Access to Print Books? Yes!
In this time of virtual and hybrid learning, are print books still important? My answer is a resounding “yes”! However, what do you do if your administrator doesn’t “get it”? I received a request for advice from a school librarian who said that her principal has been telling her to get rid of books because everything is online. I had expected to advocate for library budgets and positions this year as many school budgets have been cut due to COVID-19 and the slacking economy. The idea of balancing the collection and having access to both print and electronic sources is one supported by AASL’s National School Library Standards. The following bullets address some questions and ideas to consider when advocating for access to and budget for print resources: What are your administrator’s main goals or objectives? Our students need equitable access to diverse school library collections in multiple formats. Works Cited: Antolini, Tina. 2009. Barshay, Jill. 2019. Jacobson, Linda. 2018. Like this:
Best Websites for Teaching & Learning 2017
The 2017 Best Websites for Teaching & Learning foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. Gone but Not Forgotten The following sites have closed, reorganized, or become pay-based since being recognized as an AASL Best Website: The Learnia (Digital Storytelling)
Teachers' Essential Guide to Google Classroom
What is Google Classroom? And how are teachers using it? Learn more about this popular platform and how to use it with students. What is Google Classroom? It's hard to avoid Google's most popular tools -- Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs are now staples for getting organized and getting work done. Read on to find answers to teachers' most commonly asked questions about the platform, with all kinds of information on how you can use Google Classroom with your students. What is Google Classroom? Google describes Google Classroom as "mission control for your classroom," and this might be the easiest way to think about it. Is Google Classroom an LMS? Technically, no. Who can use Google Classroom? Anyone! How do teachers use Google Classroom? Because it's a fairly flexible platform, educators use its features in a lot of different ways. Streamline how they manage classes. How do I set up my Google Classroom? Article 5 Talking Points About Tech for Your Back-to-School Night
Book Repair Manual
The web version of the Simple Book Repair Manual was created by members of Preservation Services, Dartmouth College Library. Copyright 1996 the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. All rights reserved. Funding for this web site was provided by the National Park Service's National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, Natchitoches, Louisiana and Dartmouth College Library.
NCTE Intellectual Freedom Center
Author Laurie Halse Anderson Speaks for Intellectual Freedom On November 21, 2015, at the NCTE Convention, Laurie Halse Anderson (pictured on the left with Joan Kaywell on the right) accepted the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Award with the following words that embody the purpose of the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Center. Thank you very much for this wonderful award! Recognizing the significance of intellectual freedom is more important than ever, now that America is finally entering her adolescence. The two greatest promises that America made to herself and to her children were that all people are created equal and that Americans are granted the rights to think, to speak, and to write what we want. Without our intellectual freedoms, we will never be able to fulfill the glorious dream of equality, or the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all of our people. I see America as entering her adolescence because that is the time of the most intense search for identity.
Updating My Collection via the Inspire Collection Development Grant
My library is beautiful. It has one, large west-facing wall full of glass windows. It has traditional blonde oak stacks with matching tables and chairs. It also has many of the original books purchased in the 1950s and 60s. When I was chosen to be the new librarian three years ago, a Titlewise report showed just over 9,000 books in the collection with an average age of 1984. My first thought was, “Wow, I already have a community history project here and a full archive!” My principal was generous and gave me every penny he could spare. During this time, the majority of circulation, well 99%, was fiction. Back in year one I “remodeled” the whole library. Circulating Dewey, that was where I left off. Now that I knew what the problem was I began looking for more money. No sooner had the grant recipients been named than schools were closed due to COVID-19. Most of the books have arrived. Like this: Like Loading... Categories: Awards Spotlight, Community
Best Websites for Teaching & Learning
Best Websites for Teaching & Learning honors websites, tools, and resources of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning. Sites recognized foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. The Landmark Websites are honored due to their exemplary histories of authoritative, dynamic content and curricular relevance. Landmark Websites for Teaching & Learning 2018-2019 Best Websites for Teaching & Learning Committee Stacy Brown Elizabeth Kahn Joy Millam Maria Muhlbauer Floyd Pentlin Leslie Preddy Kathryn Salmela Deborah Schiano Karen Scott Krista Welz Sherry Gick, Chair Phoebe Warmack, Board Liaison Jennifer Habley, Staff Liaison
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) Home The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. For additional information, you may call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (voice). Or you may contact us at the following address:
Why Have a Technology Policy in Your School or Library?
There are many benefits to using the Internet in elementary and intermediate education, but it is important for you to harness this powerful tool so that it is effective and safe for student use. For every great educational site, there are several more that feature unacceptable content for children. One of the best ways to keep the internet safe is to teach responsible use, which is why developing and implementing your Appropriate Use Policy (AUP) is so imperative. We recommend that you put your AUP in writing and print it out in the form of a contract. Your AUP should acknowledge that the school has attempted to limit access to inappropriate material, but should state that it is inevitable that some will fall through the cracks. In addition to keeping your students safe, your AUP should also address issues of appropriate conduct online. What to Include Be sure that the language of your AUP is simple and clear so that students can easily understand it.
