Know & Go Volume 5 | Issue 2

Parkway School District

Know & Go Updates @your Library

Library Services

What does it mean to be a librarian in the digital age?

Volume 5 | Issue 2

Notes & Reminders Makerspace Purchases from Lib Service Budget As you know you have up to 10% of your Library Services budget to purchase makerspace items for the library. In order to accommodate these orders and make purchasing the most efficient, please complete your orders in the this Google Form. Please allow plenty of time for items to arrive because Nancy will be bundling PO orders together for efficiency.

Grant Information From Tech & Learning The list of educational grants and deadlines are available on the techlearning.com website. Also available are tips and other ongoing opportunities. Please be sure to contact Patrick Shelton, the District Grants and Funding Coordinator.

SLCL Open House Learn about all the services that SLCL offers you and your students Thursday, September 19th from 4 to 6pm SLCL Headquarters 1640 S Lindbergh Blvd.

St Louis, MO 63131 To rsvp, register email dschumann@slcl.org or call 314-994-3300 with your name, title, and school district.

ILL Friendly Reminder There has been concerns about how to fill an ILL request, so as a back-to-school friendly reminder please make note of the linked procedure. There has also been questions on how to properly place an ILL request. Click on the links below and save to your Drive for future reference.

Placing an ILL Request Filling an ILL Request

Answers to FAQs ●

Library Services Site

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#Future Ready Resources

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Library Services Policies (Schoolwires login required)

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Librarians List 2017-2018

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Who To Call

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Makerspace Ordering Sheet

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Ordering procedures

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Follett ordering w/screenshots

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Follett Acct #'s

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Follett req Instructions

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Building budget Sub librarian list

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Sub Training Videos

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Ordering/renewing databases HS only

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Destiny FAQ

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Free Lib Books @ Lib Serv

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District Surplus Property Procedures

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Record a PD event

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Travel & Reimbursement (BOE) Guidelines

Notes & Reminders Cont’d Growth Measures Reminder The Growth Measure Assessment window will be open from September 11th - September 29th. During that time period, EVERY 4th grader in your building needs to have taken the assessment. This includes students who are absent the day that you give it to a specific class so be sure that you keep track and get those who have missed the assessment at another time.

Point your students to the following short URL - www.tinyurl.com/4thgrowth and have them complete the assessment by September 29th. I will then get it graded and share the results with you. If you need more time, please let me know on an individual basis.

One more thing, it’s extremely important that your students get their student number correct. For most this isn’t an issue but you might want to have a print out just in case you have that handful of students who don’t know because they are new to the district or just forgot.

BOE Travel & Reimbursement Changes The Board approved new policy and guidelines for travel reimbursement in June 2017. Please take a few minutes and review the following Board Doc at https://goo.gl/Zs71YE. There has been a number of changes.

Curates Digital Resources & Tools

Book Creator is Now LIve for Chromebooks

Earlier this summer Book Creator, a massively popular iPad app, was made available in a beta version for teachers to try on Chromebooks. Now the Chrome version of Book Creator is available to all teachers and students. You can access the new Chrome version of Book Creator at app.bookcreator.com.

With Book Creator, teachers and students can create multimedia books with videos, images, drawings, and text. Books can then be saved in Google Drive and shared.

Learn about the world with Voyager You can tour the world and learn about other countries using Voyager. Voyager is a collection of map-based stories written by Google Earth partners that’s updated weekly.

You can see Guided Stories, or tours, on topics like travel, culture, nature, and history.

See how to start a guided tour at support.google.com. Note: Terms of Service require students to be 13 years of age.

Use of Time & Space Strategies for Building a Flexible Library Program In our program evaluation it was found that we needed to be responsive to our community and under that topic the recommendation was to ● utilize flexible scheduling ● limit the number of release minutes ● schedule time for intentional collaboration between the librarian and teachers, teams, and coaches

We need to start planning now in order to have strategic conversations when it is time to create the master schedule in the spring. That planning includes ● Building a relationship with administration (this is huge) ● Sharing data (the benefits in relation to test scores - possible PLP goals with one class or team), ● Fostering collaboration, ● Being aware of building CSIP goals and curriculum

This is something we wholeheartedly believe in as a library program but are unable to completely articulate the whys and hows of our beliefs so that we can build a flexible library program. It seems that the master schedule is just happening to us rather than us guiding the transition to at least a partially flex schedule. This is where advocacy about what is means to be a digital age librarian comes into play. We have to strive for Here is what needs to be considered as clear communication of our role in the you have conversations with admins building. So, how do we do this? The throughout the school year library menu of services and resources is ● The library schedule is a a great place to start, but also consider reflection on the school's sharing what happens when teaching and learning librarian/teacher collaboration is philosophy (obviously you can’t happening: say this but know the reality).

Benefits for students: ● Library programs embrace a ● More individual attention and model of dynamic library help access. .. at the point of need. .. ● Better use of information and on demand resources continue technology to share this ● Providing more access to ● Flexible schedule ensures information and help planned co-teaching occurs ● Progress as a reader, an ● Supports curriculum based investigator and creative user of need for library resources technology ● Flexibility facilitates the as ● More opportunities to create, needed basis to foster make collaborate, build, research, training, and construct, think and do utilization of technology with Benefits to teachers: guidance ● Plan, teach and assess together ● Regularly scheduled classes to because the whole is greater provide release or prep time than the sum prohibits best practice (See ● Two complementary sets of AASL position statement) expertise ● Students need open access to ● Embedded skills to achieve use information sources, read higher content knowledge for pleasure, and collaborate ● The of more reading, quality with each other (ensuring equity information and best technology of access- program evaluation to boost learning guideline) ● More students are likely to meet the expectations of both partners

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It's a foundation for deeper learning Teaching students once a week on a fixed schedule is ineffective and learning is not assured

When it comes to sharing data, consider collecting data on collaboration, for example: ● Emails, meetings with teachers, comments in Google Drive, etc. ● Touch base on a regular basis to help them determine what pieces of their lesson plan would make the most sense to teach in the library ● Determine what you can bring to their lessons: technology, library resources, stations, and hands-on activities ● Working with new teachers to understand the reading interest of students regardless of reading level and understanding the love of reading by using audio and ebooks (circulation) for reading support In order to foster collaboration think about how you might approach topics with teachers: ● From a Future Ready stance of building Instructional Partnerships ● That you are there to advocate for students ● Library time is an extension of the classroom ● Library curriculum is the entire Parkway curriculum ● The library is a point of need service The responsibility for flexibly scheduled library programs must be shared by the entire school community: the BOE, administrators, principals (APs), librarian, and teachers. This can only be done by advocacy of the librarian role, data, and small steps to the bigger picture. See the notes and resources collected on this topic at https://goo.gl/X4161f

Empowers Students as Creators

#ParkwayMakes MOBILE MAKERSPACES AT PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT Recently, Library Services was contacted by the Office of Education Technology Department and their Writing & Outreach team to tell a more in-depth story of our Parkway Mobile Makerspaces (which was highlighted in National Ed Tech Plan that was released early this spring). Below is the article that can be found on their website.

Parkway School District serves approximately 17,000 students in St. Louis County, including some in the voluntary transfer program from St. Louis City. While the district’s 30 schools have earned top honors – 17 have been named ED Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence – staff wanted to further enhance student learning.

Central to district’s mission is ensuring that students become “capable, curious, caring, and confident” learners. District leaders felt students had ample growth opportunities in three of those areas, but needed more experiences to develop curiosity. As they researched promising approaches and analyzed nationwide trends in library programs, Maker Spaces – and the Maker Movement – kept coming up on their radar.

This Movement is inspiring students, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens to learn vital STEM skills, with a focus on electronics, robotics, 3-D printing, and other cutting-edge technologies, as well as more traditional design and craft skills.

The Maker Movement seemed a perfect fit for Parkway, where each district school has its own librarian, and efforts were already underway to maximize their knowledge, skills, and expertise. (Cont’d on the next page)

Builds Instructional Partnerships Help Teachers Promote Student Ownership at the Beginning of School with these 6 Projects Don’t Wait to Innovate!

Teachers often begin the school year with team-building activities or a review of the rules and procedures. But what if we began with student-centered projects? The following is an exploration of six student-centered projects to launch at the beginning of the school year. Taken from the John Spencer blog post.

Note that this post was inspired by a comprehensive, practical recent post by A.J. Juliani.

Also share the PBS Teacher Back-to-School Toolkit

Year-at-a-Glance Calendar Stay ahead of exciting teachable moments and upcoming PBS shows with this handy, 12-month digital calendar! Preview + download.

Lesson Plans, Games, Videos + More Looking for content to amplify your lessons? We’ve got you covered. Explore over 100K resources from PBS LearningMedia! Select your subject: Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Explore All Subjects.

New Teacher Tool: The Class Roster PBS LearningMedia just added a "Class Roster" tool that enables you to create a class list and follow your students’ progress. Check it out!

Back-to-School Checklist from PBS KIDS Help young learners prepare for the first week of school with this checklist and worksheet from PBS KIDS! The PDF is print-friendly so you can pass it along to parents, caregivers, and grandparents in your community.

See more tips and insights at PBS Teacher Lounge

Empowers Students as Creators So, the District invested in mobile makerspaces – portable kits with a variety of items, tools, and accessories designed to help students learn, make, and be creative. For example, one kit includes alligator clips, wires, a USB cord, and a circuit board. Individual schools provide Play-Doh and other items – including some surprising options, like fruit – for students to create connections and learn about circuitry. The district purchases and manages all of Parkway’s Mobile Makerspaces, which are checked out by individual schools.

Mobile Makerspaces encourage students to develop a scientific mindset: to inquire, collaborate, and innovate. What’s more, schools don’t have to commit to infrastructure changes: students can experiment with new technologies without investments in expensive tools or space redesign.

Throughout the project, district leaders worked closely with librarians, many of whom approached Mobile Makerspaces with a sense of adventure. After receiving training on the technologies included, the librarians partnered with teachers to design and develop curricular connections for each kit. Parkway’s librarians are now among their schools’ foremost technology experts.

While training and guidance are important, at Parkway, most learning ends up happening outside of structured training sessions: as students, teachers, and staff explore Mobile Makerspace kits in their own ways, knowledge grows organically.

Mobile Makerspaces also draw on librarians’ existing skills, and reaffirm school libraries as go-to places for innovative approaches to student learning. They encourage teachers, students, and staff to explore new technologies, and to connect learning and practice in new or unexpected ways.

Parkway’s kits are nearly always checked out. District leaders say that holds promise for student learning: teachers – even those who were initially hesitant to embrace Mobile Makerspaces – are taking risks, with support from their librarian and central office staff.

What’s more, students and staff are taking Mobile Makerspace knowledge and skills beyond the kits. District leaders see programming, groups, clubs, and interest emerging at every level, especially in STEM areas like Robotics and Circuitry.

There’s a Makerspace movement happening at Parkway. The result? Students are getting more opportunities to become capable, confident, caring and – yes – curious learners.

Tips ●

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Choose wisely, and do your research in advance. Don’t automatically gravitate toward the tool or product that is currently “all the rage.” Base decisions on what’s likely to produce meaningful education opportunities for students.

Broaden your focus to include many grade levels and topics. When Parkway realized they had several kits dedicated to coding, they intentionally expanded to include different subject areas, including fine arts.

Ask open-ended questions to guide planning and implementation.

Encouraging librarians to think critically about Mobile Makerspace kits, and the learning opportunities they contain, sets the stage for deeper thinking from

teachers and students.

#ParkwayMakes Shannon Steimel, a Library Media Specialist at Lift For Life Academy in St. Louis went to the METC Summer Institute: Building STEAM and Creating Spaces, where librarians Carolyn Allen (@cmscaia) and Alissa Roades (@AlissaRoades) shared their makerspace activities tied to the Show Me State picture book award nominees from last year.

She is excited to adapt this idea for older students. Her idea is to read an excerpt from an award book and then complete a makerspace activity tied to the book to entice students to read the book and incorporate literacy activities in the library. To jumpstart this process she has created a collaborative document where the MASL Maker ideas for the Show Me, Mark Twain, Truman & Gateway nominated books for 2017-2018 can be recorded. Here is the link to the collaborative document: https://goo.gl/DDXdf8

@Your Library Sept 15th International Dot Day Sept 19th Talk Like A Pirate Day September 22nd Read in Schools Day September 24th-30th Banned Book Week September 28th Banned Website Awareness Day All Month Long Library Card Sign Up Month National Hispanic Heritage Month

Personalized Professional Learning Program Evaluation Guidelines Topic 1: Advocacy Parkway libraries will strive for clear communication of the role of school librarians.

Missouri 4th Annual Summit - Featuring Google for Education Don't miss your chance to get all the Googly Goodness at #gafemo17 Missouri Summit on Saturday, October 14th. The Missouri Summit is intended for...educators, administrators, and leaders of all levels, formal or informal. Registration is $80 (Early Bird pricing available).Breakfast, lunch and snacks will also be provided. Rockwood Summit High School (Rockwood School District) 1780 Hawkins Rd, Fenton, MO 63026

Visit the edWeb Calendar for upcoming free webinars. Now you can also easily search and view over 1300 recorded edWebinars.

Parkway Credit One option for earning Parkway credits is to participate in webinars and events, such as Edcamps, SLAA events, makerspace open houses etc. In order to earn participation credits watch the webinar or go to an event, then record your participation at tinyurl.com/webinars-events. Remember that district credit is based on the number of clock hours that you participate. Credit is issued as follows: six clock hours will get you .5 credit and 12 clock hours will get you 1 credit.

Contact Information

Vendor Contacts:

Bill Bass Innovation Coordinator: Instructional Technology & Library Media Twitter: billbass

Undelivered Post Dispatch: Russell Ham rham@post-dispatch.com

Kim Lindskog Library Support Specialist Twitter: klindskog

Undelivered USA Today & New York Times: Wesley Trammell wtrammell@ebsco.com

Amy Johnson Digital Learning Specialist Twitter: ajohnson106

Topic 2: Responsiveness to Community Parkway libraries will be responsive to the community and have a finger on the pulse of each individual building.

Topic 3: Instructional & Programming Parkway libraries will support classroom instruction and provide relevant, timely programming to meet the needs and interests of each individual community.

Topic 4: Educational Leadership & PD Parkway librarians will strive to be seen as leaders in buildings and will have access to just in time, targeted professional learning for librarians.

Topic 5: Library Physical Spaces Parkway libraries are multi-use spaces that are inviting and available for learners of all ages.

Access the Library Services Webpage using the QR code or www.pkwy.info/pkwylibrary

Ebsco Host Misty Fields MFields@esco.c.om Back Issues of Know & Go: Current & Previous Years

Nancy Ikemeyer Administrative Assistant Twitter: NancyIkemeyer What does it mean to be a librarian in the digital age?