SAYL MAIL January 7, 2019

School and Youth Librarian’s Newsletter from the Alaska State Library

In this issue…

  • News in Brief
  • Scholarships, Grants and Awards Opportunities
  • Training and Continuing Education Opportunities
  • As seen on Alaska School Librarian’s Facebook page
  • ASL Resource Requests
  • Employment Opportunities

In Brief

Closes January 15, 2019   AKLA Scholarships. Please check the guidelines for the School Librarian Jo Morse Scholarship.

Catch the Early Bird rates! Registration is open for the annual AKLA Conference in Juneau, Feb 28-Mar 3, 2019. Early registration has been extended to February 7th. Any questions about registration, email akla18reg@gmail.com. Early rate for members is $240. More information is available at https://akla.org/juneau2019/. Register online       

Register for the ASTE conference February 16-19th in Anchorage. Tiffany Whitehead, aka The Mighty Little Librarian will deliver the opening keynote. Relationships: The True Power Source along with additional presentations on News Literacy, Teaching Digital Learners and a librarian workshop (Examining the Sacred Cows of School Librarianship  Feb 16, 2019 9:30-11:30 am $30.00 reg. fee for this particular event /Register online )

Along with Tiffany there will be several AkASL members offering sessions on everything from coding and computer science, to STEAM and Inquiry, online resources, makerspaces and the new library standards.

TERC has been replaced with EBSCO’s Learning Express. Learning Express, Online tutorials are available and more information to come soon.

Field Testers Needed Deborah Rinio is writing an inquiry-based STEAM focused book for ALA Editions and looking for elementary library folks who are willing to field test the activities. The working title is “STEAM in 30 Minutes: Scaffolded Inquiry for the Elementary School Library.” Each chapter features three activities that use the same materials and address the same concepts, adapted for different grade levels (K-2, 3-4, and 5-6). Field testers would be asked to complete the activities with as many grade levels as possible over the span of a week and then report what worked, what didn’t, and how they modified the activities (if at all) via a Google form. Materials used are common household items and easy to obtain office supplies, such as empty cardboard tubes and rubber bands. There are 15 lessons, and field testers can help with one, two, or all fifteen if they have the time! Testing will occur in January, February, and March. Please email Deborah at northernlightslibrarian@gmail.com if you are interested in participating or have any questions. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Scholarships and Grants and Awards Opportunities

Closes February 1, 2019  

Bound To Stay Bound Inc. “My First AASL National Conference” Travel Grant

The Bound To Stay Bound, Inc. “My First AASL National Conference” Travel Grant in the amount of $750 will be given to thirty (30) first-time attendees to be used towards travel, hotel, and/or registration fees for the AASL National Conference & Exhibition.

Closes February 1, 2019

Innovative Reading Grant

Supports the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for children which motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling readers. $2500. Must be a personal member of AASL.

Closes February 1, 2019

Inspire Collection Development Grant

For an existing public middle or high school can extend, update, and diversify the book, online, subscription and/or software collections in their library in order to realize sustainable improvement in student achievement at their school. 

Closes February 1, 2019

Inspire Special Event Grant

Supports a special event so that an existing public middle or high school library can create new or enhance its extracurricular activities in order to increase student academic achievement at their school. The goal is to provide direct assistance funding to middle or high school libraries for special short-term projects or events that would create new or enhance educational activities in order to engage students with and in the library and to promote reading, books, literacy and authors. The fund is $10,000 per annum. The direct assistance is capped at $2,000 per grant.

Inspire Disaster Recovery Grant

The applicant must be a publicly funded middle or high school, grades 5-12, and have a pre-existing campus library. Each library, regardless of the variety of constituents it may serve, is limited to submission of one application. Within the past 36 months, the public middle or high school library must have lost its building or incurred damage or hardship due to a natural disaster (tornado, earthquake, hurricane, flood, avalanche, mudslide, severe winds), fire, or an act recognized by the federal government as terrorism OR has absorbed a significant number (more than 10% enrollment) of displaced/evacuee students.

Training and Continuing Ed Opportunities

Tuesday, Jan 8 (3:30-4 pm, MT) 1:30- 2:00pm AST

GIS In Your Classroom: Map Contests & More (Technology & Innovation in Education)

 ArcGIS Online has expanded resources for K-12–including additional Geo Inquiries for more content areas. In addition, there is a statewide map contest for students with prizes! Learn about the requirements and deadlines. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.tie.net/webinars

Wednesday, Jan 9 (9-10 am MT) 7-9 am AST

NCompass Live: Graphic Novel Collection and Programming (Nebraska Library Commission)

Learn new resources to find widely-appealing graphic novel selections for all age groups, toddler through teen. Join Russ Harper, Youth Services Specialist at Omaha Public Library, as he makes core collection recommendations, discusses top sellers, and how to find the hot new thing. Includes programming tips for both American comics and manga fans! For more information and to register, visit: http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

Wednesday, Jan 9 (12-1 pm MT) 10-11am AST

Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries New Applicant Webinar (Institute of Museum and Library Services) The Institute of Museum and Library Services has launched a new special initiative, Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries (APP), and is accepting grant applications now through February 25, 2019.This pre-application webinar will be held with program staff to answer questions from potential grant applicants. School libraries are eligible for this grant! For more information and to join webinar, visit: https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/acceleratingpromising-practices-small-libraries

Thursday, Jan 10 (12-1 pm MT) 10-11 am AST

Design Squad Global Inventing Green: Engage Kids in Hands-on Engineering around Sustainability (National Girls Collaborative Project)

This one hour webinar will detail how to bring Design Squad Global (DSG) Clubs to your community, including the support and resources available to make it successful. Participants will learn about the new DSG club guide “Inventing Green” that gets kids thinking about engineering and environmental sustainability. The guide challenges DSG Clubs to think about how to solve environmental problems with engineering, as well as how to create new inventions using a sustainability mindset.  For more information and to register, visit: https://ngcproject.org/events

 Saturday, Jan 12 (8-10:30 am MT) 6am-8:30am AST  

STEAM Activities for Your Classroom (SimpleK12)

Session 1: Engage Students and Enhance Learning with Innovative STEAM Activities from Google. Session 2: Connect, Create, and Collaborate with STEAM Websites, Web Tools, and Apps. Session 3: Integrate Coding Across All Subjects: It’s Easier than You Think. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.simplek12.com/webinar/

 Tuesday, Jan 15 (12-1 pm MT) 10-11 am AST

Presenting the 2019 Morris Award Finalists (Booklist)

 Join Booklist for this exciting Q&A with all five authors nominated for YALSA’s 2019 William C. Morris Debut Award, an honor presented annually to first-time authors writing for teens. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.booklistonline.com/GeneralInfo.aspx?id=63

Wednesday, Jan 16 (3-4 pm MT) 1-2 pm AST

Elementary Educator’s Guide to Primary Sources (School Library Connection)

 A compelling primary source can bring a bit of mystery or intrigue into an elementary classroom. Even in kindergarten, using an analysis process to look at primary sources can lead to student engagement, critical thinking, and empowered learning. Tom Bober, elementary school librarian and author, shares insights on the benefits of primary source analysis to student thinking and learning along with steps and strategies to unleash them in the classroom or library. For more information and to register, visit: https://schoollibraryconnection.com/

Thursday, Jan 17 (2-3 pm MT) noon-1:00pm AST

Handling the Holiday Device: Tips and Best Practices (edWeb)

In this edWebinar, join Christine Elgersma, Senior Editor of Parent Education at Common Sense Media, to learn best practices and messaging to give to both students and parents to help them navigate using that new holiday device.

 For more information and to register, visit: https://home.edweb.net/webinars/

Wednesday, Jan 23 (10-11 am MT) 8-9am AST

Reclaim Your Success: Lessons from Disrupters – Success Strategies from Women Who Break the Mold (American Management Association)

Dr. Patti Fletcher, speaker, advocate, leadership futurist, and author of Disrupters: Success Strategies from Women Who Break the Mold, shares how a disrupter’s mindset enables women to not just break the glass ceiling, but shatter it against all odds. You will take away an action plan with specific lessons learned that can be put into practice right away.  For more information and to register, visit: https://www.amanet.org/news/events-calendar.aspx

Wednesday, Jan 23 (3-4 pm MT) 1-2 pm AST

Leading Transformational Learning through Making (edWeb)

The library makerspace is emerging as a powerful vehicle for increasing library visibility and value to the student community. In this session, Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair, and Donna Burns, Technology Integrator, of New Canaan High School in Connecticut, will feature how reorganization and materials selection helped one learning community fully embrace “making” across disciplines and grade levels. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.edweb.net/emergingtech

Thursday, Jan 24 (12-1 pm MT) 10-11 am AST

National Mentoring Month: Strategies for Mentoring Girls in STEM (National Girls Collaborative Project)

The National Girls Collaborative Project is celebrating National Mentoring Month by highlighting the importance of role models and mentors in empowering girls and young women to actively pursue STEM education and careers. Join us as we cover tangible takeaways for educators seeking to utilize mentors in their programming, in addition to concrete strategies mentors can use to engage girls. We will also take time to hear from participants and discuss methods for promoting the mentoring work that inspires girls to pursue STEM. For more information and to register, visit: https://ngcproject.org/events

 Tuesday, Jan 29 (10-11 am MT) 8-9 am AST

Building and Maintaining a Graphic Novel and Comics Collection (Utah State Library)

 Graphic Novels can be one of the most popular and highest circulating formats in your library collection, but often, staff are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the format. In this webinar, graphic novel enthusiasts and longtime collection developer, Amanda Jacobs Foust, will share the secrets of purchasing, organizing and preserving graphic novels and comics in the library for all ages. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/usl-training-208844751

Tuesday, Jan 29 (1-2 pm MT) 11 am-noon AST

Footprint Foothold: Helping Students Manage Their Online Reputations (edWeb)

In this edWebinar, Sean Coffron, Ph.D. will present strategies and tools for introducing the topic of digital footprints to students and for preparing them to be thoughtful keepers of their online presences. For more information and to register, visit: https://home.edweb.net/webinars/2019-01/

 Wednesday, Jan 30 (5-6 pm MT)

Moving Diversity Forward: Using Embedded Diversity Practices to Enhance Learning Opportunities for Youth (American Association of School Librarians)

 This session will introduce participants to best practices for implementing multicultural literature into curriculums. The goal of the session is to engage participants in a meaningful, reflective discussion about the importance of diversity and inclusion as a strategic imperative for creating a sense of equality for all students. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.ala.org/aasl/ecollab/upcoming

Thursday, Jan 31 (2-3:30 pm)

Assistive Technology for Reading and Writing: An Overview of Innovative Tools for School, Work, and Home (PACER Center)

This workshop will introduce you to new tools that support reading and writing. Demonstrations will include devices from the STC lending library, mobile apps, Chrome extensions, and Microsoft learning tools. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.pacer.org/workshops/

CE Compilation courtesy of paige.bredenkamp@wyo.gov

As seen on Facebook

A Literacy Tsunami Warning for K-12 Educators

Free catalogue of Indigenous Films Online

Reading to your child and the emergent brain

Geotools connect students with the world

Looking for standards resources

The Difference a School Librarian can make

Increase Students following Social Media

Front Line Librarians on the Constant Pressure to Do More

Questions and Resource Requests @ ASL

A request was made for information regarding movie licensing for schools.

Here are some helpful links explaining how the licenses work, popular vendors and quick handouts to explain copyright and licensing to your administrator and fellow teachers.

http://libguides.ala.org/copyright/video

Comparison of the two main vendors from WebJunction

Employment Opportunities

There are none listed at this time on Alaska Teacher Placement. If you are looking outside of Alaska try the ALA Jobs List.