Common Core Discussion: Krashen and Van Roekel

Here is a summary about the Common Core Standards and an argument from Dr. Stephen Krashen about why it would be much better to control for poverty, to invest in addressing key ways to reduce impact of poverty on student achievement: access to better nutrition, health care, and school libraries. 
See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TePVSNXTUvA

ALA | Learning4Life in My School Library Student Video Contest

There are a number of student video contests to promote the value of school libraries.  This one supports the American Association of School Libraries marketing program for its national school library standards, Learning4Life.

ALA | Learning4Life in My School Library Student Video Contest

Student Video Contest

Here's a good opportunity to loan your Flip video to students in the new year:
The American Association of School Librarians, SchoolTube, and Cisco are teaming together to present the Learning4Life in My School Library Student Video Contest. Students are encouraged to create videos detailing how their school library and technology empower them to be Learners4Life and upload their creations to the video contest page hosted on SchoolTube.com. Submission entry begins January 4 and ends March 18, 2011. One student winner will be chosen from each grade level – elementary, middle, and high school. Winners will receive a Flip™ video camera and a prize for their school library program. Winning entries will be featured on the AASL, SchoolTube, and Cisco websites and social networking platforms. For more information on contest rules and guidelines, visit the Learning4Life in My School Library contest page.

These rules should also fit California's new Model School Library Standards.

Campaign for Strong School Libraries

We support strong school libraries and the new Model School Library Standards.  Join us!  

What is a strong school library?

What are the Model School Library Standards? 

The California School Library Association rolled out the first phase of its Campaign for Strong School Libraries. Here is the graphic -- get one for your websites or blogs.  Next, CSLA will introduce a PUBLIC campaign site and begin outreach to individuals and institutions.  Stay tuned!

 

Model School Library Standards Approved in CALIFORNIA

YIPPEE!  The excitement began in March 2009, when the State Board of Education asked for Model School Library Standards.  Lots of hard work by lots of dedicated educators and advocates resulted in some very significant standards for California school library programs.  Kudos to all involved.  Here is the press release from the California Department of Education.
______________________________
REL#10-107
CONTACT: Pam Slater
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHONE: 916-319-0818
September 16, 2010
E-MAIL: pslater@cde.ca.govpslater@cde.ca.gov>

State Schools Chief Jack O’Connell Applauds State Board of Education’s Adoption of School Library Standards

SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today applauded the State Board of Education for voting to adopt the Model School Library Standards for California Public Schools.

"Students need to know how to access, evaluate, and use information effectively so they can become information-literate," said O’Connell. "The new, rigorous School Library Standards will help our efforts to prepare students for success in the hypercompetitive global economy that is powered by information and knowledge. The School Library Standards complement the newly adopted Common Core Standards in English-language arts. Implementation of these standards will help students to learn and use 21st century skills, apply responsible research practices, act with respect for others when using digital devices, and continue to grow as life-long learners.“

The State Board of Education authorized the California Department of Education (CDE) in March 2009 to develop the School Library Standards based on California Education Code Section 18101 that required the State Board of Education to adopt standards, rules, and regulations for school library services. More than 60 research studies throughout the nation have shown that students attending schools with good libraries learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized tests than their peers in schools without libraries.

The CDE worked with the California School Library Association and other education stakeholder groups to develop the newly adopted standards.
The School Library Standards include:

·         Standards for students that delineate what students should know and be able to do at each grade level, kindergarten through grade six; or grade spans, seven to eight, and nine to twelve.
·         Program Standards that describe the collections and resources, including technology and staffing, that are expected in an effective school library that will enable students to achieve the School Library Standards for students.

The prepublication draft of the School Library Standards is posted on the California Department of Education Web page at School Libraries Curriculum Resources: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/lb/. The final publication is expected to be available early in 2011.

# # #

The California Department of Education (CDE) is a state agency led by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. The core purpose of CDE is to lead and support the continuous improvement of student achievement, with a specific focus on closing achievement gaps. For more information, please visit http://www.cde.ca.gov or by mobile device at http://m.cde.ca.gov/. You may also follow Superintendent O'Connell (@SSPIJack) on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/sspijack.


Pam Slater
Public Information Officer
Communications Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 5602
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-0818
916-319-0100 (fax)
pslater@cde.ca.gov

Role of Libraries - Chart by Minnesota Libraries Collaborative

Libraries play a role in a student's life as well as an adult's life. A chart like Minnesota Libraries Collaborative's "Role of Libraries Pre-K-20 & Beyond: Lifelong Learning" could be modified for each state, with links to State Model School Library Standards. It is rare that school, public, academic, and special library roles are presented alongside one another [outside of libraryland]. It would be even more powerful with images of people of all ages. For more detail, see MINITEX Director Bill DeJohn.

This is the kind of chart I've been imagining for years, but with more grade-level detail and silhouettes of children going up-up-up a staircase or escalator holding both books and digital devices. Now that California is about to get approval for Model School Library Standards, standard could be linked to each step or grade level.

California School Library Association Joins Education Coalition

The California School Library Association (CSLA) joined CAUSE: California Advocates United to Save Education. Strong school libraries are a key element in education reform and student success. It is good to see school librarians reaching out beyond libraryland to educate the public and educators about school libraries and the need to Model School Library Standards.

Here is CAUSE Statement of Purpose:

"We’re California Advocates United to Save Education (CAUSE), and we are building a vast grassroots network to unite everyone who cares about restoring the California Dream of a better education, better opportunities and a better life for our kids.

It's time for save public education, because last place is no place for our kids

Our children have paid the price for years of chronic underfunding of education. Our schools and colleges, once the envy of the nation, have fallen into the bottom 5 of the 50 states.

Restoring the California Dream through education

By making California once again the state where every child can receive a high-quality education, all of us benefit. Every expert agrees that the key to economic recovery is good jobs, and the key to a good job is a good education.

Our 3-Point Action Plan to Save Education

• Fix California’s broken school funding process
• Expand the middle class to restore funding for education
• Return California from the Bottom 5 to the Top 10 in education funding

We won't get there overnight, but we have a solid strategy to achieve these goals.

Working together, we can change the priorities in our state

Thousands of Californians, from Little League coaches to church leaders, are joining together in our communities to pull California back from the brink and change course toward a better future."

Call for California Model School Library Standards

California School Library Association President and LAUSD Teacher Librarian Rosemarie Bernier has alerted members that the California Model School Library Standards are not on the State Board of Education May Agenda and the meeting is May 5 – just around the corner! She has called members to action.

• The Model School Library Standards for Students delineate what students should know and be able to do at each grade level or grade span to enable students to succeed in school, higher education, and the workforce.
• Model School Library Program Standards describe base-level staffing, resources, and infrastructure, including technology, required for effective school library programs for students to meet the Model School Library Standards for Students.

The Standards are an essential tool for school districts, administrators, and teacher librarians to use when developing school library programs that meet the needs of 21st century learners.

Watch the video clip of CSLA Past President Connie Williams testifying before the State Board of Education in March. President Mitchell clearly states that the Standards will be on the May Agenda. You must tell State Board of Education President Ted Mitchell (and other Board members) the importance of the Standards to students.

CALL TO ACTION: Call President Ted Mitchell first at (916) 319-0827, then call two (2) other Board members. Click on the SBE link below for the list of Board members and their respective biographies. http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/ms/mm/

WHO Will Enforce Model School Library Standards?

The California State Board of Education requested draft Model School Library Standards in 2009. The Standards should be approved in May 2010. Once the Standards are approved, districts will have blueprints for assessing and building strong school libraries. This is excellent news. Unfortunately, there will be no funding nor requirement for schools to read or implement the Standards. Here are some questions:

• Who will effectively communicate and promote the new Model School Library Standards?
• Is there one individual or organization that school districts respect or listen to?
• Once a district learns of the Standards, how will they use them? Will they be sent to a district curriculum director or planning committee? Or sent to the person in charge of each individual library? Many school districts have systematically reduced library funding, staffing, and programs -- thus there is a need to rebuild California school libraries.
  
• Will the school accrediting commission WASC [Western Association of Schools and Colleges] use the Standards to evaluate and strengthen public school libraries? If so, how?
• Will California colleges or universities call upon "feeder" high schools to provide information and digital literacy graduation requirements?
• Will high schools call upon "feeder" middle schools to provide information and digital literacy instruction so students will be prepared for the rigors of high school research and use of digital resources?
• Will our next Governor or any of today's candidates for Governor call for the Model School Library Standards? Meg Whitman? Steve Posner? Jerry Brown? WHY NOT? What an opportunity to say and do the right thing.
  
• Other questions?
  

In the meantime, four diverse groups are using the Draft Standards for curricular guidance:

1. Universities/Colleges. Higher education is experiencing an increase in students who are not ready for college because they are not information literate; students are arriving under-prepared in research and information literacy skills. The University Association of the University of California officially endorsed the Standards.
   
2. Educational Technology Leaders. District technology leaders are frustrated in establishing digital literacy guidelines for 21st century digital learners that are grade level specific. Computer Using Educators (CUE) officially endorsed the Standards.
   
3. Parents. California parents have a profound interest in keeping their children safe on the Internet and prepared to be good cyber citizens. California PTA and many national cyber safety organizations endorse the Standards.
4. Teacher Librarians. Overwhelming research shows a strong correlation between school libraries staffed with Teacher Librarians and student achievement. California School Library Association (CSLA) strongly endorses the Standards.

Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google

Good to see a respected business publication, Forbes Magazine, carry an "intelligent investing" article about the importance of strong school libraries. "Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google" by Dulcina Media CEO Mark Moran is a article that will be shared widely within libraryland and hopefully to the policymakers and education leaders who keep shortchanging students and our future by reducing funding for school library service.

If Mark could write a series of followup articles, here are some topics he could cover:

School Library Standards -- require them! The AASL - American Association of School Librarians has developed school library curriculum standards, as have many states. in fact, research shows that strong school library programs increase student achievement, regardless of a school community's poverty level. State school library standards are important, yet do not exist in all states. Here are some California and national material that supports the case for strong school libraries as a key element in student success. Technology is a key element of a strong school library program. Sadly, library programs are often cut because they are not seen as "classrooms", when in fact they are classrooms.

• California DRAFT Model School Library Standards (2010)
• National AASL "Standards for the 21st Century Learner" (2009)

READ the Research:

1. Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's Schools (2010)
2. "Haves, Halves, and Have-Nots: School Libraries and Student Achievement" (2009)
3. School Libraries Work (compendium of state studies, charts, graphs)
   

Define "strong school library" (most parents and policymakers don't know the elements of a strong school library ...this is why school library standards are important). See"Best Seller" Campaign for Strong School Libraries. Does the library have:

• A full time, certified school Teacher Librarian and a full-time paraprofessional working as a team? This allows the teacher librarian to collaborate with teachers in co-designing instruction which incorporates information literacy into the curriculum.
  
• Lots of carefully selected books, databases, and other learning resources? Resources must reflect the school curriculum and student recreational reading needs.
• A program which provides instruction and activities for students to use the research process in finding the information they need? Research is a process, not an end product – it is the thinking process which the students benefit from, not the ultimate "find." The "find" is generally forgotten – while the process remains with them forever.
• Technology, including hardware, software, and networking that form a virtual library without walls linking students to the world of information, a cybrary that fully supports the school curriculum, 24/7?
• Its doors open before, during and after school hours, with liberal circulation policies? This means access to the school library, its resources, and staff.
  

Legislator Urges Support of Model School Library STANDARDS

California Assembly Member Jerry Hill, a "Best Seller" for strong school libraries, co-authored a letter that was sent to all legislators. In it, he outlined the importance of strong school libraries for our students, and encouraged fellow legislators to urge their local school districts to read and use the new draft Model School Library Standards.

Letter is co-signed by 6 additional legislators. Check it out and share with your "Best Sellers", school board members, parents, curriculum administrators.

School Libraries Lacking - Newspaper article

The San Mateo Daily Journal | November 09, 2009 carried an interview with yours truely in the role of concerned parent and California School Library Association VP-Communications. The front page article was headlined "School Libraries Lacking".

A strong school library program is the cornerstone of a healthy school. School libraries require buy-in from administrators, programs based on state standards, high visibility, and strong, committed advocates – like you! My message focused on state standards for school libraries, elements of a strong school library, and equity. Compelling personal story (to reporter) was how there were full-time teacher librarians at each middle and high school when my children attended them. They are now in college and beyond, but current students are getting shortchanged. Today's students are less prepared for college and careers.

AASL's new national standards and California's new DRAFT model school library standards are important BLUEPRINTS. Promote the standards so parents and policymakers can properly prioritize and fund strong school libraries.

Here are five questions you can ask in order to better understand if a school has a strong library program. Does the library have:

• A full time, certified school Teacher Librarian and a full-time paraprofessional working as a team? This allows the teacher librarian to collaborate with teachers in co-designing instruction which incorporates information literacy into the curriculum.
• Lots of carefully selected books, databases, and other learning resources? Resources must reflect the school curriculum and student recreational reading needs.
• A program which provides instruction and activities for students to use the research process in finding the information they need? Research is a process, not an end product – it is the thinking process which the students benefit from, not the ultimate "find." The "find" is generally forgotten – while the process remains with them forever.
• Technology, including computers networked to the community and the Internet; sufficient eDatabases, DVDs, audio and video technology related to the school curriculum?
• Its doors open before, during and after school hours, with liberal circulation policies? This means access to the school library, its resources, and staff.

See also the California School Library Association advocacy program, "Best Seller" Campaign for Strong School Libraries.

Standards for the 21st Century Learner -- AASL

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL)'s Standards for the 21^st Century Learner is an 8-page pamphlet. It is excellent. Download it. Print it. Highlight and use key words like READING, WINDOW TO THE WORLD, FUNDAMENTAL SKILL, INQUIRY, ETHICAL BEHAVIOR, etc. Refer to this frequently. Site the source and generously share URL or print version.

Post a print version in your library, staff room, site council meeting room, and school board meeting room. Post link on school and district websites. Include it in district and site-level library, curriculum, and technology plans.

Don't send it out in a mass e-mail. Better to personalize your message, maybe hand-deliver a copy to key curriculum and technology leaders, administrators, and parents. It is all about students, so be sure to include key messages:

• Students deserve equitable access to school libraries.
• School library standards enable schools to create strong school libraries.
• Strong school libraries build strong students!