Newsletters (How We Done It Good) - From LM-Net

Thanks to all of you who sent me so many wonderful ideas about what to put in a newsletter! Wow! Here is a copy/paste version of all of the ideas I received.

• I hope this isn't too late to be useful I do a newsletter every fortnight for the staff of my preschool to year 10 school. It is 2x A4 pages, double sided, and folded to give 8 x A5 "pages. Front page - in the form of a "letter" from me -any messages I want to give staff in general, acknowledgments of help given to me, mention of any staff who have collaborated to do a great lesson etc Page 2 - a joke often taken from LM Net or other mailing group. Page 3 - an annotated list of 3 or 4 great websites - often from LM Net but which I have personally checked Pages 4 and 5 an article (written by myself) which forms the theme of the newsletter - generally about an area of interest to me - but also of general interest. Some from this year have been lateral thinking, plagiarism, information literacy, integration of ICT. These often follow a PD session I have attended (I'm very keen on PD) Page 6 Practical suggestions for teachers on something related to the main article - checklist for rich tasks, ideas for creative writing, ways to promote reading, setting plagiarism proof assignments etc Page 7 Something else I want to mention - special dated coming up, library resources related to the main theme, something for teachers who may not be "included" in the main article eg the early childhood teachers (with plagiarism) or the middle school maths teacher (with the literacy focus) Everyone should get something from each issue. Page 8 (last page) Another joke The newsletter is very popular. If I have a little space to fill I add a pithy quote. If I include a puzzle (lateral thinking edition) I don't give the answers - they have to come and see me about it - this ed created a lot of talk in the staffroom!!! I use no graphics. I always have a lot to say and as I am artistically challenged and can't be fussed looking for graphics I just don't bother. The A5 page size keeps the pages from being too text heavy. I photocopy it onto bright yellow paper - everyone knows when it hits the staffroom mailboxes :)

• I send out a newsletter at least twice a month. I have a template set up so that I can quickly update the "news" I have a header and footer with the library name and date. The body of the letter contains each grade level and a space to write in what we are reading or working on or a request. I also include a new website or a new book or something interesting that has happened. Our newsletters get distributed not only to our school community, but to the other elementary schools and the Superintendent's Office, so it is good PR. Keep it short and simple "KISS"

• I do a monthly newsletter and give it to the whole staff, including principals. I include: monthly circulation statistics, website suggestions, notes about upcoming events, reminders about MC policies, any interesting facts.

• I include a What's New section, a Reminder section, a list of new books, a book review by a faculty member or student, and a questionnarie to fill out (which no one usually does).

• Monthly I write an entry for our school newsletter that goes home with each student. I also write a monthly staff newsletter that features technology related items, websites worth exploring, an author of the month brief, updates on new acquisitions, good quotes, information about contests and upcoming events (Children's Book Week, Book Fair, National Library month, etc.), and statistical information about our library if space allows. The newsletterhas been well received. I print it with color graphics so that it is more eye appealing. It is one more thing to do, but I thinkworth the effort. My principal mentioned in as an effective communication tool in a school review.

• I have used a one page newsletter (both sides) to the staff in all 3 schools I have been in. I use it to inform the staff of what is new about the Library and information from other sources, such as the Board Media Centre and video licence information, that they should know about. I usually have one at the beginning of the year that includes all the policies and procedures of the Library. This is really nice for new teachers because they can refer to it later when the new information overload is not quite as bad. I use colourful paper (not the colour for overdues though) so it stands out amongst the mainly white paper otherwise in the mailboxes. I also try to use graphics and make it interesting. Now that I am back to paper this is easier. When I did it electronically, I had to find clip art which was harder as it was on another computer. The nice thing about the electronic newsletter was I could go over 1 page without worrying as much. I used to try to do it monthly, but especially now in secondary, it's not realistic so I do it 2 -3 times a semester. Hope this helps, I have found them to be useful as I refer them back to it and I have been told by some teachers that it was helpful.

• Besides encouraging you I wanted to offer some suggestions. Here is some of the things I included in mine... * A book review * Author in the spotlight (include a short bio and a list of books they've written) * Upcoming library events * Post a message about a need for volunteers and give your phone number. * Maybe some circulation statistics (like how many books were checked out this last month). * A note about book donations or about a memorial book. * If you are going to be new to the school how about writing a short bio on yourself so that parents can know a little bit about you :) * Put in quotes about reading or books. * Throw in some statistics about the effects of reading to your children (if interested in this I can share a list of resources with you so you can find some statistics or information). * Will you do a Family Reading Night? List the dates, times, and themes. * Mention something about an outstanding class who shows good library behavior or pick one super library student.

• I used to write a monthly newsletter for my middle/high school media center. It contained anything and everything - policies, web site favorites, budget news, requests for titles, highlights of services, opinion polls. It was distributed in print with the optionof e-mail for teachers. There was a special parent edition at parent teacher conference time. First distribution was to teachers and extra copies were made available in the "giveaway"" rack for students. We also toyed with the idea of a student newsletter but the students resolved that by startingone of their own to which I was a regular contributor.

• When I was an elementary librarian I put out a quarterly newsletter for staff with the help of the remedial reading teacher. We also sent copies to the "suits" at the administration building. We included such items as book reviews (including new professional books) with ideas on how to use the books in the curriculum. Sometimes we would have a theme and sometimes not. We had recipes from the cookbooks in the library (with full credit given), esp. if the recipe could be done in the classroom. We recommended articles in the various professional periodicals that the library received. We had craft ideas that were book oriented that we culled from all kinds of sources. We listed book awards such as Newbery, Caldecott, King, etc. We tried to include what activities were going on in the library, hoping to entice teachers to try an idea for research, etc. that another teacher was doing. We also included news from the public library. All artwork was done by my friend the art teacher. The title of the newsletter was The Bookworm and our motto was "A book a Day keeps Boredom Away". I hate to tell you how much work this was to do with stencils and a mimeograph machine (if you aren't as old as the hills you won't even know what these items are) as this was pre-computer.

• I do one -- as part of the school one. I give information on purchases made, contests, book reviews. A little of everything.

• Our media center newsletter is called MEDIA MATTERS. I try to always mention something that the teachers and kids are doing.

• Tara, rather than institute my own newsletter, I helped persuade our administration to have a weekly school newsletter, to which I tried to contribute faithfully. I didn't ALWAYS have something in it, but most of the time I did. Good luck.

• I put out a monthly newsletter to the teachers and other staff members whom I think would benefit. I put in a book list for out "word of the month", web site reviews, my schedule of "events" and I attach some sort of something out of a professional periodical I think they'd like.

• Someone shared this url with the group a while back. It's a lot of good free stuff librarians can use. If you'll scroll down, you'll see a template for a newsletter, plus some of the other items will give you ideas about what to include. http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/marketing/find_yourself/index.htm

• I try and do a monthly newsletter. I'm working on my June one now. It's sent to every family in the school. I also hope that the staff will read it. We have a home reading program so I always have a section about that. I give them number of students that have reached each goal. I have a section where I mention upcoming events like the book fair or the current theme for the library. I often include a short poem or quotation. I also have a section where I give them some web sites to explore. I often give book suggestions for different grade levels. I like to do this in November so they have ideas for Christmas gifts. In the last one for the year, I talk about the summer reading club that the Public Library is having. One year I had a section that outlined what a Teacher-librarian is. This year I was going to give the parents information on the latest cuts to the library time. My administrator has disagreed and we're now in a conflict over what should happen in the library when there is no Teacher-librarian.

• We're on a 3-week schedule, so I write and send my newsletter every third week. I always keep it to one side of the page... large print, short articles. Over the course of 3 weeks, I jot notes about what I want to include: information about a new procedure, a program that's coming up, a website enhancement, etc. Halfway through the year, the computer technology teacher asked to "get in on it," and we've been writing a joint newsletter ever since. I post the old newsletters on my website. The newsletters are put in all staff boxes... it's worth it to photocopy a few extras to keep the good will of custodial, office, and other support staff. My newsletters have been read and used by staff at two of the three schools where I've taught. When it became obvious that they weren't being read at my last school (which was obvious when people repeatedly asked questions that had already been covered in the newsletter), I just stopped writing them... and no one seemed to notice or care. The teachers at my current school do read the newsletter, and are vocally supportive. It's been a nice change, and gives me the push I need to keep it going.

• I never got it together to do a regular newsletter, but I sent teachers a list of new books when they arrived (with brief annotation). It was well received.

• I produced monthly newsletters. Each one featured a handful of new books and old books on a given theme with ideas about how they could be used for instruction. I included at least one article about websites for some area of the curriculum. I included any news and updates they might be able to sue (how to use the new statewide database, current passwords, policies, procedures, etc). And I usually included a rundown on library classes and projects. I provided a section for the newsletter that went home to parents. Sometimes i included info about new books and resources. I always included information about what students were doing in the library.

• Once a month was hard enough. Great books to read for students for teachers for read-a-louds New items in the library Web sites for particular curricular ideas What's happening in the library Computer tips

• During my student teaching at a K-6 elementary school I had the opportunity to organize and design their first family reading night. The theme was "Heroes Across America Read" and the theme was patriotic. About every half and hour we had local heroes from the community reading in three different sections of the school building. We invited a nurse, army reserves members, police officers, and the climax of the night was Officer Bean and his dog Murf. Can you guess what they read? We also had students from MTSU that were enrolled in a storytelling class there. We handed out a schedule of readers with times and location. And we had a doorprize to register for. The next morning on the announcements we drew names to win a pencil that was shaped like the US. We got them from Upstart. Each child also got a patriotic bookmark. I have to say it was rather successful. Parents could also check out books and take AR tests in some of the classrooms that were open. In hingsight there are probably some things that should have been done differently. Oh well, live and learn. There's always next year. Here is the information that I have collected from other people on where to find reading statistics and quotes for a brochure. I have not had a chance to look at any of it yet. I know that the Jim Trelease book was recommended several times along with his website. Hope you have a good weekend! Shannon Reading Statistics First, my "search strategy" using google I typed: importance of reading to children US Dept. of Education: America Reads Initiative http://www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/ (check out this whole site!) PBS Kids - Mister Rogers' Neighborhood: Reading with Your Child http://pbskids.org/rogers/parents/parentreading.html http://nces.ed.gov/ Jim Trelease's book The Read Aloud Handbook is FULL of research done on children who are read to at home (from birth) and those who are not. I'm willing to bet your public library has the book. Otherwise, it's usually available at most bookstores. I was fortunate enough to hear him last fall and he is outstanding! Everything he presented was research-based. His web site is at http://www.trelease-on-reading.com.

• Here is part of the web site from Jim Trelease who is a speaker on literacy and the value of reading to children. He mentions some studies and statistics that might be of help. He also lists the sources of this info, so you might be able to check some before Wednesday. http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah_chpt6_p1.html

• Try www.trelease-on-reading.com (You may have to follow a few links.) The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease has some reading statistics in chapter 1 - Why Read Aloud? A 5th edition of this book was released in 2001. On page 2, this is a sample quote: "In 1985, the commission issued its report, Becoming a Nation of Readers. It is, in my subjective opinion, the most important and "commonsense" education document in twenty-five years. Among its primary findings, two simple declarations rang loud and clear: "The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children." The commission found conclusive evidence to support reading aloud not only in the home but also in the classroom: "It is a practice that should continue throughout the grades." Congratulations on being shortlisted! I went into Google directory under Education - K-12 and searched for reading +children +statistics. The following 2 articles look like they might be useful.
  http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/14161/67441
  http://www.cal.org/ericcll/teachers/teachers.pdf

• Check out the ALA website (ala.org) for info about reading and kids - you may need to site search and/or check the AASL division on the website but they may have what you're looking for. P.S. There may also be an association of reading teachers or online reading journal (I'm thinking the title is "The Reading Teacher") that may be of help. Here's a quote from First Lady Laura Bush: When you read to children, they learn two things: one, that reading is important, and two, that they are important. Full text of speech available here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/firstlady/news-speeches/speeches/fl20020212.html
  http://www.famlit.org/research/research.html
  http://www.main.nc.us/literacy/statistics.html
  http://www.ed.gov/topics/topicsTier2.jsp?top=Research+%26+Stats&type=T&subtop= Statistics http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/libraryservices/literacy.htm
  Try looking at this web site or going to the Homepage: I happened to find this on LM-net once. (The right side of the home page has lots of tips...parents help?) http://www.deblogan.com/top10.html Or maybe go to ALA's homepage: www.ala.org Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open." -Laura Bush, First Lady, June 2002 "Today's library is not simply a place where books are read and borrowed. It is a place where a love of reading is born and renewed again and again." Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) Two years ago 6 out of 10 Americans read a newspaper. This year, it is down to 4 out of 10 Americans. You aren't just working with elementary, you are working with future adults who will or won't vote with information that they can gather. Important work.

• Take a look at Jim Trelease's website. Have you read his books? http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/
  Internet vs. libraries - why we still need both? http://warriorlibrarian.com/RESEARCH/libresearch.html
  library curr. and instruction from AASL <http://www.ala.org/aasl/resources/curriculum.html>http://www.ala.org/aasl/resources/curriculum.html research on student achievement in libraries <http://www.ala.org/aasl/resources/achievement.html>http://www.ala.org/aasl/resources/achievement.html Reading <http://readyweb.crc.uiuc.edu/research.html>http://readyweb.crc.uiuc.edu/research.html You should be able to get all the ammunition you need from a book by Steven Krashen titled "The power of reading" Key points include: * Reading is good for you. * Free reading is good for kids. * In every study he has conducted, all over the world, with different ages, genders etc. the results have been consistent: allowing people to read what they want, at their reading level, increases their reading ability, their vocabulary, grammar, & self esteem. The book was required reading for a young people's services class for MLIS students at U of I. Krashen is often quoted as an authority on reading, and there is a lot of his data on the web. <http://www.njcl.net/NCJLStats.html>http://www.njcl.net/NCJLStats.html <http://openbookprogram.org/readfacts.htm#readstats>http://openbookprogram.org/readfacts.htm#readstats

Tara Marshall, LMS

St. Joseph, MO

taralmnet@yahoo.com

I got some good ideas and requests for information so here goes....

• Tony Pope is planning a Carnival one evening when Book Bear returns to his school. There will be parent workshops and parents will have their "ticket" punched at each session. Then the tickets can be exchanged for a free book.

• Guusje Moore recommends a technology night where the kids showed their parents what they could do. Food is recommended as part of the programming!

• Debbie Dodd's school has had parent programming with simultaneous story activities for the children. After the parent discussion group, adults and children got together to share a craft activity related to the children's story time.

• Barb Everhart created a parent program that focused on younger siblings. "The monies (from a grant) went toward a parent library of cassette tapes as well as paperback books and cassettes and a selection of puppets....The sessions with parents were spent giving ideas on how to use the library of items parents could check out."

• Elizabeth Letterly's high school has implemented a study group after school in the library. Students are recommended because of low-achievement/grades/illness. She reports that after a slow start, students are attending because they see improvement in grades.

• Melanie Byers' school has a parent involvement coordinator who sends home book packets to children from low income families. These book packets include ideas for simple enrichment activities.

• Roberta Moecker worked in a Title I school that had "fabulous programs for us including literacy night, family math night, and storytelling where a nationally recognized storyteller came...."

Many thanks to all of you for the suggestions. I know my colleague will be pleased with the new ideas.

Diane Averett/Librarian
Creedmoor Elementary School
Creedmoor, NC 27522
averett4@gloryroad.net or creedmoo@mindspring.com

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March 17, 2003