Explore how to bring the National School Library Standards to life across grade levels in this trio of AASL25 concurrent sessions focused on elementary, middle, and high school instruction.

These sessions share practical strategies for translating the six Shared Foundations into engaging, student-centered lessons tailored to each developmental stage. Learn how to express Competencies as clear, measurable learner outcomes and objectives—often framed as “I can” statements—and how to interpret them through the Domains (Think, Create, Share, Grow) to design comprehensive, standards-based learning experiences.

Participants will learn how to:

• Turn Competencies into measurable learner outcomes
• Design instruction using the Domains
• Scaffold standards for growth across grade levels
• Integrate library skills into content-area learning

KNOWLEDGE QUEST

From Curiosity to Mastery: Building Learner Competency Across Grade Levels with the AASL Standards

This Knowledge Quest column from AASL Standards Committee members Stephanie Charlefour, Ashley Cooksey, and Amanda Hunt explores how school librarians can intentionally build learner competency across grade levels using the AASL Standards. The authors highlight developmentally appropriate ways to scaffold the Shared Foundations from early elementary through high school, strengthen learner autonomy, and use vertical alignment, reflection, and assessment to support a cohesive K–12 progression from curiosity to mastery.