What I have, What I wish for ...

My media center has technology which students can use to access information, create presentations and communicate with others- although we don’t allow students to email. I do encourage teachers to follow up or extend the learning if I’ve hit upon something that the students can benefit from- such as subscription databases that can help them with research and personalized booklists that they can create in Destiny. And yes, I do welcome new opportunities to learn new technology.

I wish that the computer lab was physically attached to the library, but it isn’t. It’s one floor below me, on the other side of the building … Makes for a logistical nightmare if I want to take a couple of my classes there.

I have an LCD projector in the library and 7 student computers. When I plan a lesson that will include technology- say, a scavenger hunt, for instance, I make the computers one of the “stations.” The kids will travel to several sections of the library to complete the scavenger hunt. When I want students to use a variety of sources for an inquiry project, I will design it so that the computers will only be one component in their research process.

I wish I had a seat on the Technology Committee, because I would like to become involved with district wide technology decisions. I will be revisiting this issue with my principal before the start of the next school year.

My professional goals:
Continue using technology when appropriate to help my students become 21st century learners
Stay current with respect to new trends and tools in technology
Collaborate and work with entire grade levels to make sure we are all on the same page
Continue to offer staff development

Blogging Bonanza

This is an update on the new library blog. I'm thrilled at the response. Last night, before I had an opportunity to share it with my students, 3 of them - the Jacobs triplets- blogged from home. As I sit here typing, I've gotten 2 more email alerts about new postings. I'm going to have to put my thinking cap on and come up with some ways to tap into this obvious interest. As a former English teacher and a West Chester University Writing Fellow, I'm always exploring ways to integrate writing into the library program. I think I've hit on something ...

Meaningful Technology Tools: A BRIEF Survey

I had a discussion earlier today with one of the teachers in my building- a digital native. He teaches 5th grade and I was curious to know what technology tools he felt were meaningful to his students. He says that blogging has been a great experience for them. (I like his blog page. He's imported some Power Point presentations. I MUST ask him to help me with that ... I think he uses Slide.) His class also enjoyed a video conference earlier this year, with Historic Cold Spring Village, an early American village. The kids have been using the Pathfinder to Resources that I created for them and he says that it certainly has simplified his life! (I will be revisiting this with all the 5th grade teachers later this year, to see what changes or additions are needed for next year's research project.) They spend significant time in the lab, he says, writing and researching. Three out of the four teachers in this grade are digital natives. Two of them still use the overhead projector on a daily basis. One of them streams videos.

Fourth grade teachers are very into digital pictures. They are the number one borrowers of the cameras, which they have to sign out from me. They print the pictures for use in their students' journals and they import them into presentations. Only one of the 4th grade teachers really uses the library all day, every day. The kids do mini research projects and book reports. The other 4th grade teachers (2 of them are digital natives) are not in here often enough! They don't stream videos.

I never see 3rd grade teachers, unless they're dropping the kids off or picking them up.

First and Second grade teachers have participated in video conferences. They do not stream videos. I am spending more time this year helping those students learn how to search for books in Destiny. First grade does a mini animal research project. I don't know what second grade does, in terms of research. First grade teachers use the library as a warehouse. They sign out lots and lots of books- usually without my assistance. They take out the same books every year and don't inquire about new ones. I do make an effort to share new ones with them, though. I'm pushy like that.

I an old Spring Villagestoric Cold Spring Village

Oscar and the Movies

I'm watching the Academy Awards and reminiscing about some of the great movie experiences I've had ...

Another thought occurs to me: I don't understand how anyone can watch a film on an IPod!

Back in the seventies, I saw Star Wars in the movie theater and sharing that experience with my fellow movie- goers is one that I'll always remember. (We were booing Darth Vader and cheering on Han Solo!) I will also never forget the collective gasp of the audience near the end of The Sixth Sense.

Technology has its place, but how can you appreciate the artistry of film- making by watching it on a tiny screen?

I feel the same way about reading books. I won't be buying a Kindle. I have to hold the book.

I'm also thinking of the handful of films that I've seen that were as good as the book: Gone With The Wind, The Maltese Falcon, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Exorcist, The Outsiders, and The Godfather. I'm always telling my students that the book is almost always better than the movie ... They don't believe me!

I hear that a film version will be made of The Tale of Despereaux. I loved that book ... very Zen ... and heartbreakingly beautiful ... But the movie? We'll have to see.

Also, I read somewhere that Scorcese bought the rights to The Invention of Hugo Cabret, my favorite book of this past year. The book is a natural for the movies!

The Blogoshpere

Last week, I created a school blog on my school webpage. I've decided, for now, to ask students directed questions about literature and I'm hoping they will have fun with this! (Check it out: http://www.rtmsd.org/7441125615114947/site/default.asp?)

My students are a diverse group- some with computers at home and some with none. With respect to books, the same applies- some have them, some do not.

I worry not only about the lack of books and computers in their lives, but also about them not having opportunities to express themselves about things that matter to them. I'm hoping that if given the opportunity to speak their minds, without having to worry about their penmanship or about being graded, they will enjoy the experience.

There are many times when I feel that technology is not as important as literature, especially when I see some of the boys and girls struggle with reading and writing. Blogging is, I think, a perfect way for me to encourage and support their learning in a way that will also introduce them to technology.

The School Library As Warehouse v. The Library- Lovers

Here's the answer to the question I posed to myself last Thursday ... No. Teachers holding a faculty meeting in my library weren't tempted to check out the gorgeous books that were on display. The books were all standing tall like soldiers. No one even looked at them, as far as I could tell.

Some of my teachers check out oodles of books. They treat the library like a book warehouse.

Collaboration? This occurs when I approach them. I tend to approach the teachers that I believe will be receptive. I don't take rejection well. :0(

The only teachers with whom I collaborate on a semi- regular basis are the 5th grade teachers. Each year, I take a larger chunk of the Big Research Project. This year, I created a pathfinder to the library's resources and it was well received by teachers and students.

And the icing on the cake? Fifth- graders wander in and out of the library asking for all manner of things: a Native American tale because they're curious about something they read in class; a resource on the Rockettes because of an upcoming visit to NYC; more books on poisonous snakes because "they're cool," etc. THIS is why I do what I do!

Don't Mess With Librarians

Last Friday, the librarians in our school district did something shocking ... We met as a team! For the 2nd time this year!

The first order of business? To set 3 more meeting dates before the end of the year. We all agreed that we weren't going to let the principals or any other member of the administration prevent us from getting together. The elementary librarians have no common planning time, so we decided that we could meet with the middle school and high school librarians if we set the 3 meetings in lieu of reading with 2nd graders every morning-- a task we were told about at our first faculty meetings back in August by our respective principals. (BTW, I repectfully objected to that order at that very faculty meeting, stating that it was not in my job description to do this. My principal shot me down.)

In addition, the middle and high school librarians attended a workshop on advocacy at ALA Midwinter and we are going to request a flex workshop so they can share with us a plan for us to formalize our team's plans to be more visible in our buildings and in our community.

Yeah, us!