The Reference
DeskA podcast by
Suzanne Neuman
Karen MacKie
Teacher Librarian Lafayette Elementary School
– http://schools.bvsd.org/lafayette/ Previously: Classroom teacher,
literacy specialist, technology background
Successful Librarians:
Like variety and change Like to work with a wide range of
teachers and students Willing to give up control for variety Enjoy working with a range of grade
levels.
Challenges
Funding is inadequate Resources are dated and inadequate Materials are limited Keeping up with administrative
responsibilities Need to be efficient, quick and
organized
Strategies
Be a quick cataloguer Use good time-management skills Delegate
– Teach teachers to check out books– Utilize volunteers
Scheduling
Fixed for first month - every class came once a week to meet all kids and teachers - set the tone.
After first month - K-1 stays fixed with additional research; 2-5 is flex with assigned time for check out; one class at a time.
Periodical Research Unit with 5th graders
Learn what periodical means Investigate several titles Choose one they liked Present one in a commercial
(persuasive writing) to 2nd - 4th grade classes
Increased periodical circulation
Collaborative Planning Support of principal makes a big
difference Before start of school each grade-level
team had to meet with each specialist to layout programming for 1st trimester
Now it’s haphazard meetings except for larger projects.
She does more of the planning so that classroom teachers see her program as supportive, not as “one more thing to do”.
Collaborative Planning, cont.
Karen creates the lesson plan Classroom teachers chime in as
appropriate Team-teaching does occur spontaneously Classroom teachers give the assignment,
gives feedback to Karen, decide on standards, assessment
Karen teaches information literacy skills
Assessment
Gives pre-test of information literacy skills at beginning of year– What’s a Caldecott Award?– Which of these 4 call numbers would be an
animal book?– These 6 steps are part of a research project,
which would you do first? Second?
She uses this info to decide what to teach during the year and then gives another assessment at end of year
Assessment, cont.
She creates rubrics with the kids– What’s good for a 4th grader?– What’s REALLY good?
This is for larger projects Uses teacher’s assessment items to
create her lesson Uses informal assessment and
bases lessons on observation
Promotion of the Library
Talked to teachers about grants Trying to get technology for each
classroom Looks globally, like a principal would Consults about appropriate literature
choices for classrooms
Relationship with Parents
On PTA – Allows her to remain visible, voice her
concerns, hear about broad, school-based goals and concerns
Takes time to get to know parents Consults on book choices
Leadership
On Tech Committee as representative of the specials teachers
On Leadership Team – Allows her to hear school based issues, helps
her plan ahead On District Library Advisory Council
– Helps to guide library program for district– Helps with staff development for district
librarians
Resources for LIS Students
Book Links– Has themes for each issue; e.g., civil war– Guides her collection choices
http://www.ala.org/ala/productsandpublications/periodicals/booklinks/booklinks.htm
Library Sparks– How to integrate topics and skills
http://www.highsmith.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Production/LSP/pages/lsp_home.htm
School Library Journal– Expensive and extensive– Reviews: good and bad– Takes lots of time to go through
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Online Resources
American Library Association– Uses for Newbury and Caldecott lists– Book of the Year, top nominees– http://ala.org/
Uses web to find information about series books - what order they’re in
Uses for research with kids– Sets up links for sites that match their
research topics, e.g. explorers, Native Americans, etc.
Technological Resources
Has look up stations– Can hook up laptop to LCD projector
Doesn’t have adequate technological resources
Advocating for updating All new desktops, laptops and printers Needs more projectors Getting document reader Has Smart Board in a Lab Stores files on district server so that it’s easier
to find and share files from different computers
Book Challenges
Parent upset about a child checking out a book
Has had a book challenged at Book Fair Encourage kids to discuss with parents
what their parents’ guidelines are Librarian needs to allow children to make
their own choices Support kids Help kids to view library as a place to get
valid information
Karen’s personal mission statement
She’s there to help kids find information of any sort: online, locally, printed, and then evaluate material and make appropriate choices
She needs to teach the kids how to find what they want to find so that they can become successful lifelong learners.