Presenter: Name: Ashley Scotto

Title: Library Media Specialist
Organization/School: Bethpage UFSD

Program Description
In existing curricula for school libraries, there is little to no specifics regarding special education audiences. Though there has been a significant emphasis on ensuring a school library is a welcoming and inclusive space, there remains little data as to what school librarians can do once students are within the library. In conversations with both public and school librarians, many identified wanting to do more for special education. Others have identified a common misconception about what students of varying abilities are capable of.

This session will encourage attendees to develop further expectations for special education students and explore strategies that currently benefit students of all abilities. Reviewing best practices determined by fellow school and public librarians, classroom teachers, psychologists, and different school specialists, attendees will reimagine the reading experience to connect with students of differing abilities. With an emphasis on building character sensory bins, the session outlines a concrete tool to encourage a connection to a text and a love of books. We will expand on current ideas and methods and show how a library remains a hub of learning, a space dedicated to literature and information literacy, and a place committed to all audiences it serves and represents.

Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to develop or expand 2-3 teaching strategies for special education audiences.
Participants will be able to outline and plan their own story character bins for an immersive, sensory experience for special education students. Participants will learn tips on how to engage and support special education students.

Program Outline
Essential Question - Presenter will introduce program focus will the essential question:

How can the school library better support special education audiences?

Workshop Outline - Presenter will review outline for workshop:

Need - What have teachers, parents, and specialists requested?
Best Practices - What can we do before, during, and after the lesson?
Story Immersion -Sample lessons and explore bins.
Brainstorm - Outline your own story bin, adapt a current lesson, or workshop different instructional strategies.

*We will not discuss the physical space or the collection.

Presenter Introduction/Experience - Presenter will review their background in education and current experience as an elementary school librarian in a building that houses the elementary special education department within a district of three elementary schools. Presenter will also briefly identify the range of abilities and diagnoses of students.

Introduction Question (Mentimeter)- Attendees will be presented with the question:

“I am confident in teaching special education audiences.”

Review of Responses - Presenter will review Introductory responses to determine a potential sub-focus throughout the session and anticipate needs of attendees. Instructor will emphasize that this session is a safe space for any and all questions.

Need for Definitive Practices - Using student, parent, and teacher testimonials along with current data, presenter will identify the need for a more specific curriculum and instructional strategies for special education students in the library.

Before the Lesson -

During the Lesson - Presenter will show six lesson examples with books, differentiated activities, and scaffolded instruction.

After the Lesson - Instructor will discuss potential to partner with public libraries.

Story Bins - Instructor will review project of creating sensory-based character bins, how they are used, how students interact with them, and how they were developed.

Workshopping - Attendees will have the opportunity to either review a current lesson or develop a new lesson for special education students, map out how to make a story immersion bin, or identify a potential partnership within their school to help better understand the needs of their special education audience.

Next Steps/ Questions - Attendees will be encouraged to ask any questions
We are All Readers: Story Immersion and Creative Techniques to Engage Elementary Special Education

Grade Level: Not grade specific

Session Strand: Teaching & Learning

Description: Including best practices currently supported by special education teachers and their students, this session assists in fostering a school library environment of empathy along with cultivating an open-mindedness to learning. The session demonstrates how the library lesson can be more accessible to students of all abilities. Focusing on strategies for before, during, and after the library lesson and visit, this session will show how a school librarian can better serve special education students, further support teachers, and overall encourage student success to appreciate books and be lifelong learners.