This library spotlight was originally posted on the Granite Educational Technology Dept. Blog (http://www.graniteschools.org/edtech/2014/10/library-spotlight-toni-blattman-kearns-jr-high-school/)
Toni Blattman is the Library Media Educational Technology Specialist at Kearns Jr. High School in Kearns, UT. Each month Toni and media assistant LaVada Brinton host a major promotion in the school library. For September 2014 the theme for their activity came from the Divergent book and movie. Following the premise of the story, students were invited to take the Divergent Factions Aptitude Test to determine which “faction” they were to join. Then, students engaged in Library Faction Challenges, such as checking out and reading a book or visiting the library to study with a friend, etc., for which they earned faction medallions upon completion. Over 40% of Kearns Jr. students participated in the activity, with 780 medallions being awarded to students.
The Divergent activity is just one example of the many ways Ms. Blattman promotes reading and information literacy at her school. As one result of her efforts, Kearns Jr. High currently has the highest circulation of OverDrive electronic books in Granite School District, although one of the smallest secondary schools. Ms. Blattman is one of our leaders in #graniteedtech and #granitelibraries, doing awesome things for and with students at her school.
