You asked for it–it’s almost here. In conjunction with the Johnson County Public Library, I have just finished compiling lists of titles that support the Common Core Standards. They have not been posted yet, but I will let you know where to find them as soon as they are available.

As I worked through this process, a couple of things came to mind:

1. You are going to LOVE these lists and,
2. You don’t really need them.

Yes, I know you think you need them but the reality is, THIS is exactly what librarians do (and have always done) on a daily basis. Common Core  just requires a different frame of reference. Don’t believe me? Let me share the process of creating these lists.

Not being someone who likes to reinvent the wheel, my initial searches focused on finding out if others had already done this. Sadly, most of what I found were different versions of the infamous “Appendix B,” the list of text samples provided to demonstrate the level of complexity and quality that the Standards. As you are well aware, this list contains many classics and older titles, some of which are out of print. The library wanted to create a list of newer and more readily available titles that could be used to supplement the curriculum.

Fortunately for me (and you), I found one organization that had also recognized this need, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center. Not only does this site provide an outstanding bibliography of titles that target the text complexity component of the English Language Arts Standards for grades 6-12 (beyond Appendix B), but it is a treasure trove of book lists and resources for ALL librarians. This site should be on every librarian’s toolbar!

The second resource I found was TeachingBooks.net. This is a subscription services, but you can get a free 14 day trial. In addition to providing grade level lists for each of the four core areas (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science), its primary purpose is to provide supplemental  lesson plans and multimedia resources to be used with each title. This appears to be a phenomenal resource that is very reasonably priced when purchased at the district level. It would be well worth looking into funding options for this one.

The final gold mine that fell into my lap was the September issue of BookLinks, which focused on informational text with social studies themes. Not only does this issue provide an extensive list of supporting titles but it also provides suggestions on how to use the book to teach specific standards. Watch for future issues that will address different core areas.

Not only did the discovery of each of these resources help lay the foundation for the lists, but also made me aware of even more sources of information to “facilitate knowledge creation in the community.” Always a good thing!

The second step was the daunting task of “digging into” the Common Core. Once again, step back, breathe, don’t make it harder than it is. I didn’t have to go much further than the introduction for each grade level within the core area. This gave me the topics, concepts, and textual elements that are emphasized at each level. From here, it was easy to construct searches based on these terms and patterns began to emerge. Many series and authors have already produced a wealth of material on these Common Core themes. Finding one excellent title would quickly lead to an entire collection.

Yes, it took a little time but not nearly as much as I had anticipated. The reality is, this is what we do as librarians–it’s in our DNA. Our communities come to us seeking information and we provide it. If you have a solid collection plan in place, you probably already have substantial resources available to support the Common Core Standards. All that is needed is to view that collection through a Common Core lens. Think about the titles you have been most excited by and consider why you were drawn to them; interesting writing style, different uses of text structure, use of illustrations, creative means of expression, different approach to a topic,…chances are there is a Common Core connection there.

Librarians are always (and have always been) ahead of the curve–sometimes we just need to be reminded.

OK, so back to Common Core….

One of the most encouraging (in my opinion) components of The Common Core Standards is that the emphasis on information literacy skills, ACROSS the curriculum.

I stumbled across this today and all I can say is, WOW! Everything you ever wanted to know about literacy, and then some! Bookmark this to your toolbar or better yet, set it as your homepage (that’s my plan). Use this as your “go to” resource and you WILL be a ROCKSTAR!

Kathy Shrock’s Guide to Everything: Literacy in the Digital Age

Yes, it is overwhelming but you have to admit, the information here is excellent! I plan to spend some time digging deeper into it, but wanted to at least make you aware of it before school gets into full swing. Again, definitely worth the time.

Ah, Wikipedia. Do we love it or hate it? Should we love it or should we hate it?

Here are some interesting pieces to add to the puzzle:

Eating Crow…Or the Speed of Wikipedia Editing

3 Charts That Show How Wikipedia Is Running Out of Admins

The Top 50 Sources Where Wikipedia Gets Its Facts

Isn’t it a great time to be a librarian? 🙂

Brace yourselves! Ready or not! Here it Comes!

The Common Core Standards are on there way, and that is a GOOD thing. In case you have been living under a rock the last year or so, you should know that the Common Core Standards are all about:

College and Career Readiness

Information Literacy (across all core areas)

RESEARCH Skills (particularly primary sources)

Hmmmm…has anyone been teaching these skills? What’s that you say? Librarians? I thought they just checked out books and did book talks. OK, OK, calm down… I’M not saying that, but we all know that perception is out there. Hopefully, you have all watched the David Lankes presentation (in the Transform-Able post) and you know that to change the general perception of librarianship, WE need to change are approach. WE need to move from being the keepers of the collection to “improving society through facilitating knowledge creation in their community” (Lankes, D., 2011).

What better time to stretch those wings and show that we are indeed (and have always been) “facilitators of knowledge creation in our communities.” Christopher Harris has provided a great article, A Librarian’s Tricks for Finding Those ‘Complex Texts’ Cited in the Common Core, to get you started.

And here is what The Adventures of Library Girl has to share about The Future of Research. Be sure to take time to watch the videos–it’s still summer, you still have time.

Oh, and while you’re at it, consider the multiple perspective approach:

Multiperspectivity: What is it and Why Use it?

And I realize Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is probably not appropriate for most of your students, but this is an interesting, very “Common Core” approach to exploring the historical details within historical fiction. Something to think about…

Those who know me well know will tell you that I am (somewhat) famous for inundating school librarians with emails packed with articles, ideas, strategies, all centered around a common theme–changing the perception of our profession. You can either love it or hate it but the fact remains–this is the key to the future of school librarianship. At the risk of beating a dead horse, I just found this article on The Blue Skunk Blog (and no, the title [of the article] has nothing to do with the lack of bathroom time in a school librarian’s schedule!)

I know many of you are already doing things but hey, it’s summer–what better time to step back, take a fresh look, and plan your transformation strategy.

And just in case you are really in the mood to be inspired take a look at David Lankes presentation at the KLA Annual Conference, World Domination through Librarianship. It’s 50 minutes long but again, it is summer…..

Prepare to be transformed!

So, here’s the story….

I received my BS in Accounting for the University of Missouri-Columbia *mumble* years ago. I quickly learned that the world of accounting was NOT where I wanted to be and was quite happy to become a stay at home mom. As my two boys started school, I started to work in education, first preschool, then elementary, and finally administration. When my youngest was a senior in high school, I finally decided what I wanted to be when I grew up–a librarian. I considered teaching at that time but opted instead to pursue my Masters in Library Science. After the first class weekend, I knew I was finally headed in the right direction. I finished my MLS at Emporia State in May of 2009 and went on to complete a Masters in Instructional Design and Technology (also from ESU) in December of 2010. For the last three years I have coordinated the library program for the school district. About 2 months ago, I learned that my position would now require teacher certification. My job ended last week, but I am moving forward with the Alternative Route License program (again, at ESU–they should be giving me a discount by now) for School Library Media Specialist.

While I know that bigger and better things lie ahead, it is difficult to transition. What I loved most about my job was the opportunity to share my passion and dreams with my fellow librarians. As I continued to follow the Twitter feeds of my favorite library gurus, Librarian in the Cloud, The Unquiet Librarian, Adventures of Library Girl, Virtual Dave, Blue Skunk Blog (just to name a few), I was frustrated by not having anyone with which to share this “cool stuff.” Well thanks to Heather (who gave me the necessary nudge), I have found an outlet–Welcome to “The Able Librarian”. Stay tuned for the inaugural post.