CSLA #BetterTogether DL Week of May 26-28, 2020

Join us as we work to support you and your work with an opportunity called CSLA #BetterTogether DL!

Join the California School Library Association for #BetterTogether DL as we finish out our sessions for May. The Zoom gatherings give school library professionals a medium to discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on schools, educators, and learners.

This is our last week! Join in Tuesday through Thursday from 1:00-2:00 pm PT.

Our approach is to offer strategic content suggested by the recent survey and lighten the “lift.” You are already amazing and we’re here to share ideas and support you! We are #BetterTogether!

Here are the topics for May 26-28

Tuesday, May 26	Leveraging Twitter
Wednesday, May 27	Summer Programming & Planning
Thursday, May 28	Bring It--get answers to your pressing questions

Click on this link to register for this week’s topic. You will receive the Zoom link prior to the event.

We're #Better Together!
The CSLA Executive Board

Dr. Lesley Farmer receives the Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship

CHICAGO — Dr. Lesley Farmer, Professor of Educational Technology and Media Leadership at California State University, Long Beach, (CSULB) is the American Library Association (ALA) 2020 Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship recipient.

"The award, which seeks to acknowledge exceptional contributions to promoting the field Library Science, reflects her accomplishments and service to the profession.

During Dr. Farmer’s career, which spans several decades, she has shown a strong commitment to teaching, research and promoting school librarianship, that is unequalled in the field. Her professional work addresses the vital role that school librarians play in assuring the lasting significance of building strong literacy and information skills in k-12 schools.

As a professor at CSULB, Dr. Farmer helped create and later revise the Teacher Librarian Credential Program, in Education, Option in Educational Technology and Media Leadership, part of the Master’s Degree track. She has also been acknowledged for her vast experience and professional expertise in public and academic agencies throughout the world.

Her extensive experiences have also been acclaimed by many groups within the library community."

Congratulations Dr. Farmer!

Link to ALA News Article

WASC and TEACHER LIBRARIANS

WASC AND TEACHER LIBRARIANS 
A guide by the CSLA Committee on Standards Integration
2020-21-Focus-on-Learning-School-Libraries.pdf

Most K-12 and post-secondary schools seek regional accreditation. The process for accreditation is a powerful stimulus for schools to re-examine or define their goals and objectives. It is an opportunity to look introspectively at the instructional program of the school and to write descriptions that emphasize both accomplishments and the need for change. Furthermore, this process publicly recognizes a school’s planning and achievement, which makes them more desirable and marketable.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) serves as the accrediting commission for K-12 schools and not-for-profit, non-degree granting postsecondary institutions. Its commission is composed of 32 representatives from education. WASC insures “that an institution has clearly defined objectives appropriate to education; has established conditions under which their achievement can reasonably be expected; appears in fact to be accomplishing them substantially; is so organized, staffed, and supported that it can be expected to continue to do so; and demonstrates that it meets WASC’s criteria and accreditation standards.”

How can WASC help support school libraries? The WASC process is an opportunity to showcase the library program. It is an opportunity for participation and leadership in the self-study and action plan. WASC also provides an opportunity for teacher librarians to participate beyond the school self-study by visiting and reviewing comparable schools, and gaining a greater voice in WASC itself.

To support school libraries in this process, the CSLA Committee on Standards Integration updated the organization’s Focus on Learning WASC/CDE Process Guide for School Library Programs. This 2020 version includes the newest state and national relevant standards. The guide helps school librarians and the rest of the school community to interpret, assess and develop the library program.

The guide follows the WASC Focus on Learning Manual. It explains self-study groups and the five WASC categories by which the school program is examined, providing indicators of high-quality school library programs. The guide also suggests types of questions to ask and evidence to demonstrate school library quality and impact. A rubric of is also included as a way to assess the library’s staffing, services and resources in light of the state-approved model school library program standards.

The guide can be used in several ways:

• Make copies of Focus on Learning available in the library – and the principal’s office.
• Read the entire document carefully.
• Highlight items that are impacted by, or have potential impact for, the library program.
• Highlight phrases and items relevant to the library program (e.g., resources, technology, critical thinking, problem solving, lifelong learning, etc.). Each highlighted item should be addressed in the self-study.
• Incorporate sample indicator statements and examples of supporting evidence.
• Include statements about the library program and facility throughout the report.
• Include a separate “Status of the Library” report using the Model School Library Standards as an evaluation rubric.
• Refer to California’s Education Code, state and national school library standards, and district guidelines to justify the school library’s role in contributing to the school’s accreditation.

As a key member of the school’s self-study team, teacher librarians are highly encouraged to: join the Leadership Team of chairs and other representatives, join at least one of five focus home groups, and Use the CSLA Focus on Learning guide to point out the role of the library program within each focus.

To further support the use of the CSLA Focus on Learning guide, the Committee on Standards Integration has created a PowerPoint (What’s with WASC? YOU!) to train school librarians and another  PowerPoint (Who’s with WASC and TLs?) to train the school community and WASC teams.

Teacher librarians have the power to impact student success – and the school community at large. The CSLA Focus on Learning guide helps to make that point essential.

What’s with WASC.pptx

What’s with WASC and TLs.pptx

CSLA #Better Together DL! Monday-Thursday May 18-21, 2020

Join us as we work to support you and your work with a weekly opportunity called CSLA #BetterTogether DL!

Join the California School Library Association for #BetterTogether DL throughout the month of May. The Zoom gatherings give school library professionals a medium to discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on schools, educators, and learners.

Specific topics will be announced each week in the month of May. Join in Monday through Thursday from 1:00-2:00 PST.

Our approach is to offer strategic content suggested by the recent survey and lighten the “lift.” You are already amazing and we’re here to share ideas and support you! We are #BetterTogether!

Here are the topics for May 18-21:

Monday, May 18	Nearpod DigCit
Tuesday, May 19	Google Tips and Tricks
Wednesday, May 20	Engaging the Non-Reader
Thursday, May 21	SEL Connections

Click on this link to register for this week’s topic. You will receive the Zoom link prior to the event.

We're #Better Together!

The CSLA Executive Board

#Better Together DL Monday thru Thursday 1:00pm PT

Join us as we work to support you and your work with a weekly opportunity called CSLA #BetterTogether DL!

Join the California School Library Association for #BetterTogether DL throughout the month of May. The Zoom gatherings give school library professionals a medium to discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on schools, educators, and learners.

Specific topics will be announced each week in the month of May. Join in Monday through Thursday from 1:00-2:00 PT.

Our approach is to offer strategic content suggested by the recent survey and lighten the “lift.” You are already amazing and we’re here to share ideas and support you! We are #BetterTogether!

Here are next week’s topics:

Monday, May 11	Google Q&A (every Monday)
Tuesday, May 12	Role of the Teacher Librarian in Distance Learning
Wednesday, May 13	Being a Librarian without a Library
Thursday, May 14	Website Design

We're #Better Together! Click on the link to register. 

Join Katie McNamara as Guest Panelist CDW/G Distance Learning Webinar Series Tues, April 21, 11:00am

Join CSLA President Katie McNamara who will be a guest panelist on the CDWG Ed Stategist team sharing effective assessment strategies! The team will discuss ways to help students be successful with distance learning as well as in the classroom. Also included are ways to quickly assess and provide feedback. There are Q&A sessions throughout the webinar. 

Hope you can join Katie on Tuesday, April 21 at 11:00 PST. Please RSVP at https://buff.ly/3dFSrcZ  

CSLA & Bay Area CUE Unconference for Educators, Sat., April 25 at 1:00pm

Questioning? Curious? Stressed? Confused?

About Technology Platforms and Apps

Bay Area CUE is hosting Virtual Unconference co-hosted by California School Library Association. 

Our goal is to bring together current educators from many different school sites and districts throughout the Bay Area together to learn from each other.

This is a participant-driven unconference for K-12 educators. The unconference model promotes professional learning for educators by educators.

When you register for this event, part of the registration form asks for topic suggestions, i.e. what you would want to learn or get information about topics around technology.

To be prepared for this event, participants will need to have Zoom and Google Drive loaded on the device being used.

Register for this Virtual Unconference at CUESF.eventbrite.com

We hope to see you there!