Inclusion: Not Negotiable for School Librarians

By admin on September 9, 2009

There are few things that sadden me more than seeing a school library that is not useable by every student on campus. Maybe it’s not intentional: perhaps your library administrator isn’t “into” improving access, maybe she doesn’t think it’s necessary or valuable, or does not really understand how to create a viable academic resource for 900-some-odd different scholars. 

Many teachers I talk to are amazed to find that every single student on our campus: the cutest little honor students, the snottiest 8th graders, struggling readres and Special Education student alike, all are provided with the same access to scheduling, curricuclum and my care and attention. This inclusive approach, frankly, is not negotiable. 

Here are some opening thoughts I had while researching this topic. Universal Design seems so obvious, yet every time I present this information in a professional setting, someone agrees with me that full inclusion for every student is still a work in progress. 

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Library Media Programs for Deaf Students is an action research paper I presented in 2007 that looks at how school libraries can be made accessible to a range of learners; this study focused primarily on deaf students and struggling readers. Contains a thorough Literature Review that focuses on specific learning needs of deaf students, and evaluates the use of Universal Design in my own library program. 

In Universal Design for School Libraries, I identified nine elements of Universal Design that were in practice in my library. Combining teacher observations, patron interviews, and personal experience, I provide specific elements any Librarian can incorporate to improve access at her school.

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Thoughts on Universal Design in Education and Your School Library

By admin on September 4, 2009

Universal Design is a concept that seems so simple, yet has not been incorporated as a standard of excellence for educators. The concept is simple: plan something from the beginning so that anyone can use it successfully. One common example of Universal Design is incorporating ramps into the design of a building. Everyone can benefit from this design, no mater of they are perfectly able, abled differently, or are just tired and carrying heavy grocery bags.

Download Universal Design for School Libraries

PDF IconUniversal Design for School Libraries (PDF: 102k)

I believe this idea becomes even more essential when discussing school factors that affect student success. When considering the fact that a free and appropriate education is a basic right in our society, and the reality that college is no longer optional in becoming economically successful, creating a system that everyone can access seems essential. This idea encompasses many school factors that are directly tied to student success: curriculum, instruction, the use of school space and resources, as well as classroom environment. Continue reading “Thoughts on Universal Design in Education and Your School Library”

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Managing Middle School 101

By admin on July 27, 2009

School must be starting soon. Ms Ghareeb is already hearing the sixth-grade voices:

“ My Teacher doesn’t like me. That’s why she gave me a D.”

“Middle school is TOO HARD. I can’t do it.”

” All the (books, teachers, kids, whatever) here are dumb. I liked my old school better.”

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this year I have a solution for you. Success in Middle School: a Transition Road Map by Carol Carter (LifeBound Books) is a great book to guide kids through the terrifying, tumultuous path know as grades 6-8.

Success in Middle School Carol Carter

This book was sent to me by the publisher for review, and I have to say I was highly impressed. Success in Middle School takes the mystery out of this transition by explaining what to expect in plain English.  The author goes over logistical basics, like schedules, teacher expectations, and organizing all those notes, and explains social issues (there is nothing on the planet more complicated or traumatic than friendship dynamics at this age). She also goes over important aspects of maturing into a scholar, like taking risks, looking for talents, and taking responsibility for yourself in a way that is accessible to these already overwhelmed kids. The book is woven through with personal narratives from kids who have survived middle school (particularly valuable because, of course, none of us grown ups understand).

I’ll be adding this book to our school library, and will be encouraging students to take a look. Ideas on how to work with that teacher? Covered: chapter 2. How can you make friends? Got it: chapter 3. Is throwing that water balloon at lunch really such a great idea? Chapter 8–that’s the one on taking appropriate risks.

Other LifeBound resources for kids about managing school, being a scholar, and growing up:

Gifts and Talents for Teenagers: Discovering Your Unique Strengths by Carol Carter

People Smarts for Teenagers: Becoming Emotionally Intelligent by Carol Carter

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And You Were Wondering Where I Got It From

By admin on June 29, 2009

photo credit: Nathan Olsen
photo: Nathan Olsen

Next to me in this picture is my Dad, Gordon Ghareeb, noted Maritime Historian and co-author of From Hollywood to Honolulu: The  Story of the Los Angeles Steamship Company. We attended a wonderful lecture given by him and co-author Martin Cox detailing this fascinating chapter in nautical history (with all the juicy bits left in)!

 

photo from Maritime Matters; Martin Cox
photo from Maritime Matters; Martin Cox

This book tells a story of fame and fortune, glitter and gossip, as the Los Angeles Steamship Company ferried movie stars and millionaires to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1920′s and 30′s. 

According to Mr. Cox, this is one of the few well-researched examinations of this particular bit in west-coast maritime history. The authors used family interviews, pictures taken by senior crew members at the time, and spent hours combing through every edition of the Los Angeles Times on microfilm to gather a complete picture of not only how these ships ran, but also how the LOSSC impacted society around it.

The Honolulu Star Bulletin has called this book a “must read for steamship enthusiasts.” If you’re a librarian of any Nautical Collection, of Maritime History, or of Los Angeles/ California history, give me call. This is a book you’ll want to include. 

 

Co-authors Gordon Ghareeb and Martin Cox sign books after the lecture
Co-authors Gordon Ghareeb and Martin Cox sign books after the lecture

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Our “Big Readers” Made The News!

By admin on June 29, 2009

Marshall Extreme Read ChallengeThe Extreme Read Challenge made the Long Beach Press Telegram’s ”Reader Page!” This article  and picture was submitted by our PTA president, Jeri Lynn Cullison (who has also been a great supporter of this event for all three years). It reads:

The Marshall Academy of Scholars Librarian, Ameelia Ghareeb is surrounded by participating students at the end of the evening when Marshall held its 3rd Annual Extreme Read Challenge on May 26.  Ghareeb, started this as a fun, collaborative event that encourages nothing more than the joy of quietly reading. This year 74 people participated including students, special guests, family members and school staff. Ms. Ghareeb’s signature “brain food” trail mix and lots of healthy snacks were served to keep everyone focused. When the gong chimed at the end of four hours, everyone cheered, prizes were distributed and cake served. This year the Marshall Extreme Readers reached a combined total of 10,860 reading minutes. That is the equivalent of seven and a half days of reading!
Jeri Lynne Cullison
PTA President, Marshall Middle School

Marshall’s 3rd Annual Extreme Read Challenge

 

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Round Up Those Library Books!

By admin on May 16, 2009

Every year, about this time, the great mission begins: getting kids to turn in all those library books and pay for lost books before the end of the school year. Here are some ideas I’ve used to get those kids to settle up. 

Prevention, Prevention, Prevention.  Aside from doing an extensive library introduction, and demonstrating the calamities that can befall books with the Library Cart of Horror (it’s a hit right before Halloween!), I make a big produciton of calling parents at the beginning of the school year if students start to forget their library books. I usually only have to do this once or twice , and the rest of the class tows the line for several weeks. But even the best laid plans. . .

Free Gifts! Seriously. I know some librarians are cringing as they read this, but  have run “Free gifts with any over due book” offers, and for the most part they are successful. This is especially good right at the beginning of the school year, when you’re aiming to get back  books from last year. The gift is usually  a pencil or sticker, but they’ll still go for it every time. 

Bookfair Bargains. I let selected kids buy a gift book for the library during the booksfair, and trade for the one they lost. This is my way of trading an old copy of something boring like “The Giver” (we have a million copies, anyway)  for the latest Naruto or an extra Twilight. 

End of Year Events. I tell kids I will keep them out of the big End of Year events if they owe me books. This works great for 99% of the the students. I have to wheel a shopping cart around campus to collect them all. 

Two for One. I will sometimes make deals with kids about their old fines, or fines I know are probably not for new, good condition books anyway. They return the brand new copy of  Tears of a Tiger, I’ll clear that paperback Goosebumps from two years ago. Lost a Bart Simpson comic that was on its last leg anyway? “I’ll give you a special deal– half price!” They think they’re getting a sweet deal while still being at least partially responsible, and I get to clear my fines. Win-win. 

About our library circulation policy: Plenty of librarians will not allow a child to check out a new book until they bring back the old ones, but when a whole class of 8th graders happily informed me during my first year “Oh, we owe fines, we can’t get books,” then proceed to talk and play the rest of the class period, I knew this was not going to work out.

It is our position that part of middle school is learning how to be responsible scholar, and that includes library use. I have told kids, “Library is no more a privilege than Math homework is a privilege. You will be a responsible library user, even if I have to call parents and assign detention to get you to do it.” We have one of the highest circulations in the district, and lot of overdues, but after all is said and done, we don’t see any greater losses compared to the other libraries in our district.

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Get With It, People. OMG.

By admin on May 3, 2009

I’ve come across two great books for middle school that illustrate nicely how modern media is changing everything, but at the same time, it isn’t. 

Skeleton Creek BookSkeleton Creek by Patrick Carman. This is a creepy ghost mystery that has me reminiscing about  being in High School and seeing the Blair Witch Project. Ryan and Sarah are convinced there’s a secret to e found in the death of an old gold miner, but Ryan is not going anywhere after one of their stunts lands him in the hospital. Sarah continues the search, filming what she finds and posting the videos online for Ryan to follow along with. The two use email, video clips, texting, and a range of other things to keep chasing Old Joe Bush, and to keep Ryan’s parents from finding out.

The really cool part? Kids can go online and watch the videos along with Ryan. The websites and passwords are sprinkled throughout the book, so not only do you get a fun story, you get a secret search and a spooky video too. This would be great for reluctant readers or kids who are struggling (they have to read the book to get the passwords, and the videos give visuals to support comprehension). I realize this is extremely clever marketing and not really an altruistic attempt to support literacy, but it’s a whole lot of fun wither way. 

Gamer Girl BookGamer Girl by Mari Mancusi. Maddy is having enough trouble dealing with her parent’s divorce and having to move back in with her Grandma, but when kids at her new school start making fun of her, calling her “Geek Girl,” “Goth,”  and “Freak,” she just can’t take it anymore. She retreats into a MMOG (massive multiplayer online game, similar to World of Warcraft). There she finds some safe company, some friends, a major crush, and surprisingly, her father (who cancels weekend visits to play online). As she grows a little braver, she starts a Manga club at school and discovers she’s not the only one the cheerleaders call “Geek Girl.” She finds a plenty of kids who are just like her. 

This was an excellent book for two reasons. It has a wonderful character who is going through exactly what every other middle school kid is: she just wants to have people like her for who she is. Maddy is spunky and sassy, but is has very human reactions to some of the things that happen to her.  The second reason I like this book is that is completely de-mystifies all this techno-junk, like MMOGs, IMing and a host of other acronym adjectives. The kids are using online social networks, they “Wikipediaed” things and they are texting and tweeting all over the place. The author does a brilliant job of having some character explain all this stuff (usually to some lost grown-up) so no one gets lost. There are great conversations about cyber bullying and avatars vs. IRL friends (that’s “in real life” friends, for those who don’t speak IM, and that’s “Instant Messenger” for . . .this thing could get way out of hand!). I would recommend Gamer Girl as a great introduction to modern adolescent communication; it’s a way for parents and librarians to get and idea of what all this stuff is that kids are talking about, and how it’s become a huge part of their everyday lives.

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My Favorite Book for Test-Stressed Kids.

By admin on April 25, 2009

So, testing begins on Monday at our school. The Administration is all geared up. Pencils are being sharpened. Teachers are either a frenzied whirlwind of comma-usage review, or are are completely spent. Oh yeah, and the kids might be  more than a little stressed. 

Testing Ms. Malarkey bookThis is a cute picture book I always wind up reading to some poor kid (there’s been a few teachers too) during testing season. Testing Ms. Malarkey tells the story of a regular old school and regular old kids, who go a little nuts as they approach testing. Kids have to eat only  brain-friendly fish in the cafe, parents give out worksheets with bedtime stores, Teachers cut in front of the Nurse’s line,  and a Principal becomes more than adamant about No 2 pencils. This is one story one we can all laugh over together.

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Spring Book Fair

By admin on April 2, 2009

We are now three days into my 6th Scholastic Book Fair, and this time around, I have to say I am not so impressed. While I have never really loved the Book Fair (it’s alot like having a party for a 6 year old: fun for the kids, but mostly just  alot of work for the grown-ups); it’s always been a necessary evil, my bi-annual deal with the devil. Our fair is never big enough to serve as a real fundraiser, but I have always found enough books to keep from it to satisfy basic library needs, like my Garfield and Goosebumps readers. Along with these favorites, Scholastic usually has several good new releases, along with current sports and record books. Especially in these lean times, it’s a deal I’m willing to make. 

But as I started looking through this year’s stock, I found myself very disappointed. Most of the usual stand-bys were missing (not a single Garfield to be found, can you believe it?) and what was there was yesterday’s news. No skateboarding trick books, no Bart Simpson, no Shonen Jump. My book-taper gently weeps. 

Maybe it’s a refelction on these grey down-trodden times, but this Book Fair seems extra barren. Perhaps fall will be better.

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Welcome President Obama!!

By admin on March 19, 2009

President Obama landed at the Long Beach Airport Wednesday afternoon, and a few of our students made a special trip out to welcome him to our city. See the big yellow banner in the middle. . .that’s us. 

Student council holds their banner reading, "Marshall Middle School Welcomes President Obama"

Student council holds their banner reading, "Marshall Middle School Welcomes President Obama"

 

Mr. Algie (History) and I watched from the Library as Marine One (there were five copters in formation, so one of them must have been Marine One) took off carrying the President to his destination earlier this morning, and according to close sources who were in a grocery story at the time, when Air Force One left LB, it “rumbled the whole building.”

More Obama coverage:

Great Pics of the LB landing, plus video.

Ethan Lopez, age 8, gets to ask the President one question, and he asks about Education cuts.

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