Proposal for Library Incentive Grant

from Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners,

phone confirmation, June, 2004, that we have received full funding,

subject to final vote in July, letter to follow

How does this project relate to the library’s long-range plan or updated action plan? What areas of need will be addressed by carrying out this project?

The grant’s primary purpose is to address the following goal from our long range plan:

• Provide for collaborative planning between Library Media Specialists and classroom teachers.

We have a great need for better collaboration between Library Media Specialists and teachers. In the past, a fixed schedule has required the Library Media Specialist to teach so many classes that she has not had time to plan and implement joint programs. Next year, due to improved scheduling, she will have the opportunity, and she and the teachers are eager to do so because they believe it will inspire students and improve student learning. We are proposing a specific project: The Village Fair, a student exhibition about regions of the United States. This will better support the curriculum (specifically a fourth grade social studies unit based on the state frameworks and including other content areas and the arts, as well). Children will learn information research skills using print materials, some primary sources, and the Internet. Much of the learning will take place in the library with cooperative teaching between the Library Media Specialist and the classroom teacher. Additional instruction and project work will take place in classrooms and computer lab.

The grant also addresses the following goal from our long range plan:

• Increase collaboration with the community.

In 2003-2004, we began a joint speaker program with Abbot Public Library, and we intend to expand our partnership with the public library through the project described in this grant. Additionally, we will include two local literature experts as visitors who offer teacher workshops so teachers can better stimulate children’s interest in literature related to the project (see details below). Furthermore, we will reach out to the community and create a data base of speakers, some of whom will be invited to speak to children in the library on topics related to the project.

In addition to those key goals from our long range plan, the grant helps us meet standards from the Massachusetts Frameworks in language arts, social studies, science, and the arts. It helps children learn and apply research skills in meaningful ways that integrate with curriculum. It uses the Library Media Center as the heart of the school—the place where learning comes together in a celebration of learning around a core theme in fourth grade: regions of the United States.

A peripheral benefit is that it brings fourth graders together to create a special exhibition. See question #1 for more information about our reasons for selecting fourth grade.

1. Identify the target group and explain why they have been selected for this project. Provide documented evidence, i.e., data that supports your opinion that the project is really needed.

The target group is 190 fourth graders. This is the first time the fourth graders have been together in a single location, the Village School. They are moving from three different elementary schools, and this project will allow them to become acquainted with their new school, its Library Media Center, its Library Media Specialist, all the fourth grade teachers, and their fourth grade peers. The project is intended to build community among this group of children who will be together for the first time, while developing specific skills using the library for research. It is also intended to help them see the value of the Library Media Center in their schoolwork and in their lives.

Fourth graders in our district are already introduced to research, but we believe they are ready for more and better instruction and application of these skills. We want to unify our research skills across the grade, so all fourth graders receive similar information, training, and opportunity to apply the skills of selecting, gathering, and presenting information. Through this project, the Library Media Specialist will also expose children to the concept of primary research and will introduce them to information sources such as interviews, diaries and journals, recipes, art and artifacts, and it will use children’s literature that includes examples of those types of research.

Another reason for choosing grade four is that there has been no unifying project across the grade level. Some other grades have had special unifying events, such as the Invention Convention in grade 5, African folklore and African dance in grade 6, and a Medieval Fair in grade 7. Such celebrations engender enthusiasm for learning, bring multiple subject areas together, and lead to excellent student work and presentations.

The specific project will be: The Village Fair, a student exhibition about regions of the United States. After consulting with all elementary librarians, the new Library Media Specialist for the Village School, Literacy Coordinators, fourth grade teachers, representatives from the public library, and the Language Arts Curriculum Director, we decided on this project for a number of reasons. Due to changes in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for social studies, “Geographic Regions of the United States” is a relatively new area of study in fourth grade, so it is a good topic to develop and improve together. The topic also relates to two fourth grade science units, “land and water” and “animal studies,” both of which can link to studies of U.S. regions. Furthermore, it allows for strong integration of language arts (especially folklore and poetry), music, and visual arts. It is an ideal topic to research and help children use both print and Internet sources.

2. What kinds of services or training are currently provided for the target group?

Grade four classes, currently embedded in three elementary schools, receive library services with weekly library class, access to collections, and curriculum integration projects. In weekly classes in the Library Media Center, children are introduced to excellent children’s literature, and they learn how to use the resources of the Library Media Center. They and their teachers use the collections for independent reading and for curriculum integration. The Library Media Specialist’s main role in curriculum integration projects until this time has been to identify and supply resources. Most of children’s research has previously been done in classrooms, rather than the Library Media Center. The proposed project will go far beyond that.

3. Describe in some detail the program/services component you plan for this project. How would this project build on, enhance or fill in the gaps in service for them? What materials, equipment, training will be needed to carry out your program? If additional staff or staff time is needed, please explain how this will be used to support the project. (Please be specific).

This program fills in many gaps. It develops a new curriculum area that has not yet been done in depth. It introduces children to research skills using print, primary sources, and the Internet. Most importantly, it allows Library Media Specialists and teachers to truly collaborate so that students will use the library in meaningful, curriculum-based ways. Planning time will be available for teachers and Library Media Specialist to design the unit and its lessons. Children will do the bulk of their research in the Library Media Center and will supplement it in their classrooms.

We are proposing one major unit because we believe a focused approach will be highly successful and will generate excitement for future collaborative programs and projects. All fourth grades will study U.S. regions, but each of the eight grade four classes will also choose a particular theme to research and present at the exhibition, the Village Fair. The Fair, the culmination of the project, will be held in the spring in the Library Media Center. Some potential themes identified as possibilities by the teachers and Library Media Specialist are: famous people, tourist attractions, music, visual arts, festivals and celebrations, folklore, foods, plants, animals, products, weather and climate. Different classes will choose different themes.

The project enhances service to the children in that it brings in resources from the community more extensively than in the past. We will supplement information gathered at school with guests who will be interviewed about the U.S. regions where they’ve lived. It will also introduce children to literature of the various regions through book talks by the children’s librarian from Abbot Public Library, as well as the school’s Library Media Specialist. Guest consultants who are experts in children’s literature will provide teacher workshops to build teachers knowledge about poetry and folklore from different areas of the United States, so teachers may bring that expertise to the children.

We will need materials to support the project, including fiction, nonfiction, reference books, and poetry that give information about different parts of the United States. Furthermore, we will need Inspiration software for the children to use in their research projects. Little special staff training is needed, since teachers and Library Media Specialist will incorporate the planning and implementation into their regular work. However, we would like two teacher workshops: one on regional U. S. tales and one of poetry featuring various regions of the U.S. Teachers will then share information with children. We will be continuing our joint speaker series with the Abbot Public Library and would like to feature visiting authors who will support our theme of U.S. regions. We would like an honorarium for one of those speakers through this grant; we will seek funding elsewhere for additional speakers.

4. What agencies, organizations or other service providers have agreed to cooperate with the library on this project? Please be specific about the type and extent of their involvement. (Include substantive letters of support from individuals and organizations that reinforce your proposal. These may be attached at the end of the application).

We are already working with Abbot Public Library as we plan this project, specifically the Assistant Director, Young Adult Librarian and Children’s Librarian. The children’s librarian will come to the Village School at least twice during the unit to give book talks about literature pertinent to the project. Additionally, our joint speaker series for next year (co-sponsored by our Language Arts/ Library department and the Abbot Public Library, funded primarily from other sources) will feature authors whose books are set in different areas of the country. We are currently working with North Shore Reading Council to bring Robert San Souci, whom we would like to fund through this project. Another potential author is James Bruchac (funded through other sources or in place of Mr. San Souci, if he is unable to come). Because public librarians have been involved in the planning, they will take this project into account when making some of their collection development decisions and will purchase appropriate materials through their own funds.

Children’s poetry expert, Elaine Magliaro, will present the workshop about poetry featuring different parts of the United States. Elaine is currently a Library Media Specialist in our district; she teaches children’s literature at Boston University and consults regionally about children’s poetry, so we know first hand about her exceptional qualifications. Next year she will be retired and will be an educational consultant specializing in children’s poetry.

Amy Cohn, children’s literature specialist, author, and editor of From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs, is a local resident who will present an in-depth teacher workshop about folklore and tales from different parts of the country, with suggestions for ways to do projects and include artwork around the tales. In addition, Ms. Cohn may be available to work with one of the fourth grade classes on folklore or writing that supports a theme of this project. (Funding for the latter is not included in this grant and would be worked out separately, perhaps with PTO support. We may extend Ms. Magliaro’s involvement, too, if we are able to find funding sources.)

5. In order to be successful, this project needs to be publicized. What public relations strategies/activities will be developed to promote this project and attract new and existing users to a fuller use of your library?

The Library Media Specialist will provide regular communications to all school staff to invite them to use the library to support all parts of their curriculum. For this project, she will schedule meetings with grade four teachers during planning time. Additionally, she plans introductory coffees at the library for teachers and parents. In additional to a fixed weekly class for each fourth grade, additional flexible time will be used.

Grade four teachers have already met the new Library Media Specialist and have given input into this project idea. They and the children, as well as the Library Media Specialist, will promote the Village Fair by creating posters to display around the school, at the public library, and at other schools in town. They will create invitations to parents, to grade three students from the elementary schools, and to all speakers and visitors who have contributed to the project.

The Library Media Specialist will publicize the project in local newspapers (Marblehead Reporter, Salem News, Lynn Item). She will work with personnel from Abbot Public Library and other Library Media Specialists to publicize the joint speaker series.

The Library Media Specialist and representative children and teachers will address the School Committee with a presentation of this Incentive Grant to share information about the project. As School Committee meetings are televised on local cable television, this will be another way to inform the community.

6. Based upon the activities outlined above, complete the budget request attached to the application. Please indicate below why you have requested this amount and attach on a separate page detailed breakdown of how federal LSTA funds will be used.

We request $5000 because we need materials and resources, as well as fees for speakers. We also need Inspiration software for children to use as they prepare presentations of their research. Please see the budget page for details.

7. Who will be your Project Director? Why was this person selected to lead the project? What will his/her responsibilities be? Indicate here if any other staff or volunteers will be part of this project and how they will participate.

The project director will be Lynn Holian, Library Media Specialist for the Village School. She was selected because she will be the Library Media Specialist in the school and she has played an integral part in the design of this project, which she fully supports. She is willing to coordinate it. (If, due to budget, Ms. Holian is not hired for this position, Library Media Specialist Beth Brooks will be assigned to the Village School and will coordinate this project. She contributed to the planning of this report and she fully supports the project. Please see superintendent’s letter for further explanation.) The coordinator’s responsibilities will be:

• to coordinate planning and scheduling with fourth grade teachers (including arts teachers),
• to deliver lessons that support the curriculum for the unit (in cooperation with teachers),
• to select and purchase needed materials and resources,
• to sponsor the Village Fair in the Library Media Center,
• to work with other Library Media Specialists and the Language Arts Curriculum Director to design and present the speaker series and guest consultants/ speakers,
• to communicate with staff and parents about the project,
• to publicize the project.

8. In what specific ways will you evaluate this project? What objective data will you collect? How will you demonstrate that this project has had an impact on the target group?

• We will give children questionnaires before and after the project to discover their understanding of the content and their attitudes/ experience regarding use of the library. Their responses will give us feedback about the impact of the project.
• We will use rubrics for student projects. These will help children know our expectations for quality work, and the projects will demonstrate students’ learning.
• Visitors to the Village Fair will be invited to give brief written comments to student presenters. Positive comments will indicate success.
• Students and teachers will complete brief evaluations of speakers, stating what they have learned.
• Teachers will complete questionnaires before and after the project, stating the impact the project has had on their students.

9. Please us this space to tell us anything else that would strengthen and support your application.

Teachers, all our Library Media Specialists, Language Arts Curriculum Director, Arts Curriculum Director, school principal, technology integration specialist, and representatives of the public library have all been consulted as we prepared this proposal, and they are excited about the opportunity to work together and to help children learn and demonstrate their learning through this project. The timing is particularly apt since children will be in a new school and will be together for the first time as a grade level.

The Library Media Specialist, Ms. Holian, has begun creating a bibliography of resources that features books from across the U.S., some of which include diaries, recipes, letters, and other examples of primary research. She is also researching appropriate web sites.

This project supports many standards from the Massachusetts Frameworks.

Note that the Library Media Specialist will also create a data base of community members who are willing to share their knowledge of different areas of the country. Staff, public library staff, and parents will be invited to suggest names for the data base. Teachers may invite speakers to speak to classes in support of this project, and the Library Media Specialist may do the same.