Team Up with Technology
By Sandy Meagher

Online Extra: Parent Book Recommendations October 2006

Technology has brought about extraordinary change in how we teach. Personally, I have found the technology challenge to be so rewarding. It's sometimes frustrating when I'm unable to fix things, but I would never go back.

Our teaching strategies in the library and in classrooms rely heavily on technology. We've had to rethink our lesson plans, our teaching tools, all the modalities involved in education. Of course, the key ingredient for librarians is collaboration. Giving demonstrations of new technology programs and showing how they can work with different research lessons has really helped me get involved with teacher planning. When everyone gets involved, it really works.

Welcome input from all
Learning about new strategies, programs, and use of technology does not only belong to librarians. I have learned about so many different teaching tools from reading teachers, classroom teachers and especially technology teachers. As a librarian I have found that asking my colleagues, "What has worked for you?" "How have you done this in the past?" "Do you know of some different ways to do this?" opens doors for collaboration. Technology teachers and classroom teachers need to be librarians' best friends!

Don't forget to include parents in this learning. Asking the parent group at your school for an evening of computer learning together or giving demonstrations at open house are ways to involve families. We've also invited the public librarians to demonstrate their after-school tutorial computer program and programs available to students at the public libraries.

Technology through literature
A book I'm recommending to all the teachers I know is Technology Through Children's Literature by Holly M. Doe (Teacher Ideas Press, 2003, ISBN: 1-563-08972-6). This can be your supplementary text for grades K-8. Included are story elements, vocabulary, genre, book reports, Internet use, electronic books, comprehension strategies, technology across the curriculum, software walk-throughs, planning sheets and more. Of course you'll want to try everything before you teach, and district technology limitations might not allow you to utilize everything recommended, but give this a try.

The contents of this book can be adapted to so much that I'm required to do, allowing me to include some titles listed but to also add some new ones. For story elements, I'll incorporate the middle grade book Hot Dog and Bob and the Seriously Scary Attack of the Evil Alien Pizza Person by L. Bob Rovetch (Chronicle, 2006, ISBN: 0-811-85156-7). This book has humor, will capture the reluctant reader and is easily adapted to the software Kidspiration® (Inspiration Software Inc.). The character Bob can be analyzed and studied in the ways presented.

When studying genres this year, I plan to use a book from the "Adventure with the Parkers" series, Bryce and Zion: Danger in the Narrows by Mike Graf (Fulcrum Publishing, 2006, ISBN: 1-555-91532-9). Adventures in our national parks with a family of four will inspire kids to learn about natural science and engage them in stories that involve rescues and danger. Again using the "Genre Tree" format and Kidspiration software, students will better identify types of genres read throughout the year.

Vocabulary has never been a truly imaginative subject; however, two great read-alouds to introduce vocabulary work are Mom and Dad Are Palindromes by Mark Shulman (Chronicle, 2006, ISBN: 0-811-84328-9) and Sparkle and Spin: A Book About Words by Ann and Paul Rand (Chronicle, 2006, ISBN: 0-811-85003-X). Then, use Kidspiration software to utilize vocabulary with a different approach such as graphic organizers.

Honing media skills
Equally outstanding is the resource The Media-Savvy Student: Teaching Media Literacy Skills, Grades 2-6 by Guofang Wan and Hong Cheng (Zephyr Press, 2004, ISBN: 1-569-76170-1). This book is a helpful tool to incorporate media literacy skills, like analyzing and evaluating information in a variety of formats. Some of the chapters also deal with Web Site Evaluation, Netiquette, Safe Surfing and Advertising, all excellent topics to teach students as they become adept at technology use.

All together now
Here's a recent example of how our technology teacher. classroom teachers, reading teachers, librarians and students all collaborated to research a project.

1. One of our reading specialists planned with fifth grade teachers to begin a project on seals. The classroom teachers had worked on lesson plans with her and were ready to do research in the library. Our technology teacher learned the reading specialist's and teachers' plans. I listened and gave some input.
2. Five library periods were scheduled. In the library, the classroom teacher and librarian co-teach. Introducing the websites is my job. Use of an LCD projector allows me to project the website to a screen for all students to see. By freezing the students' computers, I can navigate each site and help the class understand how to utilize the technology. The teacher and reading specialist explain the information the students need to find and the format of their papers. Guided instruction comes from the reading specialist, classroom teacher, librarian and library assistant so that all levels of learners are accommodated.
3. As the project unfolded, some work was done in classrooms; at times, students came to the library and the library assistant helped them catch up or expand their assignment. Our technology expert was consulted when we needed other resources or help with scanning photos, etc.

Tech success
When a project comes to fruition we are all so pleased. The time, effort and learning are paramount. Afterwards, we look at how we might improve our process. Our library needed more up-to-date resources on seals and I added some to our collection. Our technology improvement was the addition of a digital camera to take pictures of students presenting their work. Teachers worked on schedules so we could plan together more effectively.

Looking at the whole picture, I'd say, "Job well done." Working together, with technology and in general, is the key to success.

Online Extra: Parent Book Recommendations October 2006

Sandy Meagher is the Library Department Chairperson and School Librarian in the Wayne Highlands School District, Honesdale, PA.