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Friday, November 8
 

10:00am EST

Golden Dome Book Award
Friday November 8, 2024 10:00am - 10:55am EST
Escapade II
Members of the Golden Dome Book Award Committee will present ideas for promoting the 2024-2025 list. There will also be time for participants to share promotions and activities that they are doing at their home libraries.
Speakers
CB
SA
Friday November 8, 2024 10:00am - 10:55am EST
Escapade II
  Fri Block A

11:30am EST

Green Mountain Book Award
Friday November 8, 2024 11:30am - 12:25pm EST
Northstar II
Members of the GMBA committee will share ideas to generate excitement for this year’s titles! Participants are encouraged to share what has worked in their libraries as well!
Speakers
avatar for Shannon Gile

Shannon Gile

School librarian, Milton High School
Librarian at Milton High School. Follow me @gileslibrarian on most socials.
Friday November 8, 2024 11:30am - 12:25pm EST
Northstar II
  Fri Block B

11:30am EST

Media Mentorship: Students as Leaders in Building Information Literate Communities
Friday November 8, 2024 11:30am - 12:25pm EST
Escapade I
Do you want to give your students an authentic opportunity to develop their information literacy knowledge and skills? Empower them by making them the teachers at a school-based Media Mentorship event. In this session, you’ll see examples of past events where students have engaged audiences like their families and local senior citizens around how to recognize confirmation bias, consider the impact of social media algorithms, and investigate questionable claims and sources. Leave with the lessons used to prepare students for these teaching moments and event materials you can adapt to fit your community’s needs.
Speakers
LC

Liz Crouse

Program Manager, Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington
Friday November 8, 2024 11:30am - 12:25pm EST
Escapade I
  Fri Block B

1:45pm EST

Library Advocacy and Act 150
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Escapade II
School Library Advocacy and Act 150 Slides

The VSLA Leadership and Advocacy Committee will explore the critical role of advocacy in school libraries, with a focus on building strong relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers.

They will also examine Act 150, which requires Vermont school districts to establish library material selection policies and procedures that protect students' intellectual freedom. The session will cover the efforts that led to the passage of the law and its anticipated impact on libraries. Attendees will learn how to prepare for the law's implementation in 2025.
Speakers
avatar for Stephanie Sherman

Stephanie Sherman

Librarian, Middlebury Union High School
intellectual freedom, library advocacy, critical information literacy, technology and media literacy
avatar for Rebecca Sofferman

Rebecca Sofferman

Librarian, Colchester Middle School
Rebecca Sofferman is the school librarian at Colchester Middle School in Colchester, VT. A graduate of Syracuse University’s iSchool (MLIS), Rebecca was previously district librarian and technology coordinator for the Tupper Lake Central School District in Tupper Lake, NY, an elementary... Read More →
avatar for Susie Snow

Susie Snow

VSLA President/Librarian, Hiawatha Elementary School
Susie Snow is a teacher librarian at Hiawatha Elementary School in Essex Junction, VT. She received her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Vermont and is licensed as a K-6 Educator, K-12 Librarian, and K-12 Educational Technologist.
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Escapade II
  Fri Block C

1:45pm EST

OPALS in Action: Organize, Promote, Engage!
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Gateway I
This interactive workshop is designed to introduce beginning and intermediate OPALS users to some of the essential features that BES Librarian Cheryl Doubleday has used to invigorate and promote a languishing school library. Participants will discover how to use OPALS as their Library’s home page, create engaging topic and genre walls, get their notices noticed, and personalize MARC records for more successful organizing and searching, plus more! Everyone will learn a trick or two, and there will be time for other experienced OPALS users to share their own OPALS wins.
Speakers
avatar for Laurie Williams

Laurie Williams

School Librarian & Educational Technologist, Newbury Elementary School
Laurie Williams has been the School Librarian and Educational Technologist at Newbury Elementary School for 12 years. She is an ISTE Certified Educator and will be presenting at ISTE Live! in Denver in June. She was recently awarded the 2024 Vermont School Library Association's Outstanding... Read More →
avatar for Cheryl Doubleday

Cheryl Doubleday

School Librarian, Bradford Elementary School
Cheryl Doubleday is a dedicated K-6 Library Media Specialist currently in her fifth year as the Bradford Elementary School Librarian. She holds an M.Ed. in Library Media and draws on her theatre background to enhance her read-alouds, bringing stories to life! Cheryl loves reading... Read More →
Exploring OPALs VermontFest 2024 25 pdf
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Gateway I
  Fri Block C

1:45pm EST

Shared Resources to Improve Library Services and Classroom Learning: What the Department of Libraries Can Do for You
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Northstar I
Join Department of Library staff to learn more about the free databases, discussion sets, interlibrary loan services, and professional development resources that the Department offers. Discover resources to support you in providing accessible reading materials to students with IEPs. Learn about the ways that the Department support Vermont youth and how you can take advantage of these free resources.
Speakers
avatar for Jonathan Clark
KG
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Northstar I
  Fri Block C

1:45pm EST

Transforming Elementary Learning with Seesaw: Instruction + Insights and New Curriculum Tools
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Roundabout
Join us for an exclusive look at the latest version of Seesaw, featuring Instruction + Insights, designed to empower elementary teachers by enhancing classroom learning and simplifying workflows. Seesaw’s easy-to-use platform supports teachers with pre-built, engaging lessons that fit seamlessly into everyday teaching. This session will also introduce Seesaw’s powerful new Early Literacy and English Language Development (ELD) curriculum, tailored to support diverse learners and strengthen foundational skills. Discover how these tools can transform teaching, elevate student engagement, and provide meaningful insights to drive academic success.
Speakers
avatar for Phil Terra

Phil Terra

Partnership Manager, Seesaw
Phil Terra is dedicated to empowering teachers and educators in his role at Seesaw, where he supports district leaders and educators in transforming online learning. Throughout his career, Phil has guided districts nationwide in rethinking and implementing effective online learning... Read More →
Sponsors
avatar for Phil Terra

Phil Terra

Seesaw is a dynamic learning platform that connects students, teachers, and families through engaging, interactive experiences. With Seesaw, educators can create personalized, meaningful lessons that reach every student—regardless of learning style or ability. From early literacy... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Roundabout
  Fri Block C

2:45pm EST

Engaging the In-BeTWEENS
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Gateway I
Middle school teachers hear it all the time: “You teach middle school? Wow, how do you do it?” Yes, middle schoolers are hormonal, immature, wacky, awkward, and kind of all over the place. But, they are also hilarious, creative, and enthusiastic learners, if you can just tap into their energy and engagement! Join a panel of seasoned middle school librarians to discuss the unique issues facing those of us who teach this age level. We will discuss library collection development, events and activities, and developing engaging lessons.
Speakers
NT

Nicole Thompson

Librarian, Browns River Middle School
Nicole Thompson has been the school librarian at Browns River Middle School in Jericho,Vermont since 2018 and has worked in BRMS Library since 2014. In addition to teaching library classes for students in grades 5-8, she enjoys leading students in a multitude of clubs and activities... Read More →
avatar for Rebecca Sofferman

Rebecca Sofferman

Librarian, Colchester Middle School
Rebecca Sofferman is the school librarian at Colchester Middle School in Colchester, VT. A graduate of Syracuse University’s iSchool (MLIS), Rebecca was previously district librarian and technology coordinator for the Tupper Lake Central School District in Tupper Lake, NY, an elementary... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Gateway I
  Fri Block D

2:45pm EST

Making it in the Maker Space
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Escapade I
Do you have a maker space and you don't know how to organize it or get students to use it? At U-32 we've designed our maker space to be user friendly and user independent. After visiting Generator in Burlington, VT we modeled a badge system that they use to ensure that our students could access the space after receiving training. They earn badges for completed trainings and can use those tools/materials independent of supervision. It is still a work in progress, but we've seen major growth in the usage of the tools. I will share what we've done, templates for creating your own badge and accountability system and open the floor to discussion and recommendations of tools.

Link to Presentation
Speakers
avatar for Jill Abair

Jill Abair

Teacher Librarian, U-32 Middle High School
Jill Abair is a Teacher Librarian at U-32 Middle & High School. She has been working in libraries for many years serving the students of Vermont. Jill is an avid reader, a technology lover and has passion for helping people.
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Escapade I
  Fri Block D

2:45pm EST

Power Up Your Creativity + Communication with Canva for Schools!
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Gateway II
This interactive workshop aims to equip participants with essential principles of design for effective visual communication using Canva for Schools (a free for schools). Attendees will learn to create visually appealing materials that demonstrate and model effective communication skills. While Canva also offers tools to create slide decks, videos, websites and more, we'll focus on using the Canva toolbox to design effective posters/flyers/infographics to print or share digitally. Presenter will also share experience acquiring and managing a wide-format printer in the school library setting.
Speakers
avatar for Shannon Walters

Shannon Walters

K-12 Educator, Burlington School District
Teacher Librarian/Tech Integration. Tinkerer. Lifelong learner.
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Gateway II
  Fri Block D

2:45pm EST

Storytime Jam
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Northstar II
Join for a storytime! A panel of librarians will each read a story just like we do with a class. Then we’ll facilitate a discussion about favorite storytime books, storytime practices, and storytime tips!
Click here for the book list from this session
Speakers
avatar for Matt Gile
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Northstar II
  Fri Block D
 
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