was OK. We were new, not everyone was able to join. We were just getting our feet wet. We just got together to chat. Some people jumped in and stayed, some moved on, which is OK. There are no expectations. If people like what they hear, they will stay!<br /><br />As the weeks have rolled on, and the <i>It’s Not Just Books & Bonbons </i>Clubhouse was approved, the group has grown. We have made connections with librarians from all over the world, including academic and public librarians. Each week we discuss collaboration, connecting with patrons and stakeholders, successes, and failures. And like Vegas, what happens in Clubhouse, stays in Clubhouse. If you want to learn more about the <i>It’s Not Just Books & Bonbons </i>Clubhouse, reach out to me on <a href="https://twitter.com/DebZemanLMS">Twitter</a> & I’ll send you an invite!</div>Kristi Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815425823778250030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-23611703234783787362021-03-10T11:59:00.010-06:002021-03-10T12:00:19.261-06:00What is Project LIT All About? Two Secondary Librarians Share their Experiences<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNOxVUBGJzEmGFliD2hF17-VFPEt5q0HJBrjxDn-ofz5qwI_ww5k3UHK2_3BpahCHIQ9LtsKdODfEoLSwEwWv1Q91gB4uE5bE8CySK3WtOW39bN1UGHOFnAiOGlddiFVmg4TVy6oaGvOf/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Project Lit Cafe Bitmoji Classroom" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1242" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNOxVUBGJzEmGFliD2hF17-VFPEt5q0HJBrjxDn-ofz5qwI_ww5k3UHK2_3BpahCHIQ9LtsKdODfEoLSwEwWv1Q91gB4uE5bE8CySK3WtOW39bN1UGHOFnAiOGlddiFVmg4TVy6oaGvOf/w640-h358/image.png" title="Project Lit Cafe Bitmoji Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i>By Kara Johnson, Librarian at Hendrickson High School, and Kimberly LaMarre, librarian at Park Crest Middle School, both in Pflugerville</i><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="project lit booksnap" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vDZkM_E2-J9t0e9R8pqseidxGErm3QAx-R3NteQh-d0TE_CMa_wyrvOsyQmX5ODLTFDBtbMHdh-ZJL5f0GHn7hYdT5wRMA97Y04KxlggxyOy2dt1VZgF17VRHOiMhPVw6D0EYa-X=w320-h320" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" title="Project Lit Booksnap" width="320" /></div></div><div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Project Lit Digital Incentive Wheel" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GFTDGy4Kq5b4FZ7MnVJoCzL_J9eYsL1WH6N3Kze4X4lBV8u-n7jGcZx2r7vQwZDesDqeKyJUhuJkDT-OZ9oTN3VRnEa2LUv6u2gsSiZFBgzdpjClR6FHbCOfFNsXzG1TcmsCBKue=w320-h320" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" title="Project Lit Digital Incentive Wheel" width="320" /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Project Lit Booksnap" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/K-0N9-pcavBOUqBJJOhS-k5_CAuyeyFrcOlAew4rFbf2jpae7_UlGLxnepf122cu9Ko6ej2u4yVnVs6uEEwK5qv-DZxsxYcIpCR2NpSGqE6WAlJQIu3iWz5J-5XmQEoNmTmhj6R0=w320-h320" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="Project Lit Booksnap" width="320" /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><br /><br /></b></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><b><br /><br /></b></div><div><b>First of all, what is Project LIT? </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Kara: Project LIT began in 2016 when English teacher Jared Amato from Nashville, Tennessee, recognized that something had to be done about book deserts. He organized a huge book drive to distribute books to readers of all ages. He quickly realized though that the books needed to be high quality, relevant, and culturally sustaining. That is how Project LIT evolved into what it is today: a large network of Project LIT chapter leaders who commit to work together to empower readers, promote reading, and celebrate books. Each year Project LIT releases its list of book titles one by one through their social media accounts. There is a YA list and a middle grade list. One thing I learned is that you don’t have to be reading from the current year’s list. This is very helpful in implementing the program because there are dozens of titles from which to choose! And you can wait until books come out in paperback to help save money. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>How did you hear about Project LIT?</b></div><div>Kimberly: I’m at a middle school and I heard that the cool high school librarians were offering Project LIT...I wanted in for my students, too.</div><div>Kara: I first heard about Project LIT from Twitter. I started following their account and liked the titles on the lists. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>What made you decide to join Project LIT?</b></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div>Kimberly: I’ve been booktalking our state reading list for years but when I saw the titles on the Project LIT list I was impressed that it was curated by students and reflective of today’s issues. I wanted the conversation around books to be ignited--not just read and move on.</div><div>Kara: I decided to join Project LIT because the titles on the list are high interest, relevant, and inclusive. At the high school level it is hard to get students to want to read. I thought the PL books would help solve this problem. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>How are the books chosen?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Kimberly: Jared Amato’s students helped create the first list. Today, members of the Project LIT network from all over can submit nominations -- students, teachers, librarians etc. A giant list is compiled,narrowed down and sent back to the Project LIT chapters. They then submit their ballots on the books they are most excited about. Finally, the Project LIT educators meet to review votes and finalize the lists. Currently, my campus is reading the nominated lists and discussing. We have not taken it to the level of finding a great title and sending in a nomination.</div></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><b>How does Project LIT benefit students and teachers?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Kimberly: Anytime you can get students to read, it’s a win. If you can get them to discuss the books with others, then the learning is deeper and changes can be seen.</div><div>Kara: Agreed - It is hard to get high school students to like reading. If we can get the students to find at least one book that speaks to them we can possibly make a difference. The program also involves hosting events. I have shared live and taped interviews with PL authors with my ELA teachers. When the kids can actually hear from the authors, it helps them become more interested and connect in a deeper way to the books. </div><div><span style="border: none; clear: left; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 219px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 292px;"><img alt="Project Lit Novels for ELA" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/RnDMkOTDDyxfGHWEQJS6GSxtz_cp4RNSyNai6xNl43x0oWpEqemNU9X7zNJ_qRQm5GmKOnQs0WdRKBVbf3z5vk5RgUIPH2nrI0MolRKCB1_tlUZkQXz9GynkmhZTgGb2wMmxzWsZ=s16000" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="Project Lit Novels for ELA" /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-26c07f09-7fff-8bd8-a360-65cc909d5b07"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>How have you implemented Project LIT during this strange and virtual year?</b></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div>Kimberly: We launched Project LIT this school year, so providing the books for my in-person students and my virtual students was important. Diverse reading is my goal initiative this year. I had the financial support of my administrators as well, so we were able to purchase the titles in print and digital. We also added MP3 players of audiobooks and the digital audio as well. Many avenues to get these great titles read. Our campus uses Canvas, so I added Project LIT to our programs area. Students can link to book talks on the titles and then participate in silent discussions as they finish a title. Since we aren’t meeting in person, it was great to use the online platform to discuss. It also allowed my students to finish the titles at their own pace and add to the conversation when they were ready. I do have a special display for Project LIT titles right now but I also will keep the titles shelved in the regular fiction genres. To kick off the program we had gift cards from local places donated and when students participate in a silent discussion for a title, their name goes in a drawing for the gift card. It’s been fun to make the videos and spin the wheel of prizes.</div><div>Kara: HHS is implementing PL in the ELA classrooms. I received a $5000 grant at the end of last year to purchase ebook copies of the PL titles since we knew this year was going to be a challenge with print books. I originally was going to run virtual PL book clubs with our reading class, which is a class for struggling readers. The program quickly evolved though when our ELA teachers were able to acquire new novels for their classrooms through a textbook adoption. 9th, 10th, and 12th all chose titles that were on PL lists. I knew then that I would be helping them implement the PL within their ELA program. I switched my focus from small reading groups to purchasing large numbers of titles that the teachers were reading in their classrooms so that the virtual learners had digital access to the books as well. The ELA department purchased the print copies from their budget. It has been a partnership with the English teachers from the beginning of the year. I have shared resources with them for the titles they are reading and have shared interviews and poetry readings from the authors as well. I hope the program expands more next year to 11th grade. Since I was awarded a grant, I did a pre PL survey and will do a post PL survey about whether or not the students like to read and what their favorite book was that they read in English class. I have a feeling a lot of the PL titles will be the favorite of this year. Stay tuned….</div><div><br /></div><div><b>How could it be implemented in a typical year?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Kimberly: I would continue what we have set up even if we were all in person. The online format allows my students to read the words and thoughts of other students to help them select their next book. It allows them to read at their own pace and not keep on a schedule with a group. And it also allows my younger and older students to discuss all together instead of divided out by their grade level. Since I don’t see my students in large classes I am doing most of the book talking through Google slide decks. Each title has its own cover pic and then includes links to book talks by me, YouTube book trailers, author interviews and other fun media I can find.</div><div>Kara: Since we have used the program in the ELA classroom, I see it continuing for many years. My hope is that when we can gather again, we can hold in person meetings or events related to the books each grade level is reading. Maybe we could even get one of the authors to visit our school--fingers crossed! Virtual visits have not panned out this year but it is not due to a lack of trying.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>How can librarians be a part of Project LIT?</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Kimberly: Follow Project LIT on Instagram ( <a href="https://www.instagram.com/projectlitcomm/" target="_blank">@projectlitcomm</a> ) and Twitter ( <a href="https://twitter.com/projectlitcomm" target="_blank">@ProjectLITComm</a> ) first; watch the posts and you’ll get how they disperse information. You then can apply to lead a chapter at your school. It’s all about reading and getting conversations started.</div><div>Kara: I second what Kimberly said!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Julie Bremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210121090356578298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-56402308116934610152021-02-24T13:23:00.007-06:002021-02-24T15:16:13.154-06:00Visiting with Authors, Virtually<i>By Susan VanDeWater, Librarian, Wieland Elementary, Pflugerville ISD</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>This school year has been full of new experiences, and buzzwords like "unprecedented” and “pivot.” Buzzwords I’m happy to never hear again. But it’s a year that has pushed me out of my comfort zone.</div><br />Hosting an author visit in a normal year can be daunting. But in a year full of restrictions and new rules? Yikes. Technology fails frighten me, and the thought of Zoom not working in the middle of a school-wide event makes my stomach turn. <br /><br />But my desire to bring something fun and engaging to my students outweighed my fear. My principal often tells me that things don’t have to be perfect. Everything is a learning experience, including Zoom fails!<br /><br />A local, independent book store, BookPeople, works with area schools to organize dynamic author visits. I was able to take part in two this year--one pre-recorded and one live. They were amazing. And easy! <br /><br />First up was Kwame Mbalia, author of the recently-announced 2021-22 Bluebonnet, <i>Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky</i>. I hosted a live visit with him via Zoom Webinar. (I was able to use the District’s Zoom Webinar account. Check with your district to see if that’s an option.) I hadn’t run a webinar before so I recruited a few of my fellow librarians to help me test it out. My campus IT Support guru joined in and we worked through various scenarios--promoting people to co-hosts or panelists, sharing my screen, spotlighting speakers. It helped me get a feel for the application and gave me greater confidence. <br /><br />On campus students joined as a group from their classrooms; virtual students used the same link as classrooms to join from home. I chose the Webinar option because it allowed greater control of the crowd. No one was on camera unless I promoted them to panelist. <br /><br />Students listened to Kwame and then had an opportunity to submit questions through the Q&A. I monitored the questions and fed them to Kwame. My principal and our library coordinator helped me monitor questions, too. That was helpful since it meant I could listen to Kwame while the kids continued to submit questions. <br /><br />At the end of the visit, I promoted everyone to panelist and invited them to turn on their video. This gave students a chance to wave to Kwame and allowed him to see everyone at once. The students and teachers loved it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETQfGJBFqIYkMuW_CAmZXWBJ1UQp7ILTyHKpTN5keRl4x5vzVo02dUVJnPIdivYcuoN6Gu_yzNnv4ttEG5MHG0KZsfJA-1h39N9VUk-juj6jlzGJIp2FSySdHT_wNnHc36nRkeQfKcowA/s928/Kwame+screengrab_emojis+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Kwame Mbalia Virtual Visit" border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="928" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjETQfGJBFqIYkMuW_CAmZXWBJ1UQp7ILTyHKpTN5keRl4x5vzVo02dUVJnPIdivYcuoN6Gu_yzNnv4ttEG5MHG0KZsfJA-1h39N9VUk-juj6jlzGJIp2FSySdHT_wNnHc36nRkeQfKcowA/w640-h368/Kwame+screengrab_emojis+%25281%2529.png" title="Kwame Mbalia Virtual Visit" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The second visit I hosted was pre-recorded. There was definitely less stress associated with that event, but of course it wasn’t as interactive. This time I was able to bring Mac Barnett to campus. This was a dream come true for me. My students fell in love with him after I introduced them to <i>Triangle</i>. <br /><br />His timeline for a live visit didn’t work with our schedule, so a pre-recorded visit was the best option. Students submitted questions, which I sent to Mac (via BookPeople). A month later, we received two videos -- a generic video where Mac discussed his newest book, talked about the writing process, and showed us his original Gameboy. The second video was Mac reading and answering our questions. <br /><br />I showed the video in two groups. All of the questions came from students in 2nd-5th, so I set up a regular zoom meeting with those grades. We watched both videos together.<br /><br />Kindergarten and 1st grade watched only the generic video, which was still fun and engaging, and perfect for their attention spans. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCt9IDpoL-WtUdeIpdbWRhVjNXalbMH28CY-WMBCVT62nNSGrwXugk-9zltn9YBlegcHXJyD_4MsXEJBDDBX8RGyMhLfOoCswAfAiFsG6oS0GtebJnDXP1ewGGDm4Degt1mWFZkC9MnKb/s2048/Mac+Barnett+visit.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Mac Barnett Virtual Author Visit" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCt9IDpoL-WtUdeIpdbWRhVjNXalbMH28CY-WMBCVT62nNSGrwXugk-9zltn9YBlegcHXJyD_4MsXEJBDDBX8RGyMhLfOoCswAfAiFsG6oS0GtebJnDXP1ewGGDm4Degt1mWFZkC9MnKb/w400-h400/Mac+Barnett+visit.png" title="Mac Barnett Virtual Author Visit" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Both author visits were free through BookPeople; I merely had to sell a certain number of books. I’m at a Title 1 school, so I didn’t meet the sales minimum either time. I ended up buying several copies and donating them to classroom libraries. It was less expensive than bringing any author to visit, though. <br /><br />The feedback I received from students and teachers was so positive. The kids were especially pumped about the live visit but also loved Mac’s hilarious videos. <br /><br />Hosting a virtual visit was so much easier than I thought it would be. I just needed a little push and some support. I really can’t wait to do it again!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM_66VJnopdc86lXytphKYC1C_b9yKLJ7OoBhoqgQQMskSEks4Q4YOGkjQqtgvr2y-TExD8s3lyQkzBCRWalJBf39sesaXIxSAy14_B9rD0KZWtHiOydr5QdUsXr6vOTdlDU966FY86yb/s1672/kwame_crop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kwame Mbalia" border="0" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1672" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM_66VJnopdc86lXytphKYC1C_b9yKLJ7OoBhoqgQQMskSEks4Q4YOGkjQqtgvr2y-TExD8s3lyQkzBCRWalJBf39sesaXIxSAy14_B9rD0KZWtHiOydr5QdUsXr6vOTdlDU966FY86yb/w640-h486/kwame_crop.jpg" title="Kwame Mbalia" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Julie Bremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210121090356578298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-20021398737582823542021-02-09T04:00:00.005-06:002021-02-09T04:00:06.785-06:00Examining the Impact of School Librarians<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">by <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Rebekah
Friedman, Communications Manager, College of Information and Communications, The University of South Carolina, and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Dr. Lucy
Santos Green, Professor of Information Science, University of South Carolina</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Ask Lucy
Santos Green to explain Guided Inquiry Design and she’ll tell you about
rollercoaster engineers and toy cars. Three years ago, Green — now a full
professor in the School of Information Science at the University of
South Carolina— co-taught a unit on force and motion to a class of
teachers-in-training. Instead of assigning textbook chapters or drawing
diagrams on the board, she brought in a rollercoaster engineer. The students
made models with toy cars and tracks. And they even created videos to
illustrate what they’d learned. “They were able to come out of that unit with a
strong understanding of what force and motion are and how those concepts are
used by an engineer when designing a rollercoaster,” Green says. GID units like
these — inquiry-based collaborations between school librarians
and classroom teachers — have gained momentum in K-12 education. But
what type of time and support do teachers need? And how critical are librarians
to their success? The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded
Green a $376,000 grant to explore these questions. Her findings could boost
support for librarians to work side-by-side with classroom teachers and
potentially prevent school librarian jobs from being cut.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">What is
Guided Inquiry Design?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The GID model
brings together librarians, teachers and even local professionals to design and
implement educational units as a team. The inclusion of outside experts
underscores how concepts like force and motion can translate into day-to-day
life. “More than ever, our students need to understand that what they’re doing
in the classroom has real-world application,” Green says. Students review a
broad range of information sources on the topic to formulate research questions
that pique their interest, a technique intended to promote a better
understanding of the subject matter. That doesn’t mean they can skip over the
hard parts. GID-trained educators provide enough structure throughout the unit
to keep participants on track, and they set rigorous criteria for the final
projects. Participants come away more engaged and better prepared to think
critically beyond the classroom. “It’s not just about delivering content to
your students and having them regurgitate it like a computer,” Green says.
“It’s about helping them navigate the information landscape and come to strong
conclusions.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Proving
the Value of Librarians</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">From bolstering
research skills to promoting digital literacy, the scope of what modern
librarians do has seen a rapid expansion since the rise of the internet. Yet
between 2009 and 2016, about 15 percent of the nation’s full-time school
librarian positions were eliminated, according to the National Center for
Education Statistics. Previous studies have suggested that school librarians
have a powerful impact on student success rates, but Green hopes
hers — which will span up to 6,000 students over three
years — will be exhaustive enough to prove it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“The
existing data isn’t always used by systems when evaluating their librarians and
allocating resources,” she says. “We need to continue collecting hard data to
advocate for our profession.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Research
team members are GID co-creator Leslie Maniotes, associate professor Melissa
Johnston from the University of West Georgia and assistant professor Ismahan
Arslan-Ari from South Carolina’s College of Education.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Teachers
from 60 schools comprising a diverse range of ages, geographical areas and
socioeconomic classes will independently teach units in a traditional way for
the study’s control data. Then, a GID-trained librarian and classroom teacher
will lead the same unit to a different group within the same school. Both
groups will be scored on their mastery of the content. Green will also observe
instruction and gather feedback. Once completed, the study’s data will be made
publicly accessible, fueling additional research for years to come.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Kristin
Fontichiaro, a clinical associate professor at the University of Michigan
School of Information, says the school library community is buzzing with
excitement about the questions the project may answer. “Dr. Green’s research is
poised to fill a critical gap in our understanding of how our
aspirations — for students to engage in deep and thoughtful
research — play out in the real-world constraints of school
libraries,” Fontichiaro says. “Her analysis will help reveal how skilled
librarians navigate the inquiry learning process with students, where they
struggle, and where there are opportunity gaps. These insights will help library
educators better target instruction for aspiring librarians and open new
avenues for future research and inquiry for the profession.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">An
Incredible Opportunity for Texas School Librarians</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The EQuIP
(Educational Quality through Instructional Partnerships) Research Team is
recruiting thirty outstanding school librarians from the States of New Jersey,
South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Texas, who would like to be a part of this
groundbreaking project. If you are a fulltime K-12 public school librarian and
you are interested in helping measure the school librarian’s impact on student
learning, then join the EQuIP project! School librarians who are chosen to
participate will receive a scholarship to complete the fully online 2022 GID
summer institute taught by none other than Dr. Leslie Maniotes, GID co-designer
and teacher trainer. You will also receive a stipend, and financial support to
attend TxLA at the end of the grant project, along with additional
opportunities to present with the research team. The best part is that all
participation activities are already part of your daily school library
practice!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">To secure
your place follow the steps below:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> Watch
this </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzkrLI-zpJw&feature=youtu.be"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">brief, 4-minute introduction video</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> explaining EQuIP’s research goals,
expectations, and why it’s a great opportunity for you and your students.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Email
Dr. Green at </span><a href="mailto:lgreen2@mailbox.sc.edu"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">lgreen2@mailbox.sc.edu</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> to express your interest. You’ll
receive instructions on how to obtain permission from your school system and
school administrator to participate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Build
your school team and submit signed letters of agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The </span><a href="https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/cic/research/sponsored_awards/equip/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">EQuIP Website</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> includes detailed information to
help you become familiar with the project, and advocate with your
administration. You can also access the </span><a href="https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/cic/research/sponsored_awards/equip/participate.php"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">How to Participate</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> page for quick videos that explain
the study, how to select your school team, and answer other frequently asked
questions. Join the EQuIP team today and help measure the impact of school
library and classroom instructional partnerships on K-12 student learning. More
than ever, it is vital that we not only make sweeping declarations about the
school library being the heart of the school, but that we take time to
investigate our own practice to see the specific decisions we’re making that
most benefit our students and are most worthy of our time! Commitment
applications must be finalized by April 26, 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><p></p>Sonja http://www.blogger.com/profile/10061595432917880292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-21650101148095701882021-02-04T00:14:00.001-06:002021-02-04T00:16:24.052-06:00Suggestions for ISTE Certified Educator Success<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHXD8eJklg1W54eSWaf0SPTxB-Q42RYe_xtXaW-is_T2nRLGNwPYRbq5UIt_ItsBAJbvxBvNMsTyjeYHsBTrVRyFg8mHE3bHslLZ7ltm0aetsPgxt5lJ2msMi3Bp5LACgI31cm39FLFMy/s2000/Suggestions+for+ISTE+Certified+Educator+Success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2000" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHXD8eJklg1W54eSWaf0SPTxB-Q42RYe_xtXaW-is_T2nRLGNwPYRbq5UIt_ItsBAJbvxBvNMsTyjeYHsBTrVRyFg8mHE3bHslLZ7ltm0aetsPgxt5lJ2msMi3Bp5LACgI31cm39FLFMy/w389-h304/Suggestions+for+ISTE+Certified+Educator+Success.jpg" width="389" /></a></div><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">In December 2019, I began the process of earning educator certification
from <a href="https://www.iste.org/learn/iste-certification" target="_blank">International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was looking for a way to improve my
technology skills to enhance my classes. I pinpointed ISTE professional
development and applied for a grant. I was excited when I went to the <a href="https://tcea.org" target="_blank">Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA)</a> headquarters for the two-day face to face
training. I took the class with a variety of educators from all over the state
of Texas. Then there were participants from Puerto Rico too. The interesting part
of the training is that it is not just for classroom teachers. There were
administrators, higher education instructors, technology teachers, and district
personnel in the group. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">The two-day training is not the only certification
requirement. The training prepares educators for an interactive online class consisting
of modules, materials, and assignments for each ISSTE Educator standard. A
roadmap, a standard pamphlet, templates, and a handbook are provided. These materials
prepare participants for the course and the documentation needed for certification.
If participants work through the course and promptly complete assignments, they
can get feedback on their work. Ultimately, some of these materials can become
part of the portfolio. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">After the online class is finished,
candidates move to the next stage. This stage is the portfolio creation step. Although
I thought I had researched the process, I underestimated the commitment that I
would need to make progress. When I took the face-to-face training, I was
confident that I would have more artifacts done by the end of the online class.
I was not close to being done. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Therefore, I recommend that candidates take
the time extension if they need it. Initially, I did not want to take an
extension. The extension felt like a badge of shame. But I had an important deadline
to meet. Candidates should not feel ashamed if they need the extension. I was
not judged. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, early on in the
process, participants receive messages telling them how to apply for the
extension. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to avoid needing to
extend, but in the end, I took it, and it relieved some of the pressure. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">With this said, here are some tips for completing
the portfolio. My first tip is to make friends with the people in your cohort. Exchange
contact information during the two-day class. Then classmates can check each
other’s work. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Next, use research skills to find tips
from other people that have finished the certification process. Candidates can
search for materials that have been submitted by previous ISTE certified educators.
They often detail their experiences on blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was inspired by the blogs that I read. But, be careful. The requirements
have changed, and documents are configured differently now.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">Another tip is to think about some of the materials that
already exist that can be adapted. Candidates may need to teach a lesson again and
change it to incorporate the standards. Reenvision what has been done through a
reflective scope to finish quicker. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">After the training portion of the process,
it is easy for one to believe that they know how to create each standard
example. When the portfolio submission site is accessible, candidates will see examples
of submissions for each standard. The models are based on the subject taught
and the position of the candidate. It is best to review the examples so that
one can conceptualize how to create artifacts. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Candidates need plenty of feedback. There
will be meetings to enable interaction with other participants and ISTE facilitators.
During the meetings, participants can share an artifact and ask a specific
question about it. Also, sessions will cover each standard. In conjunction with
posting portfolio samples to the discussion board, these meetings can be
beneficial for receiving feedback.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Review the examples in the ISTE site early
because they can be quite detailed. It took me a considerable amount of time to
plan activities for each standard. Then the portfolio requires participants to
put the examples in a format that is easy for the reviewers to read. There must
be a short narrative based on the standards’ content to explain how materials
fit the criteria. I also had to edit several videos or identify specific time frames
in the videos to make my examples concise for reviewers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">At the end of the process, participants will
need to summarize what they have learned in a written narrative or a video. I
found it easier to create the video. I recommend reviewing the summary
requirements in advance and taking notes during the portfolio development. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">In all, I feel like the ISTE Certified
Educator process has helped me to be more mindful of my teaching and leadership
practices for technology integration. Creating the portfolio forced me to spotlight
my strengths and weaknesses in a way that demanded action and documentation of
the steps that I took. While I passed, I will admit that I missed some
standards. These are the areas that I have made it a priority to fix. If you
want an honest critique of how you are utilizing technology to facilitate your
school community's learning, I highly recommend that you complete the ISTE Certified
Educator training. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;"> </p>
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<![endif]--></p>D Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12754509869449876543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-35324287713351496272021-01-26T14:16:00.002-06:002021-01-26T14:16:35.815-06:00Nooks and Crannies: Claim Every Square Inch of Your Library Space<i>by Julie Brem, Librarian at Weiss High School in Pflugerville ISD, TxASL Talks Editorial Board Co-Chair</i><div><i><br /></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Quiet/Collaboration Room" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/CMMK9zKIlrsYvXPQYij6A0ENPgRXwJnjbi9F9AQ1-wwr9BOybgNKE17at43OlNZXceaR9vJtbV1wMf_4-kAOIhP47tQSER270ljnSaDQsFBbx61wYHluzqlbyQTZ2emblT10VGoG=w240-h320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A/V Storage Turned Quiet / Collaboration Room</td></tr></tbody></table>Name it <span id="docs-internal-guid-b6b3d889-7fff-752f-b556-90f8fd97083b"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>and claim it! We often associate this phrase with a sweaty televangelist in a gilded chair, but these are actually good words for school librarians. Currently, most of our spaces sit sadly empty of the children and young people we love to serve in person. Unfortunately, when spaces sit idle, administrators begin to sniff out...heavens, no! ...office and storage space. In the words of that televangelist, we must demand they “get behind me!” Okay; maybe I’m getting a little carried away by the spirit here. <div><br /></div><div>As many of our districts are experiencing an influx of one-to-one student devices and other tech, in addition to changing needs due to the pandemic, we must be wary of “temporary” solutions utilizing our spaces becoming permanent. I have served as librarian at schools old and new, yet from a storage room filled with outdated equipment to empty rooms with uncertain purposes, as librarians we are always thinking about how these spaces can be used for KIDS. Over the years, here is what I have learned and observed about maximizing every square inch to meet the varying needs of our patrons. To continue with my church lady theme, we must exorcise the demons! That is to say...get rid of obsolete equipment and weed, weed, weed. Free up those spaces. Can you consolidate your storage to one particular area? Can you *gasp* relocate infrequently used items to an unused closet in the building?</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFBzHHdPW1Pk-GgX91N2inw0PABluRBaj2OYY0RhhMUjuKRZF-0wDlsEWNkgcItcd67g5meuunTR9uPswViMrBe93x9FT5g3FBPw7RPB-1PPrkNH6nhTBaKcIq-p2HbNcLHGv5wInTh_C/s2048/2021-01-26.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Maker Closet" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFBzHHdPW1Pk-GgX91N2inw0PABluRBaj2OYY0RhhMUjuKRZF-0wDlsEWNkgcItcd67g5meuunTR9uPswViMrBe93x9FT5g3FBPw7RPB-1PPrkNH6nhTBaKcIq-p2HbNcLHGv5wInTh_C/w240-h320/2021-01-26.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storage Closet? Nope. Maker Room.</td></tr></tbody></table>Now that you have spaces freed up, think about your congregation--er, patrons. Do you have students (in a “normal” year) asking for a quiet space? Do you have students asking to eat in the library? Do you need a space for board games (chess is extremely popular right now!)? What about a makerspace? A room for clubs and groups to reserve? A study session room? Consider administering a brief needs assessment survey to a sample of your patrons. Bring in thinking-partners for fresh, out-of-the-box ideas for your space--colleagues, your PLN, etc. This could be done virtually. Don’t forget about visibility. Will you be able to supervise the space? Do you need a convex mirror, camera or other equipment? Once you have determined various desired zones, invite your learning community in on the process. Are you designing a sensory area? Perhaps your special education team can give tips, or students can vote on sensory items like bubble lamps and rainbow lights, etc., that bring them calm. A kindness rock or meditation garden? Ask around to see if student clubs or organizations would be willing to take on the project for community service. I’ve had two green screen walls painted by Eagle Scout candidates and an outdoor table area facilitated by a Girl Scout for her Gold Award. Lastly, publicize these exciting changes through school newsletters and social media. Order or print attractive and professional signage. This is really important. If an administrator walks in looking for an office for a testing coordinator or parent liaison, but he or she sees a sign that this office is actually a student podcasting/green screen studio and set up as such, they may be more hesitant to commandeer the space. We want each and every student to sing “hallelujah!” with joy when they have found their “home” in the library, so have fun reimagining your spaces for that glorious day when our students fully return to our spaces.</div><div><br />Do you have ideas or examples of reimagining nooks and crannies in your library to meet the needs of students? Do you have “problem areas” that could benefit from fresh insight? Please email me -- I would love to incorporate your examples or problem-solve in my virtual “Nooks and Crannies” session at the upcoming virtual TLA conference! (Juliebrem at gmail dot com)</div></div>Julie Bremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210121090356578298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-21296161452931868162021-01-13T11:14:00.000-06:002021-01-13T11:14:46.902-06:00Teacher Day @ TLA: Teachers + Librarians = Dynamic Duos<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Joni Harris, School Librarian in Garland ISD, Garland, TX</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1236d085-7fff-308d-6bfd-139b65ab46bc"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 85px; overflow: hidden; width: 600px;"><img alt="Teacher Day @ TLA" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2wJDYRn9ItMFcSN_8x5FVNwCNHeLK5qvJX_LKS6GpSthQh0z11gEVNbb4AQ8mToTcJbaGDERpZB8ZjXboTBIsl2VJOiKcugU0DSxrbRCmeUbmIk0i5C778zu4_-MA5wOvXe-qotK=s16000" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Collaboration is an important part of every school librarian’s job description. While collaboration can take on many different forms, every form of collaboration has a goal of supporting and enriching learning opportunities for our students. However, collaboration with our teachers does not happen overnight. Spark a collaborative partnership and create a new dynamic duo with a teacher by attending the virtual Teacher Day at this year’s TLA conference! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The TLA Annual Conference will be held virtually for the 2021 year, but will continue to be made up of books, authors, technology integration, makerspaces, curriculum connections, and supportive librarians. This is a teacher’s dream! Connect with your teachers, encourage their innovation, inspire them to greater collaboration, and impact their instruction by inviting one or two of your teachers to join you at this year’s Teacher Day @ TLA!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Teacher Day @ TLA will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 p.m. This year's Teacher Day will provide classroom teachers with the opportunity to experience a special one-day event during the virtual TLA conference. With pricing designed for the teachers, they will have access to the full virtual conference experience. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is your chance to inspire your teachers and spark a new dynamic duo collaborative partnership! You, as the sponsoring librarian, will play a crucial role in identifying interested teachers, and helping them secure permission to attend and secure funding. You, the librarian, will also help guide them through the registration process and ensure that our guest teachers have a positive experience. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The planning committee is already at work putting together a fun, interactive, virtual day for the teachers who attend, as well as the sponsoring librarians. Now is the time for librarians to put a plan in place to identify strong candidates among the educators they know to attend and experience the TLA annual conference.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The focus of Teacher Day is to provide an opportunity during the conference for educators to learn about strong school libraries and their potential impact. The goal is for the teachers that experience Teacher Day to return to their districts as library advocates - or perhaps even become librarians themselves. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Details and application information can be found at </span><a href="http://www.txla.org/teacher-day" style="font-family: inherit;">www.txla.org/teacher-day</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This event has become an annual highlight, and you won’t want to miss this opportunity to increase collaboration on your campus. </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-599e4636-7fff-485e-1d18-bf4f42abf8f8"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 351px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img alt="Teachers + Librarians = Dynamic Duos" height="360" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OopxxIepKV4lnGrpiZ5rIR7M0vo79dRgnOI9ppAHvrEMkyLUwXLbA8QXxFI9JS4IEsuwmBOEgmx4gD4kGfHn6Up_oqcrayzj6MHCWz7U2VL3sEBndM_pzh6-gBfbFY6NMi9TXF-H=w640-h360" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Julie Bremhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05210121090356578298noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-76779967646853490012020-12-15T02:00:00.015-06:002020-12-15T02:00:03.151-06:00Building Relationships in a Pandemic<p><i> b<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">y: Carolyn Slavin, M.Ed. - Reed Elementary Bilingual Librarian in Leander ISD</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Since March 2020, we have all experienced the
unimaginable. I am very fortunate to be a bilingual school librarian at an
elementary school in Cedar Park, TX. In April, I began to get in contact with
my “Library Leaders”, 4th and 5th graders who had helped in the library
throughout the school year. Additionally, I created asynchronous virtual
lessons for our students. Through the Google Classroom I had created for the
library leaders, I offered optional Zoom sessions. As I began to see which
students came to the Zoom meetings, I was noticing some of my more involved
students during the school year were not showing up. <br />
<br />
This led me to question what was going on, and why it might be so difficult to
attend live meetings. I was able to speak privately with a few students through
the comments in Google Classroom, and I was completely surprised to discover
that a fair amount of students attending our school lived in an area with <b>no
internet access</b> whatsoever. I had not even realized exactly where these
students lived in relation to our campus. From the comments my Library Leaders
shared with me, how they were using their parents’ cell phone as a hotspot, how
they were getting kicked off Zoom if their sibling tried to sign on at the same
time, I knew I had to figure out some way to learn more.<br />
<br />
In May, I began to travel out to the homes of the students that I knew first,
my Library Leaders. Each of these families had a few younger siblings as well,
and I brought along with me new books and a listening ear. One family in
particular, I am so thankful for, because the mother, Elva Franco, was able to
act as a community organizer in a sense, and give me an idea of how the entire
rural neighborhood was doing with virtual learning.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 235px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 320px;"><img alt="Carolyn tests hotspots in her vehicle." height="235" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dQGgzKcSWJpSOAaPlz_U4wP2GKpEkNUcC5eLW-iKVkDTNpeqaAqPYGE1p01elAR0ita9SIXs1JrOnQ0crksFTA9CYOHjHgMlxcRJpoNwoDZOeL05K0C3hd-0OrW28VWfO-VS8Jko=w320-h235" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="Carolyn tests hotspots in her vehicle." width="320" /></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
Those last few months of the 2019-2020 school year, were a nightmare. From the
educators’ side, it didn’t look that way. We were experiencing a very high rate
of participation in virtual learning. It looked as if everything was going
decently. But behind the scenes, families were scrambling to afford high
internet costs, data for cell phones, and understand messages coming from the
school district regarding grades, devices, and requirements for their secondary
students.<br /><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">So that summer I got to
work researching internet access in rural areas, possibilities for bringing
cables or fiber out, and contacting the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for our
district, as well as the Texas State Representative for the area. I was able to
meet with them, as well as a member of our school board, in July, to make sure
we had a solution going forward for school starting virtually in August. It was
clear that bringing cable internet to this area was a very long-term solution,
but hotspots being available for families would be more effective.<br />
<br />
The week before school began in August, the hotspots were delayed coming into
our district due to a high national demand. Because this was more of an
internal discussion among district leaders, the families that I had spoken to
were very nervous about starting the school year as a result of lack of
information. Elva Franco decided to put together a letter to the school board,
and she had it signed by 20+ families, with 40+ students in the district. This
got some attention, and kept me in the loop right when hotspots were distributed
during the first few weeks of school.<br />
<br />
At first, the hotspot requests from these families were being denied, because
the area was not on the map for good cell service. Myself and Elva could not
accept that. Because I had been in contact with our CTO during the summer, I
was able to obtain a hotspot to go out and test it. Honestly, there were a few
places in valleys that had spotty service, but the majority of homes did get
service through the hotspot. Unfortunately, it took this extra step to get
hotspots to these families.<br />
<br />
There is no way that families can know all of the ins and outs of a school
district. But the key is to be <i>relentless</i> in the pursuit of equitable
education for our students. Limiting their access to education is simply
unacceptable. Sometimes we, as librarians, are the people who need to take that
initiative. We have connections in the entire school, at the district level,
and across our communities.<br />
<br />
Build on the relationships you already have at your schools. Continue to ask
questions and demand the best for our students. More on the story here - </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://www.kxan.com/pass-or-fail/what-are-some-of-the-nationwide-solutions-to-help-students-most-in-need-during-the-pandemic/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.kxan.com/pass-or-fail/what-are-some-of-the-nationwide-solutions-to-help-students-most-in-need-during-the-pandemic/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> and here - </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://fb.watch/2du7mCZQ_J/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://fb.watch/2du7mCZQ_J/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-aaf2b417-7fff-d4db-00e2-9c778e29c7e9"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br /></span></p>April Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11794944471919479969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-69919666862629344402020-12-01T11:30:00.001-06:002020-12-01T11:55:40.468-06:00Innovative Programming Award - Sponsored by Demco<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Wenndy Pray, MLS - Innovative Programming Award Committee Member</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-70a56b32-7fff-58f5-7cac-5e8d7947d8cd"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 164px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="164" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KmuHrh_Ar7-f1Ygq0bRxGWuTEV4DvuNn6PAu4fIvsozgIIS9utGdiLwS4xEnkWeHohHnXPu8L008AQeipiyUPttmxZZnBCgTcGHLAg60-WBM-JuchtQrBplnkXaVYwsHe84k9MrZ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span>Librarians are among the most creative, innovative educators. And as such, they have thought-out, engineered, and orchestrated innovative programming for the communities they serve. To honor their efforts, the Innovative Programming Award was born. The Innovative Programming Award (sponsored by Demco) recognizes two libraries--one school, and one for all other library types (i.e., public, academic, special)-- that have implemented creative marketing projects and/or promotions to enhance their visibility within their service community. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> Perhaps your library has implemented a new website, created new community engagement programs, devised a creative way to showcase genre promotion and topic awareness, or you've created innovative projects to inspire reading and life-long learning. Now is a great time to take the library program you've implemented in recent years and showcase its success. In order to see the implemented program's full potential in action, programming would need to be in effect for at least three years before applying. </span><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Applications opened September 1, 2020, and must be submitted by February 15, 2021. All applications must be submitted using the <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyKEWtLVBWAtZzFHef0sono1vtA8oByLfClTYPlA34bjODUw/viewform" target="_blank">Innovative Programming Award Google Form</a>. Access the promotional PDF by clicking <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yyol9YIsqQ4Zda9zrtqAxRQT4jyF63Rf/view" target="_blank">here</a>. Visit the <a href="https://txla.org/awards-scholarships-stipends/tla-awards-scholarships/upstart-award/about/" target="_blank">Innovative Programming Award TLA website</a> for additional details. <br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span><span> The Texas Library Association Innovative Programming Award committee knows there are amazing programs and even more amazing librarians behind them. Winners will receive $1,000 for their libraries. The committee encourages all eligible prospects to apply. Best of luck to all!</span><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a55fdb5e-7fff-ccce-c1d0-b3b7087c7524"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 473px; overflow: hidden; width: 364px;"><img height="473" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5ensOC7-54O4Zr-gfQr1YyxaqEbPRsTY4gx-LQSdlyuUIB06QY_0lSHQoxH1l8OTH0K7vP1IayoRhLrXWoAZihvfwxILXBh6dgJnpPqL79pum34yNb0TBI0q-nVoqavnuM9ViIRC" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="364" /></span></span></p>Sonja http://www.blogger.com/profile/10061595432917880292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-67924030898824704042020-11-17T01:00:00.031-06:002020-11-17T01:00:01.787-06:00Repairing a Reading Identity<p><i>by Kim Ralph, middle school teacher at Wiley Middle School in Leander ISD. </i><i>She is
also a writer, bookseller, and curious person. She lives by a river and
accepts all the metaphors such a setting inspires. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School librarians and English teachers know that they will reach the students who love reading with their programming and lesson planning. We cherish the ecstatic moment of handing off the next book in a series that is long-awaited, to the squealing happiness of a twelve-year-old. I’m smiling just thinking about how Andrew* whisper-shouted his experience of finishing The Infinite Noise by Lauren Shippen, adding, “I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">need</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">read it</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, Ms. Ralph. So we can talk about it.” And you know I did.</span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-95e2c4a9-7fff-2884-7f91-08d846b6f73a"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8Btki4SKpx3u7C95clBGx4h9EtriFZsnTWjIU8d8hzA16IOIEXZgpZ3Fe5QS2p6dmWJp3SgVokarK4v5FrXTGoQ0BKC3YTNGxMPxclFsJ91rDGZ89f9pILVW6fh5oW527QljWpagVbP2/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Popular books" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="2688" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8Btki4SKpx3u7C95clBGx4h9EtriFZsnTWjIU8d8hzA16IOIEXZgpZ3Fe5QS2p6dmWJp3SgVokarK4v5FrXTGoQ0BKC3YTNGxMPxclFsJ91rDGZ89f9pILVW6fh5oW527QljWpagVbP2/w320-h139/20190522_115158.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.272; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There’s another group of students we serve, too. At the beginning of every school year, I’ve had students answer the question: Are you a reader? Of course, this is not a pre-assessment of skills but rather one of identity. Without explanation or preamble for this expectation, my middle school students know what I mean. Some years, I have 20% of them circle “no” or “sometimes”. Other years, the percentage is much greater. One year, I had only nine students choose “yes”. On the first day of school! More than 90% in that group did not begin the year with a reading identity. So where can we possibly go from there? How do we reach the students who don't think they belong in the Library?</span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.272; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-95e2c4a9-7fff-2884-7f91-08d846b6f73a">Penny Kittle talks about shifting student perceptions of reading in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Book Love</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, published in 2013. I have seen the proof of her opening statement: “Teenagers want to read—if we let them… The pathway to difficult reading begins with books they enjoy.” So I begin by asking students about their last good reading experience. And here is the most important shift—not in the students, but one that has to occur in the educator—I have to be ready to celebrate and inquire into whatever it is that comes out of their mouth! Whether that’s </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, David! </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or the subtitle script of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Among Us</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or their required summer reading of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Into the Wild</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. There cannot be a hierarchy of high- and low-value reading experiences. That’s exactly the kind of thinking that taught them not to claim “reader” as an identity trait. (And I know I don’t need to wax poetic for this audience about the importance of engaged literacy for every human being.)</span></p></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.272; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 12pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkHAj9bfeznSaet2CAZfZKaSTfHCyRAgaWYNbDoSvNbdS3RXrOK8j_n-vNpU0RUIKG_RRySSyDTJqIvuAJISvSnb8Ku4Gsjx7ZMXLGj3A_sE1qCT3W5_mS4tZWy6VcW-2cThTj8BaA_rh/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="More popular titles" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkHAj9bfeznSaet2CAZfZKaSTfHCyRAgaWYNbDoSvNbdS3RXrOK8j_n-vNpU0RUIKG_RRySSyDTJqIvuAJISvSnb8Ku4Gsjx7ZMXLGj3A_sE1qCT3W5_mS4tZWy6VcW-2cThTj8BaA_rh/w320-h240/20190123_174059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we legitimize a student’s reading experiences in this way, and know our libraries (virtual and tangible) well enough to point them to next options, we show them how to begin seeing themselves as a reader. When Malcolm loved </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, David!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I showed him how to request it from the elementary Iibrary. I think he was trying to figure out if I was kidding the whole time. But when it arrived, he read it, as a 13-year-old, and reflected on how much he connected with the character. We as a class celebrated the heck out of that. He found the graphic novels shelf and read </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pusheen the Cat</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Later, I pointed him to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">iFunny </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Terrible Two</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. He did a book talk for the whole class in January about the latter. Malcolm’s example of increased engagement with reading is what Randy Bomer, in </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Building Adolescent Literacy in Today’s English Classrooms </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(2011), explains: “There is only one choice: to lower the level of difficulty until the reading experience is meaningful for the reader and then to gradually raise it again… </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Difficulty</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is not really something contained inside the text; rather, it names something in the relationship between the text and the reader,” (78). To bring more readers into our community, we have to change their expectations of who belongs in our community. We have to openly redefine what is meaningful.</span><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfB0D9PuSvO2WEO1ycohVUN9WyAoOrM6Fp2TSiRXlirzmuThJvHrioG_53h9q-0wBx9Mu_l95kXSNerS0Z_JvAiUXF4CYzWfvsFnAh0UBcK8NA24oIAnsT2foi2qeJ5hGsszL_SKUwzz9/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Great books" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfB0D9PuSvO2WEO1ycohVUN9WyAoOrM6Fp2TSiRXlirzmuThJvHrioG_53h9q-0wBx9Mu_l95kXSNerS0Z_JvAiUXF4CYzWfvsFnAh0UBcK8NA24oIAnsT2foi2qeJ5hGsszL_SKUwzz9/w320-h241/20190301_104114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.272; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because who are we to decide what is meaningful to another human being? But I know there are a lot of community stakeholders, including parents, administrators, and other literacy educators, who have a stagnant view of what is “rigorous” reading selection for our programs. You might have been asked to show students how to search for books within their Lexile, or to recommend chapter books to students asking for </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wimpy Kid</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Next time, maybe ask why. Maybe ask a student, do you think you’ll read this, really? Maybe read a page together, modeling how you choose books for your own reading life. The only thing a person learns from being forced to read something that isn’t meaningful to them is that they don’t like reading. What I have learned from almost a decade of this work is that the kids always know more about what they will find interesting than I can accurately guess or preselect. They surprise me every year. When I take their perspective seriously, without shaming or silencing them, we have a way to begin our work together.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.272; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*all student names are pseudonyms</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></div>April Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11794944471919479969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-6774769401864222020-10-12T10:29:00.001-05:002020-10-12T10:29:30.702-05:00So You Want to Join a TLA Reading List Committee? 10 Things to Know<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Priscilla K. Delgado, PhD Student at St. John’s University, TLA Reading List Coordinating Committee Co-Chair, TxASL Talks Member</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-bf82d018-7fff-6760-90b4-e3754c137a75"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 351px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="351" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZGVM9KtO69ydA6PbsrwynMqP80_4EGEl9ImCwmgsU01B4TXIrtMwlR8m24LZW41r7lQY1DJiDSCa3cfbDTf4PGCUy7Gq6buhvlzZ2uFCirwUCwXc7Yd4G9Q2yJpLA2U-lqfDyoFJ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Texas Library Association has ten reading lists for readers ages 2 to 102 ranging from fiction to non-fiction, Spanish titles, and graphic novels. These lists are determined by dedicated TLA members who are selected to serve on a reading list committee. It’s like a special book club!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How does someone go about applying and serving on a reading list committee? Here’s everything you need to know: </span></p><ol style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The TLA reading lists are under 3 umbrellas: </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Children’s Round Table (CRT)</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2x2</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Little Maverick</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bluebonnet (jointly sponsored with TASL) </span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Young Adult Round Table (YART)</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lone Star Reading List</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spirit of Texas</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TAYSHAS</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maverick</span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TLA</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tejas Star</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Topaz</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: square; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lariat</span></p></li></ul></ul><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each umbrella group and Bluebonnet has its own application with its own deadlines. </span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8jrzReECfNTB4a-DtF5o_qDSeEobIkk1A836pHqZxcnMmQA/viewform?fbzx=-7781529710368844272" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CRT application</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - deadline pending, but get those applications in ASAP!</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6ZBhgq0IRXi715jeLUF--BMjmKBlEaEEqb-irKZqFvFHHsw/viewform" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TLA application</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - deadline October 16</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeU94aXVKfDDuLNtIyRaXsqPIr1T50yk9LBRAQoD67mY_4X_g/viewform" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YART application</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - deadline October 18</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: circle; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ULo_jAo7tZGAWquW8NVNlDxXvcVvJDlgZbRL7HD4XRo/edit" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bluebonnet application</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - deadline November 1</span></p></li></ul><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some reading list committees have prerequisites. For example, some committees require that you be actively providing library services to children for the duration of your appointment. Tejas Star requires members to be able to read in Spanish. Check each reading list’s website for details.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The respective group leader(s) will review the applications and make appointments, usually in the fall. Notification and finalization of committees usually happen in January. Terms for new committee members will begin at a time decided on by the reading list chair and/or umbrella group leader.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Terms are usually for 3 years. Meetings are typically held in-person and/or online at Annual Assembly and throughout the year. Reading list committee members usually do at least one program at Annual Conference, presenting content related to their latest reading list.</span></p></li></ol><ol start="6" style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Serving on a reading list calls for A LOT of reading! Publishers often send books to committee members to review. It’s helpful to have a designated space to keep all your books and to set aside time to prioritize reading. (Note: sometimes publishers aren’t always able to send books, which may require members to seek out the books themselves.)</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Communication is key! Committee members should have a reliable email address, check it daily, and participate in the function of the committee. It’s a lot of fun but also a lot of work.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each reading list committee has a chair and either an administrative assistant or vice-chair. The chair is responsible for setting up meetings, communicating with committee members and with their umbrella group leaders, and to facilitate all business matters pertaining to the committee. The administrative assistant/vice-chair usually is the point of contact for publishers. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to reading, reading list committee members often create content for activity guides and reproducible materials, social media posts, and other projects to promote the reading list.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 36pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being appointed to a reading list committee can be a competitive, selective process. If you are accepted, woohooo!! If you don’t get accepted, please consider applying again the following year!</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still have questions? Feel free to get in touch with the respective reading list committee chair or with the Reading List Coordinating Committee co-chairs, Kate DiPronio and me at </span><a href="mailto:rlcc@members.txla.org" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">rlcc@members.txla.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. We will be happy to help in any way that we can. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good luck and happy reading!</span></p><p><br /></p>Sonja http://www.blogger.com/profile/10061595432917880292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-80888565415972379442020-09-15T01:00:00.023-05:002020-09-15T01:00:04.361-05:00Mapping Our Schools<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>by Dee Porter, Librarian at Vandegrift High School, Leander ISD</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interactive maps are powerful collaboration tools that librarians can use to support teachers and engage students. Placing data on a map provides a visual aid which helps students connect learning to their own lives and helps them find relationships between data.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-04646313-7fff-a31a-b623-c823db366559"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">High school English language learners, their two teachers and I worked together to create a map of schools they previously attended as a get to know you activity. The answers ranged from Canyon Vista Middle School in a nearby school district to Concord College of Sino Canada in Tongzhou, China. Each student placed their information on the map. When all the points were entered each student unmuted themselves one at a time and shared information about their school with the group. The map ignited student conversation filled with engaging stories about ancient Chinese musical instruments, long car rides, uniforms and cafeteria food. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><img alt="Mapping Our Schools" height="184" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Gu8M9i099Dw3vgxHJcDrEkEUoZnT76qxpuoU5gz0A-VrjpQ8x5ZraP4QEb9WOZTyHBulY8DcZoauWK-PifUACeuP-4qRRAWcGHxoAJsfkXnlpjuOjVS5Ldk7JHO6ZVdvqK_0eK9Ys5Ifbg=w400-h184" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;" title="Mapping Our Schools" width="400" /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One early stage English acquisition student answered the questions on the form and a teacher read his answers aloud. He responded to questions via the chat. More fluent language acquisition students examined the points on the map and discussed patterns in the data and reasons for those patterns.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e07cc7de-7fff-6b54-4649-c62dd12c0617"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 468px; overflow: hidden; transform: rotate(4.71rad); width: 624px;"><img alt="Student creating a map" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FjWiYD3bLI4f1G4qBJa1Y73YMI6R7VDrcO_jB1ngn-BL7Os0ff4axw5gk43xBQdflh-W8Kv-fDtYgtOJZAE4H3AifbjkP2t2sbjb4gnnqBKyG9AjfFvJdeDK33Wps4j85HyXqg2F=w400-h300" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" title="Student creating a map" width="400" /></span></span></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I created the map using Survey 123 which you can learn more about </span><a href="https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/education/schools/schools-mapping-software-bundle" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Alternatively you can do the same lesson in Google My Maps.</span></p><br /><br /><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use</span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XeMEO2CzZSb41mCrqnztW_enzkuQTiz4zla-rT9brsI/copy" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> this form</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to collect information about one previous school</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Save the resulting spreadsheet as a .csv</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Go to </span><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/about/mymaps/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">google my maps</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and import the .csv as a layer</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Switch the view from satellite to street and students can talk about parks, restaurants and other landmarks they have visited. Students and teachers can also use the locations on the map to ask the presenter questions. </span></p></li></ol><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So contact a teacher and create collaborative maps by asking students simple questions like name one school you have attended in the past. If you need more ideas please see the ones listed below. If you have any questions please contact me; I love to talk about maps!</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">World Geography story maps detailing Central American current events</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Colleges teachers on one campus attended</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cities represented at a librarian conference</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Student birthplaces</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Changing setting of a character’s journey</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where student t-shirts were made</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Local community helpers</span></p></li></ul></span>April Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11794944471919479969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-17787101030449753502020-09-09T18:33:00.000-05:002020-09-09T18:33:10.501-05:00Coping, Healing, & Persevering: Social-Emotional Learning with Technology<p align="center" style="margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">by Wenndy Pray, MLS - B. L. Gray Jr. High Librarian, Sharyland Independent School </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">District</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47bpBYvVtJjEMCYKogreB8SYj7D6drpnQ1zYaviinZWlDHHtJSH8fpfKWV6Ux2qI9nq8oTZR5he0f4hh4OpKB2Wyvo7UQ7nR5KCrcxd_5B0m1ddg2F-88QOLLVWsh9D-3_5cW8BcQAke6/s1024/wp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47bpBYvVtJjEMCYKogreB8SYj7D6drpnQ1zYaviinZWlDHHtJSH8fpfKWV6Ux2qI9nq8oTZR5he0f4hh4OpKB2Wyvo7UQ7nR5KCrcxd_5B0m1ddg2F-88QOLLVWsh9D-3_5cW8BcQAke6/s320/wp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Humans are social creatures. Although some may argue that we can survive in solitude, we thrive on emotional connection, relationships, and company. As Viktor Maslov, Jean Piaget, and the many others who have expanded on their findings regarding social and cognitive development, librarians now find themselves at the forefront of discovery. Most importantly, we’re equipped with 21st Century tools that can help preserve this critical component for our students’ social and emotional development.</div><div>The current pandemic has placed limitations on an integral part of our experience on this earth: our social lives. This concern fills our minds and hearts with questions. How will our students survive this? How will our secondary students expand their interpersonal skills? How will our middle grade and elementary students learn what meaningful interaction looks like when they can only do it through a screen? How will our littles experience social-emotional growth at such an impressionable age? It would be comforting to have the answers to these questions. Humans are resilient creatures. We are overcomers. I can tell you that our students can. And they will. As their librarians, we are part of what will help them use this experience for good.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Librarians know the importance of telling our stories. Not only can reading, telling, or listening to a story inspire empathy, it can also be cathartic. Wakelet and Flipgrid are two web tools that can provide a safe, secure, and creative outlet for students. Students can learn about digital etiquette, or netiquette, connect through responding or collaborating, and by providing a place to tell their story.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you haven’t heard about Wakelet, today is your lucky day. This visually-appealing, collaboration-infused, digital organizing tool is a platform where students can learn to create collections by uploading links to their favorite sites, type text, import tweets and YouTube videos, and even record live shorts using the Flipgrid integration. Students can use Wakelet to chronicle their experience distancing during the pandemic. This opportunity inspires creativity as well as supplies an outlet. It’s privacy options provide a safe environment for students to express themselves, share what interests them, or remember a loved one they’ve lost during the pandemic. </div><div>Librarians can use Wakelet to showcase their latest programming, create newsletters for community outreach, and connect with other librarians as well. Here is a collection titled School Librarians to follow on Wakelet. Connect with librarians across the world. You can find collections they’ve created with additional resources for social-emotional learning too. Students are not the only ones yearning for connection and filled with thoughts of what will be. You too can use Wakelet to express what you’re going through, share your thoughts through a video journal, or keep an introspective chronicle of time during COVID-19. Personal or professional social and emotional learning are both important. The “Only Me” privacy setting can keep those insightful and personal collections of thoughts and musings for your eyes only.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Flipgrid has also pushed several upgrades that enhance the user experience. Privacy, among many other features, has confirmed that as we move into a learning space that will demand more digital interaction, we need to remain conscious of how vulnerable our students are during this time. Providing a safe place in the digital classroom is just as important as it is in the traditional one. The Power of Flipgrid for Social-Emotional Learning by Martha Bongiorno describes five ways you can create content in Flipgrid to support social-emotional learning and development. Librarians share a bond with our students that no other faculty or staff member shares. We are a blend of educator, counselor, confidant, and advisor. As librarians, we can seize the opportunity for digital relationship building. If students don’t want to type about what they’re feeling and observing, they can share their stories with video recordings. You can create a grid and control its posting capabilities by keeping posts private at the student’s request. Students now have the option to only record audio. These upgrades provide more options for comfort with expression and creativity. As mentioned earlier, Wakelet has a Flipgrid integration with shorts that can record up to ten minutes. Sharing encouragement, saying hello, or reaching out by sharing your favorite memory can help strengthen our students’ hearts and minds.</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Wakelet and Flipgrid offer flexibility to assess our students’ social and cognitive development outside of an “assessment” environment. They provide a human touch that perhaps a bell-to-bell instruction setting wouldn’t. They provide more than a multiple-choice test could. Using these fun, engaging avenues to connect and help our students find their social roles in life may prove to be more meaningful than one may think. Although much uncertainty still looms on the horizon, we can establish digital avenues that will equip our students with what they need to cope, heal, and persevere. </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div><br /></div>Sonja http://www.blogger.com/profile/10061595432917880292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-58977654946707581112020-08-18T00:00:00.000-05:002020-08-18T00:00:03.405-05:00Now We Need to Promote Libraries More Than Ever<i>by Brooke King, Librarian at Atascocita Middle School, Humble ISD, TASL Legislative & Advocacy</i><br /><br />The "Let's Promote Libraries!" social media campaign is more important than ever this year as we show how librarians support learning no matter what the school environment looks like. <br /><br />This social media campaign encourages school librarians to show off what happens in their school libraries to stakeholders. The campaign began with the TxASL Legislative & Advocacy Committee with the hopes of encouraging school librarians to promote themselves, their programs, and their instruction. TxASL is continuing the campaign this school year as we chart into librarianship like we have never seen before. <br /><br />Each month’s topic is still framed as a question organized around the revised <a href="https://www.tsl.texas.gov/sites/default/files/public/tslac/ld/schoollibs/costforstandards/Texas%20School%20Library%20Standards%20E-Version%20FINAL.pdf">Texas Library Standards</a>. It begins with, “Did you know that school libraries…,” followed by one of the standards. I’m certain the standards may look a little different this year in how they are approached, but that will just show how innovative librarians are.<br /><br />We will still tweet on the 1st of each month, and I will try my best to remember to tweet reminders! You can post on any social media outlet or even send an email to a stakeholder. We want to focus on local stakeholders first, and then at the state and national levels. This year is also important because we are approaching a legislative year in our state in 2021. We always want to be as proactive as possible. <br /><br />Please use <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23txasltalks&src=typed_query" target="_blank">#TxASLTalks</a> so it is easy for all of us school librarians to find and help share our messages. Then use <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23txlege&src=typed_query" target="_blank">#Txlege</a> to share our message of the important role school libraries have with students and learning with our state legislators.<br /><br /><br /><div>
It’s easy to participate!<br /><br />Step 1: Look at the current month’s question.<br /><br />Step 2: Snap a photo and write your message showing how your library shows that standard.<br /><br />Step 3: Post your message and photo on any/all platforms of social media.<br /><br />Step 4: Be sure to use the hashtags #TxASLTalks and #Txlege along with other key hashtags.<br /><br />Step 5: Repost/retweet/share<br /><br /> <br />There are two infographics to guide you. One explains the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eOBatq4ulVYAGRqBI3M-T1YKmRlLlc7C/view?usp=sharing">full campaign</a>. The other shows only the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/13pndR9cCLDITJFUr7RzNhe4Mr97yRVti/view?usp=sharing">monthly topics.</a><br /><br />Thank you for participating in this campaign and advocating for the work librarians do that contributes to the success of students and schools!</div>
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Brooke Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072309150387255445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-22047269274297683622020-06-16T02:00:00.000-05:002020-06-16T02:00:12.379-05:00CTXLIBCAMP2020<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">by April Sicola Stone, Librarian at Four Points Middle School in Leander ISD, TxASL Talks member</span></i><br />
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One year ago, on a hot summer day, I attended a professional development
opportunity at a high school in Central Texas. I did not know what to expect,
nor was I quite sure if any of my regular librarian squad would be in
attendance. As I walked in the doors of the library, I was greeted by a couple
of my fellow Leander ISD librarians and asked to write topics that piqued my
interest on sticky notes. As I slowly made my way
around various vendor booths, I mingled with librarians of all levels:
innovative high school librarians, enthusiastic elementary librarians, and
middle school librarians like myself. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Naomi Bates" height="240" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9bkpsJXkAMbYwi?format=jpg&name=large" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Naomi Bates" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naomi Bates </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://yabooksandmoreblog.wordpress.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt;">Naomi Bates</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">, a lifelong educator, teacher-librarian, and member
of TASL and YART, was the keynote speaker. She passionately spoke about real
world solutions that made me feel like she was right beside me between my library shelves. One point that she made that still stands out to me was about how a librarian's attention to their patrons matters more than any item on their to-do list. The CTXLIBCAMP organizers were as busy as bees behind the
scenes while I smiled and nodded my head during the keynote. This crew was
creating topics, assigning rooms, and ev</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">en soliciting help from select members
of the audience in order to develop sessions on the fly based on the suggestions
from the sticky notes that were collected upon the participant's entry. 35 minute sessions hosted a topic,
expert(s), and a facilitator. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h15n2-UXeVf6d-Rqm89ISaoxuo0UzwBear__GEc7KySn_PEAit9YRitkeBnqDMrJvhpI8PJSc22Fkmf2zocL84iM0Y9w3-TKuWUAKwjAJbX121PcnhgH9DLd1jiFn4nDCU0fNcGs" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Librarians work to develop sessions." border="0" height="239" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h15n2-UXeVf6d-Rqm89ISaoxuo0UzwBear__GEc7KySn_PEAit9YRitkeBnqDMrJvhpI8PJSc22Fkmf2zocL84iM0Y9w3-TKuWUAKwjAJbX121PcnhgH9DLd1jiFn4nDCU0fNcGs" style="margin-top: 0px;" title="Zandra Lopez (right) and Melokka Spittler (left) work together to develop sessions." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zandra Lopez (right) and Melokka Spittler (left) work <br />together to develop sessions.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The topics were too numerous to list, but I will
say that there were a few that really made an impact on me: Students as
Leaders, Destiny Tricks, and Productivity. After examining the spreadsheet, we
made our way to our first session with the understanding that we could attend
for as long as we wanted, or change our decision at any time. (Participants
didn’t even judge me if I ended up in the wrong room at the wrong time, but
offered kind directions or patient clarification.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Midday, I was able to coordinate lunch with a
few elementary librarians that I don’t typically have the honor to chat with
during the school year. Once we returned for a final session, we were reminded
about the door prizes that would be announced at the end of the day. I know
what you are thinking at this point. “Oh, another grocery bag… yippee.” That
was not the case. There were MakerSpace items like a Buddha Board, $100 gift
certificates from popular vendors, and even an LED message board. The best part
was that there were enough prizes for every attendee to win. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="CTXLIB2020" height="305" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QqhzGqnUNj4Ma-7FL0DXhjvsXQK78Zwt0Geda_ORvQjc_Y1u9zgvhxnWSJGAbMPjI98JbmE2t7yoHdHPguMKKefZqWN949BWdkS1qTbAg5bhB5cS6If9YvWaEYWiNh78YyOip4S6" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" title="CTXLIB2020" width="320" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This summer, David Bowles is the guest speaker.
Mr. Bowles is a Mexican-American author from south Texas. He is the author of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">They
Call Me Güero,</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> which has received numerous awards. COVID-19 is making it
possible for librarians across the nation to join this free professional
learning opportunity. Zandra Lopez, a member of the CTXLIB and the librarian at
Vandegrift High School in Austin, TX, provided insight about this year’s
vendors: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">“Vendors continue to play an integral role by
having the option of sitting in breakout sessions as well as offering virtual
and/or mailed swag for all participants as well as door prize winners.” If you
are excited to join in on the fun this year, please register at this </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://sites.google.com/view/ctxlibcamp/register"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">link</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
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<br />April Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11794944471919479969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-77679525841735384972020-05-19T01:30:00.000-05:002020-05-19T01:30:04.436-05:00Down Dog in the Library<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">by April Sicola Stone, Librarian at Four Points Middle School in Leander ISD, TxASL Talks member</i></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Librarians
serve in an expansive capacity within schools because not only are they focused
on their school-aged patrons, but they also support the adults in their
building. This support may include collaborating with teachers to provide
quality resources, co-teaching opportunities, and implementing innovative
learning experiences for students that may or may not include a heavy dose of
technology. During the past 2 months, it has become apparent that librarians do
not need the walls and shelves of the physical space of the library to continue
their duties. These experts are utilizing a virtual library space to reenact
similar learning experiences from the traditional school day while maintaining
student privacy, offering easy access to reliable sources, and demonstrating
digital tools for teachers to incorporate for their new role as a distance
educator.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">As I
conclude my 13th year as a Texas librarian, the instructional support component
of my career has been a strength that I have had the opportunity to build upon
consistently. With that said, I have had a concern slowly bubble up from the
pit of my stomach as I witness the overwhelming aspects of education. The
mental health of teachers is an issue that has been circulating on various blogs,
journal articles, and social media groups more and more often. Teachers are
stressed, work long hours, and often place their needs very low on their
perpetual daily task list. I began to question what my options are as a
librarian to assist my adult coworkers in managing their mental health. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVZmmgiKlfGJIsfu6smFmihXFJl8kIUZm1xtetkr2U168yozt5sTo3kJu0FzckU7I5JTOQbTkkbomX7ZQ4_P4vYrS-BA5AK2y0D330b-SFa9LRSYbsgvsQFHerqqUPl6C4aNkKgA7NaGF/s1600/1584023162-create-space-illustration.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVZmmgiKlfGJIsfu6smFmihXFJl8kIUZm1xtetkr2U168yozt5sTo3kJu0FzckU7I5JTOQbTkkbomX7ZQ4_P4vYrS-BA5AK2y0D330b-SFa9LRSYbsgvsQFHerqqUPl6C4aNkKgA7NaGF/s200/1584023162-create-space-illustration.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Because
of one of my personal hobbies, an idea slowly blossomed that entailed no
expense and little preparation. My thinking was that if I could carve out one
hour a week to host an after-school yoga class, then teachers could gather to
socialize, exercise, and de-stress. Don’t get me wrong, I am not an instructor.
Austin, Texas has a famous YouTube yoga teacher who offers the perfect videos
for our purpose. After I polled interested staff in regard to the best day of
the week, we agreed to meet in the library with our mats every Wednesday after
most of the students had hopped on their buses. The rules were that all levels
were welcome; participants could come late or leave early, and judgments of
right and wrong were not part of the vibe.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
first Wednesday was interesting. One teacher showed up, and we quickly realized
that we needed to postpone the start time for a few minutes. (Encouraging
students to leave the building, changing clothes, and answering the call of
nature took more than 5 minutes.) The following week, more teachers joined us,
and I learned that the myriad of light fixtures in the library offered the
perfect soft glow for our time. The large media screen projected our videos at
just the right angle for our mats on the ground. Throughout the year, we
continued to honor our spirits with deep breaths in and out. Spring Break was
right around the corner. When we returned to school, we were going to finish
the year strong. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc6z9qSeNM8QFRhftdRu1qZkeKUAKekiFyu8e35V-A_NPscOhsuyWNTW-4Zi112NTaguvm4UwhdIHkcyc51QyyofFBPNM9K0MTmDP1WMsC-zLF_H_ykKeT9Wv7gExliER5hOcCbxX5IVl/s1600/clyde+yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Clyde enjoys time on the mat." border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAc6z9qSeNM8QFRhftdRu1qZkeKUAKekiFyu8e35V-A_NPscOhsuyWNTW-4Zi112NTaguvm4UwhdIHkcyc51QyyofFBPNM9K0MTmDP1WMsC-zLF_H_ykKeT9Wv7gExliER5hOcCbxX5IVl/s320/clyde+yoga.jpg" title="Down Dog" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clyde enjoys time on the mat in front of the camera.</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Y’all
have probably figured out that things didn’t go as planned. Our yoga group was
sad while simultaneously attempting to navigate the new waters of distance
learning. Then, a teacher offered an idea. One of our school’s teachers was in
fact a REAL yoga teacher. She graciously donated her time and energy to teach a
weekly yoga session to teachers via a Zoom video call. We can make special
requests that would help relieve tension caused by staring at a computer screen
all day. My Pekingese pooch zoom bombed the class during our first experience,
so we added a new rule: Dogs are welcome — especially down dogs. Mrs. Canino,
the lone attendee at the very first session in September, shared, “Yoga was a
way for me to bond with my coworkers in a setting that didn’t involve a PowerPoint
slide or awkward ice breakers.” </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">This
practice is beneficial in so many ways. It brings a group into the library
weekly to strengthen their mind/body connection; builds rapport among
colleagues, and we collectively enjoy the calming space. My plans next year
include inviting the neighboring high school teachers to join us, challenging
our administration team to participate, and incorporating a consistent virtual
class as an option (Just in case.)</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Using
the school library as an expansive part of ourselves is not a new concept.
Teachers and staff participating in physical activities together isn’t a novel
plan either. Observing a need, creating a space, and honoring others’
wholeheartedness in a way that serves your patrons at just the right moment in
time is a valuable human experience that we can all appreciate… even in the
time of COVID-19. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />April Stonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11794944471919479969noreply@blogger.comAustin, TX, USA30.267153 -97.743060829.828484 -98.3885078 30.705822 -97.097613799999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-81807879322878406732020-04-14T00:00:00.000-05:002020-04-14T00:00:16.210-05:00The Power of Community<i>by Shirley Robinson, TLA Executive Director</i><div>
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<br /><br />The days leading up to March 11 were some of the most stress-filled I’ve ever experienced professionally in my 25-year nonprofit and association management career. Our incredible TLA staff were in full-on two weeks out from conference hustle-mode. Concerns over the threat of COVID-19 and what its impact could be to our conference were looming with dozens of calls and emails a day from members, exhibitors, and suppliers. When we ultimately made the decision with our Executive Board to cancel the conference that morning of the 11th, it was a relief that we had made the very painful but correct decision to protect the health and safety of our members and their communities. Ultimately, that same day the City of Houston banned all large events and the rest of the State and nation were all facing similar decisions. It was a time of uncertainty and shared commiseration of loss and mourning as we began the journey of the unknown.</div>
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Today, just a little more than four weeks later, the TLA Executive Board, membership, and staff are excited to be launching our first ever Virtual Conference. We’ll have more than 40 hours of pre-recorded content, live sessions and chat rooms for members to interact on April 21- 22, with even more fun surprises to come throughout the summer with an expanded learning series! A good quarter of the programs are targeted to our school library community with many more that may pique an interest you didn’t know you had. We’re thrilled that many registered attendees have chosen to convert their conference registration over to the Virtual meeting where they’ll receive many more hours of CE than they could have in a face-to-face conference. We’re also excited to see many members registering from far reaches of the state (and even some out of state) that haven’t previously been able to make the trip for time or budgetary reasons. If you know a school librarian who hasn’t attended TLA before please encourage them to register at <a href="https://txla.org/annual-conference/attend/schedule/">https://txla.org/annual-conference/attend/schedule/</a>.<br /><br />Since joining TLA in early January I’ve already come to know and love the resiliency and spirit of collaboration of our library members. Even in my interview process I could see that the level of engagement and support of the association comes from an incredibly passionate and active base of members. This is a unique attribute that you don’t always find in associations, and it was exciting to see and has been even more exciting to experience. As we all navigate through the next few months, this resiliency will be a hallmark that not only helps the association to survive but we will thrive and grow through these lessons of innovation and creativity.</div>
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<br /><br />I can’t wait to meet more members from our school library community in the coming months. As a Mom, I thank you for the tremendous work you’re doing to support our educators and students, and as TLA’s Executive Director, I thank you for all you do to enrich this association. I am here for you – just a phone call or email away.<br /><br /><i>Shirley</i><br /><br />Shirley Robinson, CAE<br />Executive Director<br />Texas Library Association</div>
Brooke Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072309150387255445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-62464524916408137622020-04-01T16:51:00.001-06:002020-04-02T07:53:40.734-06:00You Are Essentialby Kristi Starr, librarian at Coronado High School in Lubbock ISD, TASL chair<br />
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Only a few short weeks ago I was looking forward to April 1. It was to follow an amazing week of learning, connecting, and reconnecting at the Texas Library Association conference in Houston. It was a day when I anticipated commencing planning for 2021. The April 1 I woke up to, however, is one that no jokester would have ever predicted. <br />
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Friends, we are working in challenging times. The world to which we had grown accustomed has been turned upside down. You know it, your teachers know it, your students know it … everyone knows it. For many of us, it’s like working with one arm tied behind your back. You can do part of your job, but something critical is missing. Maybe it’s the people. It could be the books. Or the makerspaces. Even a reliable internet connection. Regardless, let me remind you of one thing. <br />
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You are essential.<br />
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<li>Librarians are essential to providing stability for students through storytimes and booktalks. They’re simply online now rather than face to face.</li>
<li>Librarians are essential for curating resources for teachers and students. We aren’t throwing together lists and links, rather we are thoughtfully gathering and sharing a variety of resources and ideas. </li>
<li>Librarians are essential for technology support. We are answering emails, conducting office hours, picking up the phone to assist our colleagues and students when they need a new tool or aren’t quite sure how to do a certain task on a device. </li>
<li>Librarians are essential as collaborators. Whether it’s working with departments that we’ve never before worked with or collaborating on projects and websites with librarians across our districts, we are showing the value of teamwork and new perspectives. </li>
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TASL and TLA are here to support you. We know times are crazy. We know it’s a challenge. But we’re here for you. And we all need to be there for each other. Session proposals and volunteer requests will come, and we’ll meet again in 2021 in San Antonio when we Celebrate Differences; Empower Voices. <br />
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Because today is April 1, <a href="https://twitter.com/bookwormbrookek/status/1245334090750070792" target="_blank">it’s time to share our monthly advocacy statement</a>. We have a slight departure from the planned statement, however. Thanks to Brooke King, TASL Talks editor, we have changed this month’s tweet to “Did you know that full-time certified librarians are supporting teachers and students virtually by ________?” Fill in the blank with what you’re doing. Be sure to tag #TxASLTalks #txlege and #TxASL You might mention @TxLA and your district and anyone else who needs to see this message. If you aren’t on Twitter, take it to Facebook or Instagram. Let’s get our stories out there. <b>You are essential</b>. </div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://blogs.ubc.ca/socialmediaandlibrarianship/2016/02/09/use-of-memes-in-libraries/" target="_blank">Image source</a></span></div>
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One last thought. We owe a debt of gratitude to Nancy Jo Lambert who is rolling off the TASL executive board and to Richelle O’Neil as she assumes the role of past chair. I have officially taken on duties of TASL chair and welcome Jill Bellomy as chair-elect. Thank you, Nancy Jo and Richelle, for your leadership. Thanks also to Lisa Zinkie who has served the past two years as TASL secretary. We appreciate you, Lisa, and welcome Linda Kay into that office. We appreciate our councilors Nicole Cruz and Jenn Hampton who represent TASL both at the state and national levels. A heartfelt round of thanks goes to Brandi Dawson and all those others who served on ProCo for the 2020 conference, and to Dr. Leah Mann who co-chaired the programming committee. To all of you who spent time preparing presentations, serving on committees, planning events - we feel your disappointment, and while we were unable to enjoy the fruits of your efforts, we commend you on a job well done. Finally, to the TLA staff for all the hours and continued work on the virtual conference, we express deep gratitude.<br />
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With the past in mind, and with a foot in the present, we look to the future. And it’s bright, y’all. It’s bright. </div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3410741330193689131.post-14286911869032730372020-03-12T13:35:00.001-06:002020-03-12T13:35:44.526-06:00TxASL Leadership Expresses GratitudeFrom your TxASL Chair Richelle O’Neil in regards to the cancellation of the TLA Conference 2020<br />
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TxASL Leadership wishes to express gratitude to the TLA Executive Board and staff for putting the health and safety of members first. We also wish to thank all of the committee members, speakers, and volunteers who spent countless hours reading award applications, preparing workshops, and coordinating events. We are continually blown away by the dedication of Texas school librarians!<br />
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We look forward to joining you for a virtual conference experience and will see you at TLA 2021!Brooke Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04072309150387255445noreply@blogger.com0