What's New?
Updated September 28, 2020
Considerations for School Library Collections
- IMLS, CDC Offer Guidance for Disinfecting Returned Library Books (School Library Journal)
- COVID-19 Resources (California Library Association)
- Includes tips on virtual book clubs, curbside delivery, your library’s temporary emergency page and much more
- Pandemic Preparedness Resources for Libraries (American Library Association)
- Includes guidance for library policies, professional development resources (including copyright and 3D printing of PPE)
- Key Resources for Libraries in responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions)
- Includes approaches to restrictions, handling materials, providing remote services
Addressing Race and Intersectionality
- Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Release “Talking About Race” Web Portal
- Because Black Lives Matter: A Collection of Intersectional Resources (School Library Journal, June 8, 2020)
- Because Black Lives Matter, A Collection of Antiracist Reading Lists (School Library Journal, June 1, 2020)
- Librarians Partner with Netflix to Support "Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices" (ilovelibraries.org, September 3, 2020)
Promoting Reading During Distance Learning
- Virtual Libraries Abound During Pandemic (ilovelibraries.org, May 27, 2020)
- 10 Ways to Promote E-Books and Audiobooks to K-12 Students (School Library Journal)
- Virtual Storytimes Keep Families Engaged (ilovelibraries.org)
- They'll Make It Anywhere: Hands-On Maker and Science Activities Go Virtual (School Library Journal, Sept. 21, 2020)
Curricular Resources
Libraries and Vendor Curriculum Resources
- Quick Access to California K-12 Online Content during the COVID-19 Crisis (California State Library)
- Includes access to ProQuest (Research tools for grades 3-12), TeachingBooks & Book Connections (Children’s and young adult books brought to life with movies with authors, audiobook performances, activities and lessons for grades PreK-12), and Encyclopaedia Britannica (Grades PreK-12)
- Peninsula Library System ebook collection via Sora (app from OverDrive)
- For access, all you need to do is fill out this online form (making sure you select the Public Library Connect option to give students access to the Peninsula Library System collection!) and make sure you loop in your SIS/technical content so that they can work with OverDrive to ensure your students can login
- Paperwork:
- The Peninsula Library System has signed the agreement to allow schools to access the ebook collection directly through Overdrive's ebooks for schools product, Sora.
- The schools/districts will need to sign their own paperwork to opt into the system.
- Functionality:
- Students log in and checkout using the school/district authentication, so they don’t need a Peninsula Library System library card.
- Schools that don’t have Overdrive collections can still opt in and have access to the PLS collection in a filtered way.
- 200+ premium simultaneous use titles are included when you launch Sora! Selections span all ages and include required reading classics like Emma and Call of the Wild, as well as top titles like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, El Deafo, The Terrible Two and Every Falling Star.
- San Mateo County Libraries eBooks/eAudiobooks (library card needed)
- Includes Tumblebooks (eBooks, videos, and talking books in English & Spanish - Requires "29041" library card), Hoopla (eAudiobooks, eBooks, Comic Books, Movies, Music, and Television shows - Requires "29041," "29045," or "29047" library card)
- Belmont Public Library recommends Epic! (free for educators, great resource for non-fiction books) and Sync ("audiobook club" for students 13+)
- List of Vendor Responses to COVID-19 (Califa.org)
- Includes various publishers’ and vendors’ free resources
- California School Library Association President Katie McNamara: COVID-19 EDU Resources
- Includes curated resources for online teaching support, apps, SEL content, and more
SMCOE Curriculum Resources
The following resource pages provide high-quality, vetted resources that educators and parents can use for supplemental learning materials:
- Preschool/TK Curriculum Resources
- K-2 Curriculum Resources
- 3-5 Curriculum Resources
- 6-8 Curriculum Resources
- 9-12 Curriculum Resources
- The Daily: Ground your instruction in practices & embrace student voice and choice with SMCOE’s daily roster of culturally relevant resources and project prompts. (Additional K-5 TV-based resources in development! Contact ethomforde@smcoe.org to contribute.)
- K-5 Distance Learning Enrichment: Virtual Field Trips and Activities with Community Partners: These resources are high quality standards aligned supplemental activities that have been custom designed by local Community Based Partners (CBPs) who usually offer field trips and in-classroom programs. Resources are catalogued according to themes from the One Planet Living framework, and provide suggested children’s books. To find the resources visit the ELSI Distance Learning Website or use the following links for each grade level: Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th.
- 6-12th Grade Independent Solutionary Project Based Learning: This student-centered learning experience provides students with the opportunity to analyze real-world environmental and social justice issues, and develop solutions that seek to mitigate these problems. This style of unit is ideal for distance learning in ELA, Science Social Studies, Math, Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA), and Health, because students will be working mostly independently from the instructor; however, the instructor supports as a facilitator of students learning, and a coach. Here is a video overview of how to teach this type of unit, as well as a take-and-teach guide for teachers in this framework (also includes student handouts, examples, and teaching strategies).
- K-12 Field Research and 6-12 WebQuests Research Activities: Field Research are hands-on activities that help students collect data and observations for environmental topics. WebQuests are a self-directed online research tool that helps learners construct their own learning. Ideas for curriculum integration include: assigning field research or WebQuests as different weekly themes, or design a longer unit around one specific topic. Find field research and WebQuest activities at: tinyurl.com/ELSI-DistanceLearning-2020. Watch webinar videos for a quick training on how to use field research and WebQuests.
Read-Aloud Tools and Permissions
Recording Tools | How to Do It | What We Like |
Loom |
Guide to Using Loom for Education |
Video length longer than five minutes. Download, embed, or share link. Desktop version allows for better sound and video quality. Educational institutions can use Loom Pro for free, forever. |
Screencastify |
Initial Setup |
Saves videos, up to five minutes, to your Google drive. Easy to share on Google Classroom. You can draw and annotate on the screen. |
Virtual Meetings | How to Do It | What We Like |
Google Meet |
Google Meet Training videos and guides Set Up Meet for Distance Learning |
Video conferencing platform that is tied to districts’ Google Suite accounts. Can be set up to only allow district-based accounts to participate. |
Zoom - For the classroom & staff |
Cheat sheet for teaching on Zoom Beginner’s Tutorial (11:14 video) How to Avoid ZoomBombing - Please be careful where you post links to your class Zoom meetings, as there are people scanning social media for meetings to join and “bomb” with racist and antisemetic language along with explicit images. |
Simple to use, currently offering free “paid” accounts to teachers for Spring. There are many concerns about Zoom’s security (encryption, sharing information to Facebook, and data use). (Privacy Policy for K-12) |
Accessibility Tools to Support Distance Learning | How to Do It | What We Like |
Accessible Educational Materials |
National Center on Accessible Educational Materials: Resources for Access and Distance Education
|
Leaders in Universal Design for Learning, CAST truly considers what is necessary for all students to access learning. |
Chromebook Accessibility |
Chromebook Accessibility Tools for Distance Learning
|
Chromebooks, like Windows & Mac computers, provide accessibility tools to support students and teachers. |
G Suite Accessibility |
G Suite User Guide to Accessibility
|
As most districts utilize Google Suite tools, it is important that teachers consider the ways to allow all students in their class to access the materials. |
Contact Information:
Email: info@smcoe.org
Phone: (650) 802-5515