[Tasl] FW: AASL Hotlinks - December 2007
Margaret Hausauer
margaret.hausauer at cmcss.net
Tue Dec 11 10:50:52 EST 2007
------ Forwarded Message
From: Jennifer Habley <jhabley at ala.org>
Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:17:01 -0500
To: <margaret.hausauer at cmcss.net.>
Subject: AASL Hotlinks - December 2007
************************************************************
AASL HOTLINKS
The Official Monthly E-mail Newsletter of the
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
Vol. 6, No. 9
December 2007
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Happy December!
This December Hotlinks issue brings with it a new name
to your email inbox. AASL said goodbye to
Communications Specialist Kathy Agarwal at the end of
November. We will certainly miss her and wish her the
best! Jen Habley will be temporarily filling in as
guest editor.
You'll find a lot of exciting AASL professional
development news in this month's issue! AASL is
excited to promote our winter offering of Online
Courses, our first ever Digital Institute, and our
Pre-Midwinter Institute - Reading and the Elementary
School Library Media Specialist. So, sit back,
relax, and...
... Read on!
************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE:
AASL NEWS:
1. AASL's Pre-Midwinter Institute: Reading and the
Elementary School Library Media Specialist
2. AASL Releases Report on First Longitudinal Survey
3. AASL e-Academy Online Learning for School Library
Media Specialists
4. AASL Offers Its First Digital Institute
5. $50,000 Available through 2008 AASL Awards Program
6. $30,000 Available for the National School Library Media
Program of the Year (NSLMPY) Award
AASL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
7. Gail Bush Chosen as 2007 Illinois School Library Media
Association Polestar Award Winner
ALA NEWS & NOTES:
8. New American Libraries Focus video: AASL National
Conference 2007
9. Teens Pick Books With Bite @ Your Library
10. Dungeons and Dragons to sponsor Teen Tech Week 2008
11. Great Interactive Software for Kids Announced
EDUCATION NEWS:
12. Thomas B. Fordham Foundation Unveils Report Examining AP
and International Baccalaureate Programs
13. Urban Districts Gain in NAEP Math, Show Mixed Results
in Reading
14. What American Dream - Achievement and Opportunity Gaps
Remain
15. Kentucky to Employ First Ever Rubric to Increase Parent
Involvement in Public Education
GRANTS AND AWARDS:
16. Time to Apply for the Big Read!
17. Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
18. University of Florida to Offer Asian History Workshop
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS:
19. New Web Site Spotlights Adolescent Literacy
FUNDING NEWS:
20. National Writing Project Expands Adolescent Literacy
Efforts
21. U.S. Department of Education, First Book, and Townsend
Press Launch 2007 Adolescent Readers Initiative
... AND:
22. The AASL Hotlist
/===================== ADVERTISEMENT ======================\
Critical-Thinking Skills for the Work Force of Tomorrow
-- Today!
The new Critical Thinking module of Thomson Gale's popular
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center offers activities,
assessments and tools that encourage students to interact
with, argue about and analyze issues and concepts, fostering
learning beyond rote memorization.
Learn more at:
http://www.gale.com/CriticalThinking
\==========================================================/
AASL NEWS:
1. AASL's Pre-Midwinter Institute: Reading and the
Elementary School Library Media Specialist
Join us on Friday, January 11, 2008, in Philadelphia for
AASL's Pre-Midwinter Institute: Reading and the Elementary
School Library Media Specialist. This workshop, presented
by Christina Dorr, PhD, addresses critical topics in
reading for library media specialists who teach PreK-6th
grade students. Registration is $169 for AASL members, $209
for ALA members, and $259 for non-members.
For more information:
http://www.ala.org/aasl/midwinter
Registration:
http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2008/registration.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------
2. AASL Releases Report on First Longitudinal Survey
AASL has just released the results of its first longitudinal
survey, School Libraries Count! The survey, conducted
January-March 2007, gathered data in a number of areas, such
as library staff, collections, technology, class visits, and
budgets. AASL will be using the data to develop tools to
help library media specialists advocate at the local, state,
and national level.
To see the survey and the report, visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/slcsurvey.cfm
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3. AASL e-Academy Online Learning for School Library
Media Specialists
AASL has entered into a cooperative arrangement with the
University of North Texas (UNT) project LE at D to offer
online professional development to school library media
specialists. These professional development opportunities
are offered as either self-paced or facilitated programs.
Registration for Winter courses is now open! Register
today!
For course listings and registration, please see:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aasleducation/onlinecontinuing/courses/courses.c
fm
-----------------------------------------------------------
4. AASL Offers Its First Digital Institute
AASL has launched its first ever Digital Institute.
Available as part of the AASL e-Academy online offerings,
the "Minding Your Students' Future" institute offers a rich
continuing education experience through multiple media,
including podcasts, vodcasts, and video.
Focusing on the future of learning in school library media
programs, the institute pulls together a variety of
sessions captured during the AASL 13th National Conference
& Exhibition in Reno, Nevada, October 25-28. It includes a
session on the "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner,"
AASL's newly released learning standards. Other topics
explored in the digital sessions include teaching
information literacy, research, podcasting, book
challenges, and more.
Check out the clips of the Opening General Session with Dan
Pink and register for the Digital Institute at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aasleducation/onlinecontinuing/institute/institu
te.cfm
-----------------------------------------------------------
5. $50,000 Available through 2008 AASL Awards Program
Eleven awards, grants, and scholarships recognize and
support outstanding contributions to the school library
media field in a variety of categories, including
leadership, reading, information technology, and
distinguished service to the profession. Available awards
total over $50,000.
Applications are now available for download from the
AASL Web site at:
http://www.ala.org/aasl/awards
-----------------------------------------------------------
6. $30,000 Available for the National School Library Media
Program of the Year (NSLMPY) Award
You've worked hard to establish a great school library
media program, and your efforts deserve recognition. Apply
today for NSLMPY, and be one of three possible winners to
obtain the prestigious Obelisk and $10,000. Application
deadline is January 2, 2008.
http://www.ala.org/aasl/awards
************************************************************
AASL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
7. Gail Bush Chosen as 2007 Illinois School Library Media
Association Polestar Award Winner
The Illinois School Library Media Association is pleased to
announce that Gail Bush, PhD, Professor, Reading and
Language, and Director for the Center for Teaching through
Children¹s Books at National Louis University, has been
chosen as the 2007 Illinois School Library Media
Association Polestar Award Winner. Gail received her award
at the Awards Dinner during the annual ISLMA Conference on
November 2, 2007.
For more information about the Polestar Award, please see:
http://www.islma.org/polestar.htm
************************************************************
ALA NEWS & NOTES:
8. New American Libraries Focus video: AASL National
Conference 2007
In this snapshot from AASL's 13th National Conference in
Reno, Nevada, keynote speaker Dan Pink talks about his
subversive high school librarian, keynote speaker Omar
Wasow discusses how school libraries can compete in the
age of Google, AASL President Sara Kelly Johns talks about
the new AASL learning standards, and we are introduced to a
project called "Sheet Happens."
This video is available for your use. Feel free to link to
it, share it with members or colleagues, or embed it in your
own Web site or blog:
http://alfocus.ala.org/videos/aasl-national-conference-2007
-----------------------------------------------------------
9. Teens Pick Books With Bite @ Your Library
More than 1,000 teens across the United States chose Books
with Bite @ your library as the 2008 Teen Read Week theme,
announced the Young Adult Library Services Association.
The theme was chosen in an online vote at www.ala.org/teenread
during Teen Read Week 2007.
For the news release, please see:
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/november2007/bite07.htm
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10. Dungeons and Dragons to sponsor Teen Tech Week 2008
Dungeons and Dragons, a subsidiary of Wizards of the Coast,
is the 2008 corporate sponsor for YALSA¹s Teen Tech Week,
to take place March 28. Now in its second year, Teen Tech
Week is a national initiative that helps ensure that teens
are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially
those that are offered through libraries.
For the full release, please see:
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/november2007/dd07.htm
-----------------------------------------------------------
11. Great Interactive Software for Kids Announced
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) has
selected its Fall 2007 list of Great Interactive Software
for Kids (GISK), which recognizes high-quality computer
programs and digital media for children 14 years of age and
younger.
The selected products can be found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2007/december2007/interactive07.htm
************************************************************
EDUCATION NEWS:
12. Thomas B. Fordham Foundation Unveils Report Examining AP
and International Baccalaureate Programs
On the heels of the College Board's first-ever audit of
Advanced Placement classes, the Thomas B. Fordham
Foundation unveiled a report examining the AP and
International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. The authors
generally praised AP's and IB's high academic standards and
rigorous exams. Both biology courses earned A's, and the
English and history courses scored in the B-range. The IB
math course earned a B-. AP Calculus received a C+.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.edexcellence.net/doc/APIB.pdf
-----------------------------------------------------------
13. Urban Districts Gain in NAEP Math, Show Mixed Results
in Reading
In most of the 11 big-city school districts that
voluntarily took part in the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP), continued progress has been
made in mathematics, although similar results were not seen
in reading.
For more information, see:
http://www.nationsreportcard.gov
-----------------------------------------------------------
14. What American Dream - Achievement and Opportunity Gaps
Remain
New research suggests that in addition to rampant
achievement gaps, there also is a national opportunity gap
in the United States, meaning poor and minority students do
not share the same opportunities as their rich and white
peers.
More information can be found at:
http://www.idea.gseis.ucla.edu/publications/eor07/state/index.html
-----------------------------------------------------------
15. Kentucky to Employ First Ever Rubric to Increase Parent
Involvement in Public Education
The Kentucky Parent Advisory Council has issued
recommendations and a rubric focused on increasing parental
involvement in education. In the report issued by the group,
six objectives geared to increase a community¹s stake in
public education, which included relationship building,
effective communication, decision making, advocacy, learning
opportunities, and community partnerships, were outlined.
For more information, see:
http://tinyurl.com/2mdcy3
************************************************************
GRANTS AND AWARDS:
16. Time to Apply for the Big Read!
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in
partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA),
announces the fourth deadline for the Big Read program. The
purpose of the Big Read is to revitalize the role of
literature in American popular culture. Grants ranging from
$5,000 to $20,000 are available to encourage local
communities to inspire reading through the Big Read program.
Applications are due February 12, 2008.
More information can be found at:
http://www.NEABigRead.org
-----------------------------------------------------------
17. Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program
The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program supports
efforts to recruit and educate the next generation of
librarians and the faculty who will prepare them. It also
supports grants for research related to library education
and library staffing needs, curriculum development, and
continuing education and training.
Maximum Award: $1,000,000. Eligibility: All libraries,
except federal and for-profit libraries. Eligible libraries
include public, school, academic, special, private
(not-for-profit), archives, library agencies, library
consortia, and library associations. Institutions of higher
education, including public and not-for-profit universities
and colleges, also are eligible. Deadline: December 17, 2007
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/21centuryLibrarian.shtm
************************************************************
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
18. University of Florida to Offer Asian History Workshop
The Deptartment of Asian Studies at the University of
Florida is offering a workshop on Asian history
for school librarians. New Perspectives on Early Modern
China will be held at the University of Florida and will run
for five Saturdays, January 12 & 26, February 9, and
March 1 & 29, 2008. There is no fee, and a small honorarium
will be paid to participants completing the program.
For more information:
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/asian
************************************************************
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS:
19. New Web Site Spotlights Adolescent Literacy
AdLit.org, a new Web site that targets educators and parents
of adolescent readers, was recently launched by WETA
Learning Media. Building on the success of sister sites
ReadingRockets.org, ColorinColorado.org, and LDOnLine.org,
the new service focuses on helping students from 4th
through 12th grades to read and write better.
For further information, visit:
http://www.adlit.org
************************************************************
FUNDING NEWS:
20. National Writing Project Expands Adolescent Literacy
Efforts
With a new grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York,
the National Writing Project (NWP) will focus on providing
teachers the tools to help adolescent readers achieve well
in all subjects. The three-year, $764,700 Advancing Literacy
grant will enable the NWP to increase the number of sites
offering high-quality professional development programs that
focus on improving literacy across the curriculum.
For more information, visit:
http://www.nwp.org
-----------------------------------------------------------
21. U.S. Department of Education, First Book, and Townsend
Press Launch 2007 Adolescent Readers Initiative
On November 2, Secretary Spellings announced the national
distribution of 520,000 free, new books as part of the
2007 Adolescent Readers Initiative. The initiative, a joint
venture between the Department and the non-profit entity
First Book, is designed to improve the literacy skills of
struggling young adults in low-income schools and
communities.
For more information, please see:
http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2007/11/11022007b.html
************************************************************
...AND:
22. The AASL Hotlist
Close Early Childhood Achievement Gaps by Reading,
Story-Telling
Currently, Latino children represent 21.4 percent of the
early childhood population, and that figure is supposed
to grow by 146 percent by 2050. While few differences in
parenting behaviors exist across ethnic groups, Latino
families are less likely to read books and share stories
with their children than parents from other ethnic
backgrounds.
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/fine/resources/digest/infants.html
Game Goo: Learning That Sticks!
Bored with the same old online games you play with your
kids? Here's a new site to try. This one has educational
games for beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level kids
that help develop early reading skills. Activities range
from uppercase/lowercase alphabet match for beginners,
word order for intermediates, and antonym match-ups at
the advanced level.
http://pbsmail.org/ct/S11D3w51G4z2/gamegoo
************************************************************
American Association of School Librarians
http://www.aasl.org
aasl at ala.org
50 E. Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
800 545 2433, ext. 4382
312 280 4382
fax 312 280 5276
The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is a
division of the American Library Association (ALA). The
mission of AASL is to advocate excellence, facilitate
change, and develop leaders in the school library media
field.
************************************************************
Copyright (c) 2007 American Library Association
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