Intended to support the national initiative to strengthen learning in areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, this book helps librarians who work with youth in school and public libraries to build better collections and more effectively use these collections through readers' advisory and programming. A versatile and multi-faceted guide, Best STEM Resources for NextGen Scientists: The Essential Selection and User's Guide serves as a readers' advisory and collection development resource for youth services and school librarians seeking to bring STEM-related titles into their collections and introduce teachers and young readers to them. This book not only guides readers to hundreds of the best STEM-related titles—fiction and non-fiction printed materials as well as apps, DVDs, websites, and games—it also includes related activities or programming ideas to help promote the use of the collection to patrons or students in storytime, afterschool programs, or passive library programs. After a detailed discussion of the importance of STEM and the opportunities librarians have for involvement, the book lists and describes best STEM resources for young learners. Resources are organized according to the reading audiences for which they are intended, from toddlers through teens, and the book includes annotated lists of both fiction and nonfiction STEM titles as well as graphic novels, digital products, and online resources. In addition, the author offers a selection of professional readings for librarians and media specialists who wish to further expand their knowledge.

“We are among those who have come to enjoy the blossoming intellects, often comical behaviors, and insatiable curiosity of middle schoolers—and choose to work with them! With more than 130 years of combined experience in the profession, we’ve gathered a lot of ideas to share. We know from our interactions with educators around the country that precious few quality resources exist to assist science teachers ‘in the middle,’ and this was a central impetus for updating Doing Good Science in Middle School.” —From the preface This lively book contains the kind of guidance that could only come from veterans of the middle school science trenches. The authors know you’re crazy-busy, so they made the book easy to use, whether you want to read it cover to cover or pick out sections to help you with lesson planning and classroom management. They also know you face new challenges, so they thoroughly revised this second edition to meet the needs of today’s students. The book contains: • big-picture concepts, such as how to understand middle school learners and explore the nature of science with them; • a comprehensive overview of science and engineering practices, STEM, and inquiry-based middle school science instruction, aligned with A Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards; • 10 new and updated teacher-tested activities that integrate STEM with literacy skill-building; • information on best instructional practices and professional-development resources; and • connections to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics. If you’re a new teacher, you’ll gain a solid foundation in how to teach science and engineering practices while better understanding your often-enigmatic middle-grade students. If you’re a veteran teacher, you’ll benefit from a fresh view of what your colleagues are doing in new times. Either way, Doing Good Science in Middle School is a rich opportunity to reaffirm that what you do is “good science.”

This revolutionary STEM & STEAM Next-Gen Program is a cutting edge scientific learning system. It will accelerate engagement in hands-on learning and teaching projects. Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), students will make their own state-of-the art projects. It includes: 10-weeks of accelerated learning lesson plans. Introduction to STEM careers, including scientists, engineers, architects, coders, robotics, and more. STEM activities related to real world challenges professionals face. Minimal preparation, hassle-free resource for teachers and educators. Checklist for preparation and planning in advance. Lessons following the Engineering Design Process set on a timeframe.

This lively book contains the kind of guidance that could only come from veterans of the middle school science trenches. The authors know you're crazy-busy, so they made the book easy to use, whether you want to read it cover to cover or pick out sections to help you with lesson planning and classroom management. They also know you face new challenges, so they thoroughly revised this second edition to meet the needs of today's students. The book contains: big-picture concepts, such as how to understand middle school learners and explore the nature of science with them;a comprehensive overview of science and engineering practices, STEM, and inquiry-based middle school science instruction, aligned with A Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards;10 new and updated teacher-tested activities that integrate STEM with literacy skill-building;information on best instructional practices and professional-development resources; andconnections to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and mathematics.If you're a new teacher, you'll gain a solid foundation in how to teach science and engineering practices while better understanding your often-enigmatic middle-grade students. If you're a veteran teacher, you'll benefit from a fresh view of what your colleagues are doing in new times. Either way, Doing Good Science in Middle School is a rich opportunity to reaffirm that what you do is good science.

This thorough treatment of collection development for school library educators, students, and practicing school librarians provides quick access to information. This seventh edition of The Collection Program in Schools is updated in several key areas. It provides an overview of key education trends affecting school library collections, such as digital textbooks, instructional improvement systems, STEM priorities, and open education resource (OER) use and reuse. Topics of discussion include the new AASL standards as they relate to the collection; the idea of crowd sourcing in collection development; and current trends in the school library profession, such as Future Ready Libraries and new standards from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Each chapter has been updated and revised with new material, and particular emphasis is placed on disaster preparedness and response as they pertain to policies, circulation, preservation, and moving or closing a collection. This edition also includes updates to review of curation and community analysis principles as they affect the development of the library collection.

This book is a toolkit for youth and young adult librarians—school and public—who wish to incorporate science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) into their programs and collections but aren't sure where to begin. Most educators are well aware of the reasons for emphasizing STEAM—topics that fall within the broad headings of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics—in the curriculum, regardless of grade level. But how do librarians who work with 'tweens in middle school, high school, and public libraries—fit into the picture and play their roles to underscore their relevance in making STEAM initiatives successful? This book answers those key questions, providing program guidelines and resources for each of the STEAM areas. Readers will learn how to collaborate in STEAM efforts by providing information on resources, activities, standards, conferences, museums, programs, and professional organizations. Emphasis is placed on encouraging girls and minorities to take part in and get excited about STEAM. In addition, the book examines how makerspaces can enhance this initiative; how to connect your programs to educational standards; where to find funding; how to effectively promote your resources and programs, including how school and public librarians can collaborate to maximize their efforts; how to find and provide professional development; and how to evaluate your program to make further improvements and boost effectiveness. Whether you are on the cusp of launching a STEAM initiative, or looking for ways to grow and enhance your program, this book will be an invaluable resource.

Whether used for thematic story times, program and curriculum planning, readers' advisory, or collection development, this updated edition of the well-known companion makes finding the right picture books for your library a breeze. Generations of savvy librarians and educators have relied on this detailed subject guide to children's picture books for all aspects of children's services, and this new edition does not disappoint. Covering more than 18,000 books published through 2017, it empowers users to identify current and classic titles on topics ranging from apples to zebras. Organized simply, with a subject guide that categorizes subjects by theme and topic and subject headings arranged alphabetically, this reference applies more than 1,200 intuitive (as opposed to formal catalog) subject terms to children's picture books, making it both a comprehensive and user-friendly resource that is accessible to parents and teachers as well as librarians. It can be used to identify titles to fill in gaps in library collections, to find books on particular topics for young readers, to help teachers locate titles to support lessons, or to design thematic programs and story times. Title and illustrator indexes, in addition to a bibliographic guide arranged alphabetically by author name, further extend access to titles.