VAASL 2024 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

Welcome to the VAASL 2024 Fall Conference App!
Telling Our Story through an incredible program of sessions and events.

1:00pm EST

Best Books for High School

Wednesday November 6, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Want to hear about what's new? Learn about the titles getting all of the buzz in 2024, with a particular emphasis on audiobooks. A great narrator can make a great book even better!

Speakers

Allison Taylor

Librarian, LCPS

After working as an EL teacher ten years, Allison transitioned to the library in 2019. She graduated from GMU with a BA in Communication. She also holds an MEd in Secondary Education (ESL) from George Washington University and an MEd in School Librarianship from Longwood University... Read More →

Jeannine Everett

Librarian, LCPS

I'm a middle school librarian who loves "we can't do this, can we?" ideas. WeVideo Education Ambassador, Newsela Certified Educator and Future Ready Librarian. I'm passionate about media and news literacy, building student research skills and using technology tools to foster student... Read More →

Wednesday November 6, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development

AASL Inquire, Explore
Audience High School

2:00pm EST

Using Picture Books to Enhance and Enrich the SSGS Curriculum

Wednesday November 6, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Librarians will learn about a collaboration between middle school library staff and 7th grade social studies teachers who explored different ways to use fiction and nonfiction picture books within daily social studies lessons. Librarians will walk away with a list of picture books and corresponding activities/lessons. Includes ideas for using picture books with all areas of secondary SSGS curriculum.

Speakers

Melissa Larson

Librarian, BRAMBLETON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Wednesday November 6, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development Instruction Literature

AASL Inquire, Collaborate, Explore, Engage
Audience Middle School, High School

3:00pm EST

Student Voice in the Library

Wednesday November 6, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Do you struggle with student participation in your library? Looking for some suggestions? Come to this session and bring your own ideas to share as well.

Speakers

Tracy Goodson

Library Media Specialist, Kate Collins Middle School

Wednesday November 6, 2024 3:00pm - 3:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Programming

AASL Include, Curate, Engage
Audience Middle School

10:00am EST

Passive Programming = Massive Engagement

Thursday November 7, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST

Piedmont A

This interactive session is designed to inspire and equip school librarians with innovative ideas to foster student engagement within the library space. We’ll aim to showcase a variety of activities that can be seamlessly integrated into the school library, creating an inviting and stimulating environment for students. You will leave this session with templates to make many of these programs unique to your library space, and activities that will encourage participation amongst even the most reluctant readers. BYOD

Speakers

Mary Sonifrank

Librarian, J. Frank Hillyard Middle School

This is my twenty-sixth year of teaching and my tenth year as a middle school librarian. Before becoming a librarian I was a special education teacher for seventeen years. I love inspiring the love of reading and making students feel accepted in a safe place. I am passionate about... Read More →

Jessica Kitta

Thursday November 7, 2024 10:00am - 10:45am EST
Piedmont A

Programming

AASL Include, Collaborate, Explore, Engage
Audience Elementary School - Intermediate Grades, Middle School, High School

11:00am EST

Science Review Rotation Stations

Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST

Piedmont A

Learn how two librarians, one department head, three science teachers and an instructional aide worked together to review and remediate over 300 students before each unit test and the SOL. The focus will be on the review stations created by the librarians, and participants will win prizes!

Speakers

Angela Smith

Librarian, HCPS

Adrienne Coffey

Librarian, HCPS

Anne Hampton

Thursday November 7, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Piedmont A

Instruction

AASL Inquire, Collaborate, Explore
Audience Middle School

12:00pm EST

Diving Deeper into Collection Development

Thursday November 7, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Have you been wading through the shallow waters? Unsure how to navigate the deep end? Together we will take the deep dive into Collection Development and Titlewise to investigate the hidden treasures that lie beneath the surface. Take off those floaties, grab a snorkel, and get ready to jump in with both feet

Speakers

Christopher Hutto

Classroom & Library Consultant, Follett Content Solutions

Pre-Recording of VAASL 2023 Secession = https://watch.screencastify.com/v/zj99Z1hGgFNjjDMRBPXf

Laurie Bolt

Thursday November 7, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development

AASL Curate
Audience All Levels

1:00pm EST

So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday November 7, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Join me for a fast paced, exciting journey through a treasure chest of great titles. During the session I will share some of the most recently published as well as soon to be published titles. The session will include books for all grade levels, a list of books that were shared as well as some book giveaways straight from the publishers! Don't miss out on a fun session all about books!

Speakers

Laurie Bolt

Thursday November 7, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development Literature

AASL Curate
Audience All Levels

2:30pm EST

Station Rotation for Social Studies 7

Thursday November 7, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm EST

Piedmont A

In collaboration with our 7th grade social studies (U.S. history after 1865) teachers, we have had great success designing learning stations that support the teachers' summative assessments. Our teachers create the essential question and a writing task, and we design posters and puzzles so that students synthesize information and complete a notescatcher. Session participants will leave with activities that cover immigration in the early 1900s and life in the 1920s and 1930s.

Speakers

Catherine Taylor

Library Media Specialist, Plaza Middle School

I have been a Library Media Specialist for five years at an IB MYP school. We would like to share our experiences and develop a network of IB librarians around the state.

Katie Staples

Library Media Specialist, Plaza Middle School

I am one of Plaza Middle School's Library Media Specialists. I came to middle school after spending 17 years at Kellam High School as first as an English teacher. I went back to school to get my Masters in secondary education where I took the path to become a librarian and have loved... Read More →

Thursday November 7, 2024 2:30pm - 3:15pm EST
Piedmont A

Instruction

AASL Inquire, Collaborate
Audience Middle School

8:00am EST

Comics and Manga in the Classroom - Beginner Session

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST

Piedmont A

For years, comic books and graphic novels were dismissed as mere recreational reading, often relegated to a less serious status. However, emerging research reveals their true value: they engage struggling readers, enhance skills for accomplished ones, and effectively teach all subjects, not just English. Join us to explore their crucial role in education and discuss integrating them into curricula.

Speakers

Emily Cissell

Librarian, Thornburg Middle School

Friday November 8, 2024 8:00am - 8:45am EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development Instruction Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels

11:00am EST

Your Story IS Library Advocacy!

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST

Piedmont A

Nan Carmack, President of the Virginia Library Association, and Christine Ware, VAASL Treasurer, will present findings and recommendations from the American Library Association’s Advocacy Workshop, held in December 2023. Learn how VAASL and VLA have strengthened their collaboration and how you can be part of the next steps. Leave with actionable items for you to be a library advocate in your school, your community, and your state!

Speakers

Christine Ware

Librarian, Gainesville Middle School for the Arts & Sciences

'25 VAASL Conference Chair

Nan Carmack

Director, Library Development and Networking, Library of Virginia

Talk to me about collaborating with Virginia Public Libraries as well as what the Library of Virginia can do for you!

Friday November 8, 2024 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Piedmont A

Professional Growth

AASL Collaborate, Engage
Audience All Levels

12:00pm EST

Let's Talk about Intellectual Property: Plagiarism vs. Copyright

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Have you ever had a student say they are going to jail for plagiarism? This session will discuss the differences between plagiarism and copyright as well as provide participants with examples of lessons that support empowering students as ethical users of ideas and information.

Friday November 8, 2024 12:00pm - 12:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Instruction

AASL Engage
Audience Middle School, High School

1:00pm EST

Comics and Manga in the Classroom - Advanced Session

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST

Piedmont A

Join us for a collaborative session to analyze comics as historical artifacts, explore their history, and create lesson plans using comics and manga for all subjects. This working session will involve brainstorming ideas and reviewing my planning process for teaching with comics. Bring your device and get ready to collaborate!

Speakers

Emily Cissell

Librarian, Thornburg Middle School

Friday November 8, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm EST
Piedmont A

Collection Development Instruction Literature Programming

AASL Inquire, Include, Collaborate, Curate, Explore, Engage
Audience All Levels