Arlington School & Family Magazine April/May 2015

Campus News Shackelford Junior High Traditional libraries are often associated with card catalogs, silence and old books. None of those topics sound very appealing to Shackelford Junior High students. Thankfully, the library at Shackelford is a source of creativity, engagement, self-discovery and even reading. In addition to the traditional print books, the library is in the process of expanding the e-book and audiobook collection, allowing students to check out electronic books and read on their personal electronic devices. This expansion of the audiobook library was made possible by librarian Alicia Vandenbroek, who was awarded a grant from the Arlington Education Foundation, and support from the Title I department. Club. If you are not familiar with a MakerSpace, Vandenbroek describes it as “an area for self-directed learning, where students learn new skills in a variety of topics such as computer programming, gaming, stop-motion animation, robotics, activities (like origami, board games, bracelet making, art) and more.” The library will soon add a 3D printer and 3D Doodler pens thanks to the TI Grant from the AISD as well as a sewing and e-textile section. The library is also a great place for collaborative learning. The librarian partners with teachers to enrich classroom learning through research projects, learning stations and activities rich in technology. This partnership helps students become lifelong learners and makes real world connections to classroom content. In addition to the instructional activities, the library engages students through several clubs such as book club, computer programming and the growing Sh@ck Kn@ck MakerSpace 26 Arlington School & Family - April/May 2015 On Mondays the library does a focused MakerSpace activity or challenge, which have a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) focus. In a time when libraries could be considered outdated, this is a thriving and constantly evolving program designed to meet the wide range of needs and interests of all the students. Shackelford Junior High will host the STEAM Celebration on May 16th from 9 a.m. to noon. This event is open to the community. If interested in attending, please pre-register with Yahadira Rodriguez at 682-867-3654. †

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