Professional Reading Reviews
Volume 30, Number 5,
June 2003
With Ken Haycock
Reviews:
Powering
achievement: School library media programs make a difference—The
evidence. 2nd edition. / Keith Lance and David
Loertscher.
Good
schools have school librarians: Oregon school librarians
collaborate to improve academic achievement. / Keith
Lance; Marcia Rodney and Christine Hamilton-Pennell.
How
school librarians help kids achieve standards: The
second Colorado study / Keith Lance, Marcia
Rodney and Christine Hamilton-Pennell.
How
school libraries improve outcomes for children: The
New Mexico study. / Keith Lance; Marcia Rodney,
and Christine Hamilton-Pennel
Indiana
learns: Increasing Indiana’s student academic
achievement through school library media and technology
programs.
Plus: New titles
worth a look
Powering
achievement: School library media programs make a difference—The
evidence. 2nd edition.
Keith Lance and David Loertscher.
Powering achievement summarizes and synthesizes research
studies from more than 3300 schools in eight states, demonstrating
that information and technology-rich environments, easily
accessible to teachers and students, together with a qualified
teacher-librarian with support staff, results in capable
and avid readers, information literate students and teachers
who partner for improved achievement. When these happen,
academic achievement scores rise by 10-20%.
The publication provides three readymade presentations:
a one-minute presentation complete with a reproducible handout;
a five minute presentation with handouts and visuals; and
a full 15 minute presentation with handouts and visuals.
Scripts, handouts, overhead transparencies and trigger questions
also provide easy-to-use presentations for teachers and administrators.
Summaries for each state study and new research on why clerks
alone in libraries do not raise achievement have been added.
The presentations emphasize the needed commitments a school
district must make, the collaborative and leadership activities
teacher-librarians must make, and summarize the amount of
impact on achievement that can be expected when the library
media program is well developed.
This is not a dry academic presentation for practicing teacher-librarians.
Rather, it is a summary of the research presented in ways
that can be used. It also anticipates questions one might
be asked and provides responses about the nature of the research
and the findings, in lay language. Sections on implementing
the findings speak to the role of the teacher-librarian and
provide suggestions for improving achievement in individual
schools. Suggestions are also made for undertaking action
research to measure impact based on an individual library
program.
Knowing the content of this book and following its suggestions
would place any teacher-librarian at the forefront of academic
achievement, with the necessary evidence to make a case from
several different states and even one’s one school.
(Salt Lake City, UT: Hi Willow Research and Publishing; 2003.
133 pp. $27. ISBN: 0-931510-84-8. Distributed by LMC Source.)
 Buy
online at Amazon.com
Powering achievement is based on these studies from
the same researchers and distributor:
Good
schools have school librarians: Oregon school librarians
collaborate to improve academic achievement.
Keith Lance; Marcia Rodney and Christine Hamilton-Pennell.
Oregon reading test scores rose with the development of
school library media programs. The relationship between
library media program development and test scores was not
explained away by other school or community conditions
at elementary or middle school levels or by other school
conditions at the high school level. (Salem, OR: Oregon
Educational Media Association; 2001. $20. Distributed by
LMC Source.)
How
school librarians help kids achieve standards: The second
Colorado study
Keith Lance, Marcia Rodney and Christine Hamilton-Pennell.
The first Colorado study Impact of school libraries on
academic achievement was the right study at the right time
for many teacher-librarians to begin documenting their
contribution to education. Now, that study has been replicated
in Colorado to show an even stronger relationship between
what libraries contribute to learning. This study now joins
others to show the connection between library staff, collections,
collaborative planning, and information literacy instruction.
It documents the entire study and includes handouts, excellent
reproducible graphics and all of the methodology and statistical
evidence linking school libraries to achievement. (Salt
Lake City, UT: Hi Willow Research and Publishing, 2000.
122 pp. $30. 0-931510-76-7.)
Buy
online at Amazon.com
How
school libraries improve outcomes for children: The New
Mexico study.
Keith Lance; Marcia Rodney, and Christine Hamilton-Pennel
The New Mexico study joins eight other state studies now
reporting on a total of over 3300 schools delivering the
same message: school libraries make a difference in academic
achievement. According to the executive summary: "New
Mexico achievement test scores rise with the development
of school library programs. The relationship between school
library development and test scores is not explained away
by other school or community conditions... achievement
test scores tend to rise with increases in: school librarian
and total staff hours per 100 students; print volumes per
student; periodical subscriptions, video materials, and
software packages per 100 students; and school library
expenditures per student.” Both individual and group
visits to the library were correlated with reading scores.
Successful group visits depended on close collaboration
between teacher-librarian and teacher in planning and teaching.
The volume contains several reproducible handouts for a
quick summary of the study in addition to the research
report. Royalties from the sale of this publication will
be donated to the New Mexico State Library Association.
(Salt Lake City, UT: Hi Willow Research and Publishing
for the New Mexico State Library; 2002. 92 pp. Distributed
by LMC Source.)
Among the other studies funded and completed recently
have been in Alaska (1999) by the Alaska State Library,
in Indiana (2000) by the Indiana Department of Education,
in Iowa (2001) by the Iowa Area Education Agencies, in
Minnesota (2003) by Metronet, a regional library consortium,
in Massachusetts (2000) by Simmons College Graduate School
of Library and Information Science, in New York (2000)
by the New York Regents Commission on Library Services,
in Pennsylvania (2000) by the Pennsylvania Department of
Education at the behest of Pennsylvania Citizens for Better
Libraries and in Texas (2001) by the Texas State Library
and Archives. These have been undertaken by a variety of
researchers.
In addition, there are examples of how these principles
can be applied at the state or provincial level:
Indiana
learns: Increasing Indiana’s student academic achievement
through school library media and technology programs.
Prepared as a companion to Reinventing Indiana's School
Library Media Programs in the Age of Technology: A Handbook
for Principals and Superintendents (David Loertscher with
assistance by Connie Champlin. Hi Willow Research & Publishing,
2001. 94 pp. $18.00. 0-931510-78-3), this guide was created
for TLs and technology leaders and provides a host of ideas,
Indiana resources, concepts, links to Indiana legislation,
and a major section on data-driven decision-making practices.
The presentation is based on a one-idea-per-page format.
Worthy of examination based on its own merit with many
ideas around collaboration and technology but also could
be used as a model by other jurisdictions for building
a local resource. (Salt Lake City, UT: Hi Willow Research
and Publishing, 2002. 112 pp. $18. 0-931510-85-6. Distributed
by LMC Source.)
Bottom Line: For every teacher-librarian: Buy them,
read them, share them!
Worth
a Look
101+ teen programs that work
RoseMary Honnold
Step-by-step instructions for teen programs in school
or public libraries, from crafts and games to coffee house
and field trips. Introduction by Patrick Jones and chapters
on “making a case” for teen programming, planning
programs, publicity and record keeping. Indexed.
(Neal-Schuman, 2003. 195 pp. $49.95. 1-55570-453-0)
Children’s and young adult literature by Latino
writers: A guide for librarians, teachers, parents, and
students
Sherry York
Organized by genre: novels and chapter books, short
stories, folklore, drama, poetry and anthologies, nonfiction
and cultural education resources for K-12. Each entry includes
brief summary, subject headings, reading and interest levels,
review sources, award information and edition (English
and/or Spanish) information. Includes biographical information
on the authors featured and publisher information. Indexed.
(Linworth, 2002. 184 pp. $36.95. 1-58683-062-7)
Common-sense classroom management: Surviving September
and beyond in the elementary classroom
Jill Lindberg and April Swick
Practical strategies, tested in the authors’ urban
classrooms, addressing issues from how to physically organize
a classroom to creating a positive classroom and dealing
with diverse populations. Each strategy is limited to a
maximum of five points. Icons highlight strategies for
younger students and special education students. Includes
list of resources and index.
(Corwin Press, 2002. 100 pp. $32.95. 0-7619-7886-0)
How do I teach . . . and keep my sanity?
Kathy Paterson
Provides useful lists for a smooth-running classroom:
ideas for effective use of class time, motivating activities,
dealing with problem behavior and relating to students.
Lists are organized into nine chapters, from “Teaching
through hooks, games and fun” to “Drawing on
volunteer strength.” Includes two booklists and brief
index.
(Pembroke, 2002. 151 pp. $18.95. 1-55138-149-4)
Lesson plans for the busy librarian: A standards-based
approach for the elementary library media center
Joyce Keeling
Eighty-seven information literacy cross-curricular
lessons based on AASL/AECT and McREL standards are organized
by grade level for K-5. Each is 20 minutes long and lists
learning outcomes, standards and objectives, using print
and electronic resources. Instructions and reproducibles
are provided. Indexed.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 264 pp. $30.00. 1-56308-869-x)
Media literacy: An alternative to censorship
Marjorie Heins and Christina Cho
This survey of media literacy education traces its history
in the US, provides information on several organizations,
examines several state school initiatives and recommends
five public policies to advance media literacy in schools.
Includes bibliography and index. For complimentary copies
e-mail sgriest@ncac.org, or available online at www.fepproject.org/policyreports/policyreports.html.
(Free Expression Policy Project, 2002. 56 pp.)
More hot links: Linking literature with the middle school
curriculum
Cora Wright
Update of Hot links features new sections for humor,
series and picture books. All-new annotated titles are organized
into 18 sections, alphabetically within each section. Includes
chart listing each title alphabetically, indicating where
the main annotation is located and where it is given a brief
listing. Indexed alphabetically by title author. Grades 5-9.
(Libraries Unlimited, 2002. 212 pp. $32.00. 1-56308-942-4)
Picture books plus: 100 extension activities in art,
drama, music, math, and science
Sue McCleaf Nespeca and Joan Reeve
Each curriculum-focused chapter begins with a discussion
of how to incorporate books into the curriculum, followed
by a list of 20 picture books, briefly annotated with step-by-step
instructions for an extension activity linking the book to
the discipline. Introductory chapter discusses why and how
to use picture books with children. Separate indexes for
author/illustrator and song/story/book title. Grades K-3.
(ALA, 2003. 134 pp. $38.00. 0-8389-0840-3)
Running a school library media center, 2nd ed.
Barbara Stein and Risa Brown
Update of classic handbook for new teacher-librarians
examines every aspect – from collection development
and dealing with vendors to programming and information literacy.
Includes checklists, sample reports and charts. Indexed,
with 14 helpful appendices.
(Neal-Schuman, 2002. 179 pp. 1-55570-439-5)
Senior high school library catalog, 16th ed.
Juliette Yaakov, ed.
Continues its tradition of providing a core list of 6,000
recommended fiction and nonfiction for Grades 9-12. Organized
by Dewey number, each entry includes bibliographic information,
subject headings, description and review information. New
to this edition is a list of free and subscription web resources.
Includes author, title, subject and analytical index, providing
access to contents of anthologies and collections. Available
online through subscription.
(H.W. Wilson, 2002. 1,243 pp. $190. 0-8242-1008-5)
Something funny happened at the library: How to create
humorous programs for children and young adults
Rob Reid
Programs, readers’ theatre and library tours for
primary, middle and high school students, with suggestions
for books, songs, poems, and adding humor through expression
and voice. Annotated list of over 300 funny books, organized
by category, and brief bios of 18 authors and illustrators.
Indexed by author, title, series title and subject.
(ALA, 2003. 165 pp. $32.00. 0-8389-0836-5)
Study smarter, not harder
Kevin Paul
Offers strategies for studying, taking lecture notes,
exam preparation, essay writing, goal setting and even time
management. Aimed at high school students and older.
(Self-Counsel, 1996 (reprint). 217 pp. $16.95. 1-55180-059-4)
We solve it! Approaches to information literacy
Marianne Punshon, ed.
A series of articles written by Australian teacher-librarians,
combining theoretical discussion with practical classroom
ideas. Part One outlines theories, methods and comments from
teacher-librarians. Part Two offers practical applications
aimed primarily at elementary classrooms, but adaptable to
middle and secondary schools.
(School Library Association of Victoria, 2002. 165 pp. AU$75.00. 0-909978-23-9)
The widening stream: The seven stages of creativity
David Ulrich
Arguing that creativity can be taught, the author uses
quotations, exercises and suggestions to discuss seven stages
of the creative process as well as three guiding principles
of creativity. Includes bibliography but no index.
(Beyond Words, 2002. 253 pp. $16.95. 1-58270-079-6) |
