Stephanie Warmoth MEDT 6466 Fall 2010

Compton Elementary Mission The mission of Compton Elementary School is to provide students with a diverse education in a safe, trusting, and caring environment that promotes self-discipline, motivation, and excellence in learning. This foundation will enable students to become productive citizens and instill enthusiasm for life-long learning. It is our vision to empower students to become critical thinkers and responsible citizens who positively contribute to society. How does the media specialist help Compton Elementary achieve these?

What is the mission of the media specialist? The mission of the school library media specialist is to “ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The school library media specialist empowers students to be Critical thinkers Enthusiastic readers Skillful researchers Ethical users of information” (AASL, 2009)

How can the media specialist accomplish this? Collaborating with teachers and students on engaging learning experiences Instructing students and teachers on locating and using information with appropriate tools, resources and information technologies Providing current information with appropriate technology Being a leader within the education program and an advocate for the school media program Promoting a love of reading (AASL, 2009)

Why is a media center so important for a Title 1 school? According to Baughman, students who attended a lower economic level school and who had a media program achieved higher on MCAS assessments than students from lower economic areas who did not have a media program. Lower economic school being defined as 15% of students receiving free lunch.

According to a study conducted in 1993 by Dr. Keith Lance, student achievement can be raised by % if the following components are in place: There was a professional library media specialist on site The library media specialist collaborated with teachers to create exciting learning experiences using the library media resources The library media collection contained large amounts of quality print and multimedia materials. These findings are supported by a study done by James Baughman of Boston, Massachusetts in 2000.

According to Baughman’s study of students in Boston, Massachusetts schools, elementary students also need the following: Access to the media center before and after school, as well as during the school day High library expenditures per pupil Frequent student use of the media center A media collection that is aligned with the curriculum standards

Collaboration The media specialist in today’s media centers do more than check out books. They have taken on the roles of instructional partners and consultants for teachers as they expand on what is taught in the classroom to include better resources and more exciting learning opportunities.

Professional and Support Staff impact Academic Achievement Keith Lance’s study in Pennsylvania concluded that more media staff allows the media specialist to work more closely with teachers and students. (Lance, 2001)

Collaboration between media specialists and teachers increases academic achievement by creating effective learning experiences for students. Media specialists work with teachers to tie in literature and information literacy into the curriculum The media specialists help students develop projects with a variety of resources, then helps them to present their projects.

Tools, Resources and Materials The media specialist provides instruction, resources and materials for teacher and students. Students learn skills and strategies to succeed Students learn how to manage information and ideas Students learn how to use electronic materials and resources

Technology Technology has become an important component in the classroom for lessons and research. Media specialists are trained to access and utilize this information.

More information in the classroom and the home boosts academic achievement The increase in available, current and high quality technology makes information more accessible. According to Lance, high achieving schools have “Students who can link to the library media center remotely Databases/electronic resources available online from the LMC Computers linked to the Internet” (Lance, 2001)

Information Literacy being taught by a media specialist boosts academic achievement “We live in the Information Age, and because we do, information literacy has become universal currency—the single common denominator required for success at any stage of life. This is especially true for our children who, now more than ever, must be equipped to access, use, and evaluate information competently in both print and electronic formats.” (Scholastic, 2008) Teaching Information Literacy provides students with skills that help them to become better investigators and better learners. (Lance, 2000)

Leadership Role When media specialists are leaders within the school, academic achievement increases. According to the Colorado Study by Lance (2000), a media specialist in a leadership position provides greater quality learning experiences due to collaboration with teachers and administrators.

Promoting a Love of Reading “When learners of all ages have the opportunity to read stories and explore information that matters to them, various forms of literacy and numeracy can emerge. Research has shown that school libraries have the tools to inspire literacy in learners of all ages.” (Scholastic, 2008)

The media specialist promotes a love of reading by Matching students with books and other materials that are suited to their skills, needs and interests Promoting “resources and activities that spark student interest in reading, learning, and achievement through the school years” Providing an environment that is supportive and nurturing (Scholastic, 2008)

Some Statistics The size of the school library staff and collection explained 21% of variation in 7th grade Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) reading scores, while controlling for socio-economic conditions (1993). Elementary school students with the most collaborative teacher librarians scored 21% higher on Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) reading scores than students with the least collaborative teacher-librarians (2000). In elementary schools where library programs are staffed 60 hours per week or more, there is a 9% improvement in test scores over those staffed less than 60 hours. Comparing Iowa elementary schools with the highest and lowest ITBS reading scores, the highest scoring students use more than 2 1⁄2 times as many books and other materials during library visits. For more information: /slw3_2008.pdf /slw3_2008.pdf (Scholastic, 2008)

In Summary An effective media program can.. Help to promote a diverse education in a safe, trusting and caring environment. Promote self-discipline, motivation, and excellence in learning. Encourages students to become productive citizens and instill enthusiasm for life-long learning. Empower students to become critical thinkers and responsible citizens who positively contribute to society. (Compton, 2010)

Resources American Association of School Libraries (AASL) (2009). Empowering learners. Chicago, IL: AASL. Baughman, J. (2000). School libraries and mcas scores. Retrieved from libraries/Baughman%20Paper.pdf Compton Elementary School (2010). Our mission and vision. Retrieved from Lance, K & Loertscher, D. (2001). Powering achievement: school library media programs make a difference. Retrieved from Scholastic (2008). School libraries work! Retrieved from pdf