Leverage Your Library Program to Raise Test Scores: A Guide for Library Media Specialists, Principals, Teachers, and Parents - Softcover

Church, Audrey P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1586831208 ISBN 13: 9781586831202

Publisher: Linworth, 2003

Synopsis

The research is in: strong library media programs can help hike test scores. Now teachers, administrators, other educators, and parents can raise their awareness of the causal connections between the two. This book explains major studies' findings and the implications for instruction, examines elements of successful media programs, and defines a clear, practical call to action for educators and parents to advocate for school libraries within their own spheres of influence. If academic achievement is the bottom line, here are the elements you must include in your library media program. Includes complete bibliography.

• Discover how library media programs contribute to student achievement
• Appropriate for all grade levels―from K-12 to higher education
• Addresses all stakeholdes involved in facilitating student learning

About this title

About the Author

Audrey P. Church is professor of school librarianship and chair of the Department of Education and Counseling at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, USA. She earned her PhD in Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Church has served as president of the American Association of School Librarians. A former primary and high school librarian, she is the author of several books and book chapters and numerous journal articles. Her research interests include administrators' perceptions of school librarians, school library standards implementation, and the history of school libraries.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Neither teachers nor administrators take a basic course in school library media. For many years I have been fascinated by the research studies that show how important school libraries and librarians are to academic achievement and thoroughly frustrated by the fact that very few educators outside of the school library media field are aware of the enormous potential that exists. Moving from a school library setting to a position in higher education has afforded me the opportunity to spread the word within my own small sphere of influence. On my university campus, I frequently speak to administrator preparation classes and to teacher preparation classes, sharing with them information about the role of libraries in today s schools. I present at regional, state, and national conferences. With this book I have the opportunity to truly share the news with an even larger audience.

The purpose of this book is to inform educators (primarily those outside of the field of school library media) of the important role that libraries play in the instructional program of the school and to raise the expectations that these educators have of their school libraries. Written primarily for a non-library audience, the book will explain concrete ways in which the library media specialist, as an instructional partner, can contribute to student learning and achievement. This book will be invaluable to current and future administrators and teachers, parents who want to know more about their child s school, and library media specialists searching for ways to advocate for their programs and to impact student learning.

Everyone in the education field is concerned with test scores. In this time of standards, testing, and accountability, Leverage Your Library Program to Help Raise Test Scores explains what other educators can and should expect from their library media specialists and library media programs and provides ideas and resources for library media specialists who are committed to making a difference. Written in "regular education" language as opposed to "libraryese," this book points out what should happen in successful library media programs that are an integral part of the instructional program of the school. It points out what other educators need to know about today s school library media programs and emphasizes the positive effect that strong library media programs have on student learning.

Leverage Your Library Program to Help Raise Test Scores is basically arranged by type of audience. Following this introduction, Chapter 1 summarizes and reviews the common findings from major research studies that have shown the impact that school librarians and school library programs have on academic achievement. It outlines what strong library media programs should involve as shown by the research. Chapter 2 addresses what administrators (present and future) should expect from their school libraries. Chapters 3 and 4 discuss what teachers (present and future) should expect from their school libraries. Chapter 5 gives parents an idea of what today s school library is like and what they should expect from a strong library media program. Chapter 6 provides a plan of action, ideas, and resources for library media specialists. Chapter 7 elaborates on the benefits our students will reap from successful efforts by the aforementioned groups and looks at comments by practicing administrators, teachers, and school library media specialists. References and suggested resources for further reading are included at the end of the book. Appendices include a chronological summary of the research studies, sample planning and unit evaluation forms, sample pathfinders, and principal brochures prepared by the Virginia Department of Education.

Leverage Your Library Program to Help Raise Test Scores is designed to be used by a variety of audiences in a variety of ways. Administrators can use the material to become better informed about today s school library media programs: what they should expect from their library media specialists, what they need to provide in return, and what subsequent gains they might expect in the area of student achievement. Teachers can use it to gain a better understanding of today s teacher-librarian, as library media specialists are called in Canada. They can use it as a springboard for ideas for ways to collaborate instructionally with their library media specialist and raise their children s test scores. Parents can use it to better understand the contributions that a quality library program makes to their children s education. Library media specialists can use it for ideas and resources as well as for an advocacy tool with fellow educators.

On June 4, 2002, First Lady Laura Bush hosted the White House Conference on School Libraries. In her remarks, as reported by the Laura Bush Foundation for America s Libraries, Mrs. Bush noted, "School libraries help teachers teach and children learn Children and teachers need library resources--especially books--and the expertise of a librarian to succeed. Books, information technology, and school librarians who are part of the school s professional team are basic ingredients for student achievement" (1).

The school librarian of the bun, crepe-soled shoes, and polyester suit, shushing students from behind the circulation desk, is no more: today s library media specialist is a teacher-librarian actively involved in the curriculum of the school. Today s library, as Dr. David Loertscher describes in Reinvent Your School s Library in the Age of Technology, is "a busy, bustling, learning laboratory" (3).

So, what is all the fuss about? How can you raise your test scores with resources you already have, building on programs and personnel already in place? Read on to find out!

Edition details

• Publisher: Linworth
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1586831208
• ISBN 13: 9781586831202
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 125