Elementary School Library Media Curriculum Guide

This is a very thorough guide to curriculum planning in the elementary school library. Found at http://www.hcps.org/librarymedia/curr61.html, it includes policies, learning outcomes, how they assess students, and how they will integrate technology into the flow of the school library, among MANY other important areas.

Sample Elementary School Library Policies

The first example I have found is http://mcallenisd.jackson.schoolfusion.us/modules/cms/pages.phtml?pageid=60859&SID. In reading through this policy, I have found some things I am suspicious of, which I would most likely NOT use in a policy that I have created. This is a good learning experience, though, so I'm able to know what I want my school library policies to be when I finally get to that stage. For example, if I had no assistants or aides in my library, I would not allow individual or small groups of students to come into the library (REMEMBER, this is at the elementary level) at anytime they wanted EXCEPT to return books. That is the ONLY exception. If I am with a class, it would be nearly impossible for me to keep track of a student or group of students who want/need my attention just as much as the class I am trying to teach. Also, the flexible scheduling is quite suspect, as well, in that each teacher is allowed to ask for whatever time they want to come into the library. However, time conflicts are very possible, so it may cause many disgruntled teachers and staffers. One thing I really like about this policy, though, is the mission statement and the methods on how that mission statement will be achieved.

The next example I found is http://npes.pcsd.k12.ms.us/-Library/Library-Policies-and-Procedures/. The most suspect thing is right at the bottom of the page: the fourth consequence is "The 3 Ps: Parent, PADDLING, Principal." Otherwise, I really liked this policy because it included what the students will be learning in the library and the Overdue Policy is very similar to one that I would try to impose.

Common Core State Standards

Although it's possible that you have a copy of these standards printed out already, the Common Core website is quite efficient in finding just the right standard to meet your needs right away. It is divided up into two general areas: Mathematics and English Language Arts. Mathematics is divided by grade level OR domain. English Language Arts is also divided up into different domains for Kindergarten through Grade 12, in addition to extra areas for Grades 6 through 12 for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects.

This website also goes into detail about which states (and other U.S. territories) have adopted Common Core State Standards already and the school year in which they should be fully implemented.

The website is http://www.corestandards.org.

Creative Commons

I love the Creative Commons website. Why, do you ask? Because if I need to find a picture or a sound clip or something for a presentation or website, I can go to this website and type in a description of what I need and it will point me to results that are in the public domain and absolutely free for me to use. If you want pictures, it can find public domain images for you in Google Images or even on Flickr. I've always gotten confused about where to find the website and always went to Google and typed in "Creative Commons" because the website isn't as straightforward as I might like, but here it is, direct and linked: http://search.creativecommons.org.

Free Access to Libraries for Minors

This ALA webpage publishes the "Free Access to Libraries for Minors" aspect of the Library Bill of Rights. Found at http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/freeaccesslibraries, you can also access other interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, including Access for Children and Young Adults to Nonprint Materials, Access to Resources and Services in the School Library Media Program, and Diversity in Collection Development, among many others (found more directly at http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations).

Read-Alouds

Do you ever get stumped as to what book(s) you should read aloud to your class in the coming weeks? Well, if you are, here are two resources that offer a great variety of books for differing grade- and age-levels.

This first website, http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/great-read-alouds-from-the-new-york-times/, offers a variety of resources about why you should read aloud, some tips about reading aloud, and much more. However, this website promotes reading aloud stories from the New York Times, which is a great opportunity to get kids involved in the news and to start learning about editorials, opinions, etc.

This next website, http://www.readaloudamerica.org/booklist.htm, has literally lists of books that would be suitable to read aloud to every age- and grade-level. There are also lists made each year of books that would be good for each grade level. These lists are compiled based on the following traits: "excellent read-aloud appeal; variety of male/female characters, genres, and popular authors; strong development of characters, plots, themes, and subtle moral (character-building) messages; and age group appropriateness" (Read Aloud America, 2013).

School Library Program Health and Wellness Toolkit

The School Library Program Health and Wellness Toolkit gives advice on how to advocate for various aspects of your school library, but mainly Advocacy. What is advocacy? How can you do it? What do you NEED to do it? This website provides many online and print resources dedicated to learning about advocacy for your library and a step-by-step plan to build support for your library. This is a great resource to have on-hand.

It can be found at http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/tools/toolkits/health-wellness.