After comparing my reflections on what I believe my library experience was going to be like and what my library experience actually was, my attitude is very much the same: I love the library. Libraries are very fun places to work, and I’m very glad that I pursued this certification.
After working in the elementary schools, I realize how Library Media Specialist do much more with classes than read books. Going to a parochial elementary school, I never had a certified librarian. When I went to the library, a parent volunteer would just read a story to the class. With a certified Library Media Specialist, students learn much more about how to be a successful patron of the library. There are learning goals besides developing a life long desire to read.
My anticipation of what it is like at the high school level was correct because I had to most experience. One of the biggest things that I did not realize was how many times I would be interrupted. It has been a challenge to be able to start and finish a project. Often, I find myself flustered and forgetting that I had started something.
Most of my practicum was finished at Marshall Public Schools and not in Clinton like I had anticipated. Therefore, my thoughts of what would specifically happen at Clinton, I was not able to see to fruition. Overall, I have enjoyed my practicum and look forward to what the future hold in the Library.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Secondary Experience Post-Write
My work at the high school has been very interesting. I have to now know about every content level besides just the one I studied. Science has never been an interest of mine, but I have to know where to find quality resources. I’ve also had to rely on the science teachers to help me evaluate sources.
Teachers are also starting to see that I want to help them. So much of getting students in the library is educating the teachers about what the library has to offer. Students also need to be given reasons or motivations to look for resources outside of Google results. It has been a slow process of helping teachers understand that it is okay to require sources from online databases.
I very much enjoy working with high school students. I love talking with them about books they enjoy and getting suggestions for books that I should order. While I do not see every student, and I has been a challenge to get to know every name, it has been a wonderful learning process.
Teachers are also starting to see that I want to help them. So much of getting students in the library is educating the teachers about what the library has to offer. Students also need to be given reasons or motivations to look for resources outside of Google results. It has been a slow process of helping teachers understand that it is okay to require sources from online databases.
I very much enjoy working with high school students. I love talking with them about books they enjoy and getting suggestions for books that I should order. While I do not see every student, and I has been a challenge to get to know every name, it has been a wonderful learning process.
Elementary Experience Post-Write
I have greatly valued the time I have worked with elementary students. I have also realized that I am not necessarily meant to work in an elementary school. The schedule of an elementary Library Media Specialist is non-stop. They see every student in the school each week, sometimes twice. While I am used to seeing many students from my high school experience, it is still different and sometimes overwhelming.
Elementary students easily excited. They are much more excited about Dewey than those in high school. They show how much they like lessons. Students are also very enthusiastic about reading. They look forward to checking out books. However, I’m not sure if they are actually always reading the books or just getting new ones. At this level, they do not need to offer proof of their reading, so I think that it is hard to tell sometimes.
At both of my placements, the Elementary students were just beginning to receive library instruction. Therefore, as the students progressed through the school, their lack of library instruction was obvious to those that had received instruction. It very much made me aware of how important it is to teach students these skills.
Elementary students easily excited. They are much more excited about Dewey than those in high school. They show how much they like lessons. Students are also very enthusiastic about reading. They look forward to checking out books. However, I’m not sure if they are actually always reading the books or just getting new ones. At this level, they do not need to offer proof of their reading, so I think that it is hard to tell sometimes.
At both of my placements, the Elementary students were just beginning to receive library instruction. Therefore, as the students progressed through the school, their lack of library instruction was obvious to those that had received instruction. It very much made me aware of how important it is to teach students these skills.
December 15, 2010-2 Hours
Today I spent time learning the new process for Purchase Orders. We are now to do them online and not on paper. I watched a screencast and called my tech director several times. I think I have a handle on how to do it. The tricky thing will be making sure that all of my accounts have the correct amount of money. It will not be as easy to transfer fund because my principal will have to request it.
In the evening, Lisa Mertz, Biology Teacher, and I presented to the Board of Education about our Collaboration Process we did on a project for her class. I created a webpage to present our information along with the webpage that I created for the biology class. The presentation was very well received. One of the board members said, “Emily, until today I had no idea what a Library Media Specialist did. Now I do.” It was successful.
Total: 110 Hours
Running Total Secondary: 60
Running Total Elementary: 50
In the evening, Lisa Mertz, Biology Teacher, and I presented to the Board of Education about our Collaboration Process we did on a project for her class. I created a webpage to present our information along with the webpage that I created for the biology class. The presentation was very well received. One of the board members said, “Emily, until today I had no idea what a Library Media Specialist did. Now I do.” It was successful.
Total: 110 Hours
Running Total Secondary: 60
Running Total Elementary: 50
December 14, 2010-3 Hours
The faculty was given another opportunity to attend a Technology Fair. I taught two classes, Animoto and Google Docs. Animoto was a repeated session from the beginning of the school year, and it went very well. Google Docs was another story. I was able to rework a presentation by Chad Kafka, a Google Educator, which saved me a lot of time. However, our technology wasn’t very reliable, and not all teachers were able to create Google Accounts. There were also too many people in the session. If there was a smaller groups of 15 or less, things would have gone much smoother. I also missed an opportunity because many of the teachers asked for examples of how to use Google Docs in their classrooms. I was not ready with those resources, but I was able to give them several sources the next day. I have some changing to do if I need to give this class again.
Total: 108 Hours
Running Total Secondary: 58
Running Total Elementary: 50
Total: 108 Hours
Running Total Secondary: 58
Running Total Elementary: 50
December 10, 2010-1 Hour
While Liz talked with the 3rd grade teachers about their curriculum, I covered her Kindergarten class in the library. We watched a promotional video for the Scholasitc Book Fair that was taking place. Student then were able to look at books for checkout or for the Fair. They were very excited about the Book Fair. Some parents even came in to get some items for their students. It was the most successful fair in recent history. Liz did a wonderful job of promoting it.
Total: 105 Hours
Running Total Secondary: 55
Running Total Elementary: 50
Total: 105 Hours
Running Total Secondary: 55
Running Total Elementary: 50
December 8-9, 2010 SLATE Conference
For the past two days I have been at the SLATE Conference. It has been a wonderful experience. One of the most interesting aspects was that I was able to follow the conference on Twitter. In each of the break-out sessions, at least one person was Tweeting the main points. I was able to ask questions and get answers. When I would get back together with my team, I would already know what their key points were because they had already been Tweeted. It was an exciting way to be part of the conference.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)