Advocacy Assistant


Kansas Students A+chieve

Because of Great School LIbraries!

October 2005 


In this issue:


KSDE Formative Test Builder


Want to make your teachers and administrators love you?  Help make yourself an indispensable member of the educational team?  Then learn all you can about Kan-Ed's Empowered Desktop and the KSDE Formative Test Builder program!  The Formative Test Builder is available EXCLUSIVELY via the Empowered Desktop.


If you are not a member of Kan-Ed, the first thing is to sign up.  Check the member schools list at http://www.kan-ed.org.  Sign up is easy and FREE.


Once you are a member, you must sign up your students and faculty for the Empowered Desktop.  Point your browser (IE works best) to http://kportal.learningstation.com.  In the right hand column in the "Documents" box is a link to the Kansas Implementation Packet:  it includes various tools that you can download and print.  One of the most important is under the heading "Communication Tools" - the Excel file entitled "Deployment Worksheet."   This is what you need to sign up your students, faculty and administrators for Empowered Desktop!  Be sure to sign yourself up as an Administrator, so you can control the page, add things, and change the layout to suit your school/s!  Learning Station's Customer Service is great, so don't hesitate to call them if you have questions about the service, signing up, etc. - 1-888-705-3276.


In order to "trial" the desktop, you may use the following login:


Username:  guest

Subscription ID:  kaneddemo

Password:  guest10 (October) - guest11 (November)


The Formative Test Builder displays in a box entitled "Assessment Tools."  Try out the wonderful pre-Kansas Assessment tool!


While you're there, check out all the other great features the Empowered Desktop offers (check the Education Backpack feature for sharing files from home to school to home for students and faculty!)  All the state databases are available there as well.


NEW - KASL Advocacy Downloads Page


A new feature has been added to the KASL Advocacy web pages - a one-stop shopping downloads page!


Divided into various sections (Brochures and Documents, Posters, Bookmarks, PowerPoint Presentations, etc.) the page will offer all Advocacy related documents, including archives of the Advocacy Assistant!


Check it out at  http://www.cgrove417.org/cghs/KASL/adinit/advdownl.html.



Some top reasons to work with your faculty (#2):

  • When a LMS collaborates with a classroom teacher, reading scores average increases of 8% (4th gr.), 18-21% (7th grade).
  • Librarians and teachers working together can teach students to search out their information needs, evaluate the materials, and use technological means to synthesize their findings into new knowledge.
  • Librarian can provide resources and activities for a unit.

Remember:  It's not what you do, it's the attitude with which you do it !!


Promoting your collection with displays


Take advantage of the numerous opportunities in the yearly library calendar to highlight areas of your collection.  Use  tablecloths, poster board, stuffed animals, etc. to "jazz" up your book displays!  A few promotional opportunities include:  

  • Children's Book Week (November 14 - 20)
  • Kansas R.E.A.D Week (January 29 - February 4, 2006)
  • Kansas School Library Media Month (April)

Be sure to work in a statistic or two about school libraries/librarians making a difference in reading scores and overall students achievement!  For additional promotions that you can program into your library year, see the KASL Promotions page:  <http://www.kasl.ws>.

*Brought to you by your KASL Advocacy Committee:

Pat Allensworth, Barbara Bahm, Roberta Kobbe, 

Nancy McFarlin, Leah Murray, Sheri Roberts, Cheri Zabel