July/Aug: Getting to the Core: Librarians and Common Core State Standards

Beginning July 15, 2013

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is pleased to offer a variety of quality online education courses.  All courses will run between four and six weeks and will be taught in an online learning community using Moodle.  All courses are offered asynchronously (self-directed) meaning you won't need to logon at a specific time.

To sign-up for an upcoming course, visit the ALA registration website.  Course space is limited.

Getting to the Core: Librarians and Common Core State Standards
(6 weeks) The common core state standards (CCSS) bring three key shifts to English language arts/literacy (ELA) curricula: regular practice with complex text and its academic language; reading, writing and speaking grounded in evidence from text, both literary and informational; building knowledge through content rich nonfiction. CCSS calls for 50 percent of reading in elementary and middle grades to be nonfiction. Librarians will be essential in the shift to common core as teachers look for the best content-rich, grade level-appropriate literature to support learning across the curriculum. ELA and other content-area teachers will especially need help from librarians finding appropriate resources and a wider selection of materials. This course will help prepare participants to meet those needs of teachers in the elementary and middle grades.
Instructor: Edward Sullivan, Librarian, Writer and Educator