For Modules 6 and 7 we were tasked with exploring some new tools.
Module 6: Supporting Learners through the Library: Digital Literacy
The prompt this week was to build a digital toolkit. We were challenged further to do that with a new tool: Symbaloo. Perhaps not new to all of us, it certainly was to me. Symbaloo seems to be a nice sticky board of tools. Quite easy to use, Symbaloo organizes various web-links into webmixes. I created one for this assignment and it can be accessed through this link!
"11 Ways to Use Symbaloo in the Classroom" from the edublogger
I organized the webmix into three main section: the top left section includes ready to use (or nearly) lesson plans and ideas; the top right area includes various digital tools or apps (probably what this week was meant to focus on but I got distracted...) that could be used to represent student work in a different way. I am new to many of these but am intrigued by Powtoon, Padlet and Smore. Finally, the bottom middle section are various support apps that could be incorporated into a lesson - such as Ted - or as useful resources for students such as Reading Eggs. I still need to explore many of these apps further as some require payment / account creation. For now, at least I am creating a snapshot of tiles to investigate! Let me know if you think I am missing anything important!
Mod 7: Teacher Librarian as Educational Leader
In Module 7 we were given the following prompt: "What do we know about Teacher Librarians as educational Leaders?" We were encouraged to try the tool Padlet; since I was still in the middle of creating my Symbaloo webmix I thought this was the perfect opportunity to investigate a tool further. I also thought the prompt lended itself well to a KWL chart so I chose that format for my Padlet. Check it out below. Overall I found Padlet very simple to use and enjoyed the versatility. The free account allows me to make three separate Padlets. I wonder if I can write over top of them once I am finished?
My ideas here on TLs as Educational Leaders are, I'm sure, the tip of the iceberg. In connecting back to my Essential Question: How to use the Learning Commons as a place to inspire lifelong learning (I'm still working on the phrasing...)? Using and showcasing tools like these is an essential component to inspiring lifelong learning. Yes, inspiring a love of reading is what got me on this track but learning is about more than just reading and sometimes we need neat and innovative ways to share our learning to keep it interesting! I love the idea of holding a Tech-Tip-Tuesday or something of the sort in the Library at noon. On these days a new tool, app, or technology tip would be showcased (hopefully by experts other than myself) and students and staff would have a quick way of getting introduced to new technology and how it works. If other teachers are like myself then they want to learn more tools, figure out how to use them and integrate them - but they lack the time to investigate them properly. Quick introductions such as these could really help!
*Note: As I am presenting this via my blog I have relaxed the tone somewhat. If I were presenting this to my school Administrative team I would formalize the language.
Rationale: Why Focus on Literacy?
First, I should clarify that for this specific Literacy Action Plan the term literacy refers to students and staff reading - in some form or another - and sharing that reading. There are many reasons that I could provide for why a school and Library Learning Commons should focus on improving their literacy program. For example, it is widely accepted that literacy skills are a strong predictor of future success (Miller & Kelley, 2013). Neil Gaiman even touches on the strong correlation between increasing prison populations and the decreasing literacy rate (2013). One study focused on how reading a chapter of a book a day can literally lengthen your life (Bavishi, Slade & Levy, 2016). Not to mention that reading fiction can make us more empathetic which would make the world a better place all around - not bad, right? (Gaiman, 2013).
While these are all very compelling reasons on their own, it wasn't until I watched Stephen Krashen's lecture on "The Power of Reading" that I knew this had to be my primary focus (find the video lecture below - and watch it!). While the lecture in its entirety is absolutely worth your time, the first fifteen minutes give you the main focus: reading for fun is the best teacher of reading ability - improving grammar, spelling, and overall writing style (Krashen, 2012). If reading for fun is the greatest teacher we have, then we need to encourage kids and teachers alike to read for fun as much as possible.
Goals:
Pen-Hi Library:Historical &
Classic Fiction
Foster a school environment that "loves literacy". Students and teachers alike should be reading for fun in their spare time - and sharing what they are reading with others. The LC will be the hub of this program. Read about my post on how I came to this focus here.
Current Situation:
An amazing Teacher-Librarian is employed at the Learning Commons of Pen-Hi. She has made some excellent changes in the last two and a half years since becoming TL at this school. These include:
Genre-fying the Learning Commons. Students are now able to find a book according to genre.
Providing comfortable and flexible seating that makes the LC a more welcoming environment.
Having a "rapid reads" section at the front of the LC...and more!
School library well used for the computer lab and many teachers bring their students by regularly to choose books
With the exception of this month (as the report was run prior to month's end) - circulation has been increasing.
No school-wide SSR - most English teachers do require some reading in class but it is up to each teacher and depends on the day - this may consist of reading for pleasure or assigned book depending on the day.
Action Items:
Host a staff Pro-D on the importance of fostering literacy in the school
Generate some ideas for promoting reading overall - book doors, email signatures, collective reading count....and create a timeline
Writing competitions that are recognized Nationally - advertise CBC National Writing Competitions
Pen-Hi Library:
Graphic Novel Section
Hold our own Battle of the Books within Debate Club.
Timeline:
Overall timeline is a 2-3 year plan to increase Literacy awareness and support including the implementation of a school-wide SSR Program
Year One:
Present at a school Pro-D/ within a staff meeting on the importance of fostering a culture of reading. Use some tips from Reading in the Wild (perhaps even do a staff book club on this book) to get things going. Use excerpts from Krashen's lecture.
Challenge staff members to show off their personal reading (and to start reading for fun if they haven't!). Add a signature to their email of their "currently reading".
Connect with Art Teachers to create vivid book displays for each month.
Have staff create their "Book Doors" as an extension of the Pro-D. Any staff who work in the room (ie. EA's, rotating teachers etc.) should participate in the creation of the book door.
On Learning Commons website link to Literacy blogs and teaching material to support both students and staff in the Literacy Initiative. See some resources below.
Host a Learning Commons book club - student driven teacher facilitated.
Year Two:
After ground work (above) is laid, propose the adoption of school-wide SSR to administrators. See proposal here. Include staff surveys ahead of time to address potential issues.
Advertise and hold one writing event per semester. See list below for ideas - but teachers and students can suggest original ideas too.
Connect with Debate Club to host our own Battle of the Books - possibly hosting Elementary Schools (inspired by MSS Library Learning Commons' event)
Start and maintain the Learning Commons blog that includes a Twitter feed of book quotes, Instagram for the book doors, student book reviews on current reads etc. Find students to help create content and maintain site.
Blogs: Edutopia's Blog on Literacy: This blog promotes the use of "Find and share strategies for helping students read for knowledge, write coherently, and think critically about the written word." Keys to Literacy Blog: "Literacy Lines focuses on the best instructional practices for teaching reading and writing to students of all ages. Posts are by Keys to Literacy staff and guest educators"
Kimberly Tyson's "Learning Unlimited" Blog: focuses on practical tips and strategies for parents and teachers alike in meeting their child's literacy needs. The Literacy Blog: a blog for "teachers, parents, educational psychologistst and educators interested in literacy". Includes general posts on literacy as well as skill-focused posts. Literacy Worldwide Blog: Presented by the International Literacy Association, this blog focuses on key issues in literacy such as the best way to promote adolescent engagement in literacy. Shanahanon on Literacy: Timothy Shanahanon's blog (past president of Interanational Literacy Association). Each post focuses on a thought provoking question such as "Is it really sensible to teach students to read like Historians and Scientists?" References
Bavishi, A., Slade, M. D., & Levy, B. R. (2016). A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity.Social Science & Medicine (1982),164, 44-48.
Canadian Library Association. (2014). Leading learning: Standards of practice for school library learning commons in Canada. Ottawa: ON Retrieved from https://www.seobrothers.co/resources/clatoolbox_files/llsop.pdf on September 25, 2018
Kelley, S., & Miller, D. (2013) Reading in the wild: The book whisper’s keys to cultivating lifelong reading habits.San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. p.88-128 Krashen, S. (2012, April 5). The power of reading. The COE lecture series. University of Georgia. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSW7gmvDLag
