Maximizing School Librarian Leadership


Book Description

This book offers preservice and practicing school librarians, district-level library supervisors, school librarian educators, school principals and administrators, and other stakeholders strategies and tools for positioning school librarians as instructional leaders.




Whole Novels for the Whole Class


Book Description

Work with students at all levels to help them read novels Whole Novels is a practical, field-tested guide to implementing a student-centered literature program that promotes critical thinking and literary understanding through the study of novels with middle school students. Rather than using novels simply to teach basic literacy skills and comprehension strategies, Whole Novels approaches literature as art. The book is fully aligned with the Common Core ELA Standards and offers tips for implementing whole novels in various contexts, including suggestions for teachers interested in trying out small steps in their classrooms first. Includes a powerful method for teaching literature, writing, and critical thinking to middle school students Shows how to use the Whole Novels approach in conjunction with other programs Includes video clips of the author using the techniques in her own classroom This resource will help teachers work with students of varying abilities in reading whole novels.




Political Advocacy for School Librarians


Book Description

School librarians are prepared to be leaders and can use their strengths to advocate for policy that benefits school libraries. This book will teach you how to engage elected officials to effect change that extends to your library. Education and information policy has a direct impact on school libraries and is shaped by decisions at the local, state, and federal levels. School librarians are positioned uniquely to leverage their inside knowledge of effective school library programs to make a difference in education through civic engagement; however, a thorough understanding of both the explicit and "hidden" rules of government is necessary to be an effective advocate. This compact book serves as a guide to advocating for effective programs, filling a gap in the practitioner literature regarding the policies that affect school library programs. Drawing on research-based best practices and the author's experience as the chairman of the ALA Legislation Committee and in political advocacy, this book explains the political process through concrete examples of both success and failure and analyzes these examples to show how librarians can move education policy in a positive direction.




The School Librarian as Curriculum Leader


Book Description

One of the only books to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the role of school librarians in student success, this guide offers everything you'll need to develop, align, and evaluate curriculum with your library collection in mind. This reference provides school library professors with strategies and tips for creating future school leaders out of current LIS students. Drawing upon her extensive experience as a school librarian, author Jody K. Howard heralds the library professional's role as information specialist, instructional partner, and curriculum advocate. Her insider's perspective is rich with tested strategies to help students seamlessly integrate the responsibilities of their multiple roles into daily activities. The work explains the process of curriculum mapping and collection development with an eye on teaching these tools to those new to the profession. The content provides methods for developing guided inquiry lessons in collaboration with teachers, illustrates ways to develop leadership skills while aligning the collection with the curriculum, and offers strategies for working alongside curriculum committees and classroom teachers to build a cohesive educational program. The final chapter explores the roles and responsibilities of school librarians at the district, state, and national level.




Enhancing Teaching and Learning


Book Description

Reflecting changes—professional, theoretical, legal, and political—in both the library field and education, this new edition of a groundbreaking school library text will equip readers to be leaders at their schools and in their communities.




Instructional Partnerships


Book Description




Empowering Learners


Book Description

Empowering Learners advances school library programs to meet the needs of the changing school library environment and is guided by the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner and Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action.




Renegade Leadership


Book Description

Get ready to be a renegade with this how-to leadership guide. We’re all looking for the next best app and what’s just beyond the tech horizon. But why don’t we have the same progressive appetite for pedagogy that we have for technology? Renegade leadership may just be the answer we’ve been searching for. Merging best practice with innovation, renegade leadership demands a call to action in the digital age by creating student-centered instructional leadership that connects equity, culture, and technology. After reading this book, you will learn how to: Apply transformational tenets of connected pedagogy to your work Increase your leadership capacity in curriculum, instruction, cultural proficiency, and school improvement Lead staff meetings, plan personalized professional development, and improve student learning through more responsive teaching practices Using the latest research, vignettes from educational leaders, and profiles of inspiring renegades, this book challenges you to lead in the digital age. The only real question is...are you ready to become a renegade? "Renegade Leadership is so crucial to the work that we do in education. Why can’t schools be the place that other organizations look to for innovation?" George Couros, Innovative teaching, learning, and leadership consultant and Author of The Innovator’s Mindset; Alberta, Canada "Dr. Brad Gustafson provides invigorating, concrete examples of strategic thinking and skills for educational leaders to fill the vacuum that exists in many educational settings. Gustafson asserts that leadership and change in education are irrevocably intertwined." Jon Corippo, Director of Academic Innovation, CUE "Renegade Leadership demonstrates what student-centered schools look like in the digital age. When we get relationships and pedagogy right, we can transform the very nature of learning. This is a book our students desperately need us all to read." Erin Klein, Scholastic Top Teacher and Michigan Teacher of the Year




Model School Library Standards for California Public Schools


Book Description

Provides vision for strong school library programs, including identification of the skills and knowledge essential for students to be information literate. Includes recommended baseline staffing, access, and resources for school library services at each grade level.




The Many Faces of School Library Leadership


Book Description

Completely revised with even more contributions added by practicing school librarians, this book further examines the responsibility to lead in many areas and identifies the real-world, day-to-day application of established theory and best practices. In today's educational landscape, school librarians need to lead the way in many areas, including advocacy, literacy, technology, curriculum, vision, collaborative instruction, and intellectual freedom. All of these areas are vital to building and sustaining a school library program that enhances and encourages student achievement, as well as to providing enhanced services to students and faculty. This revised edition of The Many Faces of School Library Leadership offers invaluable insights from recognized leaders in the field of school librarianship that detail leadership roles embraced by accomplished practitioners and consider the research regarding best practices. An essential read for practicing school librarians as well as for pre-service school librarians, it offers today's school librarians actionable advice for strengthening their roles, underlining their value, and protecting their future—all while boosting student learning and achievement. The expert guidance and perspectives in this book will bolster those who are facing enormous challenges to meet them and allow school library staff to protect their jobs and to save school library programs from extinction.