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The Monthly (Micro)Scope September 2020

THE RUNDOWN

1. We are Open for Borrowing!
Though COVID restrictions remain in place, we have been so happy seeing and talking with new and familiar faces this past month! Schedule an appointment for the Library Co-op or the Free Store for curbside pickup!

2. Lesson Plan of the Month - Hurricanes

Deepen middle school students’ understanding of how and why we measure precipitation through the study of rainfall patterns caused by hurricanes. Check out this free lesson plan and then visit the Co-op for materials!

3. Fresh Faces in the Library
SLL is excited to introduce the new cohort of AmeriCorps members for the 2020-2021 school year! We are most appreciative of their time and dedication devoted to SLL, and cannot wait for you all to get to know them!

4. Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Check out three upcoming PD opportunities, one hosted virtually by SmithsonianX and two locally offered!

5. Director's Blog
This month Todd talks through his thoughts about "The Problem of One More Thing" and brings perspective of SLL's role within our education community.

6. The Annual Report ft. Cool Graphs
Read about our growth, successes, and goals for the future!

Library Updates

THE TEACHER FREE-STORE IS OPEN!

While Phase 2 restrictions remain in place, any teacher can make an appointment between 2-5pm Mondays – Thursdays for curbside pickup. View our inventory photos to find what you need for your classroom or virtual classroom! You'll see office supplies, organizers, art supplies, resource kits, learning aids, manipulatives, and more!

Schedule an Appointment Online
Questions? Call Sean, our new Resource Center Coordinator!
504.517.3584 Extension 2

Lesson Plan of the Month: Hurricanes

Pictured is our Vantage Pro Wireless Weather Station that can be used in tandem with our free lesson plan on Measuring the Precipitation of Hurricanes. This activity is suitable for 6th through 8th grade, but can be easily adapted for younger and older students. Find more lesson plans on our website and browse our inventory online for supplies!

SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP

We are still offering our annual membership to all schools in the Greater New Orleans area. Memberships are based on the school's grade levels and student enrollment. Limited Scholarships are available to new members, and discounts for charter networks with multiple schools.

For complete information about memberships, contact Todd Wackerman at 504-517-3584 or email at twackerman@stemlibrarylab.org

Our New Team

From left to right: Sean, Callie, Larry the Llama, Skelly the Skeleton, and Melina

CALLIE OLIVER

Callie Oliver captains the Library at SLL. She graduated from Tulane in 2019, and taught science and English before joining the team this fall. She passionately advocates for educational equality and engages in sustainability and anthropology projects in her free time.

MELINA DIAZ

Melina Diaz functions as the operations and fundraising coordinator. She spent the past two years as a secondary English teacher trainer in rural Kyrgyzstan before moving to NOLA. She plans to attend Middlebury next year to study International Education and Public Policy.

SEAN MOORE

Sean Moore leads as our resource center coordinator. He has previously worked in the Civil Engineering and Live Event Video Production fields. He is currently attending graduate school for Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UNO.

Professional Development Opportunities

Multiple Lines of Defense:
Exploring Louisiana's Coastal Protections

Date: Thursday, October 8th; Time: 4:30 - 7:30

Learn ways to integrate the MLODS model and activities into your class curriculum to help students understand how our coast is protected and the value of those protections.

Register // Facebook

SmithsonianX
Climate Change Communication

Five week course, 1-3 hours per week

This online course will provide educators and volunteers with intormation about drivers, impacts, and solutinos of climate change, as well as strategies for talking about climate change.

Register

STEM Library Lab Presents:
Engaging Teachers in LSSS-Aligned Instruction Series

SLL is offering Fall Professional Development for Science Methods to schools. This 6 session series walks teachers through instructional practices used to facilitate inquiry based classrooms, rooted in the Louisiana Student Standards for Science. The sessions highlight distance learning and virtual options, and are aligned to the CARES Act funding provisions for schools.

Taught by a certified NSTA trainer and ACE coach/evaluator, this professional development series is right for schools looking to make their science instruction more focused and robust in 2020-2021. The first 2 sessions are "LSSS Bootcamp" and the remaining sessions are instructional practices.

Offered virtually or live for small groups, sessions are tailored to your schools grade band (K-5, 6-8, or 9-12) and the curriculum you are using. For more details, just email us to learn more.