Elementary Librarians

1. Elementary Librarians And Their Positive Impact in Schools

2. Points of Discussion Elementary Librarians …. • Are knowledgeable of the Common Core and utilize it in the library • Act as role models in reading for younger students, increasing student achievement • Increase student imagination in a technology-driven world • Increase test scores

3. Statistics It is estimated that more than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade because they have reading problems. Over one million children drop out of school each year, costing the nation over $240 billion in lost earnings, forgone tax revenues, and expenditures for social services. Approximately 50 percent of the nation's unemployed youth age 16-21 are functional illiterate, with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs. Children who have not developed some basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are 3 - 4 times more likely to drop out in later years. Out-of-school reading habits of students has shown that even 15 minutes a day of independent reading can expose students to more than a million words of text in a year. Students who reported having all four types of reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias) in their home scored, on average, higher than those who reporter having fewer reading materials.

4. The Point? Coincidentally, the local school districts and the United States as a whole, is loosing money by not having elementary librarians.

5. Elementary Librarians and the Common Core Integrating a new set of standards is … • Difficult • Frustrating • Time consuming However, in the Keith Lance Curry studies, both administrators and teachers agree that the librarian plays a significant role in the inclusion of the Common Core. She does this by acting as ….. • In-service provider • Instructional resources manager • Instructional support • Reading motivator • School leader • Teacher • Technology instructor

6. Elementary Librarians and Imagination • According to a national survey conducted by the National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF), 92% of children and adolescents ages 2-17 play video games. • According to one study, one in four kids acknowledges that their video game playing sometimes interferes with homework and academic performance. • Average number of hours per week that American youth ages 12-17 watch television: 20 hours, 20 minutes • Hours of TV watching per week shown to negatively affect academic achievement: 10 or more

7. Elementary Librarians and Imagination Con’t… Storytelling not only increases imagination at a young age, but it also …… • Increases attention span • Creates imaginative writing • Creates good group dynamics • Enhances self-esteem “Children in all grades need librarians and teachers who can share stories with them in their everyday lives.” - Connie Rockman

8. Elementary Librarians as Role Models “The best way to get kids reading more is to give them books that they'll gobble up -- and that will make them ask for another.” - James Patterson The Librarian can …. • Learn students’ likes and dislikes • Suggest new books or authors • Advertise different books or authors • Teach students about their library choices • Be an advocate of reading for fun • Support programs like Drop Everything and Read or Knowledge is Power

9. So You’re Wondering .. Why are these details so important and where’s the proof?

10. Elementary Librarians and Standardized Tests Keith Lance Curry Research includes PA school library …. Staffing and PSSA Scores Spending and PSSA Scores Digital Resources and PSSA Scores Collections and PSSA Scores Library Access and PSSA Scores Among many other …

11. Library Staffing and PSSA Scores Schools with a full time librarian …. • Have reading scores that are consistently higher each year • Have below-basic scores that significantly improve • Are three times more likely to have advanced writing scores • Have Hispanic students that are three times as likely to earn advanced writing scores

12. Better Reading Scores = • More money for school districts • Less pressure on teachers • Less pressure on administrators • Higher achievement and self-esteem in student • An overall reformation of school achievement

13. Sources Used • "Children and Video Games." Key Facts Fall 2002: 1-4. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.kff.org/entmedia/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&pageid=14092>. • Curry, Keith Lance. "How Pennsylvania School Libraries Pay Off: Investments in Student Achievement and Academic Standards." Project Research - PA School Library Project. Springshare, 2 Nov. 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://paschoollibraryproject.org/content.php?pid=289948&sid=2382959>. • Patterson, James. "How To Get Your Kid to Be a Fanatic Reader." CNN. CNN, 28 Sept. 2011. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/opinion/patterson-kids-reading/index.html>. • "Reading, Literacy & Education Statistics." The Literacy Company: Changing the Way People Read. The Literacy Company, 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.readfaster.com/education_stats.asp#literacystatistics>. • "Research and Statistics." American Association of School Librarians. American Association of School Librarians, 2012. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ala.org/aasl/researchandstatistics/researchandstatistics>. • Rockman, Connie. "Tell Me A Story." School Library Journal 47.8 (2011): 46-49. Web.