Tremendous pressures weigh on school districts to improve test scores district wide. As teachers feel this added pressure while packing curriculum to provide all the possible opportunities to achieve, districts still struggle with test scores that flounder. Developing a consistent approach in a school district that encourages a team effort to improve test scores can only improve the chances for success. Librarians can be an incredible asset in the quest for improved test scores and should be seen as a valuable member of the academic team.
INVENTORY
All librarians need to assess their libraries in terms of effective inventory. All too often school districts see the library as the keeper of the books rather than an active lending experience. It is important to weed the library quite vigorously to remove the books that are not being read, are outdated, unattractive and in poor physical condition. These books stand in the way of students seeing the really good books in the library. Less really is more in a library. When there are less books on the shelves, kids can see what is there and become attracted to books that were drowning in the less appealing older models. Some great books simply need to be replaced. Purchase a new copy of The Cat in the Hat if the old one is in worn out condition. Keeping the inventory modern and attractive is essential for increased usage, which encourages reading skills in students.
EMULATE BOOKSTORES
In order for bookstores to move inventory, they make the store attractive to the customer. Students are customers too and the school district wants the children to purchase academics. Think about what customers do to attract someone to pick up a book. End caps are one option. Highlight books by an author or a theme in end cap displays. Don't necessarily have books in neat little rows. Put a book upright on the end of each row. Purchase inexpensive book easels to display books. Think of promotions that will bring students into the library. Once they are in the store, they are more likely to make a purchase which equates to checking out a book.
WORK WITH TEACHERS
Remember that teachers are on the front lines in this goal to improve test scores. Be humble and go to the teachers to see what can be done to assist them. If a class is studying caterpillars and butterflies, pull books on that topic and have them available for students who want to learn more. In high school if a teacher is working on a research project, pull books that can be of use to the projects that they are working on. At the middle school and high school level, it is important to work with teachers of all disciplines, not just the English teacher. Work with teachers to construct units that incorporate library usage. This reinforces what the teachers are already providing to their classes.
DATABASES
A very effective tool in the quest for improved test scores is the online databases that schools have access to. Many teachers and administrators do not take advantage of these opportunities. State libraries increasingly subscribe to various databases. Public schools usually have access to these subscriptions. There are wonderful test practice sites on these databases that are connected to the standards at every grade level. Broker time with teachers to get students onto the computers to practice these standardized tests. It is important to follow-up with the students and discuss what they are making errors in. Frequently students just are not used to some of the formats of questions in standardized tests. As a result more exposure to these standardized test experiences helps with test scores.
BE CURRENT
Nothing draws middle school and high school students into a library faster than if they know that the library is always buying a few new books. They like to see books on the library shelves that they see on the bookstore shelves. Promote these new books on the school website, announcements, posters in the hall and even having a new books section in the library.
HOST A BOOK FAIR
Book fairs provide a great opportunity to earn new books for the library as well as getting inexpensive books into the hands of students through purchases. Tie the book fair to a school event such as parent teacher conferences to bring parents in with students to look at purchasing books. The more books that are in the hands of students, the greater the chance is that they will be read which correlates to higher test scores.
The library encourages literacy. Improved literacy improves test scores in every content area. Librarians must be seen as one of the most valuable opportunities to promote learning in the school district.