Books On Collaboration

Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher / Librarian Partnerships for Grades K-2 by Toni Buzzeo. Worthington, Ohio. Linworth, 2007. Linworth Publishing

Increase student learning and performance on standardized tests through collaboration between the school library media center and classroom!

·Includes 15 literacy-based collaborative units for use by teachers and librarians

·Use collaboration to address national, state, and local literacy standards

·Learn how literacy coaches, reading specialists, classroom teachers and librarians can work together to teach young children to read.

These standards-based, easy-to-follow collaborative lessons will not only build a strong bridge between the school library and the classroom, but will help educators help students improve their skills and scores. Written for elementary school library media specialists and their K-2 teaching partners, this book coaches readers on methods to meet student literacy standards. In this "balanced literacy" age, collaboration is a perfect means to address national, state, and local literacy standards.

Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher / Librarian Partnerships for K-6 by Toni Buzzeo. Worthington, Ohio: Linworth, 2002. Linworth Publishing

Media specialists will find Buzzeo's practical suggestions to be extremely helpful in taking their library program to a higher level. Demystify the collaborative process with this hands-on guide for elementary school library media specialists and teachers!

• Practical suggestions for implementing collaborative planning and teaching with classroom teachers through a variety of units

• Useful ideas for overcoming common roadblocks to collaboration

• A simple, easy-to-adapt template enhances any unit planning

Collaboration is much more than just the latest buzzword. It is a worthwhile concept that can greatly benefit library media specialists, teachers, students and administrators alike. And if it is done correctly, collaborating planning and teaching can help with meeting education standards.

This straightforward resource presents methodology and models to assist elementary school library media specialists in their efforts to work collaboratively with teachers. Each of the 19 units included are standards-based, and provide opportunities for students to master information literacy skills as outlined in Information Power. These examples demonstrate the versatility of the template, in that it can be used across the curriculum in an endless variety of applications, resulting in full compliance with various benchmarks and standards.

Chapters on the history and benefits of collaboration are included. Factors for success; roadblocks to collaboration and how to overcome them; and personal testimonials from administrators, teachers and library media specialists will provide a wealth of information about working in a collaborative environment.

Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher / Librarian Partnerships for 7-12 by Toni Buzzeo. Worthington, Ohio: Linworth, 2002. Linworth Publishing

Meshing current research on teacher/librarian collaboration with practical applications, this title is a worthy purchase. It clearly outlines the history of teacher/librarian partnerships, as well as the current status and professional philosophy about this topic. Conditions for success in creating these partnerships and practical advice for initiating joint instructional efforts are included, as well. Buzzeo recommends using a template to plan for shared instruction, and includes an organized, efficient model. The majority of the book is devoted to showcasing some actual examples of collaborative activities. The unit plans cross all curricular areas. They include illustrations of handouts, rubrics, note-taking sheets, and more. Some sample titles are "Artistic Connections," "A Biome Vacation: Travel Brochures," "Literature Genre Study," "Extreme Themes of World War II," and "Re-creating the American Civil War Era." Useful, well-researched information combines with practical advice in this handy, valuable title.

Learn about the history of cooperation and collaboration in school libraries over the past decade, and examine the definitions and benefits of collaboration and the studies that have proven its value quantitatively. The author also provides the factors necessary for success and the keys to overcoming roadblocks, including the stories of many practicing library media specialists who have struggled and succeeded. A clear, comprehensive, easy-to-use template for use in planning collaborative units is included, as well as 17 standards-based units that provide opportunities for students to master information literacy skills as outlined in Information Power as well as addressing content area standards.

Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. American Library Association. Chicago: American Library Association. 1998. American Library Association

Since its publication in June 1998, Information Power has become the most talked about book in the school library world! It includes the standards that will help students become skillful producers and consumers of information along with the guidelines and principles that lead to dynamic, student-centered programs. The book’s underlying concepts will guide you in:

--helping students flourish in a learning community not limited by time, place, age, occupation, or disciplinary borders;

--joining teachers and others to identify links in student information needs, curricular content, learning outcomes, and a variety of print and nonprint resources;

--designing authentic learning tasks and assessments; and

--defining your role in student learning.

Taxonomies of the School Library Media Program, 2nd Edition by David V. Loertscher. Salt Lake City, UT: Hi Willow Research and Publishing. 2000. LMC Source

A complete revision of Loertsher's most popular guide to creating and managing a library media center with the intent of making a difference in academic achievement. The taxonomy itself has been updated to recognize the new world of information technology. Substantial chapters on each of four major program elements have been written to include: Collaboration, reading, enhancing learning through technology, and information literacy. The book again includes scores of ways not only to plan but also to evaluate the impact of the program on learning and its impact on students and teachers.

Teaching Emergent Readers: Collaborative Library Lesson Plans by Judy Sauerteig. Englewood, Colorado: LIBRARIES UNLIMITED, 2005. Libraries Unlimited

“Starred Review Teaching Emergent Readers is an excellent way to introduce and use literature with young readers. It will aid teachers and media specialists in motivating students, in teaching and/or reviewing information literacy skills as well as providing a means for students to improve their understanding of literature....This book is an excellent resource for the seasoned as well as the new media specialist or teacher. It provides easy-to-use format for lesson planning. Highly Recommended.”–Library Media Connection

Leverage Your Library Program to Raise Test Scores: A Guide for Library Media Specialists, Principals, Teachers and Parents by Audrey P. Church. Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing, 2003.

The research is in! Educators everywhere can help their school districts raise test scores by using resources they already have—but just don’t know they have them! This new tool puts fresh ideas at the fingertips of any teacher, library media specialist, parent or administrator for using an often-untapped source of learning that results in a huge boost in student success—the library!

Assessing Learning: Librarians and Teachers as Partners by Violet H. Harada and Joan M. Yoshina. Westport, CT:Libraries Unlimited, 2005.

Greenwood Press

Focusing on the role of the school library media specialist, this book goes beyond the theoretical and addresses the practical application of the assessment of student learning in the school library media center. It places students at the center of the assessment equation and addresses the following topics as they relate specifically to school library instructional programs: purposes of assessment, essential elements of assessment, knowing what to assess, multiple methods for assessment, and management and communication of assessment results.

Collaborating for Real Literacy: Librarian, Teacher, and Principal by Sharon M. Pitcher, Ed.D, and Bonnie Mackey, Ph.D. Worthington, Ohio: Linworth. 2004. Linworth Publishing

In line with the tenets of Information Power (the information and technology standards set forth by the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology), this book proposes the collaboration of the librarian, as a key player in literacy instruction, with the classroom teacher and the principal. Nine chapters cover literacy in schools, scaffolding, literacy centers, family literacy, multicultural issues, comprehension, oral aspects of literacy, the reading-writing connection, and authentic assessment. Each chapter begins with a quote from an educator. This is followed by anticipatory questions and an explication of theory, then sections on practice, professional development, librarian's and principal's links and collaboration, and detailed bibliographies. The writing style is clear and accessible, and suggestions are practical and easily implemented. This is a recommended resource for librarians with an investment in the tenets of Information Power and for schools engaged in an improvement process. Students can only benefit.

Increasing Academic Achievement Through the Library Media Center: A Guide for Teachers by David V. Loertscher and Douglas Achterman. San Jose, California: Hi Willow, Research and Publishing, 2002. LMC Source

This book is designed to help teachers take the greatest advantage of what good library media programs can offer. It introduces teachers to the possibilities of meaningful collaboration and use of information resources that can improve the quality of instruction without necessarily increasing workloads. It acts as a framework for teachers and library media specialists in working together toward the common goal of raising student achievement.

Building Influence for the School Librarian: Tenets, Targets, & Tactics, 2nd Edition by Gary Hartzell. Worthington, Ohio: Linworth, 2003. Linworth Publishing

Learn how to promote your library and become an influential player in your school and district. As the school librarian, you play a critical role in impacting student achievement. Learn how to develop your influence and make an even bigger difference both inside and outside the library media center. Part One outlines the tenets of influence; providing a general understanding of the nature and operation of workplace influence with particular attention to what these principles and theories imply for school librarians. Part Two zeros in on specific influence targets in the school. It examines why these people are important to school librarians and suggests ways to capture their support. The final section offers a small collection of influence-building and influence-enhancing tactics specifically addressing elements of school librarians' work lives.