SAYL Mail February 15, 2019

News and Opportunity Updates for School and Youth Librarians from the Alaska State Library

In Brief

Alaska Statewide Summer Reading Program: A Universe of Stories

Keep your ears open for more information from your local public library about the summer reading program so that you can alert students and teachers about the opportunities.

 TumbleBook Library is pleased to announce the launch of TumbleBooks of the Day!

This is a joint project between TumbleBook Library and the Alaska State Library. It provides free daily content for families, schools, and public libraries in order to promote literacy and a love of reading. In addition to Book of the Day, Math Book of the Day, Game of the Day, and Spanish Book of the Day, all in the TumbleBook format, it also includes a Fun Fact of the Day- specially customized for each state! Content changes every single day and we encourage users to login on a regular basis in order to discover the amazing books which await them.

Learning Express Offers Assistance to Students of All Ages and Adult Learners

LearningExpress provides a comprehensive selection of educational resources—including interactive tutorials, practice exams, flashcards, articles and e-books—for basic skills mastery, academic success, job preparation, and career advancement. The Alaska Library Network has bought a statewide online subscription to LearningExpress. Learning center resources include School Center, Student Success Skills, High School Equivalency Center, College Admissions Test Preparation, College Students, Adult Core Skills, Compute Skills Center, Career Preparation, and Jobs and Career Accelerator.

New Trauma-Engaged Resource Available for Alaska Schools

DEED and the Association of Alaska School Boards are pleased to jointly announce the release of a new resource for Alaska schools entitled “Transforming Schools: A Framework for Trauma-Engaged Practice in Alaska”. This innovative framework provides schools with a detailed road map illuminating the steps that can be taken to better address students’ needs.  

Scholarships, Grants and Awards

Deadline March 31, 2019   Ezra Jack Keats Mini Grant Program 2019

EJK Mini-Grant offers funding of up to $500 and the opportunity to design and implement a creative program for your school or library…. press release

Scholastic List of upcoming or ongoing library grant opportunities

http://www.scholastic.com/librarians/programs/grants.htm

Training and Continuing Ed

Tuesday February 19, 2019 @   9:00-10:00 am AKST

Everything’s Coming Up YA  (Booklist)

Get a sneak peek at forthcoming fiction and nonfiction titles from Blink YA, North Star, and West 44 Books, in this hour-long, free webinar, moderated by Booklist Books for Youth Associate Editor Maggie Reagan.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm AKST

Including Students on the Spectrum: 5 Powerful Strategies  (edWeb)

Participants will learn:

  • Ideas that work for the inclusive classroom (and often work just as well for students without disabilities)
  • Powerful, student-centered strategies and relevant research
  • Tools (e.g., checklists, forms) that can be used to implement the strategies
  • How to access a handful of free virtual resources to use and share with others
  • Ways to use these strategies with collaborative partners and teach colleagues about them

This workshop is for all skill levels and will be of interest to K-12 teachers, librarians, and occupational and speech therapists.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm AKST

Level Up! Integrating Games and Gamification (edWeb)

Games and gamification can be powerful and controversial tools for teaching and learning. This webinar will provide:

  • Background on learning, motivation, and research for using games and gamification
  • Explanation and examples of gaming to support learning
  • Strategies, examples, and opportunities for gamification to support teaching and learning

The topics of games and gamification in learning, of which individuals engaged in teaching and learning should be aware, have persistently been cited as important or cutting-edge. Games and gaming are distinguished by their specific original purposes of entertainment; however, serious games, which are most akin to simulations, are designed to educate first. Most recently, gamification applies game design elements, particularly those engendering motivation, to non-game processes like courses and instructional units. Attendees will be introduced to games and gamification and receive numerous practical examples to try in their own settings or inspire changes to existing lessons.

Thursday, February 21, 2019 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am AKST

 How to Create a School Makerspace  (Demco)

This webinar will cover the basics of starting, outfitting, and maintaining a makerspace at your school. Based in part on his best-selling book, Your Starter Guide to Makerspaces, Nicholas Provenzano will share all of his favorite tips, tricks, and tools to help you as you venture into the world of making.

Thursday, February 21, 2019 @ 9:00am-10:00 am AKST

Youth Titles Guaranteed to Jump Off Your Shelves     

Check out wonderful offerings new this spring from Cavendish Square Publishing, Enslow Publishing, Gareth Stevens Publishing, KidHaven Publishing, and Rosen Digital. Topics sure to be covered include STEM resources, news literacy, current events, social and emotional learning, and so much more! K-12 series nonfiction is what it’s all about during this must-see webinar. Booklist Books for Youth editor Sarah Hunter will moderate. 

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 @ 9am – 10 am AKST

Help Teens Build Financial Wellbeing at Your Library (WebJunction)

Join us to learn how to help your teen patrons become empowered to navigate their financial futures. As children grow, their potential to manage money and understand financial concepts grows as well. The knowledge, skills, and behaviors kids learn when they are young lay the groundwork for their financial well-being as adults, and libraries can play a role in building these important financial literacy skills.


Wednesday, February 27, 2019 @ 11:00am-12:00 pm AKST
What’s New in Children’s Literature – 2019 (Infopeople)

Join the annual review of what’s new in children’s literature, both new authors and old favorites, that you can recommend to a child – especially when you are busy! This webinar can help you discover new books that you can offer to children who use your library, including books that reflect the diversity of the children we serve. Hear about books published in late 2018 and spring 2019, which will be popular with children ages 0-12. These include board books, picture books, easy readers, transitional fiction, genre fiction for middle grades, graphic novels, poetry, nonfiction, and more! Hear about books that will be popular with a wide audience of children, including recent award-winners. Also, find out about books that fit the 2019 summer reading themes of music and travel.

Thursday, February 28, 2019 @3:00 p.m. AKST 

Standards at Your Fingertips: AASL Standards Mobile App for School Library Educators (AASL eCollab) FREE

This session, dedicated to the AASL Standards Mobile App, defines some of the most appropriate uses for school library educators. We will clarify and explain the content of the app and its use as a companion tool to the print publication of the National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries. (FREE)

Wednesday, March 6, 2019  9:00 a.m. AKST

Using Makerspaces to Build Teacher/Librarian Collaboration (AASL) FREE

This session will demonstrate to participants how use of 3D printing can help teachers augment their lessons, develop higher order thinking and research, and give students exposure to 21st century technology. School librarian Harry Ostlund and social studies specialist Ryan Fontanella will share how their campus/district worked to create “archival boxes” – boxes of premade lessons incorporating various elements of the library’s digital and print resources available for checkout by teachers for use in the classroom. (FREE)

 

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am AKST

Help Students Use Video to Demonstrate Learning with Powtoon and Biteable   (edWeb)

Most students would rather use digital tools to demonstrate their learning instead of traditional paper and pencil. Is this feasible with your current classroom technology situation? Let’s find out together! Join this edWebinar with school administrator and educational consultant Shannon Holden as he explores the features of two of the most popular video creation tools—Powtoon and Biteable.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm EST

Social-Emotional Learning in the Library

 

Integrating social-emotional learning into the learner experience is becoming a priority among school districts but competing initiatives vie for professional development and instructional time. The library program can serve as a vehicle to incorporate emotional wellness into each student’s day.

In this edWebinar, Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair at New Canaan High School, CT, will explore the many ways in which school librarians can support their learning communities through co-teaching, making, reading, and more. This edWebinar will be of interest to K-12 librarians, teachers, and administrators. Michelle will answer questions throughout her presentation.

As seen on Alaska School Librarians Facebook Page

Our Alaskan Schools

There is a new blog with an open invitation to contribute what great things are happening in Alaska’s schools. A project of the Alaska Council of School Administrators and the Alaska Staff Development Network. An opportunity to submit positive stories about your school. Send submissions to sjordan@alaskaacsa.org