The Power of the Media Specialist to Improve Academic Achievement and Strengthen At-Risk Students

by Jami Biles Jones, Alana Zambone

Overview

Harness the power of the library to reach students! Find out how you can influence students' academic success and close the achievement gap. Help school culture recognize the role of the media specialist in developing essential academic skills. Learn research-based methods to address the needs of at-risk students in the library media center. Help improve test scores and decrease drop out rates by being part of the team who builds skills in struggling students. This resource also focuses on the librarian's role as leader in promoting resiliency in adolescents by highlighting the research on resiliency and its impact on student achievement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781586832292
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/15/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	168
Sales rank:	1,135,820
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Jami Biles Jones is a media specialist and adjunct instructor at Barron Collier High School in Naples, FL.

Alana Zambone is assistant professor at East Carolina University, College of Education in Greenville, NC.

Table of Contents

Table of Figures vii

Introduction ix

Section 1 The Significance of the Problem 1

Introduction 1

Chapter 1 How Significant is the Achievement Gap? 3

Graduation May Not Be Enough 6

High School Graduation and College Readiness Are Not the Same 7

Resources to Learn More about This Topic 8

Chapter 2 Who is At Risk of Failing? 9

Socioeconomic Status 10

Race and Ethnicity 12

Immigration 14

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) 16

Special Education 18

Resources to Learn More about This Topic 21

Chapter 3 Legislation and Effective Schools 23

Education Laws and At-Risk Students 24

Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind 24

Education of the Handicapped Act/Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 27

Section 504 of the Vocational and Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act 29

Resources to Learn More about This Topic 30

Section 2 What Is Effective? 33

Introduction 33

Chapter 4 The Impact Study Research: School Library Characteristics That Raise Academic Achievement 35

Learning and Teaching 39

Information Access and Delivery 40

Program Administration 42

Resources to Learn More about This Topic 44

Chapter 5 Educational and Social Science Approaches That Raise Academic Achievement 45

Resiliency 45

Marzano and Translating Research into Action 50

Student Motivation 55

The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Guidelines 56

Resources to Learn More about These Topics 60

Section 3 Applying What Works to the School Library 63

Introduction 63

What Are Dispositions? 63

Chapter 6 The Turnaround School Library 67

Resources to Learn More about This Topic 79

Chapter 7 Creating the HolisticLibrary 81

The Systems Perspective 83

The Ecological Systems Change Approach 83

The Ecological Systems Change Journey 84

Resources to Learn More about This Topic 92

Works Cited 93

Index 101

About the Authors 107

Editorial Reviews

This book is chock full of ideas for incorporating information literacy into language arts, science, math, music, visual arts, social studies, technology, and library instruction. The majority of the lessons list national standards covered, provide thorough details for teaching, and give a supply and equipment list. Where appropriate, basic assessment rubrics are also supplied. Some lessons can be adapted for students in grades K-8, while others have a more narrow focus. Suggested book lists and Web sites are provided for some lessons. Collaboration with the classroom teacher is encouraged, and a planning form is included. If you are looking for fresh ideas to incorporate information literacy into your classrooms, this title would be a good choice.” —Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

This slim volume gives library professionals the information they need to convince the unconvinced of the value of the media center in improving student achievement. Section one provides research results and statistics that identify at-risk students. Section two is devoted to identifying the social and educational approaches that have been proven to help these students. For example, several studies have made the correlation between improved academic achievement and flexible scheduling, certified media specialists, and quality collections. In addition, Jones and Zambone make the argument that an at-risk studenta's resiliency can be increased through caring and support, setting boundaries, communicating high expectations, increasing pro-social bonding, and teaching life skills. Section three argues that a media specialist can do all of these things, and an example of a middle school librarian organizing her "school library media program so that it addresses academic failure, reading, and life skills by strengthening the individual" proves this point. Although this example will give media specialists a solid starting point, additional concrete examples from different levels would have been helpful. This resource is valuable for media specialists ready to make a change to a student-centered library, thus giving all of their students a chance at higher academic and personal achievement.-Stephanie Farnlacher, Trace Crossings Elementary School, Hoover, AL

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