Welcome

The issues of the teacher librarians and para-professionals in California School Libraries. Please share your concerns, feedback and questions.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

FREE Resource from AASL- Inspire Girls to STEM Careers!


Sign up by February 14th to receive your FREE CanTEEN Toolkit (www.ala.org/aasl/canTEEN).  AASL has partnered with the Carnegie Science Center: Girls Math & Science Partnership (GMSP) to inspire girls to see themselves in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers through gaming and online activities. 

As part of the Can*TEEN Career Exploration initiative, the Carnegie Science Center has developed the Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library Interactive game, a new spin on the classic gaming style of multiple choice trivia questions. AASL, working with the Carnegie Science Center, and with support from the Motorola Foundation, will help distribute Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library Interactive toolkits to more than 2,500 school librarians serving children ages 10-14.  This offer is available to any school librarian serving students ages 10-14.

School librarians who participate will receive a free kit for their school library and will be asked to complete a follow-up survey at the end of the school year. The survey will  evaluate how frequently the toolkit was checked out and how it was used in within the school. More information and the opt-in form can be found on the AASL website at www.ala.org/aasl/canTEEN.

More information on the Can*TEEN Career Exploration initiative can be found at www.canteengirl.org/library.Want to see the game in action? Check out clips from recent playtests, featuring two of the women who helped make the Can*TEEN Interactive at www.canteengirl.org.


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

2013 Healthivores Video Game Contest – Simple and Rewarding Approach to Student Game Design

Looking for something a little different to teach digital literacy skills?  Maybe you have some teachers in your school who would like to use these lessons or students who would like to participate?  I was thrilled that the organizers were reaching out to librarians to get the word out on this project.  Jessica Gillis

Are you a teacher with zero video game design experience? NO PROBLEM! This year’s Healthivores Video Game Contest has begun and its easier than you think.  Check out the included Lesson Plan that will take teachers, even those with zero game design experience, step-by-step through the process of teaching your students to design games.  You will have your students completing their video games in less than 4 weeks.  This year we have added Technology, Science and Math focused Lesson Plan options to the already popular Nutrition and Fitness Lesson Plan.  Each winning team will receive one laptop for the teacher, one for the school and one for each student on the team (See 2012 Winners here). Deadline for entry is March 31, 2013 (allow 4 weeks for completion of Lesson Plan).  Get started now at the Healthivores Video Game Contest homepage! - Green Ribbon Schools

Friday, February 1, 2013

CSLAsr February Event! Section 1 - Bakersfield



Section 1 Event

The Public Libraries serve many of our School Library patrons.  Creating a partnership with the Public Libraries may help them serve our patrons better, and allow us to offer more resources when we don’t have something available in our library. 
CSLA Southern Region, Section 1, invites all CSLA members and library personnel to explore the possibilities of a partnership with the Public Library.
Flickr CC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34606192@N00/288022773
When:   Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Time:    4pm-6pm
Where:  Beale Memorial Library
             701 Truxtun Avenue
             Bakersfield, CA 93301

What:  We will get a tour of the Beale Memorial Library, and then meet in a reserved room.  Two public librarians, including the children’s librarian, will join us for great collaboration and discussion time.  This should open some dialogue about how we can work together to support our mutual patrons, including the new Common Core State Standards.
RSVP:  In order to provide enough drinks and snacks, I need to know how many people are coming.  Please RSVP by February 11, to Sondra Keckley at Sondra_keckley <AT> kernhigh.org
Cost:  Free to CSLA members, $5 for non-members