This article is Part 3 of a three part summary of selected articles from the journals of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) over a period of thirty-five years from 1972 to 2007. This three-part series in the April, May, and June (2009) issues of "School Library Media Activities Monthly" ("SLMAM") illustrate the evolution in…

This is Part 2 of a three-part summary of selected articles from the journals of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) over a period of thirty-five years from 1972 to 2007. This three-part series in the April, May, and June (2009) issues of "School Library Media Activities Monthly" ("SLMAM") will illustrate the evolution in…

Discussion of the development of educational standards and the impact on school library media programs focuses on what constitutes information skills, or information literacy. Documents for 27 states are listed that outline the information skills actually taught in the various states. (LRW)

Describes a library media center activity for elementary and secondary grades where students use reference materials to find the answers to a travel game based on a "Where's Waldo" format. Clues for a worldwide version and a U.S. version are included. (LRW)

Reviews the Big6 information problem-solving model. Highlights include benefits and dangers of the simplicity of the model; theories of instruction; testing of the model; the model as a process for completing research projects; and advice for school library media specialists considering use of the model. (LRW)

Describes five models for instructional design, including the ASSURE Model (analyze learners, state objectives, select methods, media and materials, utilize media and materials, require learner participation, and evaluate); the Learning Cycle; Instructional Analysis Model; Integrated Model for Teaching Library Skills; and Instructional…

The second of a two-part series discusses the new American Association of School Librarians/Association for Educational Communication Technology guidelines for school library media programs, focusing on the final five chapters which cover (1) personnel; (2) resources and equipment; (3) facilities; (4) planning and administration; and (5) district,…

Describes two search models for school libraries. Models include searches defined by the student but conducted by a trained searcher, and student-conducted searches which teach search skills. Decisions about which model (or combination) to use should be based on the available resources and the purposes for conducting the search. (AEF)

Describes the history of tangrams and their use as mathematical puzzles and explains how they can be adapted for library media specialists to use for developing subject headings on a particular topic. An example is given; and 28 resources on tangrams are listed, including books, nonprint materials, and addresses. (LRW)

School library media specialists at all levels have been investing long hours in preparing and implementing lessons. They try to coordinate these lessons with teachers, and, in the best-case scenario, they collaboratively plan and deliver the instruction. The missing piece is an indication of whether or not students have actually been learning.…

The editors of School Library Media Activities Monthly discuss the debate between advocates of a strong instructional development or design role for library media specialists and advocates of strong library media skills programs. They suggest that well-planned and interesting lessons can incorporate both library media and classroom objectives. (EM)

Provides three activities that help develop library skills for elementary school students. One describes a riddle card game that reviews research book terms; one explains a book report activity; and one focuses on cooperative problem-solving activities to find titles by favorite authors. (LRW)

Explains how school library media specialists can create and use crostic puzzles to help sixth graders learn references skills. Teaching basic reference skills and research skills is discussed with emphasis on index skills, and three sample crostic puzzles (with answers) are provided. (LRW)

Describes how to combine psychomotor skills with memory and other cognitive learning skills to reinforce skills related to the location of information using the Dewey Decimal system. Movements and music for use with six topics are suggested. Exercises are most appropriate for use with kindergarten through second-grade students. (KRN)

Offers suggestions for library activities based on a football theme. Six examples of activity forms are provided, and addresses of football organizations are given. Eighty-two books on football suitable for grades 4-8 are listed, including fiction and nonfiction, bibliographies, reference, picture books, poetry/riddles, audiovisual materials, and…