This paper reports on a professional development initiative that targeted teams of teachers and librarians working with high school students on strengthening an inquiry approach to capstone projects. While much has been written about student-focused models for information search and use, little has been reported on how training for the…

As the school librarian at Aliamanu Elementary School, Patty (Patricia Louis) has focused on assessment with her teachers and students as a means to improve teaching and learning. Over the years, Patty and Vi (Violet Harada) have formed a collegial mentoring relationship, and this article provides a glimpse of what both discovered about building…

Planning is the less visible part of the teaching and learning process; however, it serves as the blueprint for student learning. To conceptualize the unit or project as a holistic learning experience, the authors created the C.L.E.A.R. G.O.A.L.S. guidelines that address the major elements of unit planning. An essential step is identifying the…

"Building Inquiry Partnerships" was a yearlong professional development course conducted in 2005-2006. The course emphasized an inquiry approach to learning, improving skills in instructional design, and nurturing librarian-teacher partnerships. This article describes the goals, design, and implementation of the course and summarizes the…

The development of "library evidence folders" for assessment purposes was featured in a previous "School Library Media Activities Monthly article, "Building Evidence Folders for Learning through Library Media Centers" (Harada, November 2006). The project developers challenged participants to change their mindsets from…

Describes a collegial assistance network that has been established in Hawaii for professional development for school library media specialists. Focuses on a research-based analysis of the key principles and processes involved in its successful planning and implementation. (Author/AEF)

High schools are under tremendous pressure to increase graduation rates and lower dropout numbers. A survey conducted for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation indicated that over a third of students entering high school never graduate on time. Students who drop out claim that the curriculum is disconnected from real life and that their schools…

Discusses how an elementary school in Honolulu, Hawaii, used parent volunteers as assistants in the research mentoring process. The objectives were to: provide students with additional support in research assignments, involve parents with students and the library and provide teachers and librarians with valuable assistance. Highlights include…

Discusses four critical questions raised in curriculum planning, based on cooperative librarian/teacher efforts at Miliani Mauka Elementary School (Hawaii). Questions focus on what to assess (knowledge or skills, process or product), reasons for assessing, when and how to assess, and who should do the assessing. Includes a sample assessment form…

Discusses key areas that the teacher and librarian, working in a collaborative team for facilitating student research, need to focus on: (1) motivating students to engage in the investigation; (2) providing time for browsing and exploring; and (3) encouraging thoughtful decision making through discussion and reflection. (AEF)

In learning communities, the learning experience is a shared process as teachers and students work together through negotiation toward a common goal. This article identifies critical features of learning communities and presents highlights from community building experiences in a Hawaii kindergarten classroom. Shares insights gleaned from the…

Discusses the importance of fostering learning communities in today's school reform movement and the potential role of the school library media specialist as a leader in building collaborative networks with classroom teachers. Highlights include a comparison of traditional and collaborative models; linking collaboration and leadership; and…