| From the President... |
 Just a few weeks ago, MAME held its annual Leadership Conference in Frankenmuth, featuring a capacity crowd of over eighty participants. Conference Chair Jo Kirkbride made sure we were wined and dined in true Frankenmuth style, and co-presenters Kristin Fontichiaro and Marcia Mardis dazzled us with insights into AASL's new Standards for 21st Century Learners. As always, the opportunities to share, confer, discuss, kibbitz, and laugh with fellow media specialists was much appreciated by all.
We talked about plans for implementing the new standards, and naturally the discussion turned toward integration and alignment with Information Power, ISTE's NETS and the new METS (due this summer ). As our conversations continued, it became apparent that while there is some overlap, our new 21st Century Standards take us into much deeper and richer interpretations of the inquiry process.
Since these standards are a departure from previous information literacy expectations, questions arose about the most effective ways of introducing them to our teachers, curriculum directors, and administrators. We all know how precious professional development time is (and how short our colleagues' attention spans can be). What would be the best way to capture people's interest and get immediate buy-in?
Kristen had an excellent suggestion: begin with a discussion of Common Beliefs. Start a conversation about the basic philosophies underlying the standards: Reading is a window to the world. Inquiry provides a basis for learning. Technology skills are crucial for future employment needs. Keep going through to the ultimate statement: school libraries are essential to the development of learning skills.
Revisiting these basic beliefs, especially with colleagues, is a good way to refocus our energy and rejuvenate our activities. As Marcia reminded us, we need to honor our work. We need to build appreciation for what we do. We do make a difference, and reminding ourselves, as well as the other education professionals that we work with every day, is never a bad thing.
The nine Common Belief statements (plus commentary) can be found on pages 2 and 3 of Standards for 21st Century Learners. These can be downloaded from the ALA website.
....Kathleen McBroom |
| MAME Summer Institute |
 July 7, 2009 - Ingham ISD
"Maximizing Your Impact: Classroom-Library Co teaching Information Literacy Skills and Reading Comprehension Strategies"
Judi Moreillon, M.L.S., Ph.D., will provide us with examples of exemplary, co-taught lesson plans for teaching reading comprehension strategies in the context of classroom-library collaboration. She will make specific connections between reading comprehension and 21st-century information literacy skills. These exemplary classroom-library lessons promote the teaching, instructional partner, and information specialist roles of the school library media specialist.
The information in this workshop is based on best practices in school librarianship and reading instruction: evidence-based practice, "backward planning," teaching information literacy skills through the classroom curriculum, research-based instructional strategies, and think-aloud processes. Applying these practices to co-teaching reading comprehension strategies gives school library media specialists the foundation on which to build effective lessons that can make a positive impact on student achievement. Focusing on reading comprehension also shows classroom colleagues that school library media specialists can help them do THEIR jobs more efficiently and effectively. Classroom teachers and administrators need to know that our classroom-library collaborations make a difference in how and what students learn.
Following Judi's presentation, participants will have an opportunity to create or update lesson plans. Bring along existing lessons or ideas and materials for new lessons.
The Institute will take place on July 7th at Ingham ISD.
.5 SB-CEUs will be available. |
| New! Two-day Summer Academy |
| August 5 & 6, 2009, GVSU Holland Campus
MAME is pleased to announce the first MAME Summer Academy, in partnership with the School of Education at Grand Valley State University. Barbara LaBeau, Coordinator of the M. Ed. School Library Media Services Program, is graciously working with MAME to present a two-day hands-on technology program for our members.
The academy will be held on August 5 & 6, 2009, at the GVSU Holland campus. The four sessions will include Web 2.0, Google Tools, Podcasting, and Movie Making. SB-CEU's will be available. Sessions will run from 8:30 to 3:30 each day. Deb Biggs Thomas will present a session on MeL/MORE after the training on Wednesday. An optional dinner and boat ride on Lake Macatawa is planned on Wednesday evening. Lodging options include hotels, the State Park campground, or lake side cottage rentals.
Registration information will be available on the MAME website soon. |
| Happenings in Michigan media centers... |
|
(Photo by Craig Gaffield, Macomb Daily)
Three Carlton Middle School eighth graders designed the top tattoos in a national competition. Twenty-five Carlton students submitted designs, the Student Council selected the 3 finalists and then the entire student body of over 600 selected the winner. All students and staff received free tattoos.
The design selected represented a large maple tree, with a student standing underneath reading. Media specialist and MAME member Karen Stephens is quoted in the article from the Macomb Daily Paper, March 6, 2009.
Almont Middle School...
We had the BEST March is Reading Month this year (if I do say so myself) at Almont Middle School! 
Our theme was Laugh it up with a Good Book @ your library. We had a bookmark design contest, Drop Everything and Read days, a "Caught Reading" contest and funny dress-up days (funny hat, crazy holiday, pjs and slippers, and funny t-shirt) throughout the month. We also celebrated by creating Wacky Web tales (think Mad Libs) on the computers and having a t-shirt design contest. Probably the three biggest events were Fun and Games, the Twilight Quiz and the Joke Telling Contest. For Fun and Games, we laid out puzzles, old issues of Games magazine and board games all over the library tables. Just for fun, I found two 21-foot long brainteaser/puzzle books for the kids to work on, too. Over 600 students (1 1/2 times the number of students in our school!) came down at lunch or 7th hour (advisory) to work on them. And while Twilight isn't "funny," it is fun, so I created a quiz for the students to take. About 1/4th of our student population (!!) took the quiz. The top eight scorers went to the final round and used buzzers to answer questions about Twilight in front of an audience of about 125 fellow students.
 The last (and most fun) piece was a joke telling contest on the school-wide news. We began with 44 joke telling contestants and narrowed them down to eight, then four and finally one, who was crowned the "Funniest Person at AMS!" My joke books have never gotten such a workout! Additionally, we gathered all of our funny, humorous fiction and non-fiction and displayed the books on top of the shelves. The month was really fun and it gave us all a break from the daily bad news and reality of living in Michigan.
Sarah Savage
Reading Matters in Vassar
Vassar Public Schools and the Vassar Bullard Sanford District Library are doing their 2nd annual "Read a Million Minutes in March" school/community reading challenge during reading month. We involve many people in the school and community and the challenge is to see who can read the most. We have weekly drawings and tallies and we mark our progress on two giant-sized "thermometers" outside the public library. Classrooms in the elementary buildings challenge each other, grades in the HS and JH challenge each other and the benefit is - everybody is reading! I have attached our bookmark - although if we were really "branding" this activity, it should be designed like a thermometer (something I learned from the Leadership Conference March 7th) - and something to improve on for next year! Prizes are paperback books, food cards or movie theater passes (we don't have a bookstore in the area or that would be our #1 prize), and other small items collected throughout the year; and the public library gets donations from area businesses for oil change discounts or free tanning sessions, etc. Check with Judy Chelekis for more info! Check out these Bookmarks! What a great JOINT effort idea! (Editor's note: Space constraints prevent us from including the bookmark. Please contact Judy) |
| Thoughts from a Retired Library Media Specialist |
As I was sitting here thinking about what could I contribute to a MAME newsletter, it occurred to me that I would jot down some thoughts regarding a situation that I see from a retired library media specialist's perspective.
In this last year, I have been hired as a consultant by a school district to order and catalog materials for the district's elementary buildings. They currently do not have a professional on staff in the elementary area due to budget cuts. Because of technology possibilities, I can sit anywhere in the world and preview, evaluate, order, and catalog materials as long as I am connected to the Internet.
I can look at individual school collections, find out if materials are duplicated, look at recommendations, reviews, and yes, I can even "meet" with parapros on line in the individual buildings. I can honestly say, that this has been the best of both worlds for me; being retired, free to travel, and yet have my "cake and eat it to" by being connected to the library media field which I have enjoyed for so many years. True, I am not going to become a "wealthy retiree" with jobs such as this, (150 hrs. @ $20.00/hr.), but it has been great for me personally and professionally to assist this district and hopefully provide the services of a certified library media specialist when it comes to collection development.
On the other hand, when I read things daily from the MAME listserv where people are, suggesting web sites appropriate for elementary aged students, materials suggested because some teacher has requested a special unit of study, requirements for having a certified medial specialist doing instruction for students, etc. I think to myself, I have not done anything that a professional person-to-person collaborative relationship could have helped with in the education of teachers as well as students.
I think I spent 30 of my 32 years defending my job and why it was important to have professionals on the job dealing with students, teachers, parents, and principals. So once more, I do appreciate what technology has provided for me personally and professionally and I have enjoyed this consultant opportunity. However, never lose site of the importance of a face-to-face collaborative relationship that can certainly extend beyond technology in order to make a significant difference in the education of a student.
Charlotte Poole, Retired Library Media Specialist | |
| Media Matters! Editors
MAME Executive Director
Database Manager
| |
|
| Save the Date! |
|
|
Mark your calendars now, and plan to attend MAME's 36th annual fall conference: "We Make a Difference" October 21 - 23, 2009 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City.
Keynote speaker: Christopher Harris
Featured Author: Ben Mikaelsen
Look for an article with more details in the upcoming Media Spectrum, or check the MAME website. Click on the "Annual Conference" tab. You'll find the Call for Progams form, Awards Nomination forms and Exhibitor forms. Information will be added as it becomes available. |
| Call for Programs Notice |
| MAME 36 - We Make a Difference! |
|
Presenters needed!
Share your successful programs, collaborations and projects!
Examples of technology integration and reading curriculum connections will show how you make a difference and help others make a difference too!
|
| MAME Partners in Michigan Joint Educational Conference |
|
MAME is a partner organization in this year's Joint Educational Conference, "Connecting Twenty-first Century Learning," which will be held June 24 at Holt High School, near Lansing. The purpose of the conference is to "establish widespread use of highly relevant integrated curriculum in Michigan schools." The cost for the 1-day conference is $49 for members of any of the parterning or sponsoring organizations (includes lunch).
A total of .05 SB-CEU's will be available.
|
|
|
| Video Review |
|
|
"Consuming Kids"
reviewed by Roberta Sibley, Birmingham Groves High School
I had the opportunity to view Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood when it was purchased it for our Life Management and English classes. It is by far, one of the best educational videos I have seen, and of utmost importance to educators and parents. It is produced by the Media Education Foundation, and can be previewed online.
The video investigates the relentless and unregulated marketing of violent video games, bogus educational products, junk food, and the impact of these products on children's health and well being. There are interviews with psychologists, marketing industry insiders, and child advocates. Anyone who works with children needs to view this video to understand what many children are exposed to during their time out of school.
It would be useful for teachers, psychologists, social workers and the PTA. |
| Upcoming MAME Events |
|
May 2: MAME Bd meeting, Lansing
May 31: MAME Award nominations due |
|
July 7: Summer Institute: Ingham ISD
August 5 & 6: MAME Summer Academy: GVSU Holland Campus
October 21 - 23: MAME 36 Conference: Grand Traverse Resort |
| Other Upcoming Events |
April - School Library Media Month
April 12 - 18
National Library Week
May 11 - 12
National Library Legislative Day
June 24
Michigan Joint Education Conference
"Connecting 21st Century Learning"
Holt HS, Holt, MI.
June 28 - July 1 National Education Computing Conference (NECC - ISTE) Washington DC
July 9 - 13
Chicago
| | |
|
