Tag Archives: AASL

School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Recommended Apps: Humanities and Arts: Google Arts and Culture

Last summer, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2017. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.

The app Google Arts and Culture “offers a smorgasbord of art related topics for the “culturally curious”. From art stories to art exhibits, users can explore the world of art by reading the latest feature stories, or by going on a 3D tour of a museum.” You are able to zoom up close for a detailed look at artwork, browse the art by time period or color, or filter your search by artist or medium. To generate classroom discussion, use the “Experiments” feature.

Level: High School +
Platform iOS and Android
Cost: Free

School Library Journal has this review of the app that describes it as a “versatile tool that can be integrated into many classroom activities.” And Business Insider has a detailed description and how-to for the app that you can read here.

Watch a trailer of the app below:

School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Recommended Apps: STEM: Cosmic Watch

Last summer, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced their Best Apps for Teaching and Learning 2017. The apps encourage qualities such as creativity and collaboration, and encourage discovery and curiosity.

This app is a celestial watch based on a 3D model of the solar system as experienced from earth, and is a world and astronomical clock.
“It shows time as what it really is – our position and motion in the cosmos. Students can learn more about astronomy and our solar system, watch the real time movement of sun, moon and stars or simply enjoy the beautiful design of the celestial sphere.” The app’s website features tutorials as well as some educational resources that  feature images from NASA missions.

Level: Middle School +
Platform: iOS/Android
Cost: $4.49

Read this review from PC Mag for a detailed description of the app as well as pro/con items. You can also read a review by a teacher here, from EducationalAppStore.com.

 

Communication, School Media Specialist

Learning About Library Associations: American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

Library science is an enormous field, home to every interest you could imagine! This means that there are many organizations out there for you to join, in order to connect with other people who share your professional interests.

So even if you work alone in your library, there are other people out there doing work similar to yours! Each week we will highlight a different library association for you to learn more about, and depending on your work, potentially join! You can also check out our page dedicated to Library Associations.

A majority of our members at CMLE are school library people, so listen up, because this is the organization for you!

According to their website, “The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) is the only national professional membership organization focused on school librarians and the school library community”

AASL is a division of the American Library Association and serves members all around the world. Their mission is “empowering leaders to transform teaching and learning” and you can read their current strategic plan here. AASL has “supported the profession for over 60 years and understands the current realities and evolving dynamics of your professional environment and is positioned to help members achieve universal recognition of school librarians as indispensable educational leaders.”

The AASL website is a great resource to use if you work in a school library. It contains information regarding ESSA, the Best Apps and Websites of 2017 (make sure you are following our series on these), national standards, as well as advocacy tools.

Learn more about membership in AASL here. Some features include:

CMLE, Communication, Services

Being Professionally Lonesome…Together

Interior view of Stockholm Public Library

I loved this article, because I see this issue across our system and in many other areas. A lot of libraries, especially schools and specials, have either one person working there, or one person and a couple of maybe-part-time people who can fill in there and also other places in the organization. So being alone is a real issue -and it’s a tough one!

One of our priorities at CMLE is providing a place where our members can connect with other library people – across the system, across the state, and across the profession. So please, when you feel alone at work – whether you are a solo librarian, or just the only one in your organization who does your thing, or who likes your library-focused area, know that CMLE is filled with members who are right there with you!! Subscribe to all our stuff (newsletter, podcast, online book groups, online discussion groups, and more!), and come to our events, to be sure you are connecting. Never hesitate to give us a call at HQ, or send us an email, or even to stop by to chat! We are your system, and are here to support libraries!

Continue reading Being Professionally Lonesome…Together →

Communication, Conference

Thirty AASL members receive Bound To Stay Bound grants to attend first national conference

Image result for bound to stay bound

Contact:

Jennifer Habley
Manager, Web Communications
American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
312-280-4383
jhabley@ala.org

CHICAGO – Thirty members of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) have been awarded a $750 travel grant to attend their first AASL national conference. Generously sponsored by Bound To Stay Bound Books, Inc. (BTSB), the grants will allow recipients to secure housing, transportation and/or registration for the AASL National Conference & Exhibition taking place Nov. 9-11, 2017, in Phoenix, Ariz.

Grant recipients include:

  • Lisa Beal, West Liberty Elementary, West Liberty, Iowa
  • Susan Bloom, Peabody Primary School, Washington, DC
  • Sherri Bryan, San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara, Ca.
  • Tracey Cain, Reams Road Elementary School, Midlothian, Va.
  • Janet Hamilton, K-8, Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District, Wilbraham, Mass.
  • Amy DeNomme, Harrisburg Explorer, Sioux Falls, S.D.
  • Melanie Downie, Auburn Elementary, Auburn, Kansas
  • Christine Drysdale, Somers High School, Lincolndale, N.Y.
  • Valerie Ehlers, Gladbrook-Reinbeck/Grundy Center, Reinbeck, Iowa
  • Terri Gaussoin, Janet Kahn School of Integrated Arts, Albuquerque, N.M.
  • Susannah Goldstein, Bronx School for Law, Government & Justice, Bronx, N.Y.
  • Brenna Greer, Robertsville Elementary, Morganville, N.J.
  • Rebecca Gullans, Albert Einstein Academies Elementary School, San Diego, Calif.
  • Anastasia Hanneken, Indian Mills Memorial School, Shamong, N.J.
  • Julie Hengenius, Pembroke Jr./Sr. High School, Corfu, N.Y.
  • Erica Leu, Pflugerville Elementary, Pflugerville, Texas
  • Joan Maybank, Lynnwood High School, Bothell, Wash.
  • Christina Northrup-Thompson, Ritenour High School, St. Louis, Mo.
  • Alexandra Quay, Sinai Akiba Academy, Los Angeles, Calif.
  • Emily Ratica, Arroyo Valley High School, San Bernardino, Calif.
  • Kate Ricter, Bridge Point Elementary, Austin, Texas
  • Lea Roberts, Hollywood Hill Elementary, Woodinville, Wash.
  • Camille Rodgers, Pontotoc High School, Pontotoc, Miss.
  • Alicia Rogers, Christensen Elementary, Tacoma, Wash.
  • Leslie Roy, Maury High School, Norfolk, Va.
  • Jennifer Sharp, John Overton High School, Nashville, Tenn.
  • Georgina Trebbe, Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, Mass.
  • Paula Tonn, Lodi Middle School, Wis.
  • Stacy Udo, Tumwater High School, Tumwater, Wash.
  • Laurie Vitt, Firgrove Elementary School, Puyallup, Wash.

“At Bound To Stay Bound we recognize the value of the professional school librarian in our schools and take pride in being able to offer these grants to help further their knowledge and give them an opportunity to share their experiences with other professionals,” said Bob Sibert of Bound To Stay Bound Books.

“AASL is so grateful to Bound To Stay Bound Books for their continuing support of the first-timer grant,” said AASL President Audrey Church. “Through their generosity, BTSB is allowing thirty school librarians a chance to see ‘beyond the horizon’ and attend the national conference where AASL’s new ‘National School Library Standards’ will launch. These professionals will be among the first to explore the new standards and will return their schools ready to implement them on Monday.”

The AASL National Conference & Exhibition is the only national conference dedicated solely to the needs of school librarians and their roles as educational leaders. “Beyond the Horizon,” taking place Nov. 9-11, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona, will feature preconference workshops, concurrent sessions and an exhibition featuring companies relevant to the profession. Those communicating about the national conference are encouraged to use the official hashtag, #aasl17.

For more than 95 years Bound To Stay Bound Books, www.btsb.com, has supplied children’s and young adult library books, both fiction and nonfiction, to school and public libraries. It provides books that stand the test of time in both content and durability and services exceeding your expectations.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.