AVID Webinar

 I recently attended the Amplifying Outcomes by Leveraging Professional Learning webinar for AVID.

The county I work for has several AVID programs for our students. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping more students view college as a realistic goal. It fosters a culture where college is attainable for anyone willing to put in the effort. Schools participating in AVID programs learn to support students through college-prep courses and teach essential skills like problem-solving and critical thinking. 

The presenters were as follows: 

• Michael McCormick serves as the Superintendent in Residence for AVID.
• Amy Mahr is the AVID Director for Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) in New Mexico.
• Dean Laurent holds the position of Director of School Accountability Support within APS.

APS is the largest public school system in New Mexico, serving one out of every four public school students in the state.

During the webinar, the focus was on how adults can lead to improved student outcomes. I learned about the value of a 90-day plan and how success can be measured when goals are established, and a specific period of time is completed.

  

                                           

         

Georgia Library Media Association Membership

I'm excited to be a new member of the Georgia Library Media Association (GLMA)! I can't wait to connect with fellow members and contribute to our shared goals. Looking forward to learning and growing together!

Professional Learning Network

Monthly Report: March Edition

LINK TO INFOGRAPHIC

 

Cataloging in the Media Center

 

Steps for Shelving New Books in the Media Center

1. Step 1: Check Destiny First
   Before you do anything, go to the Catalog tab in Destiny and type in the name of the book. You’re just checking to see if the book is already in our system.

Select the specific book that you are adding to your inventory,  next select add copies.

Step 2: Add Copies

If the book is already listed in Destiny, you’ll click Add Copies. You’ll need to fill in some information like:

• The ISBN number

• How many copies you're adding

• Where the book will go in the media center (like Fiction, Nonfiction, or Biography)

• The price of the book

• And the vendor (where it came from)
  Once everything’s filled out, click Save Copies to finish.

Print Labels

• Go to Reports - Library Reports.

• Under Labels, select Barcode Labels or Spine Labels.

• Customize label content (e.g., school name, ISBN, author, title).

• Choose the appropriate format (e.g., list, range).

• Run the report and print labels once the status is Completed.

Step 3: Print Book Labels

Now that the books are in the system, it’s time to label them. Go to Reports, then on the left side, click Library Reports.

Scroll down to find Book Labels.

Here’s what to include on each label:

• Our school's name

• The ISBN number

• The author’s name

• The title of the book

I like using the “List” option so I can type in the exact ISBN numbers I need labels for. After that, hit Run Report. It’ll say “Pending” for a few minutes, then you’ll be able to click on the completed report and print your labels.

Step 4: Print Spine Labels

Follow those same steps to print out the spine labels too.

Step 5: Get Your Labels
Click on the document listed at the top of the report screen once it says "Completed"—and walla! You have your spine label!

Step 6: Stick Your Labels On
Use Demco stickers to tape the book labels on the back of the book and the spine labels on the spine. Make sure they’re lined up and secure.

Step 7: Now Let’s Shelve the Books

Alright, once your labels are on, it’s time to put the books on the shelves where they belong.

First, look at the call number on the spine label. This helps you know where to shelve the book. There are two main parts to that call number:

1. It tells you the section (like Fiction, Nonfiction, Biography, etc.)

2. It shows you the author’s last name so you know where in that section it goes.

For example, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is a fiction book, so its call number is:

FIC KIN

• FIC means it belongs in the Fiction section.

• KIN stands for Kinney, the author’s last name.

So you’d go to the Fiction section and look for the K’s, then find exactly where “Kinney” fits alphabetically with the other K authors.

Step 8: Show Off Popular Books

Our most popular books in the media center are displayed on top of some of the shelves so students can easily see and grab them. If we have multiple copies, the extras are placed on the regular shelves in their proper spots.

The media specialist says this helps create excitement because students are more likely to pick up a book when they can actually see the cover. It catches their attention and gets them curious about what’s inside!

Online Learning Module

Duration:  60 minutes
Professional Learning

Summary:
Before conducting the technology workshop, I sent out a needs analysis survey to teachers to better understand the specific interests and technology needs of various grade levels. The survey asked questions about different tech tools, interest in learning more about them, and student access to the resources required for implementation. The results revealed that while some teachers were interested in tools like Canva, Nearpod, and Seesaw, the majority wanted to learn more about the digital book platforms Sora and Tumble Books.

During the workshop, I presented a video of myself navigating both Sora and Tumble Books to model how the platforms work. In the video, I walked through how to access and search for books, how to use student-friendly features such as the highlighter and the built-in audio reader, and how to assign texts based on Lexile levels.

After the presentation, teachers participated in a hands-on scavenger hunt. They were asked to search for specific books, turn to designated chapters, and highlight particular words within the platforms. Following the scavenger hunt, teachers were given time to plan how they could integrate digital books into their classrooms and daily schedules in meaningful ways.

Reflection:
This professional development session went really well, largely because it was designed around teacher interest. The content was relevant, and the teachers were actively engaged throughout the workshop. By the end of the session, there was a clear excitement in the room. Teachers walked away with a deeper understanding of how to use Sora and Tumble Books, along with fresh ideas for implementing digital reading tools both in the classroom and at home. I was proud to see so many educators feeling confident and inspired to bring these resources to their students.

                                                                   

Week 12: Novel Engineering

Book Title: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

Time Spent: 2hrs 15mins

Grade Level: 3-5

Summary:
During this engaging lesson, students participated in a novel engineering activity based on The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. The media specialist began by reading the story aloud and guiding a discussion about the main problem in the text. Students were then tasked with designing traps to catch the three little pigs. Working in groups, they sketched their ideas on blueprint paper before building their traps using Strawbees building straws. What made this lesson so impactful was the way the media specialist pulled problem-solving directly from the storyline, bringing the book to life through hands-on learning. The students were very engaged and worked with enthusiasm throughout the activity. After building, groups shared their designs with the class, showcasing their creativity and collaboration.

Reflection:
This lesson was excellent. I loved how the media specialist used a familiar story to create a real-world problem-solving experience for students. The connection between literacy and engineering was seamless, and the students were clearly invested in both the process and the outcome. They were genuinely excited to see each other’s designs and proud of their work. If I could make one change, I would slightly reduce the design time and add a few extra minutes to the sharing portion. This would allow for student questions and more in-depth discussion around each group's approach. Overall, this lesson was a great example of integrated learning, and I walked away with ideas I can definitely use in the future.