01 MOVING INTO THE

August 30,
Volume 1
21ST CENTURY Transforming the Classroom and Library Together

STUDENT SUCCESS

One great way to ensure student success is by encouraging

your students to make regular trips to the library.  Studies
show that access to books can ameliorate the effects of poverty
(Krashen, 2012). Another Colorado study adds that when library
programs close or lose endorsed librarians, students suffer
academically (Lance, 2012).  Libraries are essential. Raise your
students' reading scores by doing regular read-alouds and
discussing a variety of books. Not sure what to read? Come by
and I can recommend booklists by grade level.

Techy Teaching PROJE C T SEASON:

Use a great retelling app like Chatterpix to
teach sequencing or use Google Images to HONESTLY, USE
TE C HNOLOGY
create book trailers of students' favorite
books. If students don't feel inspired to get
their AR points from traditional books, use
MackinVIA where students can read Ebooks
and take an AR test right in the same place! A s s i g n i n g a R e s e a r c h P r o j e c t

During this season of assigning projects, the advantages of using technology can blur
the integrity of creative thinking. It's best to discuss in length what plagiarism is and
how your students can avoid it. Plagiarism is “taking someone else’s work and passing it
off as one’s own without proper acknowledgment or documentation" (ALA.org). With
the ease of technology, copying and pasting text is rampant. It's a clear violation and
considered theft of intellectual property. However, citation is curation. Teach your
students how to quote authors and paraphrase. Giving credit to the author is vital.
Explore Turnitin.com where as a teacher you can detect plagiarism and provide helpful
feedback on students' essays. Citationmachine.net will generate citations in any format.

So how does one go about using someone else's work fairly? There are several factors
that constitute fair use.  According to Stanford University Libraries, fair use of
copyrighted intellectual property includes commentary or criticism like book reviews
and parodies. Taking a significant amount of work from the original author is not
acceptable.  Smaller portions are permissible. Lastly, as long as students use their work
for educational purposes and avoid seeking profit, they are on the right track
(fairuse.stanford.edu). Recommend websites like Flickr and Pixabay for image use.

In this Digital Age, controversy is everywhere. Here are important points to know according
to the American Library Association regarding challenges to materials. Students have a
right to privacy and unrestricted access to information due to the exercise of free speech
and free expression. When dealing with parents and their concerns, explain that freedom of
choice is imperative in any democracy and the library is committed to that. If the situation is
not resolved, please refer the parent to me and I can answer any questions they may have.
 And the Award Goes to...Read These Newly Awarded Books

Caldecott Award Winner:
Leave Me Alone!
Leave Me Alone is a Caldecott Award
winning picture book by Vera Brosgol that
offers a funny twist of a folktale. The tale
begins with an old woman who can't find any
"Me" time to finish her knitting and has to run
away from everything like goats and even
aliens! Enjoy!
Newbery Award Winner:
The Inquisitor's Tale  Esquivel, Space-Age Sound Artist
Adam Gitwitz's newest fantasy book is set
during Medieval times where three unlikely
protagonists must escape persecution and a
flatulent dragon. There are rich themes
throughout this silly must-read novel.
Pura Belpre Award Winner:
Susan Wood's biographical picture book on
Juan Garcia Esquivel's out-of-this-world music
will get your kids moving to that beat! Play
some of his music and enjoy Duncan
Tonatiuh's lively illustrations with your
students.

Bibliography
-Krashen, S., Lee, S., & McQuillan, J. (2012). Is The Library Important? Multivariate Studies ant the National and
International Level. Journal of Language & Literacy Education, 8(1), 26-38. Retrieved from
http://jolle.coe.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Is-the-Library-Important.pdf
-Lance, K. C., & Hofschire, L. (2012). Change in School Librarian Staffing Linked with Change in CSAP Reading
Performance, 2005 to 2011. Denver, CO: Colorado State Library, Library Research Service.
-http://www.ala.org/yalsa/profdev/yachallenges.
-http://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/four-factors/.
-Book award images found on Google Images

One Final Note:

Assigning research projects in elementary may seem intimidating, but it
is a worthy endeavor. Teaching children early on how to research is a
vital skill and you can easily tie in your grade level's curriculum. For
instance, if you are teaching food chains start out with a simple topic like
Librarian:
researching a particular animal. Meet with me beforehand and I can set Nicole
aside age-appropriate books on the animals that are available in the
library. Students can choose their animal and using what they have Hernandez
learned they can create their own food chains using a tablet. Students
can even collaborate with each other and place their animals into
categories of predator or prey.