Alabama LM Update December 2024
On December 13, we’ll host First Fridays from Huntsville. Join us from 9:30-10:30, for a session on STEAM in the Elementary Library, led by four talented HCS elementary librarians. In the afternoon, from 1:30-2:30, Crystal Ballard, an Implementation and Training Specialist, will present on TeachingBooks for Secondary Librarians and will be available to answer your questions afterward.
From Crystal: Explore TeachingBooks and uncover new ways to help readers connect to books, authors, and illustrators. Unlimited access, provided at no charge by AVL, to professionally vetted resources like author interviews, book trailers, lesson guides, and more, is seamless. So, take advantage and start exploring!
Don’t forget to check our First Fridays site for topics, registration, and archived sessions! If you have any session requests or are interested in presenting/facilitating a topic related to library management, please submit your idea(s) using this Form.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you on December 13th!
December AM PSPL session: 517165
December PM PSPL session: 517174
Note: The session login information is included in the "Notes" session of PSPL. You will have access to the Notes section when you register.
Enjoy this book review from Leslie Hughes, an AMSTI Elementary Math Specialist for Grades K-2.
Rooster's Off to See the World by Eric Carle
This book is an engaging story about a rooster who travels, gathering companions along the way. While its fun, it's also loaded with math to be discussed!
Joining one rooster are two cats, three frogs, four turtles, and five fish. Ask the student to explain: what's the pattern? If the author made a group of friends arrive after the five fish, how many do you think there would be? Why? Additionally, young readers ca keep a running total of the animals as their numbers grow and, later, dwindle. Another excellent way to use this story is to notice and discuss the way animals are shown in a stair-step graphic, implying to the eyes even before counting that there is an obvious pattern to their quantities. For older readers, they could apuse on each page and write an equation to signify the change taking place.
Whether you're a fan of Eric Carle's uniquely glorious style of illustration, the predictable nature of the story, or the ability to count and discuss patterns and quantities, there's something for every learner.
PBS is renowned for its incredible history and civics programming that has entered countless classrooms and homes. To further support social studies teachers, PBS has collected many of its social studies resources into two easy-to-navigate sites: PBS U.S. History Collection and PBS Civics Collection.
These sites bring to teachers an assortment of powerful clips, useful activities,
and other teacher resources organized by topics and periods. Lessons are compatible with Google Classroom. All resources are free.
The PBS U.S. History Collection is organized into sixteen time periods ranging from “Pre-Colonial America to 1774” to “American into the 21st Century, 2001 to the Present.” Additionally, some activities are organized by skill set, like "Applying Geographical Literacy” and “Reading and Writing in History.” Clips and activities from Ken Burns’ films are also part of the collection. Similarly, the PBS Civics Collection is organized into topics as well as skill sets.
These include “Foundations of American Constitutional Democracy” and “Citizens’ Rights and Responsibilities.” Skill set collections are available, like “Building Media Literacy” and “Analyzing Civic Engagement.” Many of the resources in the Civics Collection embody how one can teach civics through
historic examples, such as examining how social movements are formed through analyzing the mobilization of the Love Canal community.
Resources continue to be added to these collections, and teachers are encouraged to check back over time to see the new items included.
Blake Busbin, PhD
Instructional Services
Social Studies Education Specialist
A message from Kat Baxter, President-elect of ASLA
The Alabama School Library Association (ASLA) will hold its Annual Conference February 3-4, 2025 at The Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa, AL. You can learn more at our website, www.aslalib.com. This year’s theme is Librarians Champion the Future! This conference is a school library focused professional development opportunity for school librarians and their administrators/supervisors. Each year librarians from across the state join together to learn from and with each other on topics such as advocacy, advancing the profession, collaboration with classroom teachers, and even gaming and extracurriculars in the library. This year we will offer pre-conference sessions for members who would like to tour local school libraries, participate in a new librarian institute, or those who are interested in ASLA leadership or board positions.
Our keynote speakers will be Derrick Barnes and Tony Weaver Jr. Derrick Barnes is a National Book Award Finalist for his 2022 graphic novel Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice which also won the 2023 YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award and a Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. Tony Weaver, Jr. is an award winning writer and educator creating diverse stories that make young people feel seen and valued. We will also be hosting AASL President-Elect Amanda Kordeliski!
Congratulations to Jessica Quinn, the dynamic librarian at Eclectic Elementary School, for being spotlighted in a recent article! Jessica's dedication to supporting reading through Accelerated Reader is fostering a culture of reading and achievement among her students. Jessica's efforts remind us of the transformative power librarians have in shaping young minds and creating lifelong learners. Thank you, Jessica, for your outstanding work.
