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Survey: Only 53% of high school students think voting is important; FBI investigates apparent assassination attempt of Trump in FL; NV advocates ready for Tuesday's National Voter Registration Day; Plastics production highlighted during Pollution Prevention Week.

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A suspect is in custody following a possible second Trump assassination attempt, a bipartisan House group pledges to certify the 2024 election results no matter who wins, and election officials warn postal problems could mean uncounted votes.

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Rural voters weigh competing visions about agriculture's future ahead of the Presidential election, counties where economic growth has lagged in rural America are booming post-pandemic, and farmers get financial help to protect their land's natural habitat.

CT school librarians celebrate reading during American Education Week

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Tuesday, November 14, 2023   

During American Education Week, Connecticut school librarians are highlighting their value in molding young minds.

Valerie DiLorenzo, a school librarian and vice president of the Connecticut Association of School Librarians, said checking books in and out is a small part of their job. Along with this, she finds school librarians are helping kids attain a deeper understanding of the world around them like the Israel-Palestine War. She says picture books are a great way to make scary situations for kids more understandable.

"Authors have an incredible -- I think a magical -- way of making real situations more understandable and maybe offer some strategies to help improve those really horrible situations," she said.

She noted kids are eager to learn more about the world around them. A 2020 study
finds kids prefer books that teach them casual information about the world. But, books are slowly broadening the topics they touch on, ranging from what it's like to be deaf to LGBTQ+ life.

DiLorenzo said people still have misconceptions about a school librarian's job and that school librarians get involved in their schools to help with curriculum to teach kids about different topics. She said her job also involves educating students about using technology.

Many people say today's kids are digital natives, but DiLorenzo sees it differently.

"They can certainly use technology, but can they use technology productively?" she asked. "The comparison I like to use is, are we all born knowing how to read? No -- we learn how to read, we learn those skills. It's the same thing with technology, I find."

Using technology for schoolwork and information is just one way DiLorenzo helps kids learn aside from reading. She finds a critical piece to teach them is media literacy and how to discern good resources. Numerous states have enacted laws to help kids become media literate as studies show they're sorely lacking.


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