Wow, I seem to be reading the same things over and over and nothing seems to be sinking in all that well. I am finding it difficult to synthesis the readings and apply them to my own experiences as a teacher and my work in the library! HELP!
What is a teacher librarian? With so many readings and many ways in which to answer I have only a few words to say! If the teacher librarian doesn’t understand their position how can we expect anyone else to?
The lack of a "clear role definition" and as you say, "often classroom teachers have been confused about what should occur in library sessions and who should be the main organiser of these sessions". To make matters worse, as a new TL, I didn't have a clear idea either, and despite scouring procedure and policy manuals for clues - there was little guidance to be found!
The TL is changing roles when it comes to RBL. They must move from their own traditional role of ‘how to find stuff, and place greater emphasis on how to extract, process, and use information’. Haycock, C. (1991).
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
March 26th 2010 - Collaboration – “OUR WAY... A New Way into the 21st Century”
An area for me that I have been working on is collaborating more effectively with the needs of the teaching staff. Trying to enter into a collaborative relationship to share the responsibility for collection selection is a new and novel idea to the staff at my school. As a new Teacher Librarian, and a new teacher to the school, I am finding that I don’t do things “their way”. Too often you hear the words “At our school...” or “We don’t do it like that”. Well, I seem to have put a bit of a twist onto “their way”, and have created “OUR WAY...A New Way into the 21st Century”.
I have tried to make my way around to all Key Learning Area Committee meetings, to introduce a new way of gathering resources into the Library. It has “always been the responsibility of the librarian” to gather, select and acquire resources for the school without any or little negotiation of the teaching staff. I think the staff have enjoyed being able to have their input valued in the selection of valuable resources. They have made informed decisions and are using the resources found in the collection more, as they see the importance of their input. The staff has actually been more inclined to ask for help in finding resources for classroom activities. This is a gradual process. The staff is using the library as more of an extension to their own classroom.... FINALLY!
Now to get them to become more involved on RBL! Hee, hee, hee!
I have tried to make my way around to all Key Learning Area Committee meetings, to introduce a new way of gathering resources into the Library. It has “always been the responsibility of the librarian” to gather, select and acquire resources for the school without any or little negotiation of the teaching staff. I think the staff have enjoyed being able to have their input valued in the selection of valuable resources. They have made informed decisions and are using the resources found in the collection more, as they see the importance of their input. The staff has actually been more inclined to ask for help in finding resources for classroom activities. This is a gradual process. The staff is using the library as more of an extension to their own classroom.... FINALLY!
Now to get them to become more involved on RBL! Hee, hee, hee!
March 23rd 2010 - Analysis of the Community
A deep breath and begin again! I have found that conducting an analysis of the school community put me in a better frame of mind. The knowledge now about the needs and wants of the school community as a whole has opened up a new way of looking at my role as a teacher librarian. The school lacks digital resources yet at the same time screams out for these resources to aid in the learning development of the clientele! Aha! Thanks to the reading of Bishop, as it concludes that a community analysis is needed for a collection which will be used (Bishop, 2007).
March 15th 2010
Oops!
Well it seems that my memory is failing me... I have forgotten how to log onto my blog! Can you believe it? Well, I thought this would be the best way to overcome that little scenario. In the grand scheme of things this is just a minor setback that I will look into with more detail at a later time. The most important thing for me to do is to get my ideas down and worry about putting it on my blog later. With the added stress of studying added to the full time teaching load and a young family, I am trying desperately not to let the little things get in the road of the big picture. So, for the time being the blog will remain “entryless” until I can afford the time necessary to get it together. I have decided to place my entries in a word document and then paste them in later when I finally get around to completing the assignments and readings.
Well it seems that my memory is failing me... I have forgotten how to log onto my blog! Can you believe it? Well, I thought this would be the best way to overcome that little scenario. In the grand scheme of things this is just a minor setback that I will look into with more detail at a later time. The most important thing for me to do is to get my ideas down and worry about putting it on my blog later. With the added stress of studying added to the full time teaching load and a young family, I am trying desperately not to let the little things get in the road of the big picture. So, for the time being the blog will remain “entryless” until I can afford the time necessary to get it together. I have decided to place my entries in a word document and then paste them in later when I finally get around to completing the assignments and readings.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
WHOOPS
Well,
I feel like a right dill..... I have only just figured out how to log back onto my blog... I couldn't remember the email address or the password.
What a nightmare! I have had so much to say and couldn't pop on here to do it.
Not to worry now, as all is ok!
No more whoops, I hope.
I feel like a right dill..... I have only just figured out how to log back onto my blog... I couldn't remember the email address or the password.
What a nightmare! I have had so much to say and couldn't pop on here to do it.
Not to worry now, as all is ok!
No more whoops, I hope.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Readings and Organisation
Well,
After our two day Orientation to this course, I have decided to try to become better organised. I know I will be in desperate need to have "MY TIME" to study and complete my readings undisturbed. Is there a way to do so with two school aged children and a husband that travels alot for work and having a full time teaching load on top of that? There has to be I am sure. I am hoping that somebody can come up with a way to help with the dilema I have!
I tried to get stuck into my readings this week, only to have them interrupted about 15 times with questions about homework, the washing machine unbalancing, the phone ringing, tea to be cooked and actually trying to be a mother and wife! Hence, the readings completed, and I use the term loosely, will have to be started again. I am sure that none of what I have completed really entered into any part of my brain. Sorry Roy and Ashley.
Try and try again..... As was told to us at the Orientation Day....Read it, read it and read it again! But I am not sure this is what they meant!!
After our two day Orientation to this course, I have decided to try to become better organised. I know I will be in desperate need to have "MY TIME" to study and complete my readings undisturbed. Is there a way to do so with two school aged children and a husband that travels alot for work and having a full time teaching load on top of that? There has to be I am sure. I am hoping that somebody can come up with a way to help with the dilema I have!
I tried to get stuck into my readings this week, only to have them interrupted about 15 times with questions about homework, the washing machine unbalancing, the phone ringing, tea to be cooked and actually trying to be a mother and wife! Hence, the readings completed, and I use the term loosely, will have to be started again. I am sure that none of what I have completed really entered into any part of my brain. Sorry Roy and Ashley.
Try and try again..... As was told to us at the Orientation Day....Read it, read it and read it again! But I am not sure this is what they meant!!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
DET Orientation Days
Home again after the two days of DET Orientation Training for the new Teacher Libraarian position I decided to take.
All I can say is that I am glad I went. Not only did I meet some lovely people and network with many, but I also felt a part of a like group. A group of other TL's with similar concerns and worries as myself. Where am I going to find time to do this course whilst teaching fulltime and running a house with young children? Can I still remember how to write a decent essay after not studying for many years? What is the difference between an essay and a scholarly paper? All these questions and more.
Thanks to the DET for getting us all together and letting us share some time to discuss these issues and talk face to face with the course co-ordinators. I did have the opportunity to listen to guidlines and lay some fears to rest. Many of my queries have been answered, but still so many remain.
Like many others in this course, I will just do the best I can... and hire a cleaner!!
Cassie
All I can say is that I am glad I went. Not only did I meet some lovely people and network with many, but I also felt a part of a like group. A group of other TL's with similar concerns and worries as myself. Where am I going to find time to do this course whilst teaching fulltime and running a house with young children? Can I still remember how to write a decent essay after not studying for many years? What is the difference between an essay and a scholarly paper? All these questions and more.
Thanks to the DET for getting us all together and letting us share some time to discuss these issues and talk face to face with the course co-ordinators. I did have the opportunity to listen to guidlines and lay some fears to rest. Many of my queries have been answered, but still so many remain.
Like many others in this course, I will just do the best I can... and hire a cleaner!!
Cassie
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