Final (ish) Reflection

LIMITLESS opportunities at the Library

I hesitate to say "FINAL" reflection of the COOL TOOLS PD only because so much of what I did through at each lesson was to add what I need to work on, improve, do next, learn, and more.

Of course, anyone who is in a PD like this is likely in the same mindset...growing, expanding, and learners for life.

FUN matters

BUT, rather than feeling discouraged and overwhelmed with how to improve, grow, and shift, this course help to me STRATEGICALLY plan on what next. 

HOPE matters.

It goes without saying that we are never "done" or we are in trouble.  It took me a few weeks to get the flow of the course..where to start, what to click, how to work between personal and work gmail...and at first I was frustrated.  Like any new experience, time and patience and try again and it worked without issue.

• I am grateful for the resources--did targeted sharing and will continue to do so.  
• It got me back into blogging and "forced" me to try, learn or revisit tools and ideas.
• I learned what "works" for my brain and what doesn't.   
• I was ok with admitting what didn't "tick" for me.
• I LOVED the choice and would like to continue on the learning journey despite the required being done. 

Create your own sunshine

My professional "what nexts" are:  (in no order, based on what has stuck with me, not just what I wrote down)

• Need a brand, logo, vision for our library that is consistent in all my outreach
• Need more tools that increase efficiency and make it easier to share with colleagues/students
• Need more connection with authors (live/virtual) for students
• Need more student voice in planning what next with literacy
• Need to dedicate more time to explore/play/try new tools (get too caught up on doing and don't force myself to try new enough)
• Need to SHARE, SHARE, SHARE ideas, tools, concepts, and rally a team to make things come to life!  
• Need to model the "choice" idea in this project for student projects

Sometimes learning opportunities just work.  This did that for me.  I'm inspired and equipped without feeling substandard or hopeless!  Onward!  Thanks so much!  

Amping up our Reading Outreach! Thing 44

Social Reading and BOOK STUFF 

As I was scrolling through the list of topics to explore, this one caught my eye.  A few months ago, I might have avoided it as I was discouraged about the reading culture in our school and maybe even everywhere.    
Fast forward a few months and I'm seeing a shift in our school that is exciting, invigorating, and has inspired me to maximize the current trends and continue to grow literacy in our school.

We've been immersing the concepts of Reader's Choose (based on

Penny Kittle's, Book Love)  that take us back to time in class for reading, browsing, engaging in the search process, conferencing, and more.  We've expanded our collection to better reflect the #weneeddiversebooks movement AND we've made literacy our focus.   Makerspace activities have taken a step back but I believe we are addressing the priority for our community right now.  

Here are some tools that I HAVE been using:

GOODREADS  I use it to frame booktalks, share, and curate ideas.   Of course, I could use it in other ways, too.  For example, I have been posting MY reading list and DUH I should use this tool...so here is an example of that....

Kowalski's Book Log for 2018  I can post it to my email signature, print the info for the library door, and share on websites, Google Classroom and more.   It also helps me assess the gaps in my reading selections (not enough non fiction, need more graphics, etc).   

I checked out (no pun intended) Library Thing.  I liked that it has widgets for promo/sharing...not sure if I would switch all my tools from GoodReads, but do like the looks of it....especially the visuals and alignment with social media!

OVERDRIVE for audio/ebooks is fantastic and we have it through our BOCES.   Like most AWESOME tools, my outreach and promo is NEVER enough and am constantly working to be more creative to do that!  

IDEAS for READING extensions: (from the Cool Tools Site... thanks, Polly) 

Love this INFOGRAPHIC from Jennifer LaGarde

• Tech Tools for the Love of Reading – Resources from a workshop Polly-Alida Farrington taught in 2017.
• It Takes a Reader To Grow a Reader: When Adults Don’t Read, Kids Lose – so many wonderful ideas from Jennifer LaGarde and Todd Nesloney.
• Create a Read Aloud Backchannel in Your Classroom – Use a backchannel to discuss a book before students read it.
• YouTube “Read Aloud” Book Videos for Kids – Links to some great YouTube Read Alouds.
• Lit Trips on Chromebooks with the New Google Earth – how to create LitTrips with a Chromebook.
• Create a reading bingo board – This is a template you could start with. Sail the Book – Google BookMaps – More than a Google Lit Trip. Take a look at what Ira Bickoff is doing with Google Earth and literature.

FICTFACT is a great resource for keeping track of SERIES.  I had used it years ago and forgot about it! 

At our middle school we have been taking advantage of several options to engage students in a reading culture-- a few here:

• BookTasting
• BookTalks
• Book teasers on the AM announcements 
• Conferencing (teacher to student, student to student)
• Open passes to get books during Reader's Choose sessions
• Extended time to read in class
• March Book Madness challenges 
• Read Alikes activities
• Promo on instagram
• Teaching FAKE vs REAL reading
• Book folders for sharing
• Mirrors and Windows celebrations for #weneeddiversebooks movement
• Bookapalooza event/promotion (just starting)
• Planned trip to Teen Book Festival in May (50 kids!) 
• Research project for grade 7 about how READING impacts a person (beyond academically)

What I need to work on:

• Curating reading resources for easy access for teachers
• more strategic promo of Overdrive/ebooks
• Better connection with authors--skype, twitter, live visits
• Better use of social media for book promos, author connections 
• Richer sharing of student voice for recommendations
• More strategic inclusion of students in planning HOW to motivate THEM to read

I am LOVING the SOCIAL READING concept...this "THING" has inspired me to put together a campaign about it for National Library month....more to follow!  Thanks for the mojo!   

Thing 4: Digital Storytelling

Lots of resources to support DIGITAL STORYTELLING

I take a gazillion pictures a week and often like to tell stories with those pics...both on the spot and for more archival reasons for work and personal reasons.  My favorite is ANIMOTO but that is a subscription service--for me I get my $$ worth, but not always an option.   Unrelated to DIGITAL options, I just started a subscription to GROOVE BOOK which gets me quick and easy access to PRINT pictures (100 month for 3.99) and these can be used in lots of ways, too!  I have my camera pics upload to DROPBOX for ease of access and sanity (if phone gets lost/damaged).  I prefer that over GOOGLE storage (for now).  

Here is an ANIMOTO from our WELCOME TEAM 

Our school has WE VIDEO available for all students and works out well, though at first glance seems intimidating (I think).  Screencastify also works for short movies via our Google Apps.   

I checked out POETRY via STORY BIRD...great place for beginners/telling story with words and images.   Not able to upload own images, but great selection.  AND it's a CHROME APP!  

Great WRITING challenges here (long and short responses) that could easily be uploaded to a teacher account for organization purposes.  

Tried out SHARALIKE....WOW...so easy to use, would be great for quick PR of library programs, events, projects, etc.  I couldn't figure out how to revise the photo collection once I uploaded pics, but easy enough to do another one quickly.    Would definitely use again!  

• Sharalike – Upload your photos and videos to create a slideshow. Choose from a limited number of slide show styles and transitions speeds. Music can also be added. Key feature is it’s simplicity. Free.  (iPad, Android, Web)  Example:

Gave PHOTOPEACH a try...very easy to use...BUT couldn't adjust the layout of the pics so as you will see here, my horizontal pics didn't work well.   Could use for a QUIZ though based on the way you use captions.   Has potential there though gathering responses wouldn't be ideal.  

FRESH AIR FEEDS the SOUL on PhotoPeach 

I explored MOOVLY and didn't have any immediate success and I didn't find it intuitive. BUT, that's just me and not necessarily an indication of an ineffective tool.  I just find when things aren't intuitive to ME, I move along to the next one rather quickly unless I am required by law to use that tool.   In this case, I moooved along :)  I would probably try again to CONQUER it!   

• Moovly – another fun tool for creating animated video presentations.  Example: Sarah Jones did a nice post on this topic with an example video.

"I'm going to make a lifechanging decision this week"

I seldom blog, though more often recently thanks to joining the Cool Tools for Schools class, but I've got something weighing on my brain and needed to share.

Yesterday, I had usual flow of iStaff (student volunteers) into the library for their shifts.  Sometimes we work in tandem, sometimes they branch out on their own.

While working to finish up a job with one student, he offered, "I'm making a lifechanging decision this week." The serious tone set me aback.  We continued working and he proceeded to share.

"I am moving to a different lunch table," he said with conviction.  "I can't take it anymore and am going to solve my own problems this time."  I commended him on sticking up for himself and did that teacher thing when we remind kids to tell an adult.  

He continued. He was convinced, he said, that when the new table said that the open chair wasn't "really available" he didn't believe them.  He said he was going to keep track over the next few days and investigate before he made his final move.

He seemed concerned and frustrated, but wasn't complaining.  He seemed willing to do his part to find a more welcoming group. He also seemed heavy hearted. 

Our conversation ended, as some do, with the need to change classes, other people on the scene, and that whole "reality" thing.

I can't, however, stop thinking about him and how it reminded (though I know it's sadly true) me that:

• even a 30 minute lunch period can cause incredible angst for kids
• finding a welcoming group in any setting, even lunch, can be all consuming
• so much energy can be taken up just trying to belong
• "lifechanging decisions" can mean so many different things 

And mostly, it reminded me that it is relationships, trust, and time that empower students to tell their story. We need to stop. We need to listen.  We need to be an advocate and sounding board.

If we are too busy to do that, kids might be making "lifechanging decisions" without anyone even knowing about them.   

Thing 32: Annual Reports

Annual Reports--Making them Matter

I always get frustrated when I see posts on social media at the end of the school from librarians who are immersed in their annual reports and claim success when they've finished some monstrous document for their administrator.

Too often those are the ONLY reports that have been shared and I'm pretty sure (no disrespect to admin) that they aren't being read for 345 reasons.  I believe the "annual" reports need to be part of a yearlong outreach and learned so much from all the avenues people are using to share their stories!  

What I've Done in the PAST:

• large monstrous end of year report
• data centered report from Destiny
• monthly "Facts at a Glance" one page reports 
• reports aligned with standards in teacher evaluation
• quarterly department reports done collaboratively
• movie with data 
• folders to gather information for administrators
• infographic with data, stories
• compilation of monthly reports 

What I'm Doing Now: 

• give FOLDER (hard copy that has PGLIBRARY on tab) and I give them items to add to folder (letters, signs, flyers, etc so they have items "at their fingertips)
• quarterly movie to highlight our story; promote widely

• highlight report to PTO for their monthly meetings  (with copy for the above folder)
• Infographic Annual Report shared widely
• Collecting more data about collection, teacher collaboration
• Press releases of all PD attended 
• Department Presentation to BOARD of ED 

What I'm Going to IMPROVE with above:   (aka #squadgoals!) 

• Return to MONTHLY 1 page FACTS at a GLANCE
• Include new BRAND/LOGO/TAGLINE on outreach
• Checklist for OUTREACH plan so all bases covered
• Section on reports for student reflection/voice
• Promotion of new AASL standards
• Continue with movies BUT share consistent categories of data that align with School Improvement/District goals
• Consistent ROLLOUT with CREATIVE content that is shared WIDELY!  

Thing 38: Maker Space

Makerspace..all the rage, all the excitement, the power, the impact the limitless possibilities, the way it is CHANGING THE WORLD!   

More resources here!   

It's also the one topic that causes me to be filled with the most self-doubt, sense of failure, and minor panic when I try to align what I know to be true in the world with what I know to be true in my world.

Here's what keeps me up at night:

• don't have a designated space that is used all the time for making (though do have physical space/room) not always available for making
• LOTS of making but doesn't it match what HIGH LEVEL making
• don't have a staff person designated to space
• need a sustainable model (cost, consumables budget, supervision)
• need a shared vision of how makerspace aligns with study hall (iLab)
• need more partners to align makerspace with content
• I can't safely manage all maker activities AND other core priorities
• worry purchasing is being done in cart before horse model
• struggling to find a "go to" person/team to help decide what to buy/add/do
• buy-in seems in concept not in roll-out

Good "problems" to have:

• top down belief in makerspaces
• grant $$ and not sure what to buy
• after school busing
• physical space 
• technology dept support
• student leadership team (#istaff)
• 750 teenagers
• 1:1 model with chromebooks
• rich maker opportunities throughout school--FACS, TECH, ART, MUSIC
• willing librarian
• smart staff 

Here's what I have finally learned to "OWN" (with guidance from OCC Librarian Pauline Shostack) when I shared my "panic" that I don't have the coolest makerspace ever-or at all.  We DO have MAKING going on....and there are MODELS of spaces/concepts:

• DEDICATED SPACE--full time, set up, equipped, supported with staff/help
• POPUP MAKERSPACE--events, challenges, activities, choices for designated window of time (week or 12-6pm or a specific day)
• MOBILE MAKERSPACES--provide opportunities for making IN others' spaces with support materials, guidance, and other to make it work "there". 

We are developing a HYBRID...so it's not that we don't have ANY, we are developing a model that works for us!  And we're exploring a great deal and our rich with student centered culture. 

NEXT UP:

• working on specs for a Digital Maker Space proposal (camera, speakers, etc) with grant $$ (having a hard time getting answers on WHAT to purchase--major roadblock--I know concept, not specs)
• create and publish MISSION (hang in space) for our Maker program
• wall of evidence in space (photos/testimony) in addition to social media
• alignment of content to materials we currently have (ex spheros to 8th grade math)
• plan monthly POPUP MAKERSPACES that include no tech, low tech, and high tech options--have run BY students for students
• create specific Maker Leadership team from iStaff
• less guilt, more healty prioritizing
• less compare and despair, more personalize what works for US!

More resources here!    Great visual statement on what it IS!  

Thing 31 Advocacy-- #LEADOUTLOUD

Advocacy is something I am passionate about so I found this "THING" energizing.    Great resource page HERE.

As the self-proclaimed "inventor" of the #LEADOUTLOUD campaign for school librarians, I know first hand the importance of empowering OTHERS to help tell the story of your library.  

I read about many of the practices I embed into what I do and was reminded of new directions and strategies to consider in the area of ADVOCACY.

Even if you Google "Sue Kowalski and ADVOCACY" you will find multiple connections to my outreach and involvement on concept, best practices, and my passion for it!  

From the description of Jennifer LaGarde's (my personal superhero) webinar, it refers to areas as being an Advocate as one who will:  

• "Achieve school-wide goals using your programs and collections

• Position yourself as an instructional and pedagogical leader using today's social and mobile technologies, and
• Make connections between school library programs and student learning, using library data."

I think this is one of the best overviews I've read...in a nutshell--that is what matters!  

GOALS:  I have made many inroads in ADVOCATING for the impact that a library and librarian can and do have on student success and community culture. The following strategies are central in my outreach:

• Social Media--promote events, share gratitude, rally partnerships
• Grants/Awards--apply to fund projects, travel and PD, grow the program
• Outreach--newsletters, flyers, Google Classroom, press releases, webpages, visits, community organizations
• Partnerships--teachers, families, students, iStaff, colleagues, organizations, committees
• Professional leadership--membership, officer, committees, presenter, speaker, adjunct professor

BUT :  I need to have a more unified campaign in all my outreach-right now the only consistent thing I use is the hashtag #esmpgproud and #esmpgreads for our social media outreach.   Based on that, I am committed to:

• LOGO/Tagline: to use on publications, digital outreach
• SWAG:  to include the above and share in range of circles
• MISSION STATEMENT:  to clearly define who we are as a program (especially as relates to maker movement. 
• PUBLIC CALENDAR: to make it more accessible for all to see what is available 

ACTION PLAN:  Have all of the above READY to unveil in FALL 2018 with elements slowly released as finalized!  

And for inspiration..whether you love Lady Gaga or not!  

10 Ways Librarians Can be a Marketing Genius Like Lady Gaga from The Daring Librarian Experience

Thing 6: Curation Tools

I know the incredible role the curation plays in school libraries. 

I see the roles shifting and increasing in importance as there is more "deployment" of resources and less come to the library and get it from the librarian.  

With various models of 1:1 access or increased use of devices in the classrooms and fewer "lab" models, we need to be sure that the resources students and teachers need are IN their hands for school and home.  

So many of the CURATION TOOLS shared here are ideal for middle school and surely can be adapted for younger or older students.   

I'm confident with:

• Symbaloo  (has been less popular as of late--not sure why) 
• Padlet  (quick and easy, some find too "messy") 
• Libguides  (use this and google slides mostly) 
• Slides

and relatively ok with Scoop.It and Pinterest.  I need to revisit EDSHELF & Pinterest as I see others use and find them helpful and I know teachers like Pinterest. Also, I doing more crowdsourcing and sites like Pinterest and Peardeck lend themselves more to that. 

I often build LIBGUIDES in collaboration with my teacher partners.  We post those on Classroom for student access.  Guides include PASSWORDS for off-site use where needed. 

Check out our website (still not in love with layout of my site) to access the many libguides we have used. 

Thing 2: PHOTO FUN!

The motherlode of Resources here thanks to POLLY...cool tools goddess!  

MY GOAL is to follow the guidelines here from the awesome Nikki Robinson to get started with SNAPCHAT in the library.  I'd also like the input from students while I set it up, so I need to set up a "student think thank" to get the ball rolling!   Postings to follow! 

Our @PineGroveLib Instagram feed is here, take a LOOK!  Just started this year, so am slowly growing followers.   

We are always teaching students how to find "legal" images to use:

• Imagequest (subscription) from Britannica
• Creative Commons
• Using "insert" feature on Google selects images that are reusable
• Pics4Learning is decent, too
• Students know to look at "usage rights" 
• We are currently doing a "meme" project for American History.
• I take a TON of pics for use for backgrounds and school projects, too.  

Fun with PHOTOFUNIA  

View from the Pine Grove Library on a winter day!  

Thing 3: Twitter and other Online Communities

You had me at TWITTER!  I have made more CONNECTIONS, gathered more IDEAS, and been more INSPIRED via my network on Twitter than any other network. 

I like the wider audience for insight, ideas, and perspective.  I've expanded from local and librarians to legislators and authors and thought leaders and entrepreneurs.   I add many and drop some but don't ever feel "victim" to Twitter.   It works for my lifestyle and way of thinking.  I use Tweetdeck to manage several feeds and find that useful (necessary) when I join Twitter chats.  

My only complaint with online communities is that I'm getting SO much out of them, sometimes (more often than is likely healthy), it's hard to walk away.   I've grown into a healthy relationship with them and feeling less tethered and equally inspired.

• Twitter is my FAV for learning and sharing on the professional end.  Some personal gets added as well, but it's about a 80/20 split-work/personal.
• We created a hashtag for our school (#esmpgproud) to get the word out about our community under one tag.  
• I like to promote the wide range of what is going on in/through our library to the greater community (reading, tech, leadership, programs, flexible spaces, collaboration) 
• I use Facebook for NYLA-SSL and other library communities. My personal Facebook community is more for sharing of photos, life, upcoming events at school, and general keeping in touch.  
• I've added Instagram (work- @PineGroveLib and personal @kowalski423) to my toolkit and finding it especially helpful for school as I can provide a quick media snapshot of life in and through the library AND many students have started following so I can promote/celebrate via this feed. 
• Next up SNAPCHAT...but I still need to learn more there.
• Also want to better master "stories" as not using those to capacity either (so say my students).  

Just tried a PAPER.LI paper.  Link here!  (did a middle school focus)

Thing 26 NOTETAKING

I'm surrounded by tech at home and at school.  I love it. I use it. I'm a self-directed learner with tech.  BUT, when it comes to lists and my personal calendar I still prefer PAPER.  Yes, PAPER and find joy in little binder clips, gel pens, post it notes, and planners that have happy covers.  

I find I internalize things better when I WRITE them.  

Great NOTETAKING RESOURCES here (thanks again, Polly!) 

I had EVERNOTE for years and decided wasn't getting my money's worth (my issues, not EVERNOTE).

I've dabbled in SKETCHNOTING..love it as it cements my thinking DURING, but don't know if my notes are good for sharing and not pretty enough to post like the professionals.

I need color, bullets, boxes, month at a glance and daily lists.  I tried to go totally to GOOGLE calendar for all...but found I wasn't remembering things!  My brain needs PAPER.  I'm almost NEVER without a pen/paper...for the next BIG IDEA!  

I do like GOOGLE KEEP (especially for the voice record/write features) and am encouraging students to use as well for their to-dos and especially password information (for non google log in resources). 

I have mixed feelings about laptops OPEN or NOT during meetings.  Sometimes it works for me (and others) and other times, I find I'm multitasking to distraction.   For me, it depends on the content, setting, and my role in the meeting.  With students we often request "courtesy close" but sometimes a "watch and do" is more appropriate.   

Thing 25: Student Assessment

Love the amazing number of tools available for formative and summative assessment!  

Many are listed here thanks to the COOL TOOLS class (thanks, Polly, for curation!) 

Many of the teachers I work with use Quizlet, Kahoot, PADLET, EdPuzzle, Google Forms, Flipgrid.

My personal GO TOs are FLIPGRID (for video) and GOOGLE FORMS for other.  As a GAFE school, using Google tools makes great sense--love the collaborative option, exportability to spreadsheet, and ease of creation.   

A couple examples are here:  

iStaff Application
YELP-ish Review for Booktasting event

I'm trying QUICKFIRE through SPIRAL via my iStaff classroom and AnswerGarden with some of my peeps on Facebook.   More details will be updated soon!   

My ANSWERGARDEN: 

It's POST TIME...and I'm in the starting gate!

As a middle school librarian, I lead with:

• a flexible schedule
• an amazing full time assistant
• 100+ staff members
• 740 students in grades 6-8
• superstars of OCMBOCES 
• a 2 year old facility
• 20 iStaff students 
• supportive administrators
• 1:1 Chromebook environment

I believe each item on the list above impacts the way I do business and I'm on a mission to keep my toolkit relevant and impactful for me and all our partners!