Libraries Partnering For Academic Achievement Special Schools Public Academic
PA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SCHOOL LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORS CRYSTAL PATTERSON & LYNN MOSES DIVISION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANNING & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT SHERILL ROWE BUREAU OF LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT JIM HOLLINGER
STANDARDS ALIGNED SYSTEM
Keith Curry Lance Found: When school librarians and public librarians truly collaborate, students’ reading scores increase by 10 – 15 points. »Colorado Study, 1998
Is Lance The Only One Who Believes This? Barbara Heyns found that most children make similar gains in reading during the school year. Children of poverty fall behind during the summer. –Summer Learning and the Effect of School, 1975 Shin, Fay H. and Stephen D. Krashen. Summer Reading, p. 3
What Did Entwisle, Alexander, and Olson Discover? Children of high income families consistently made better gains over the summer. At the end of 5 years, they were ahead of low and middle income students. The difference was cumulative. Free voluntary reading made the difference. –Children, Schools, and Inequality, 1997 Shin, Fay H. and Stephen D. Krashen. Summer Reading, p. 4
What Makes The Difference? Humans demonstrate different behaviors in different settings. Print-rich environments support reading skill development more than graffitied environments. It’s not about the ability; it’s about environment and the opportunities therein. Reading is one of the primary means by which we gain knowledge. –Susan Neuman, “The Knowledge Gap,” PA Library Association, Harrisburg, 2008.
Free Reading Free reading promotes higher test scores than other directed reading activities. –Warwick Elley and Francis Mangubhai, “The Impact of Reading on Second Language Learning,” The Reading Research Quarterly, Shin, Fay H. and Stephen D. Krashen. Summer Reading, p. 18
Are School Librarians Effective? YES!!! In Dauphin County Library System, summer reading registrations increased from 4,039 to 8,672 from 2004 to 2007! In the spring of 2005 DCLS began to focus on working with the school librarians to promote summer reading.
Partnering Challenges Animosity Barriers
Developing Partnerships Elements of a true partnership Examples Benefits
What kinds of partnership activities will you implement when this conference is over?
Good Partners Communicate regularly – dept meetings, district library meetings Collaborate – link websites, professional development, assignment alerts, promoting library resources (SRP, POWER Library, Ask Here PA, etc) Distribute and share materials & information
Pennsylvania Libraries 357 academic and special libraries 643 public libraries 6,000 school libraries
We are stronger together!
For Further Information: Shin, Fay H. and Stephen D. Krashen. Summer Reading: Program and Evidence, Krashen, Stephen D. The Power of Reading, Ziarnik, Natalie Reif. School and Public Libraries: Developing the Natural Alliance, Johnston, Carol. Moses, Lynn M.