September 18, 2013

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Technology is Not the Goal | Tech Tidbits from the Guybrarian’s Gal

Read 180

As librarians, our role is often one of instructional coach. We are called on to help teachers and students find solutions to challenges. Recently, a teacher asked for assistance in locating 35 iPads for a great lesson idea she had. She teaches Read 180, a class dedicated to helping struggling readers improve their literacy skills. She and two of her colleagues who teach our English Language Learners wanted to use the new app from Apple, iBooks Author, which allows you to create interactive, multi-touch books that incorporate captions, links, and even video. It’s a great tool, but we had a major problem—we don’t have any iPads.

Utah: Ogden School District Cutting 20 Librarian Positions

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Odgen, UT is located about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City. From Fox 13 Salt Lake City: The twenty Library Media Specialists were called to a mandatory meeting on Friday morning where they were told that their contracts won’t be renewed and their positions will no longer exist starting July 1. According to the [...]

World Peace and Other Infinite Possibilities: Educator John Hunter Talks to SLJ

John Hunter talks about The World Peace Game at SLJ's Public Library Leadership Think Tank. Photo credit: Matt Carr/Getty Images.

Veteran teacher, educational consultant, and author John Hunter talks to SLJ about his innovative World Peace Game, unlocking kids’ infinite potential, his faith in young people to improve our world, and how he daily inspires (and is inspired by) his students.

Pictures of the Week: Teen Donates Thousands of Books to NYC Schools

Lucas Gabriel (middle) with parents Katrina Gabriel and Christopher Gabriel. Lucas Gabriel, an 11th grader at the Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey delivered a U-Haul packed with thousands of books to the Center for Fiction. From there, the books will go to 70 public schools and youth and community organizations throughout the five boroughs.

Lucas Gabriel, a high school student, helped collect and donate thousands of books to be delivered to New York City public schools.

Middle School Maverick: NYC Librarian Deven Black on Partnerships, Principals, and Progress

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New York City middle school librarian and social media devotee Deven Black caught the attention of many in the library community a few weeks ago with an unusual blog post in which he lamented being underutilized by his school. SLJ caught up with Black for a candid interview on his unusual path to librarianship, why partnering with one’s principal is key to a successful school library, and the challenges (and triumphs) of professional development.

Building a Castle in Brooklyn: Director Dellamaggiore Talks About Her Award-Winning Documentary

Brooklyn Castle

Katie and Nelson Dellamaggiore’s award-winning documentary Brooklyn Castle tells the story of five young chess players at I.S. 318, the impoverished Brooklyn school that has won more national chess titles than any other junior high in the United States.

Take the Leap with the National School Boards Association, April 12–15

NSBA 2013 logo

Want to strengthen your relationship with the local school board? Or maybe you just need to start one with them? Then the place to go is San Diego, CA, for the 73rd annual conference of the National School Boards Association. Along with educational workshops covering everything from evaluating the superintendent to safety and security, attendees will be treated to keynote addresses from actress Geena Davis, science advocate Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Diane Ravitch, a professor of education at New York University.

Libraries with No Bounds: How Limitless Libraries transformed Nashville Public Schools’ libraries

Limitless libraries logo

An ambitious partnership between Nashville Public Library (NPL) and Metro Nashville Schools has resulted in a successful program called Limitless Libraries.

Partners in Success: When school and public librarians join forces, kids win

SLJ January 2013 Cover

School library and public library collaborations are making a huge difference in kids’ lives.

Many Return to School in a Landscape Altered by Hurricane Sandy

Messages requesting donations posted on the doors of John Jay High School in Brooklyn, currently an evacuation shelter for Hurricane Sandy victims.

Though schools in New York and New Jersey have re-opened this week, many buildings are too damaged to receive students. Lack of power, heat, flooding are all issues that schools are facing.

Does Character Matter?

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In “How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character,” Paul Tough challenges the notion that academic achievement rests primarily on the types of cognitive skills measured by IQ tests. Could it be that success is, in fact, more dependent upon non-cognitive skills or character traits such as social intelligence, gratitude, optimism, and curiosity?

SLJ Summit 2012: Chris Lehmann Calls for a “Citizenry Model” for Today’s Schools

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Chris Lehmann, the founding principal of Philadelphia’s Science Leadership Academy, isn’t surprised most teens think, “school stinks.” This innovative educator is out to change their opinion.

Mix It Up Day Draws Protests from Christian Group

Laurie O'Neil, family outreach social worker at James M. Quinn Elementary School, at the school's Mix It Up Day last year.

A Christian group’s protests has spurred some schools to pull their involvement from next week’s Mix it Up at Lunch Day—an 11-year-old program meant to reduce prejudice among students that’s sponsored by the Teaching Tolerance project, part of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

Consider the Source: The Reign in Spain

Las Ramblas

The issues and questions raised by Common Core are not only apparent stateside. Marc Aronson discusses how his trip to Barcelona revealed that there might be an opportunity to collaborate with the Spanish city, and other international locales, to inspire students to be innovators.

How Does Your Boss See You?: Proof That Principals Value Librarians

Illustration by David Flaherty for SLJ feature "How does your boss see you"

Principals value their librarians. They also want them to be more visible leaders.

Those are just two of the interesting findings from a recent survey of 102 media specialists and 67 principals. In fact, 90 percent of the administrators that we surveyed think we have a positive impact in schools—and a large number also feel that our jobs are important. That’s great news, considering only 65 percent of librarians in the study thought their bosses would recognize the valuable role we play.

President Obama’s Call to Halt Teacher Layoffs Leaves School Librarians Out

President Obama tapes the weekly address in the State Dining room of the White House. Photo: Chuck Kennedy.

President Obama’s weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday focused on the critical role that education plays in our country’s future—and the need for Congress to pass his proposed jobs bill to help states prevent teacher layoffs and rehire them. But he made no mention of school librarians.

Nick’s Picks | Losses and Legacies

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Last spring the children’s book community lost several beloved authors and illustrators, including the hugely talented Leo Dillon, Jean Craighead George, Ellen Levine, and Maurice Sendak. In honor of their memory and their many accomplishments, TeachingBooks.net is offering video and audio recordings of these creative artists whose work enriched the lives of so many people.

UK School Libraries Suffer Deep Budget Cuts, Report Says

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School librarians across the Atlantic are feeling the squeeze, too. A recent study by the U.K.’s School Library Association shows that budgets there have taken a hit, with 34 percent of media specialists reporting smaller budgets this year compared to 2011. Meanwhile, only 18 percent say they’ve seen an increase since last year.

Pictures of the Week: Family Place Workshop in Goleta, CA

The Goleta Library in Goleta, CA, part of the Santa Barbara Public Library System, celebrated a Family Place Workshop on June 1. Hunter Tattle explores his artisitic talent at a fingerpainting activity.

The Goleta Library in Goleta, CA, part of the Santa Barbara Public Library System, celebrated a Family Place Workshop on June 1. Hunter Tattle explores his artisitic talent at a fingerpainting activity.

Michigan ACLU, Students File ‘Right to Read’ Lawsuit

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Some kids in Michigan are literally fighting for their right to read. The state’s American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently filed a class-action suit on behalf of eight students in the Highland Park School District who don’t read at grade level.