In the March 2013 School Library Journal, there is an article, Latest Study: A Full-time School Librarian Makes a Critical Difference in Boosting Student Achievement. In light of recent unsettling news from Ogden District, this is a good article that reminds us of the impact that certified school librarians have on students. This major study about the effect of strong school library programs was conducted in public schools in Pennsylvania.
The study concluded that reading and writing scores are better for students who have full-time certified librarians than for those who don't. The inclusion of writing data was an important element of this research because library studies generally focus on reading scores. "The writing aspect is especially vital given the Common Core and its emphasis on students' ability to produce meaningful materials in the learning process. Advanced writing scores are three times as likely in schools with a full-time librarian. And, it gets better with better budgets. Students with access to well-resourced libraries are two to five times more likely to score Advanced in writing than students without such libraries."
The dedicated Library Technology Teachers in SLCSD impact teachers and students every single day. You make a difference! Thank you for all that you do.
Thank you for sharing this article and giving us such a boost! I will share this with my administrators and anyone who questions my job's worth. :)
ReplyDeleteI would like to a section of an article printed in the Ogden Standard Examiner By Kathy Gambles
ReplyDeleteStandard-Examiner on Wed, 05/01/2013
he roles of the teacher librarian are diverse. She/he is a:
• Teacher whose classroom and climate of learning is the library
• Instructional Partner who collaborates with classroom teachers, administrators and parents
• Information Specialist who filters and shares appropriate and reliable resources with users
• Reading Advocate who works with children to help them to value reading and become lifelong readers
• Program Manager who purchases, catalogs and maintains a current collection that is accessible to all users along with a myriad of other activities required to keep the school library program running smoothly
Knowledge shifts in the digital world. Students need to be critical thinkers. Success in the 21st century requires being an effective user and producer of ideas and information. Each of these roles has a direct impact on the opportunity for student achievement.
correction 'post a section'
DeleteI really wonder what administrators in places such as Ogden think when they read these studies - assuming that they do. How can you justify taking a person who is demonstrably associated in a positive way to student acheivement out of the school, and replacing them with a non-professional. It just doesn't make sense to me. And we need to be leting the media know it in very specific terms "Studies in Colorado and Pennsylvania ...", not just generalities "some study somewhere...". Not just the parents of our students, but the general population as a whole should be aware of what is happening in the education of the generation that will support them in their old age.LIBRARIANS UNITE!!! How sad we are not more vocal until the axe falls. And even more sad is that it is happening within our own schools.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the rant - had to get it off my chest. I am the guiltiest (is that a word?).
Joseph,
DeleteI love your rant. The loss of an entire library/media department is so sad. ! The trend of Deprofessionalizing education will have a huge impact on the future.
Thank you for posting the article, it was a great read!
ReplyDeleteOne thing that does not appear in a test score, is the preparation students have when they go to college. If they have had library skills in their early schooling, they will be better prepared for college research.
ReplyDelete....and I like Ms. Gambles' list of roles that good librarians play. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article! I harvested some quotes from it and emailed them to my staff in light of recent librarian cuts in Ogden...reminding them how lucky we are to be one of the few districts in our state with library teachers at the elementary level. One of my favorite quotes from it is: "And why is the research that shows the impact of quality school library programs and librarians on students being ignored?"
ReplyDeleteIt is a sad day when those who control the budgeting for education short change our students, once again, by taking away a learning resource for our students. I makes my heart ache. It is a great article and I think it is wonderful that we are still supported by our district!
ReplyDeleteCheck out this 14 year old girl from Ogden fighting for her library teacher's job!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.standard.net/stories/2013/05/02/after-walkout-fizzles-ogden-student-activist-meets-super-over-librarian-issue#.UYqfsEzPSFC.facebook
Parents are mad too:
http://www.standard.net/stories/2013/05/08/angry-parents-confront-ogden-superintendent-over-media-specialist-jobs
We are so lucky in our District to have such a fabulous advocate as Julie. Thanks, Julie, for being there for us. Maybe if Ogden District had a Julie Atwood advocating for them it wouldn't have gotten this far. I am so sorry that the "powers that be" cannot see the damage they are doing to their students with this action. It's really sad that the "almighty dollar" overrules the benefits to our kids in our schools.
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