My Year in Books

 

I read 27 books for 2023; 9,548 page. I finished up another degree this year, so a lot of what I read this year was professional literature. However, I did also listen to many audiobooks on my work commute and many work trips. This list does not include picture books and novels I read to students from January to April. I also don’t count books I read to Sam. The numbers would be much greater!

My 2024 goal is 50 books. That’s close to a book a week. I’ve already started and always have multiple books going at once!

CS&DF in the Library - 2023 NYSCATE Presentation

 

    This past Sunday, I had the privilege of presenting at NYSCATE's annual conference.  If you have not attended the NYSCATE conference, it is one that I would highly recommend.  My presentation, titled "CS&DF Standards in the Library," has been a project I've been working on since the standards were in the development stage. I was excited to share my insights and experiences to a room of around 20 people.  You can access the resources from this presentation, and others on my dedicated presentation page.

    The vision for Computer Science and Digital Fluency (CS&DF) standards in New York is that every student would know how to live productively and safely in a technology-dominated world. This includes the understanding the essential features of digital technologies, why and how they work, and how to communicate and create using these technologies.

    A school's vision statement encapsulates broader educational goals, and the CS&DF vision echoes the overarching goal of numerous school districts. To align with this vision, the CS&DF standards were designed not as the sole responsibility of a specific group of educators but as a shared obligation among all. Collaboration among librarians, teachers, and educators from various areas is imperative to meet these standards effectively. While no single group bears the entire burden, librarians must refrain from adopting a "not my job" mindset.

  

    To help librarians meet the CS&DF Standards, I have examined what they are currently doing in their curriculum that already meets these standards. I have worked with 3 districts where we have explored and dissected the standards to gain a greater understanding. Once the librarians know what the standards are and have heard some examples, they make note of lessons they teach students that meet these standards. Examining what you're already doing is helpful to help guide where you need to go.

    It is not the sole responsibility of a librarian in a school building to meet all theses standards. After all, they are only one person who sees students. Seeing what standards are being met by the librarians can show areas where standards are not being met and identify other curriculum areas that can fill in the gaps.

    To assist librarians in supporting the standards, I created a list of trade books that I matched with the CS&DF concept areas. Trade books, intended for a general audience and distinct from textbooks, serve as powerful instructional tools. They aid in vocabulary development and foster interest in diverse topics. Having books that support standards in your library collection can provide "unplugged" computer science instruction and provide teachers with resources. My goal is to update the trade book list as more books are published. You can find the list here and in the resources from my presentation. Note that I have not read every book and I made my standard alignment based on summaries and reviews provided on Amazon and Follett's Titlewave.

    Even after I gave this presentation, I am continuing my work with school districts on the CS&DF Standards.  From my experience working with librarians, I am able to offer more support as these standards go into full implementation next year.  My tips for implementing these standards in your library is to let students know that you are learning with them, take opportunities to learn from students, and have fun!  Libraries are spaces where students can take risks and learn what interests them.  The same should go for the librarians in the library!