Meet the MA educator using a shared digital collection to expand the reach of the traditional school library [Sora Spotlight]
The Sora Spotlight series profiles educators who’ve become Sora champions at their school, impressing us with their creative strategies to get more students reading digitally. To inspire us all to find new ways to reach learners across our communities, we’ve asked them to share their stories of reading success.
In this special Sora Spotlight subseries, we’re focusing on educators within a shared collection that are Sora champions at their school.
Today, we’re spotlighting educators from schools participating in the MLS Commonwealth eBook Collections (CEC). CEC is a statewide initiative to expand access to ebooks to all residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The OverDrive K-12 Shared Sora Collection is a shared ebook and audiobook collection available to all MLS member schools. The collection is managed by the Massachusetts Library System.
Educator Stats:
Name:
Claudia Palframan
Describe Your Position:
I am the licensed school library teacher at Dupont Middle School, one of two middle schools in Chicopee, a Gateway community located in Western Massachusetts. We have 690 students in grades 6-8. In addition to the traditional middle school classes, our students also have classes in Robotics, Music and Band, writing, health, art, finance, and 3D printing. We have a very busy selection of after school clubs such as ESports (which meets in the library), drama, jazz band, art, Sports Fitness Club, Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Social Media, Business Explorers, Greenhouse Club, Student Government, and a winning volleyball team. The students are very involved in school activities.
I see approximately 20 classes a week, in collaboration with the teachers, most often the social studies teachers. I also see smaller groups of students, such as the English Language Learners and others as the teachers request. The library is a very busy room, with frequently changing displays to reflect the student interests, classroom connections, seasons and holidays, and whatever else I think would be a fun display. I have an assistant, so the library is open during the school day for students who need a book to read or a quiet space to work. We also have many teachers who take their planning periods in the library.
I started in school libraries when my children were young, in the elementary schools of the town I lived in then. I got my teaching degree in 2007, my library degree in 2011 and have been here ever since. I always thought I would remain in elementary school, but I greatly enjoy middle school and don’t see a change in the foreseeable future. There is something special and enjoyable about this age.
How many years have you been active with OverDrive?
This is our second year.
What are you currently reading?
Dealing in Dreams by Lilliam Rivera on Sora and The Lost Girls of Willowbrook on Libby.
Claudia’s Sora story:
Why do you love Sora?
I love the ease of access to the books, and the wide range of ebooks, audiobooks and magazines available to our students. I also appreciate that our English Language Learners can access many books in their first languages. Audiobooks seem to be increasing in popularity in our school, which is great as a story well-told is a story worth knowing.
My daughter lives about a 1.5-hour drive away from me, where radio coverage can be spotty, so I always have an audiobook to listen to when I visit her, or when I walk. Students have told me that they like using Sora when traveling.
What unique things have you done to help increase student engagement with Sora?
Our technology department put the link for Sora in the students’ “waffle” (we are a Google Education district) which makes it easy for students to find. On the first class of the school year, I demonstrate Sora to the students as part of the introduction to the library. Staff have been wonderful in encouraging students to use Sora to read when finished with lessons. Many of our teachers are also using Sora for their personal reading. Some students were pleased to find that they can link other libraries to their Sora account.
In what ways has this been successful?
Graphic novels are very popular, and students use Sora to read a whole series of manga or anime. If I am missing part of a series, students can find and read it in Sora. Magazines are increasing in popularity, so I think my more reluctant readers are reading more. I enjoy seeing the variety of magazines the students read. The reading teacher shares a corner of the library, and we see her students reading more from Sora.
I also had a very rewarding conversation with a student who was using the dyslexic font. We’re both dyslexic – I don’t like the font, she does – and we both love mysteries.
This week, I have students coming to the library for a research project. We will use Sora to find books on their topics as I know I will not have enough physical books for all the research topics.
Is there anything you did/are planning to do to kick off the school year to roll out and introduce Sora to your students or staff?
We have a step-up day for incoming sixth graders in June. I put together a packet for the parents that includes information on the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, the Massachusetts Center for the Book summer reading programs, lists of suggested readings from AASC and information about Sora, including the apps for Android and iOS devices. I also make the bookmarks and have them available to students during the school year. I often tell them what I am reading via Sora, and I love the electronic bookshelves so I frequently show them to the students.
In what ways have you utilized social media to reach your students?
I have information about Sora on the library’s web pages. I also have the principal send home information at the beginning of the school year. During the book fair, I again have information about Sora for the parents.
Have you worked with anyone in your building to use Sora for curriculum?
This school year we have a new English Language Arts curriculum. We are looking forward to using some of Sora’s resources when the students read the novels. Sora will be supportive to our students who need access to titles in other languages, or who will benefit from an audiobooks. The dictionary and note taking features will also be useful.
What are the benefits of belonging to a shared collection for your students and teachers?
For me, I think the strongest benefit of belonging to a shared collection is the expansion of the school library’s collection and accessibility. Students can come to the library and check out physical books (and spend time in the library), and they can extend their choices by utilizing Sora to continue with a series, to try something new, or to set up mini book clubs. It greatly expands the reach of the traditional school library.
Has being part of the consortium helped you achieve goals that would have been challenging to accomplish independently?
It would be very difficult for me to find the space, funding and time to purchase all the anime and manga that our students devour. Sora also allows students to access magazines, which were not part of my budget this year.
Are there any success stories or notable examples of how the collection has made a difference?
I had several “I hate to read” kids find something they love to read.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I have many favorite books, it changes frequently! Some that I will always remember fondly and recommend are The Diary of Anne Frank and A Wrinkle in Time.
