While beneficial to student engagement and learning outcomes, student-created research questions require a shift in thinking for the teaching team, which is made up of the school librarian, classroom teacher(s), and other specialists designing the inquiry learning experience. For librarians leading inquiry learning, this shift can seem difficult…

This article explores all the actions and opportunities school librarians take to reinforce reading instruction and reinforce learners' growing reading skills. It also details ways to enhance reading instruction through technology and makerspaces.

These proven 20-minute standards-based instructional lessons, organized by grade level, provide the resources needed to effectively teach library and information literacy skills to students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Based on American Association of School Librarians and Association for Educational Communications and Technology…

This article, based on a presentation made by the author at the 2003 California Library Association conference, provides examples of how librarians and teachers can use Science Fiction to provide catalysts for discussion in a variety of subjects; teach students how to question intelligently; and stimulate their imaginations, thus motivating them…

This paper presented at the 1987 convention of the Catholic Library Association explores the role of the librarian as a teacher in school and public libraries and among clienteles ranging from school-age children to older adults. (EM)

Advocates of critical literacy emphasize the empowering role that literacy can and should play in reshaping the environment in which one lives and works. Through mastering the skills of critical literacy, students apply the inquiry process and knowledge gained as a means for political or social action. By gathering appropriate information,…

Studies show that metacognitive strategies can increase learning skills and that independent use of these metacognitive strategies can be gradually developed in people. The school library media center is the ideal place for students to learn how to develop metacognitive strategies; that is, they can learn how to connect new information to former…

Because of the increasing importance of online databases, school library media specialists are encouraged to introduce students to online searching. Four books that would help media specialists gain a basic background are reviewed and it is noted that although they are very technical, they can be adapted to individual needs. (EM)

The first article discusses CD-ROM pricing and provides a list of databases and magazines available on CD-ROM. The second provides guidelines for purchasing a CD-ROM workstation. The third describes the use of ERIC on CD-ROM as a research tool for high school students. The fourth describes the benefits of using online searching to teach research…

A model user's guide for the film, "The Frog King or Faithful Henry," introduces media specialists and educators to the range of possibilities for developing different activities for different objectives and age levels from a single film. An introductory article provides a synopsis of the film, rationale for its choice as a model, a…

Because the teacher librarian has an important educational role to play in assisting students to become independent learners by applying the inquiry process to library research, this booklet has been designed to assist teacher librarians in teaching students the information skills appropriate to stage three of the inquiry process, i.e., analyzing…

Describes 10 key elements of generic teaching strategies for developing student thinking and provides a rationale for the participation of school library media specialists in developing student thinking skills. The role of media specialists within the school and the importance of information-based decision making in a free society are discussed.…

Three articles describe methods for teaching library skills. The first presents a song used to teach students the Dewey Decimal system; the second describes a reading program incorporating Halloween and foreign countries; and the third includes short poems designed to teach students to care for library books properly. (CLB)

Guide-worksheets were developed on a word processor in a high school library for bibliographic instruction of English and social studies students to cover the following reference sources: Facts on File; Social Issues Resource Series (S.I.R.S.); Editorial Research Reports; Great Contemporary Issues (New York Times), which also includes Facts on…

This handbook presents teaching strategies and activities for incorporating literature and library skills into the grades K-6 curriculum. Introductory materials include discussions of independence and cooperation in learning, effective instruction in English-language arts, and teacher-librarian cooperation. The approaches used in the materials in…