Presenter: Name: Cassi Flores

Title: Library Media Specialist
Organization/School: Francis Howell Central High School

Program Description
In this session, our team of 2024 ALA Emerging Leaders will walk participants through the AASL shared foundation of Collaboration and a variety of practical ways to implement the national school library standards. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to navigate and utilize the AASL standards, as well as activity guides, recommended tech tools, and other resources so that ideas from this session can immediately be implemented in any school library. The presenters will also share the process for participating in the ALA Emerging Leaders program and opportunities to participate in AASL projects.

The AASL cohort of the 2024 American Library Association (ALA) Emerging Leaders were
tasked with creating an activity guide to develop materials that support professional
development and instruction around the skills inherent in the National School Library
Standards Shared Foundation of Collaborate—to “work effectively with others to broaden
perspectives and work toward common goals'' (85). As school librarians cultivate a culture for collaborative learning, their learners will grow in their higher-level thinking, resilience, empathy, creativity, and self-esteem.

From the activity guide, we will share many examples of school librarian-led collaborative activities. These activities, rooted in collaborative relationships, may help your learners connect with nature, experience “Magic,” develop into a community of readers, exercise and grow
leadership skills, grow their creativity (and basketball skills), and more! When we as school
librarians, educators, community members, and learners work effectively together—when
we listen and learn from, share with, and express our ideas to each other to accomplish
shared goals—we can achieve amazing things!

Learning Objectives
Understand how to unpack and utilize the national school library standards
Explore free, practical resources from the AASL/ALA Emerging Leader project focused on the shared foundation of collaboration
Brainstorm ways to effectively incorporate collaborations in school libraries and leave with resources to take back to their school library
Discover ways to get involved in school librarian leadership programs including the ALA Emerging Leaders program
Grow one’s school librarian professional learning network

Program Outline
Overview and Introduction: Find out who is in the room with an ice-breaker, introduce ourselves, explain our session goals and present our agenda
ALA Emerging Leaders: share information about librarian leadership opportunities including the ALA Emerging Leaders program
Tackling the National School Library Standards: Unpack the AASL framework by breaking down the domains (think, create, share, and grow) as well as the shared foundations (inquire, include, collaborate, curate, explore, and engage), and how they connect learners, school librarians, and school libraries.
Spotlight on our FAVORITE activities and tools from the Collaboration Applied Framework, Activity Guide, and Resource Matrix: take a deeper dive into how our 2024 Emerging Leaders team used the collaboration shared foundation to create free, engaging, and relevant practical resources for school librarians. Each team member will present one of their favorite activities and/or tools from the activity guide, what it looks like in their school library, and tips and strategies from their experience.
Interactive Listening Triangle: In groups of 3, attendees will engage in a listening triangle, taking turns as speaker, questioner, and listener to share their own challenges and successes engaging in school library collaborations.
Crowd Source Collaboration Resources: Share a shared Google Drive folder with resources, walk through the organization, and invite attendees to add to it
Closing: share ways to continue the learning and conversation including the short link to access the slidedeck. End with a question and sharing of key takeaways.
Developing Creative Collaborators, Flexible Partners, and Resilient Citizens using the AASL Standards

Grade Level: Prek-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Session Strand: Collaboration

Description: In this session, our team of 2024 ALA Emerging Leaders will walk participants through the AASL shared foundation of collaboration and a variety of practical ways to implement the national school library standards. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to navigate and utilize the AASL standards as well as activity guides, recommended tech tools, and other resources so that ideas from this session can immediately be implemented in any school library. The presenters will also share the process for participating in the ALA Emerging Leaders program and opportunities to participate in AASL projects.