SLS Newsletter
October 25, 2021
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professional news
Tell Me Another Story: Diversity in Children's Literature
- To watch the 30 minute documentary: https://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/tell-me-another-story/
- To watch a 2 minute trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YYEAXz_30g
Upcoming Professional Development
Providing Support in the School Library - A Workshop for library support staff
Thursday, Dec 2, 2021, 08:30 AM
WSWHE BOCES School Support Services, Ballard Road, Gansevoort, NY, USA
Sora
Please add NY Reads to your Sora account and share!
Read-alongs: Franklin series, Frog or Toad, Food Around the World, Ana & Andrew series...
Gaming and digital citizenship titles, including Minecraft and Pokemon...
Elementary: Haunted Hospital, The Color Collector, Inspector Flytrap, Iggy Peck Architect, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, books on countries, food, sports...
YA: Akata Witch, Miss Peregrine Series, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Bone Witch, So You Want to Talk About Race, Pushout, Downstairs Girl, Geekarella, Every Falling Star...
Canon titles/Module titles: Fever 1793, Sold, A Doll's House, Jane Eyre, 1984, Twelve Angry Men, Macbeth, Animal Farm, Temple Grandin, The Crucible...
And so. Much. More.
OPALS/ILLs
"Office Hour" today (Oct 25) at 3:30
Professional Book Collection
Teach Boldly: Using EdTech for Social Good
". . . a guide for educators ready to activate positive change in teaching and learning through innovative practices, meaningful use of technology and global collaboration. The book offers a human-centered approach with design- and empathy-driven practices that address many aspects of teaching and learning. Topics covered include constructing agile classrooms, digital storytelling and communicating across lines of difference, and prioritizing feedback and active listening"--Provided by publisher.
Developing Digital Detectives: Essential Lessons for Discerning Fact from Fiction in the "Fake News" Era
This book:
- Shares meaningful lessons that move beyond traditional “fake news” protocols to help learners navigate a world in which information can be both a force for good and a tool used to influence and manipulate.
- Includes resources and examples to support educators in the work of facilitating engaging, relevant (and fun!) instructional opportunities for K-12 learners, in both face-to-face and digital learning environments.
- Unpacks the connection between social-emotional learning and information literacy.
- Includes access to the Digital Detective’s Evidence Locker, an online collection of over 100 downloadable and remixable resources to support the lessons in the book.
As the authors state: “Remember, the detective’s job is NOT to prove themselves correct. Their job is to detect the truth!” This statement reflects the way they approach the lessons in this book, providing clear and practical guidance to help educators address and overcome this ever-expanding issue."
Find it in Sora
WSWHE "ROCK STAR" School Librarian
Maria Weeks, Schuylerville Elementary School
This is Maria's 17th year as the Elementary School Librarian in Schuylerville. Prior to that she was a Middle School Librarian in Massachusetts for about 8 months. Here's what she said about being a school librarian:
I’ve always loved reading and I worked as a library page when I was in high school. People thought I was going to college to be a librarian but I never really thought of that as an option. My undergraduate degree is in Engineering and Management and I worked in industry for a few years before deciding I wanted to do something different. I started looking at library schools and I was lucky enough to find a job working for the Head Librarian at the Worcester Public Library. She really supported me while I went to Library School at the University of Rhode Island. I thought I would be a public librarian but when I got pregnant with my oldest daughter I decided to switch to the school library tract. I’m so happy I made the switch!
The kids! The kids are the best part of this job. They are funny, smart, and challenging and there is something to love about each and every one of them. They are so excited to be back in the library this year and so enthusiastic about everything we do.
We have so many things to teach our students and I only see mine once every 7 days. I’ve been trying to cram so much into each library class for the last few years and many classes felt rushed to me and my students. Now that we’re back in the library I’ve really cut back so that lessons and book checkout aren’t rushed and it’s led to some great things! My 4th grade students noticed a bulletin board showing book care tips created by second grade students. They wanted to know if they could do the same thing. I was just starting a lesson about media balance with the book “The Couch Potato” by Jory John. After reading the book to the class I quickly printed out potato templates and had the kids write things they could do instead of screen time on their potatoes. The bulletin board came out great and the other grades want to know when they will have a turn to help with a bulletin board! Slowing down is really letting us do more meaningful work in the library.
I’m always excited to share new books with students. I feel like there are so many great new authors and books coming out right now and so much more diversity. I also love how much more connected we are to authors through social media. Things like the Author Fan Face-Off run by Librarian Stacey Rattner and Author Steve Sheinkin get kids so excited about books!
Sunglass include book care tips by 2nd grade students.
Maria with her BOTB team from last year
Couch Potatoes
School Library System Staff
Karin Howansky, School Library Media Specialist
Amy Brennan-Strack, Databases, Budgets, General Information
Deb Massa, Information Processing Specialist
Email: libraryservices@wswheboces.org
Website: https://www.wswheboces.org/apps/pages/SchoolLibraryServices
Location: 267 Ballard Road, Gansevoort, NY, USA
Phone: 518-581-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WSWHE-BOCES-School-Library-System-103830155380276
Twitter: @WSWHEBOCES_SLS