Library AI Newsletter

This week my team and I had to create a newsletter using AI. We decided to use Chat GPT and then Chat GPT 3.5 and both created a wonderful newsletter. Honestly, I am quite impressed with the efficacy and effectiveness of this tool.

I live in an area where we have many Hispanic students whose families are recent immigrants from Mexico. So, I asked my team that I wanted to create a newsletter of an event about el Dia de Los Muertos, which is a popular cultural celebration in Mexico.

I typed up the following prompt:

Write a Librarian newsletter for an elementary school including the Dia de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 1, 2024 from 5-6 pm for Washington Elementary School. Include book recommendations that include Day of the dead children's book. Include reading tips for the students. Include a group of 6th graders student council members setting up an alter with family pictures. Library phone number is 321-987-6543 and office hours are from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Follow us on instagram Washington Librarian. Add Sign up to volunteer! Include a Surprise visit from local author!

I tried to make it quite specific and add important information such as the name of the school, the library schedule and the phone number. Yet, I also asked for books that are recommended for this specific theme. Like magic, chat GPT gave a list of books and authors which would be appropriate for this event. It also included relevant reading tips for students.

This was the final result:

Washington Elementary School Librarian Newsletter

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Library Office Hours:
7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Phone Number: 321-987-6543
Follow us on Instagram: @WashingtonLibrarian

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Dear Washington Elementary School Families,

We are excited to share our latest updates and events from the Washington Elementary School Library! This month, we have an array of activities and resources planned to engage our young readers and celebrate cultural traditions. Here’s what’s happening:

Día de los Muertos Celebration

Date: November 1, 2024
Time: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Join us for a vibrant celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in the school library! This special event will honor the rich traditions of this Mexican holiday, where families remember and celebrate their loved ones who have passed away.

Highlights of the Event:

• 6th Grade Student Council Altar: Our 6th grade student council members are setting up a beautiful altar (ofrenda) with family pictures, marigolds, and other traditional decorations. Come see their hard work and creativity!

• Storytime and Crafts: Enjoy a selection of Day of the Dead stories and participate in fun, themed crafts.

• Surprise Visit from a Local Author: We are thrilled to announce that a local author will make a surprise visit to read their latest book and sign copies for our students!

Book Recommendations: Día de los Muertos

Here are some wonderful books to help your children learn more about this meaningful celebration:

1. "Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras" by Duncan Tonatiuh

2. "Clatter Bash! A Day of the Dead Celebration" by Richard Keep

3. "The Day of the Dead / El Día de los Muertos" by Bob Barner

4. "Rosita y Conchita / Rosita and Conchita" by Eric Gonzalez and Erich Haeger

5. "Dia de los Muertos" by Roseanne Greenfield Thong

Reading Tips for Students

Encouraging a love for reading at an early age is crucial. Here are some tips to help your child become a more enthusiastic reader:

• Set a Routine: Dedicate a specific time each day for reading. Consistency helps build a habit.

• Create a Reading Nook: A cozy, quiet place for reading can make the experience more enjoyable.

• Be a Reading Role Model: Let your child see you reading. Share your favorite books and discuss what you’re reading.

• Visit the Library Together: Explore new books and let your child choose what interests them.

• Discuss Books: Ask questions about the stories your child is reading to enhance comprehension and engagement.

Sign Up to Volunteer!

We always welcome volunteers to help make our library events successful. If you are interested in volunteering for the Día de los Muertos celebration or other upcoming events, please sign up at the library or contact us at 321-987-6543.

Stay Connected

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram @WashingtonLibrarian for the latest updates, book recommendations, and event announcements.

We look forward to seeing you at the library and celebrating Día de los Muertos together!

Happy Reading!

Warm regards,
Washington Elementary School Library Team

I noticed that I could also go back and modify the prompt with new ideas that I wanted to add.

Overall, using AI to create a newsletter was a success. Even if I did not specifically ask for it to be in a friendly tone, it still created a warm and inviting newsletter. Both the original Chat GPT and Chat GPT 3.5 worked wonders.

I went back into Canva and copied what Chat GPT had created for me and added designs to make it more colorful and vivid. It took me more time to find the right images, but at the end I was quite pleased with the results.

       

Environmental Scan

In the district I work at, SharylandISD, the majority of my students are Hispanic. As a school librarian I would observe that many of the students are recent immigrants from Mexico that have come to the United States in the last 5-10 years. At my school the majority of the students speak Spanish at home.(Murphy et al.2023) There are parents who work in farms, office work, construction, and some will have mom’s who stay at home. The area where I work is called the Rio Grande Valley is in South Texas. It is a dry and extremely hot place where the summer months may be quite above 100F.

Most of the students in the area go to Sharyland ISD which is a public school, but there has been a rise in charter schools and the district has seen a downfall in enrollment. There is also a private Catholic school that some students in this area attend.

The majority of the teacher’s at my elementary school use technology with the students. Assignments are given through Google classroom. According to the report, “Learning platforms such as Moodle and Google Classroom make it possible for students to access homework assignments and class materials anytime, anywhere.Teachers reported that these tools help them track assignments and provide rapid responses to student assessments.”(Environmental scan, 2016, p.89) You tube or Edpuzzle videos are shared on their devices for class assignments.Teachers reported that these tools help them track assignments and provide rapid responses to student assessments. Students also use other technology apps such as Britannica online, Brain Pop, Accelerated Reader, and Rosetta Stone. At the elementary level, students are given a chromebook to use in school, but are not allowed to take it home unless there is a special circumstance. I believe junior high and high school students are allowed to take the devices home. At the elementary level we prohibit the use of personal devices whether it be their personal computer or cell phone.

The majority of the students have shared that they are unable to connect at home because they do not have computers, so most will use their phones if they need to finish an assignment or use it as a resource. Most of the students have access to broadband and I believe an initiative by the district was established during and after COVID19 to assist students with proper internet service.Having proper technology at school and a reliable broadband service is crucial for students in my district.


References:

Michael Cohen Group, LLC. (2016, December). Environmental scan of
educational technology in U.S. public school. www.mcgrc.com/. https://www.mcgrc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Report-Environmental-_-Final12.22.2016.pdf


Murphy, R., Daniel, A., Cai, M., Lau, E., Schumacher, Y., & Astudillo, C. (2023, May 1). Lloyd & Dolly Bentsen Elementary School. Texas Public Schools. https://schools.texastribune.org/districts/sharyland-isd/lloyd-dolly-bentsen-elementary-school/