LibMedia+715+-+Current+Trends+in+K-12+Literature+and+Related+Media

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater LIBMEDIA 715 Summer 2006

Course Competencies and Artifacts
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 * ===**Program competency**=== || ===**WI DPI standards for professional licensure**=== || ===**AASL/ NCATE Standard**=== || ===**NBPTS**=== || === Possible artifacts === ||
 * 1. Listens to and questions students to identify their reading interests based on theories of learning styles, developmental differences, culture, and other individual differences || 3, 7 || 1b, 2a || 1 ||  ||
 * 2. Promotes reading, viewing, and listening guidance for children and adolescents founded on knowledge of a wide range of YA and children's literature and an understanding of diversity of culture, student development, and student interests based on critical perspectives || 3, 7 || 1b, 3b || 2, 3, 9 || [[file:variety of books.doc]] ||
 * 3. Demonstrates knowledge of new literary theories and how they impact interpretations of children's and YA literature || 3, 7 || 1b || 5 ||  ||
 * 4. Models enthusiastic and effective use of books and other media for pleasure and information || 3, 7 || 1b || 2 || [[file:bauer.ppt]][[file:Graphic_Novels.ppt]] ||
 * 5. Works individually and collaboratively with teachers, parents and students to promote the love of reading and knowledge of available resources within the school and larger community || 3, 7 || 2, 3 || 4 || [[file:FromYourLibrary2.07.pdf]]
 * 6. Understands the principles and supports the practice of intellectual freedom, free inquiry and access to information that is requisite for effective and responsible citizenship in a democracy || 3, 7 || 1c, 3c || 9 || [[file:1st Amend.ppt]] ||
 * 7. Monitors, assesses and employs existing and emerging trends and technologies in the field || 5 || 1b, 1d, 3c || 5 ||  ||
 * 8. Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate professional publications and associations || 1 || 3a || 8 ||  ||
 * 9. Collaborates with teachers to integrate literature across the curriculum || 7 || 1d, 3b || 4, 10 ||  ||

Final Reflection
One of the joys of being a librarian is engaging students in good books. Through this class we focused on Eliza Dresang's idea of "radical change," or the changes that are happening in literature for children that mirrors the changes in our increasingly digital society. A variety of books were read and listened to and examined for their radical change.The book market has changed incredibly since this class was taken in 2006. Not only are there the ideas of interactivity and connectedness in books, much like in a digital world, there are digital books. Getting a handle on the e-books and how to incorporate them into the middle school library will be my greatest challenge and area for improvement this school year.

Through the five years that I have been a librarian I have worked hard to provide a variety of resources in a variety of formats for all readers. The audiobook selection has been increased through Playaways, which have been extremely popular with reluctant and struggling readers. I have suggested some instances where teachers would want to use the audio version of a book when doing a read aloud because it lends an air authenticity to the novel, such as Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. The graphic novel section of the library at Whitehorse has also been greatly increased. I credit a couple of excellent programs I went to at the Chicago ALA for increasing my awareness of the benefits of audiobooks and graphic novels. I have been able to convince Language Arts teachers to incorporate them more into the teaching and the students response is very positive. The graphic novels powerpoint as an artifact from something that I am currently using with students as an introduction to the format.

One way to understand how students read and what students want to read is through interview or survey. In the class we conducted an interview with three students in middle and high school. I no longer have the interview results but I remember vividly that two of the three students felt they had no time to read and thus, read very little. This is a commonly heard statement. Once I became the librarian one of my first focuses was to find a way for students to have more time to read. I worked closely with the Language Arts teachers to increase in-class reading time. I also collaborate with teachers on choices for literature circles and read-alouds.

I have worked on projects with teachers that span multiple curriculum areas, like in the 1st Amendment/Challenged books project we do at 8th grade. As part of 8th grade History students learn about the Constitution. I take the idea of intellectual freedom/right to read and talk about how it relates to the 1st Amendment. Students are then offered an array of books from the library shelves that have been challenged for one reason or another. In class students read their book answering guiding questions as they go along. They investigate why their book was challenged and write a paper. They also complete a final project that is based on the idea of right to read. Projects have included PSAs, bookmarks, or posters that are displayed in the library. This project requires that the Language Arts teacher, History teacher and I work together.

I included a couple of artifacts demonstrating how I work with students and staff to promote love of reading and knowledge of resources. The Literacy Fun Night is a family event that I started four years ago. It's fun way to promote literacy and get parents involved. Monthly articles in the home-school newsletter are another way that I can get information out to parents.

Developing a relationship with the nearby public library branch has been a way for me to encourage to students to use the resources found within our community. Each start of the school year begins with a trip to the public library with the incoming 6th graders. Students are given a tour by the youth librarian, taught how to use their catalog, sign up for computer time and get their own library cards if they don't have them already.

I will continue to promote the love of reading and to provide a variety of options for accessing literature. Using online blogs and journals such as Booklist and School Library Journal will help keep me current in the world of childrens'/young adult literature.