We have moved!

This blog is no longer maintained here, but has instead been moved to our SCASL.net site where other SCASL web materials is hosted.  Visit http://scasl.net to update your rss feed.  Thanks.

 

Our new site offers more, and has our blog as well as discussion forums available. Membership is required for parts of the new site, but the blog is still wide open to any visitors. Enjoy!!

 

Pinckney Elementary welcomed Jack Gantos, author of Joey Pigza books and Rotten Ralph books

Press Release

On Thursday, November 18, 2010 Pinckney Elementary welcomed Jack Gantos, author of Joey Pigza books and Rotten Ralph books.

Gantos traveled from his home in Massachusetts to visit the students at Pinckney Elementary and share his journey as a writer and author of books.  This opportunity is just one example of how Pinckney students are encouraged to improve upon their reading and writing skills every day.

Gantos shared journals that he has recorded notes in throughout his life and are eventually turned into his novel.  He even had his journal from 5th grade to show the students.  Many students remarked after hearing Gantos that they were ready to go home and start their own journals.

Mrs. Bullard, 3rd grade teacher, said “Our class was so inspired by your presentation that we came back to the room, got new journals, wrote our names on the front with black sharpies and boldly added PRIVATE - KEEP OUT!!  We then started drawing our life pictures and brainstorming ideas!”

You have to have Jack Gantos come to your school – he is AWESOME!

Jennifer Thrift, MLS, NBCT

Library Media Specialist

Charles Pinckney Elementary

3300 Thomas Cario Blvd.

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466

http://pinckney.ccsdschools.com

SCASL Survey Nov 2010

The SCASL IT Committee has put together a survey for SCASL to gage membership wants and needs.

The survey will be open for the month of NOVEMBER (Nov 1 – 30) only!

It consists of 15 questions, most with open comments for you to add your own thoughts and ideas.

Please let YOUR voice be heard!

To take the survey, click on (or copy and paste) the following URL:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W3PDQZV

If you have any problems or questions, feel free to contact me: hloy at mac dot com

“AASL Thinkfinity Zmuda Challenge”

On behalf of Jo Ann Perry, AASL Representative:

“AASL Thinkfinity Zmuda Challenge” instructions
Introduced at the AASL President’s Program during the ALA 2010 Annual Conference, Thinkfinity.org is offering two $5,000 incentive awards for the two most innovative ideas on how school librarians can help students acquire 21st-Century Skills. Thinkfinity.org asks school librarians to post their ideas as a reply to the Thinkfinity Community AASL Thinkfinity Zmuda Challenge discussion by July 15, 2010. After that time, AASL leadership and Allison Zmuda will select the two winning ideas.

To enter the challenge:

1. Go to Thinkfinity.org and select “Visit our Community” at the top of the page
2. Register for the community
3. Submit your idea to the “AASL Thinkfinity Zmuda Challenge” discussion

The winners must each complete a grant application before receiving the $5,000 award. Note that winners are not asked to implement their idea with the $5,000; instead, the incentive can be used to acquire resources for their school or school library.

View the guidelines

Questions? Post them to the discussion page.

Common Core Standards for Review

Shared with the listserv today, and definitely worthy of conversation:

DRAFT K-12 COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT

NGA Center, CCSSO Release First Official Public Draft

WASHINGTON-The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) today released the first official public draft of the K-12 standards as part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a process being led by governors and chief state school officers in 51 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.  These draft standards, developed together with teachers, school administrators and experts, seek to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

The NGA Center and CCSSO have received feedback from national organizations representing, but not limited to teachers, postsecondary education (including community colleges), civil rights groups, English language learners, and students with disabilities  The NGA Center and CCSSO encourage those interested in the standards to provide further feedback by Friday, April 2, 2010, at www.corestandards.org.

“We are pleased to release the K-12 standards today and to begin reviewing comments from the public,” said Dane Linn, director of the NGA Center’s Education Division. “These standards build upon the goals articulated in the college- and career-readiness standards released last year and will ensure our students are prepared to compete and succeed in a global economy. We look forward to working with educators, leaders and state board members in the states as they consider adopting these standards that will guide their educational programs.”

“The feedback and comments states and our additional stakeholders have provided us are solidifying these standards into the better standards our students need,” stated Gene Wilhoit, executive director of CCSSO. “We will continue to work diligently and tirelessly to ensure these standards are where they need to be, and today we are asking the public to help us do just that.”

These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards are:

• Aligned with college and work expectations;
• Clear, understandable and consistent;
• Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills;
• Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards;
• Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and
• Evidence- and research-based.

The standards are expected to be finalized in early Spring. For more information, visit www.corestandards.org <http://www.corestandards.org/> .

Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association (NGA) is the collective voice of the nation’s governors and one of Washington, D.C.’s most respected public policy organizations. Its members are the governors of the 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing and implementing innovative solutions to public policy challenges through the NGA Center for Best Practices. For more information, visit www.nga.org.

The Council of Chief State School Officers <http://www.ccsso.org/>  (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks member consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public. www.ccsso.org.

________________________________

Jay Bansbach
Candidate for AASL Board Member-at-Large
2009 AASL National Conference Co-Chair
Member AASL Legislative Committee

1875 Potomac Rd. Pasadena, MD. 21122
(410) 255-8836
cjbansbach@yahoo.com <mailto:cjbansbach@yahoo.com>

WOW.

Current SCASL president Amanda Leblanc followed up with some clarifying remarks to someone who questions “why more standards?”

I believe the idea behind these standards are to help with that situation – the idea being that these would be common, internationally benchmarked standards that would then be voluntarily adopted by the states that signed on. While I don’t think there’s an end to individual state standards in sight, this to me is a monumental step forward. There are folks in our state who worked on these standards – if you’re on the list – chime in with your thoughts.

The conversation continues, with Frank Baker adding that viewing literacy is pointedly absent, and James Bryan that our state is on board, with our governor and state supt of education fully in favor.  Where will this lead–particularly in an upcoming election year for both offices?  Should that even matter?  Interesting debate and information unfolding. be sure to read and react to the core standards.

written by:

Cathy Nelson, Dorman High School

Making the MOST of your conference

The SCASL Annual Conference is fast approaching–3.5 weeks away! Yeah um, I need to be working on my own preso. I’m trying to plan my trip–I get to hangout with my sister who lives in Charleston. It is so difficult to stay away from our conference as each year I am amazed at the content flowing, the networking happening, and the pride I have in our annual event. I will once again short-change my sister. I can’t help it. We have just too great a conference to stay away!

So this is an attempt to collect tips for a successful conference. Here are mine:

• Once the conference schedule and concurrent session guide is posted online, take some time to pre-plan.  Read over the events, sessions, and activities, and make yourself a schedule of sorts that includes topic, time, room # and presenter. Be sure to store this in a place where you’ll be able to find it.  I will probably store mine in a Google Docs, and then I’ll be able to access it from my laptop or my phone.
• Once the conference begins, I put a small slip of paper in my id badge that lists times, room #s, and speakers so with one quick glance down (through the back of my clear badge holder), I know where I am going next.  It beats flipping through the book between sessions, or worse, flipping through the book planning my next session and MISSING part of the one I’m in.
• Lighten your load! When you arrive you’ll get a conference bag piled with announcements, fliers, etc.  Take it all out (except what you NEED).  You’ll be amazed at how rapidly your bag fill each day
• Take a brightly colored ribbon to tie around your handle.  When all those bags are sitting together in rows, it can be confusing figuring out which is yours.  Make yours noticeable. A cute ribbon can do the trick.
• Wear comfy shoes.  As you mingle with friends or cruise through the exhibit hall, your feet will appreciate being in a  comfy pair of shoes.
• Layers! While the spring temps may make us want to lose the winter attire, often times the meeting spaces vary in temperature.  Wear removable jackets or sweaters so you’ll be comfortable no matter the clime.
• Create and carry business cards or stickers with your contact information.  This will make signing up for drawings a quick and painless snap. Give some to your friends and new acquaintances too.
• If you are a pack horse–you just can’t say no to ‘give-aways’ in the exhibit hall, then carry an extra suitcase, box, or container.  Usually I go out for dinner with friends a couple of times while at conference. Every time I’m leaving my hotel room, I try to take a pack of stuff to the car. Sometimes it’s items picked up at the conference, and sometimes it’s as simple as dirty clothes or shoes I know I won’t wear again while there. It makes packing that last morning a lot easier.

So, what are you best conference tips?

Written by Cathy Nelson
Dorman High School

Transformative Conversations at the TL Cafe

Coming Monday, March 1st we have another school librarian focused (and led) webinar. A free opportunity–can’t say that for webinars released by ALA or ISTE, most of which come with a small fee, but a fee none the less. The last one featured special guest Mike Eisenberg (of Big6 fame and leadership in the field) and had 85+ people in a chatroom that was flying by. But you don’t have to be scared off by the numbers or the chat—many never even pay it any attention. Just tuning in and listening (and interacting used a webcam and/or computer microphone if one chooses) is enough to fed the brain.

Join me in this powerful webinar –a regular event that will happen at the beginning of each month.

Here is a copy/paste of the details for this Monday:

School Library Web Presence Webinar
Date & Time: March 1st 8pm EASTERN,
Learning Central Posting
Guests: Guests: Buffy Hamilton, Carolyn Foote, Barb Jansen, Christina Bentheim
Hosted by: Gwyneth Jones and Joyce Valenza
Description: How is your library available to students via the web? What is your library web presence in the community? Are you a web wallflower or dancing with the stars – web-wise? A discussion of effective practice and essential elements for making your library instruction, program, and tools more accessible for students and the community.

And here is a poll to take before joining!

.

Image from the TL LIbrarian Virtual Cafe homepage.

The conference date is nearing!

Please answer this poll so we can see how folks are coming:

Looking SO FORWARD to the conference!
March 24-26, 2010

Register for conference!

The SCASL Annual Conference is March 24 – 26, 2010 in Charleston – join us! The Call to Conference and registration form are available here.

NEW this year – you can register online!

Now Seeking Nominations for SCASL Officers

Hello SCASL friends!

 

I hope you are having a fantastic start to the 2009 – 2010 school year!

 

SCASL is now seeking nominations for 2010-2011 SCASL President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. This is your chance to nominate someone who is energetic, organized, and passionate about our profession! If you think that describes you, feel free to nominate yourself – don’t be shy! Candidates will be introduced in the Media Center Messenger and the election will be held during the business meeting at the 2010 SCASL Annual Conference in Charleston. More information about each office is below –

 

President – Elect

To serve as president-elect, a nominee must have served on the Executive Board previously. This is a three-year commitment (president-elect, president, and immediate past president). This person must be a current member of SCASL and ALA.  He/she will be expected to attend the following national conferences:

2010 ALA Annual

2011 ALA Mid-winter

2011 ALA Annual

2012 ALA Mid-winter

2012 ALA Annual

 

Secretary 

The Secretary records minutes at all SCASL Executive Board and Conference Annual Business Meetings. He/she will serve one year.  No previous Executive Board service is required for this office.

 

Treasurer

The Treasurer serves a two-year term. The duties of the treasurer shall be to receive and disburse all monies. The treasurer shall keep accurate records of receipts and disbursements, shall present a written report at each meeting of the Association, and prepare an annual report. No previous Executive Board service is required for this office. 

 

For more information about nominations, please check out our web site at www.scasl.net

 

Please submit nominations to the following address:

valeriebyrdfort@gmail.com or

Valerie Byrd Fort

New Providence Elementary School

1118 Old Cherokee Road

Lexington, SC 29072

 

Nominations will be received through October 26, 2009. 

 

Thank you!

Valerie Byrd Fort
 

Valerie Byrd Fort

val_byrd@yahoo.com

Library Media Specialist
National Board Certified Teacher
New Providence Elementary

SCASL Immediate Past-President

Be sure to include the person’s name, office you are nominating them for, and their contact information.