Please use the following videos to:

• Check your LRTA library account
• Look for LRTA library books to check out
• Determine how you can checkout BCPL ebooks during the summer
• Learn about LRTA's Summer Reading Program

Video reminders above detail how students can log onto Destiny to view their accounts.

1. Go to Destiny and use the blue and white key icon with the key to log in.
2. Check your student account by going to the MY STUFF section and looking in the area titled, FINES.
3. Write down the total amount due for LIBRARY BOOKS.
4. Use this link to see more information to pay the fee for your LIBRARY BOOKS.

**Pay the TOTAL of the LOST LIBRARY BOOKS. **

***Other LRTA fees will have to be paid in another area of the Online School Payment website.***

Log onto our online school catalog, Destiny. Available 24/7, students can access the ebooks and print books in our library collection.

BCPL offers fun activities to promote summer reading. Click here to visit their webpage to learn more details.

A sincere thank you to the teachers who have utilized our school library during the school year. Whether it was scheduling a classroom read-aloud or bringing students into the library to work on research for the DBQs, your utilization of the school library program has been appreciated.

Below are a few highlights of the School LIbrary Program during the 2021-2022 school year.

This month, students and staff have an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of African Americans in a variety of fields, as well as highlight historic events in Black history. In our library, there are a variety of resources available to students and staff. From books to read alouds and primary source lessons, students have a chance to learn about Black history.

Black History Month began with a series of classroom read alouds. Connecting World Read Aloud celebrations to Black History Month, teachers were given the chance to have a read around brought to their classroom. Some classes listened to nonfiction titles about not-so-famous pioneers, such as Dovey Johnson Roundtree and Lewis Hayden.* Other classes took part in a call and response for the children's book, Change Sings by Amanda Gorman.

During the month of February, consider signing up for read-aloud opportunities for your classrooms. The days for pop-up visits and read alouds are listed below.

February 23, 2022

Mods 1-4

February 24, 2022

Mods 1-4

* Ms. Roundtree was an activist during the Civil Rights Movement and Mr. Hayden was a slave who purchased his freedom and became an abolitionist. They are two Americans who should certainly be celebrated.

Make sure you check out our library collection for books you can check out that are related to Black History.

Students used to print and nonprint resources to read Cinderella stories from around the world. For this PBA, Ms. Fernstorm then had them determine the similarities before they wrote alternate endings.

Sign-up to bring your classes the library for checkouts, research, and more.

Pop-up library opportunities are also available (co-teaching, read alouds, etc.).

Let's set something up!

The Raven Readers Book Club is currently reading a variety of books from different genres. Even if you are not currently a member, you can join us.

Use the link below to access the Raven Readers: Favorite Genres Brackets.

1. Read a variety of genres using Destiny.*
2. Vote for your favorite genres.
3. Top genres will be used to purchase new titles for our library.

NOTES:

• You can vote once a week.
• The Raven Readers Favorite Genre Brackets will end January 4, 2021.

Here is a video that explains how to vote for your favorite genres.

LET THE VOTING BEGIN.

*Make sure you log onto Destiny to access the Raven Reader Destiny Collection and Playlists.

*The Destiny is only available to LRTA students and faculty.*

“Studies confirm that more access to books and reading material in general results in more independent self-selected reading. More independent self-selected reading results in more literacy development.”

Krashen, S., Lee, SY, and McQuillan, J. 2010. “An analysis of the PIRLS (2006) data: Can the school library reduce the effect of poverty on reading achievement?” CLSA Journal, 34 (1).

School librarians and teachers make a strong instructional team combining their knowledge of pedagogy, resources, and technology to meet the specific needs of each student.

American Association of School Librarians. 2011. School Library Programs Improve Student Learning: Teachers. Chicago: ALA.

Student test scores were higher the more time librarians worked cooperatively with classroom teachers, the more they taught information literacy independently, and the more they provided in-service training to teachers.

Lance, Keith Curry, Marcia J. Rodney, and Christine Pennell-Hamilton. 2000. Measuring Up to Standards: The Impact of School Library Programs and Information Literacy in Pennsylvania Schools. Greensburg, PA: Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries.

Top 5 Reasons for Library Visits

1. Book Resource Request

2. Instruction with the LMS

3. Planning

4. Book Checkouts and Returns

5. Collaborative Planning with LMS

Bring the public library into your classroom. With a quick 40 minute tutorial, students will learn how they can access ebooks and other materials available to BCPS students.

• Have you ever wanted to have resources formatted so students can focus on one topic?
• Would you like a playlist of materials for your students to use for a project?
• Would like print and online materials to reinforce the topics in a unit?

Destiny Collections are for you. GIve me a topic and I will gather the resources that your students can use for various BCPS projects and assignments.

BCPS has numerous databases that meet the needs of students and teachers. From videos related to content to encyclopedia articles, the databases are great ways to meet the needs of your content area and differentiate for our students.

Nearly 75% of the student body has visited The LITLC for library orientation and/or Book Tastings. From discussions of genres to discoveries of treasures in our collection, the students and I have had a lot of fun. More classes are scheduled for next week.

Until then, here is some information that will help students use Destiny, access ebooks, and place books on Hold for Pop-up Deliveries to their clasrooms.

Don't forget! Students can always send me a Schoology message to ask about one or more of the following:

• Book Suggestions
• BCPL Student Account Access
• Research assistance
• BCPS Database assistance

As a teacher in BCPS, you have access to a Teacher Loan card via the Baltimore County Public Library. Use the following links to learn more:

• What is it?
• Teacher Collections
• Teacher Loan Card

I also have printed Teacher Loan Card applications available in our school library.

You may also wish to share a link to the Homework Helper portal with your students on Schoology,

Yes!! Teachers should come see me and I will get library books into your hands.

Welcome to LRTA! At Loch Raven, our library is called The LITLC. Why? We are a Library Center that embraces

Literacy,

Instruction, and

Technology

Look below to see some of the great resources and opportunities for collaborations that we offer.

Destiny is the online resource that we use to house our library collection. Every school in BCPS has a Destiny Collection that reflects the print and nonprint materials purchased for the school community.

The icon for Destiny is located on your desktop. We also have a link on our school website and with the BCPS apps located in the OneNote store.

Select our school from the list and Sign-in with your BCPS user name and password. Once you sign in, you will have access to the books available to our LRTA community.

At least twice a year, I send emails to the school community to ask for their input as books and materials are purchased. Stay tuned for further details!!

I look forward to collaborating with you on:

• Research lessons
• Digital Citizenship lessons

They are EMBEDDED in all curricula.

Check out our site for more information! The link is here.

We can always chat about resources and co-teaching opportunities. Send me an email or stop by the library.

This summer, incoming sixth graders along with rising seventh and eighth graders, are encouraged to take part in the Reading is a Treasure Summer Reading opportunity at LRTA.

Students can visit the school's Destiny website to access wonderful ebooks in our school's library collection. Simply log in and you will be able to select a book that meets your interest and/or prepares you for the upcoming school year.

• Make sure you take a moment to look at the Collections that have been created for each incoming grade.
• We also have Collections based on electives and magnet programs.

During the school year, students who wished to check out print versions of their favorite books had the option of requesting the books for Pop-Up Library. The Pop-Up library option WILL NOT be offered during the summer.

• Students CAN access our school collection of ebooks.
• Students can also use the BCPL partnership to access public library books.

Take a moment to look at the links provided below and watch the Reading is Treasure video.

Please use the log information you received in elementary school to access LRTA's Destiny Collection.

If you are looking for suggested summer reading titles based on an elective, such as Health or Dance check out the links below:

• Health
• The Arts
• Music and Dance

LRTA students who wish to win a prize for reading should use the Flipgrid to leave a message with the following information:

1. The title of the book
2. The prize you would like to win (select at least three)
3. An answer to the following questions:

• What connections did you make between yourself and a character in the book?
• Who would you suggest this book to and why?
• If you could change something about the book (title, event, etc.) what would you change and why?

The Flipgrid link can be found on The LITLC Schoology Page.

Current LRTA students (grades 7 and 8) should send Ms. Love a message via Schoology to get their BCPL account information.

This is only for Loch Raven Technical Academy students. I will not be able to accept the following:

·

• books from the public library
• classroom textbooks

This will only be a book return opportunity. Curbside Checkouts will not be offered on these days.

As we prepare for hybrid learning, new opportunities have been created that will ensure that students and teachers are able to safely access resources in the school library.

This year, much of the library program will focus on bringing the library to you. From the continuation of pop-up libraries and curbside checkouts to the new and improved Very Important Patron (VIP) services, the LRTA community has numerous ways to access library materials in a safe manner. Read below to learn more.

Teachers have access to the following library services via Office called Bookings:

Planning

Let's AVIDize those lessons, provide scaffolding activities for students, and infuse technological resources that will help students throughout various units.

Pop-up Library

Teachers can request 7-12 print books for classroom use for units. Complete the booking appointment to have the books delivered for classroom use.

Curation Station

You ever want one area for students to access materials? Send a request to have reliable web tools and reading materials that will help your students during the various units.

Digital Citizenship Lesson

One of my primary roles, when you see digital citizenship mentioned in your curriculum, send a request so I can present information to your classes or co-teach a lesson with you.

Research and Rigor

Every curriculum has it. Let's work together to prep students for the rigors associated with research.

Much more! Use the Bookings link (here) to set-up an appointment.

In The LITLC, students are the VIPs. As Very Important Patrons, they have access to the following via a Booking Request:

VIP Book Delivery

• Cohort A and B students (who are in the school building) can use the hold feature in Destiny to place books on hold.
• Once the print books are available, I will deliver the requested books to the second mod or fourth mod class.

*Please watch the video below to see how to place a hold request.**

Curbside Checkouts

• Specifically designed for Cohort C, students who are in the virtual learning cohort have a chance to get print books into their hands.
• Curbside Checkouts will be offered from 11:05 am - 1:20 pm (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays).

Reminder, this is for Cohort C students. Cohost C students only have to complete a hold request in Destiny. When the book is ready, I will follow-up with a Schoology message with more details.

*Please watch the video below to see how to place a hold request.**

Independent Student Usage During the School Day

• Students who wish to receive help with research or other scholastic needs should use the Bookings feature (here) to request a VIP pass to come to the library.
• The VIP passes will be limited and are due to the availability of space and my schedule.

Due to sanitization requirements, drop-ins and unplanned visits will not be allowed at this time.

Find your match in a book or get a mystery bag. For students and staff, I will recommend 3-5 books in our library catalog based on your interests, likes, and other information.

• Click here to access the form.
• It may take 2-3 cohort days to process the request.

Happy New Year! As we get ready for a new quarter, The LITLC is planning a few ways to get books into the hands of students.

Watch the videos below and look at the steps we have created to get books into the hands of students safely.

Here are several images of SOME of the wonderful ebooks available to our students via Destiny.

Destiny is the online tool we use to read and check out ebooks. Please read the instructions below in order to log in to Destiny. Only use this link attached to log in with your BCPS userID and password.

DIRECTIONS:

• Login should default to Destiny Discover. (SEE THE LINK BELOW)

  • Log in by using the Log In icon in the upper right.

  • On the next page, click on the blue BCPS Log In button on the left.

  • Browsers already BCPS authenticated will automatically log in. If not, login as prompted.

• Use the hamburger menu in the upper left corner to change to Destiny Classic.
  

REMINDER- Select Loch Raven Technical Academy to access our ebooks and audiobooks.

Near the end of January, there will be an opportunity for students to request print books that are currently in our school library collection.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Log into our school library collection via Destiny.
2. Select and place a hold request for LRTA books that are currently IN our collection. (View the video for details).

Once the hold request is made, I will send students a message via Schoology to outline safe pick-up procedures.

REMINDER- Make the hold requests by 1/19/21. Watch the video below.

This option concluded on 1/27/21 and is not available at this time.

We have some cool updates!!

Sign-in with a BCPS user ID to view the great things that have happened during the month of October.

Please use the following links to provide your input in our library collection:

Collection Suggestion - What ebooks would you like to see in our library collection?

Request Form - to request online resources and tools you can use with students

Breakfast Club

This week's morning schedule:

Come to The LITLC for reading, fun, and hilarity.

October 26, 2020-October 30, 2020

Read-alouds, get to know you activities, and 5-minute dance party

8:00 am - 8:25 am

8:00 am - 8:07 am

Round Google - Get to know each other virtually.

8:07 am-8:20 am

Read aloud of a scary story in our library collection.

8:20 am - 8:25 am

Get Up and Dance ---Start the day off with a little dancing before you go to homeroom.

Many people love a good scary story. Check out some of the scary stories in our Destiny library collection. Available in ebook form, these books are sure to thrill your imagination.

"Vanessa's summer holiday on a ranch in Mexico is turned upside down as she enters a shadowy world of mysterious animal death, magical curses and dark family secrets. As she tumbles headlong into the mystery of El Chupacabra she starts to understand why some call it the Mexican Devil"--Provided by publisher.

This book can be viewed by an infinite number of LRTA readers.

After something strange happens during a camping trip, twelve-year-old alien-obsessed Simon suspects he has been abducted, but was it real or just his overactive imagination?

Available to one reader at a time. This book is first come and first serve. You might also want to check out other titles by this author.

Retold in graphic novel form, the narrator tells the reader about the murder he committed and the terrifying aftermath.

Written by a Baltimore native, this classic tale is told with images.

"After eleven-year-old Ollie's school bus mysteriously breaks down on a field trip, she has to take a trip through scary woods and must use all of her wits to survive. She must stick to small spaces"--Provided by publisher.

This ebook is available to the first LRTA student who checks it out.

LITLC Live Tutorials

Created as a way to work with students, parents, and teachers, the LITLC Live Tutorials will occur October 20, 2020 - October 22, 2020. The Google Meet codes for each session is located on The LITLC Schoology page.

All members of The LRTA school community are invited.

Gaining access to the ebooks and digital audiobooks in our Destiny catalog is easy to do. Watch the video below so you can take a look and check-out an ebook.

Read one of the e-books in our Destiny collection.

Thanks to a grant from the American Association of School Librarians, I was able to purchase copies of the award-winning graphic novel, New Kid, for the #LRTAbefriends project.

As of 8/31/20, we have 20 spots available for incoming 6th graders, three spots 7th graders, and two spots for 8th graders.*

Contact Ms. Love through Schoology if you are interested and I will provide more details.

Welcome to the new school year! While the school year may seem a bit different, our school community should know that the school library is still available. Whether it's pop-up library opportunities to check-out books or lessons with teachers in various classrooms, our school library will remain an important part of the school community.

To enhance our virtual presence, we will also have various fun activities available for our students, staff, and parents. From monthly library challenges to Kahoot, Read Aloud, and much more. During the school year, make sure you check out the newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube channel updates.

Our school community can also use The LITLC Schoology page as a way to communicate and learn about various resources, such as dates and times for online tutorials, Kahoot codes, book club, coding club, and much more. To gain access to the library Schoology page contact Ms. Love via email or a Schoology message.

We have over 700 new books in our library collection. From digital audiobooks to new manga, our collection is growing thanks to the input of students and teachers. If you would like to look at the new additions or any of the books in our library collection, go to BCPSOne and select Digital Content. From there you can access Destiny.

Last year, based on the input of teachers, more Internet-accessible audiobooks were ordered for our school library. Take a moment to look through some of our library collection and look at the Destiny Collections created for each content area (Math, Science, art, physical education, and much more).

Parents and students can also request BCPL books using curbside pick-up or use the e-card option.

A biography that tells the life story of a man who positively influenced others through his actions and words. Our school library has an infinite number of this e-book.

The graphic novel, Crossover, is a reformatted version of a fictional book that tells the story of a fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan who wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.

The book is available as an ebook and digital audiobook in our Destiny library collection.

According to Kirkus Reviews, "With young readers diagnosed with anxiety in ever-increasing numbers, this book offers a necessary mirror to many." If you are a fan of Smile and Sisters and other graphic novels by Telgemeir, you will love this book.

A graphic novel is a combination of a comic and a novel. It's a novel with a plot, developed characters, setting, and more. It also uses pictures and images to develop the story.

If you ever have to check out a chapter book but think you hate reading a lot of words on a page, give a graphic novel a try. :-)

Based on a previous PD provided by BCPSLMP, below is a menu design to entice teachers, students, and staff to utilize the services of The LITLC during the school year.

Embedded with 24 Easter eggs, can you find the hidden treasures within this virtual flyer? The person who shares the most #LITLCeggsearch via Twitter or IG by the end of August will receive a prize.

Happy hunting.

Teachers can utilize BCPL teacher loan services and any resident of Baltimore County can use the e-card option.

One way for people to begin to recognize the value of others is to see different faces and experience different cultures in a book. No, it's not the only way but it's a start. Some may ask why is this important. A picture is worth a thousand words. Take a moment (or two) to look at an infographic shared by Publisher's Weekly on June 19.

Full citation: Huyck, David and Sarah Park Dahlen. (2019 June 19). Diversity in Children’s Books 2018. sarahpark.com blog. Created in consultation with Edith Campbell, Molly Beth Griffin, K. T. Horning, Debbie Reese, Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, and Madeline Tyner, with statistics compiled by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison: http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pcstats.asp. Retrieved from https://readingspark.wordpress.com/2019/06/19/picture-this-diversity-in-childrens-books-2018-infographic/.

Representation matters. Minds and perceptions can be shaped for the better when diverse voices are shared and when diverse faces are depicted. Below, are some resources you may want to use to locate books for a variety of age ranges and interests. These suggestions were compiled by various organizations and journals.

A lot has occurred within the past month and during a time of physical distancing, the topics of racism, injustice, equity, and more have become topics of discussion. No longer swept to the side, the heavy topics are being unpacked.

Whether you are an educator, a parent, a student, or another community member, you may wish to learn more. The titles and resources above are just a start. Take the time to check out the resources and become a partner in positive discussions.

Although we are not in the school building, we are still striving to build a community of readers, researchers, and thinkers. The school library is here to assist with all of those efforts and much more. Previous newsletters highlighted well-known resources that students and staff could still access from home. Whether it's e-books, BCPS databases, or the Baltimore Sun, our school family has a number of materials at their fingertips.

This current issue will focus on a few resources you may not know about, as well as two resources that have been added to meet the needs of our virtual community.

BCPL E-Books

BCPS students can access ebooks and audiobooks in Baltimore County Public Library's collection. A video explaining how students can access the information is below.

Virtual Book Matching

Any student or staff who would like to receive book recommendations based on their interests can complete the revised book Matching Service. Users do not have to include their email address; however, for personal attention and correspondence, users can include their first initial and last name (or vice versa).

Books We Love Competition

Using a system similar to March Madness, we have the Books We Love Competition. Vote for your favorite books and see which is the ultimate book we love at LRTA. The great thing about this is that many of the books on the list are ebooks and they are available in our school library Destiny collection or BCPL. See the information below for more details.

Click the link below to vote in our Books We Love Competition.

REMINDER- Continue to look to our library's Schoology page for weekly updates.

I hope everyone is well. This edition has some information regarding the online resources available to members of the BCPS family. Take a look at some of the materials. If you are a member of the Loch Raven Tech family (staff, parent or student), I can provide more information regarding the tools. Starting April 6, my online office hours will be 9:00 am - 11:00 am (EST). LRTA family can contact me via email at tlove@bcps.org.

As you prepare online resources our students can use, consider these resources.

Created by members of the Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL), various activities (reading, drawing, etc.) that will promote reading and literacy. What is it? It's a chance for us to build a community of readers. During this time of social distancing, we can take some time to read something and share what we are reading virtually.

ANYONE can take part in the #readtogether challenge. You don't have to live in the state of Maryland or even be a parent. You just have to be someone who would love the chance to share your reading.

Click the link to see some of the ideas. More ideas will be available at www.maslmd.org , @MASLMD and Twitter for updates. Share your progress using any form of social media that works for you. Use #readtogether and/or #MASLMDreads to connect with other readers.

We have over 700 new books in our library collection. From digital audiobooks to new manga, our collection is growing thanks to the input of students and teachers. If you would like to look at the new additions or any of the books in our library collection, go to BCPSOne and select Digital Content. From there you can access Destiny.

Based on the input of teachers, more Internet-accessible audiobooks were ordered for our school library. We also have augmented e-books in our collection and e-books that can be used by individual students or groups of students. Share an upcoming topic or unit with me and I can let you know what we have available in our collection.

Access our unboxing videos to see the new offerings. Complete videos are available on our YouTube channel, The LITLC, and snippets can be seen on our IG page.

The school library has a subscription to Flocabulary. Flocabulary is a wonderful way for our students to reinforce the information that they are learning in their classrooms. Take a moment to look at some of the offerings:

Language Arts

Math*

Social Studies and (Week in Rap)

Science

Vocabulary

Social and Emotional Learning

These are just a few of the videos available. Several Math teachers have already utilized this as a resource. I'm looking forward to doing more lessons in other content areas.

Nothing is better than working with teachers to provide information our students need. The past few months have been exciting. The library program has been used to provide information to students regarding digital citizenship, language acquisition, math skills, and reading skills. Below are some of the highlights of the collaborative efforts inside and outside the library's walls.

Thanks to the book donations of parents, students, and staff our school community was able to collect 243 new and gently used books for the Children's Division of Sheppard Pratt.

BCPS students and employees have access to the Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) resources. From ebooks in Overdrive to, BCPL is a valuable educational partner for the entire school system. Consider checking out one or more of the resources below.

If you have any issues logging on through the BCPSOne Portal, send me an email at tlove@bcps.org and I can attach the instructions.

Collaborative lessons with teachers has been a highlight during the first quarter of the school year. Below are some visuals.

The LITLC has been busy. This shows in the number of visits and collaborative efforts inside and outside the library's walls. The number of students coming to the library during their lunch period has increased (see figures one and two), as well as the number of classroom visits for pop-up library and lesson partnerships (see figures three and four).

Looking at the data, more teachers are coming to the library to plan upcoming lessons in the library as well as to bring classes for instruction with LMS (library media specialist). The library is also seen as a place to relax and the data shows this. Computers are no longer stored in the library space but more and more students are coming to the library to read and relax. This is great news.

To keep up the momentum. The Lunch Bunch Crew is starting to think of ideas to enhance the library program. If you would like to join the group, see Ms. Love for more information.

As we prepare to enter the fourth week of the school year, there is great news to report. The LITLC has seen an increase in check-outs, collaborations and student usage. How do we know? Using data from LibraryTrac, data from the first, three weeks of the 2018-2019 school year we compared to data from the first three weeks of the 2019-2020 school year.

Check-outs

During sixth grade orientation, over 90% of the sixth grade students checked out books. Sixth graders also enjoyed a Pop-up Library during their lunch shift.

Collaborations

Ms. Gorkeiwciz and Ms. Jones were key partners in an AVIDized lesson. Focusing on note taking and Noodletools, the students in their class successfully completed a lesson and learned about reliable resources, searched for valid information using a BCPS Database, WorldBook, and signed-up for Noodletools, an online tool that will help students cite sources for research.

Ms. Langley, a BCPL representative from the Loch Raven Branch, visited the school twice. Her first visit was during Back to School Night. Parents and students received information related databases and other privileges enjoyed by members of BCPS. During her second visit, we began planning PROJLIT/BES book club and discussed the possibility of working together to have an author (or two) visit the area and speak with members of the LRTA community.

Independent Student Usage

The more students read the better prepared they are for the rigors of learning. Our students at LRTA love to read! More and more students are coming to the library during their homeroom and during lunch to read, check-out books, play educational games and just relax. Any student is able to come to the library during lunch, they just have to see Ms. Love during homeroom to get a green pass.

They don't say our library is L.I.T. for nothing. By embracing Literacy, Instruction and Technology our students are becoming global learners and global thinkers. Stay tuned for more great news as the school year progresses.

As the end of the year fast approaches, members of The LITLC crew began preparing for the upcoming school year. Whether it's ways to advertise the resources in the library or promoting reading to the school community, the Lunch Bunch and I are trying to think of innovative ways to connect with the school community.

Students and staff were invited to complete the end-of-the-year survey for The LITLC. This information will be used to help us as we plan for next year. Here are just a few snippets of the information.

BCPS has partnered with BCPL for over 13 years to prevent the summer slide. Use the following link to get information about the BCPL Summer Reading Program. You'll be glad you did.

World Read Aloud Day is February 1, 2019. The school library, The LITLC, would love to recognize this day of reading. The event will start January 31st and conclude February 1st. The entire school community (parents, students, faculty and staff) is invited to take part in this initiative to do one or more of the following:

• Read a book aloud to students in the library for 15 minutes (January 31, 2019, 9:00 am – 11:00 am or February 1, 2019, 9:00 am – 9:30 am)
• Videotape yourself a reading the beginning of a book (2-5 pages) and post your video on social media with the hashtag #LRTAreads
  
• On January 31 and February 1, visit the school library to read aloud to a group of students during lunch (contact Ms. Love for times)
  
• Using Destiny, our online catalog, check-out one of our e-books and use the read aloud feature. Post a picture or video and share via social media using the hashtag #LRTAreads

Contact Ms. Love via email at tlove@bcps.org if you have any questions or other ideas.

BCPS has an expectation that all sixth grade students receive instruction regarding Digital Citizenship. Below are some images of the second lesson in the Digital Citizenship program. In this lesson, students learned how to determine whether websites are reliable.

Before the winter break begins, I would like to focus on some of the engaging activities we have had in our school library. Students had a chance to explore makerspace opportunities, work on coding activities, learn about digital safety, discuss novels, complete lessons, and independently navigate Destiny to locate books they wanted to read. Check out our video to see why our library is L.I.T.

The video above has anecdotal evidence of our library program. The images below provide some quantitative data to show the usage in our school library. Using LibraryTrac, the data is clear and concise.

Students

We have had 1082 independent student visits since September. The top reason students come to the library is to read, to relax and/or to use the computer. The second reason students come to the library is to work on a class assignment, complete homework and/or to conduct research. The primary time for student visits is during lunch; the 7th grade lunch shift is the busiest.

Teachers/Classes

Teachers utilize the space, as well. The primary reason for class visits is for checkouts/returns. A close second is instruction with me, the LMS. So far, sixth grade classes have visited the library the most. Our lessons included library orientation, digital safety, e-book scavenger hunts and book matching services.

In 2019, I am looking forward to more visits from students and more opportunities to collaborate with teachers.

The month of October has been busy.

• Several reading teachers have utilized the Book Matching Service to get students excited about reading.
• Eighth grade Language Arts teachers have infused the library resources as they prepare students for the argument PBA.
• Sixth Grade students in G&T are utilizing enrichment activities for The Giver
• The school community has completed the LRTALC Survey.
  
• More students are beginning to come to the library independently to check-out books (with a valid green pass of course).
• The Collection Development Plan for LRTA is almost complete.

Have you asked a student to research a topic and noticed that they used an unreliable website? That doesn't need to happen again. Destiny Collections is a sure fire way to get reliable resources into the hands of our students as they research.

Using our online catalog, users can create a playlist of resources for their students. They playlist can include web pages, books, online databases and much more. Click here to see a sample.

Too much on your plate to learn another web tool? With a simple email to Ms. Love and at least three business days, a playlist can be created for you and your students. Gathering six to eight of resources that will attract a variety of learners and in a variety of formats, the Destiny Collection playlist will be shared with you. Teachers can then share the playlist in a homework assignment, research assignment or as part of a class activity. *

An asset for all content areas, Destiny Collections is just one way we can provide our students with information they need as they navigate through this digital world. If you would like more information about this tool stop by the library. Information can also be shared in department meetings our grade level team meetings.

Members of the Loch Raven Branch of BCPL will visit our school to share online tools that students can use to increase their chances of scholastic success. There are numerous resources that our students have access to as BCPS students:

• e-books
• Language Resources, such as Mango and Rosetta Stone
• World Book
• Homework Helper
• much, much more
  

Teachers will receive information regarding slots and times next week.

PROJLIT is a nationwide book club for students that is a proven way to engage students in reading. Focused on high interest titles which represent diverse viewpoints, the first meeting for the PROJLIT book club of LRTA will be November 15, 2018. Our focus for November and December will be books by Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander.

Any student who wishes to receive more information should see Ms. Love before or during homeroom. Parents and teachers are encouraged to participate, as well.

Teachers, students and staff are invited to take part in the Find a Buried Treasure in the School Library initiative at LRTA. What is it?

The entire school community can take part. Teachers can schedule class visits for research or book talks. Parents can complete the BCPS Parent Library Card form. Students can share book reviews or testimonials about our library program. See the list of ideas below and contact Ms. Love to take part in the hunt to discover the treasures within our school library.

Teachers

• Schedule a class visit and bring the class in for a book talk and check out* = one entry into a raffle for the end of the Year
  
• Schedule a class visit and bring a class in for a BCPS research related lesson* within your curriculum/Passion Based Learning project = equals two raffle tickets
  
• Schedule a class visit and bring a class in to take part in a Ted-talk* inspired lesson related to your content area and current curricular focus = 3 raffle tickets
  
• Schedule a class visit and let’s co-teach a lesson using one of the features of ClassFlow = four raffle tickets
  

School Community

o Donate new or gently used books for the upcoming book drive.*

o Check out a book from our school library and share your thoughts about the book with our school community the hashtags #LRTAreads #LRTALC

o Take part in the #TestimonialThursday initiative for our school library. Share one or more of the following:

o Collaborations with the library

o “Aha” moments in the classroom based on a collaborative effort

o Resources you’ve used to enhance your units

Students

o Complete an online book review or submit a book review through Destiny.

o Representatives from Take part in our ProjLIT book club

o Donate new or gently used books for the upcoming book drive.

o Student testimonials about what they have discovered in the library, etc.

Parents

o Parent testimonials regarding our library program are welcome. Use the hashtag #LRTALC.

o Parents complete complete and return a BCPS Parent Library Card to Ms. Love.

o Donate new or gently used books for the upcoming book drive.

The prize? A $10 gift card.

During the past 22 years, I've been an educator in BCPS. Reading, literacy, libraries, and students are my passion. I'm excited to begin my first year at Loch Raven Technical Academy as the library media specialist. The Library Center/Learning Commons will offer numerous opportunities for collaboration, engagement, exploration. Whether it's the community survey (see below) to get the input of students, staff, and parents or working with community partners, The Loch Raven Technical Academy Library Center (LRTALC) will strive to be a hub for learning.

As your library media specialist, I am willing to locate resources that students can use to connect their learning to the real world. From books (e-books and print) to technological resources, students and staff will have access numerous materials.

Teachers

I am also interested in collaborating with teachers by co-teaching lessons or presenting lessons based on a need of the teacher and students. View LibraryTrac to see what dates are available and email me to set-up a time to discuss your ideas and curricular needs.

Teachers also have access to the Baltimore Sun for classroom use. Stay tuned for more information.

Students

Stop by the library during your lunch time. See me in the morning, before homeroom, for a pass. Students with a valid pass can eat their lunch in the cafeteria and then come to the library to relax, read, chat or collaborate.

Parents

Get a parent library card and check-out books from our school library. Complete the form and return it to me. You should have your parent library card by November.

Please share your ideas regarding the library program at Loch Raven Technical Academy. Click here to access the survey. You can also click the logo below to view our wiki page and have access to our survey.