A lot of people ask me, when they find out my job- "libraries are still a thing?" "Books are still involved in a budget?"
Why yes, of course! Why not?
Maybe not as many as ten or twenty years ago, but at least in my school, library period and downtime for reading are still a heavy part of the curriculum. As much as I love checking out books and putting them all back on the shelf, there are so (I mean SO) many books that haven't been held by a student in years. These can be "weeded" out and donated! I am so excited to do this. My best friend Pinterest has shown me some great photos and articles for weeding books from the library.
Why do I want to do this? So I can have more SPACE for new and cool things. I'd love to make this room a space where students and staff can come to communicate, cooperate and create! Don't worry about my books- they will still be here, and maybe I can replace some of the old beaten up/popular books with new ones.
This room needs new tables, new flooring and a re-vamp of how the room is laid out. We also have some older furniture that can be replaced with some benches/chairs/foot stools. This school does not have a cafeteria so a lot of students come in here to hang out, and if they haven't gotten enough sleep the night before, some come in here to relax and catch a few Z's. I definitely don't want to take that away from them.
I've been asking for feedback from some students, and privacy was a huge matter! The room is already light and open concept, but keeping some areas from the learning commons would need to happen. So much to think about.
I'll share a link that my vice principal showed me on re-creating an old library and turning it into something amazing! http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2015/05/25/fathers-school-library/27902597/
This morning I walked in to 13 brand new laptops, they are charged by USB and they no longer have disc drives! The future is now. (haha) I am not sure they will be my responsibility next year, which is o.k, maybe I can get the ball rolling faster on a re-vamped library.
I know I know, you're thinking "man where will she get this money?" It will take a long time, but I will make do with what I have until we can get it all done at once.
ONE MONTH LEFT OF SCHOOL!
Thursday 28 May 2015
Wednesday 27 May 2015
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Thursday 21 May 2015
Everyone Has a Job.
Is this true?
Since beginning work here, I've heard multiple teaching and support staff state the phrase "what is your job right now?" to kids when they have come off-task. I've been asking myself this question as well. I have set out on a quest to ask my frequent library users what my job is in this room. I also ask what they think their job is when they enter the library. I've gotten a few of the obvious answers, remain quiet, return books undamaged etc. So I'm going to keep asking, seeing what the kids want from me and expect from me. I believe they should have a say in what I'm doing, as long as it is appropriate for the library.
April 6th was my starting point, and this month and a half has really taught me so much. The connections I've been making with students and to hear them say "will you be back next year too?" is wonderful. It really is one of the best feelings. The students that hold back from opening up to me and respecting the space are a little more challenging for me. This is the main thing I need to keep working at. I work alone and often there is nowhere to turn for advice, except for books of course. I finished the book "restitution" and it's working somewhat. I just need to keep repeating and restarting so that these students can learn to self-correct before someone else yells at them.
This room is a place of refuge, its comfy in here, and it's quiet. Students come here to relax. I want them to know as well that if they are having a bad day, I never leave here, and they can talk to me about whatever they want, without me trying to force them to class. These are the kinds of answers I'm looking for in my "job" quest. I want to know what the kids think my job is and should be. I also hope they know where they stand too.
Is there seriously only six weeks left?
Exam prep should be starting soon, along with the tantalizing warm weather and field trip season! Maybe I should post some study tips too in the coming future....
That's all for now!
Since beginning work here, I've heard multiple teaching and support staff state the phrase "what is your job right now?" to kids when they have come off-task. I've been asking myself this question as well. I have set out on a quest to ask my frequent library users what my job is in this room. I also ask what they think their job is when they enter the library. I've gotten a few of the obvious answers, remain quiet, return books undamaged etc. So I'm going to keep asking, seeing what the kids want from me and expect from me. I believe they should have a say in what I'm doing, as long as it is appropriate for the library.
April 6th was my starting point, and this month and a half has really taught me so much. The connections I've been making with students and to hear them say "will you be back next year too?" is wonderful. It really is one of the best feelings. The students that hold back from opening up to me and respecting the space are a little more challenging for me. This is the main thing I need to keep working at. I work alone and often there is nowhere to turn for advice, except for books of course. I finished the book "restitution" and it's working somewhat. I just need to keep repeating and restarting so that these students can learn to self-correct before someone else yells at them.
This room is a place of refuge, its comfy in here, and it's quiet. Students come here to relax. I want them to know as well that if they are having a bad day, I never leave here, and they can talk to me about whatever they want, without me trying to force them to class. These are the kinds of answers I'm looking for in my "job" quest. I want to know what the kids think my job is and should be. I also hope they know where they stand too.
Is there seriously only six weeks left?
Exam prep should be starting soon, along with the tantalizing warm weather and field trip season! Maybe I should post some study tips too in the coming future....
That's all for now!
Thursday 14 May 2015
What Day Is It?
About an hour ago, I had a plan on what I was going to write today. Now, it's completely escaped me. I'm just going to write anyway.
This week has been ridiculous! However, it is my birthday tomorrow so I'm very excited about that. I don't have any plans for my big day and that is perfectly fine.
Great news- the school division has asked the teachers in it's schools to order 100 books for each class, which means for our school (since it's k-12) 1300 brand new books. I am not sure if I'll be cataloging all of these books or just labeling them class-wise. Either way, I think this is really cool. One thing I've really noticed with the kids is that they are always saying "my class doesn't have any good books, I want to work in here with the books in the library". Don't get me wrong, I love having classes in here for daily 5 and other purposes, but I know it will mean SO much to the kids and the teachers when they come to class one day with 100 specifically chosen books for their classrooms.
In order to keep up with this, I'll have to make sure I am on top of the new best-sellers all of next year. I've already been compiling a list, hopefully I can start ordering in September!
Yesterday school ended early, the kids were gone and the teachers were in meetings. This meant that I had the chance to re-organize some of the books in the elementary section. Surprisingly, there were only a few books that were crazily out of place! I got over halfway done, but it's a daunting task that must go uninterrupted.
A lot of my time spent this week has been on research. Thankfully I work in the perfect place for that. I am reading a book called 'Restitution' by Diane Chelsom Gossen. This is helping me to break my brain into itty bitty pieces at different points in the day. I need to keep reminding myself to remain calm, show that I care, and think differently than in previous jobs. This is a challenge that I enjoy, because I know no matter how long it takes, even if I take a million steps back- I will eventually make connections with these students. These students need to know that I will be here tomorrow and the day after that.
Over half the kids have given me compliments today, and it's so awesome to see smiles on their faces! I straightened my hair today and they are so flabbergasted. I also hid some minions around my desk and made the scanner into a fancy man with a mustache!
I must sign off now, since I'm just noticing that there may be a bird in the library.....BYE!
This week has been ridiculous! However, it is my birthday tomorrow so I'm very excited about that. I don't have any plans for my big day and that is perfectly fine.
Great news- the school division has asked the teachers in it's schools to order 100 books for each class, which means for our school (since it's k-12) 1300 brand new books. I am not sure if I'll be cataloging all of these books or just labeling them class-wise. Either way, I think this is really cool. One thing I've really noticed with the kids is that they are always saying "my class doesn't have any good books, I want to work in here with the books in the library". Don't get me wrong, I love having classes in here for daily 5 and other purposes, but I know it will mean SO much to the kids and the teachers when they come to class one day with 100 specifically chosen books for their classrooms.
In order to keep up with this, I'll have to make sure I am on top of the new best-sellers all of next year. I've already been compiling a list, hopefully I can start ordering in September!
Yesterday school ended early, the kids were gone and the teachers were in meetings. This meant that I had the chance to re-organize some of the books in the elementary section. Surprisingly, there were only a few books that were crazily out of place! I got over halfway done, but it's a daunting task that must go uninterrupted.
A lot of my time spent this week has been on research. Thankfully I work in the perfect place for that. I am reading a book called 'Restitution' by Diane Chelsom Gossen. This is helping me to break my brain into itty bitty pieces at different points in the day. I need to keep reminding myself to remain calm, show that I care, and think differently than in previous jobs. This is a challenge that I enjoy, because I know no matter how long it takes, even if I take a million steps back- I will eventually make connections with these students. These students need to know that I will be here tomorrow and the day after that.
Over half the kids have given me compliments today, and it's so awesome to see smiles on their faces! I straightened my hair today and they are so flabbergasted. I also hid some minions around my desk and made the scanner into a fancy man with a mustache!
I must sign off now, since I'm just noticing that there may be a bird in the library.....BYE!
Friday 8 May 2015
What's New in my Zoo.
Yes, it is a zoo.
A month has gone by and here is a list of accomplishments:
The new Librarian is signing off!
A month has gone by and here is a list of accomplishments:
- Connections with students
- Putting my mark in the library (crafts on crafts on crafts)
- Knowing the timetable- a.k.a when kids should be in class, and when they should be visiting me.
- Cataloging an obscene amount of amazing books
- Learning what Minecraft, Clash of Clans, and Roadblock is (I know, I'm only 23 and I am SO out of the loop)
- Organizing everything I can so I know where I leave things
- Getting to know the staff: laminating every thing in speedy time (and cutting it all out, too)
- I have basically taught myself everything there is to know about anything in this library from scratch. This includes cataloging, using the computer program, fixing books that have been damaged, renting laptops/cameras, the printer (the printer is like a Rubik's cube) and memorizing the locations of the books- and then putting them all away.
The kids now know me by name, and it feels great. This has been an amazing experience so far, and I feel as though I have come a long way since the beginning.
Of course, there have been some bad days, it takes a level of self-control that I have never known existed in me. Even with the bad days, there are always great moments. I was lucky enough to be asked to work with a student every morning on reading recovery, sight words and sentence building. I am so proud of this student, and she has really started to open up to me. This student has already moved up several levels in one month! This makes me feel as though no matter what I am attempting, I am still making a difference.
One of my favourite things to do, aforementioned in my last post is reading to classes regularly. Although I do not have specific qualifications to be named a teacher-librarian, I am still trying to form some sort of lesson while reading specific books. I am always communicating with teachers to make sure I am reading books that pertain to their monthly themes or projects. I do a lot of improvising, however the kids are very smart, and they always answer my questions beautifully. I read a lot about cultures within the school, and about the environment.
This school is Kindergarten to Grade 12, so it is always fun yet challenging to portray myself in many different aspects. I have only just graduated high school 5 years ago, so I am mostly a friend to the much older kids, and a funny crafty big kid to the younger ones.
Thank you Pinterest for livening up my library each and every day! I will post the pins so that maybe you can use them too!
Thursday 7 May 2015
How did I get here?
How DID I get here?
That is a wonderful question.
Who knew that I would attain my dream job within a year of graduating university?
It all began in the second year of my degree in Modern Languages. I got the crazy yet rewarding idea in my head to learn a completely new language- Spanish. I am already fluent in french, why not learn another one?
By the end of the year, I was grasping introductions, food and the names of articles of clothing. I felt as though I was the smartest and most articulate Spanish-speaking student on the planet.
Until, my professor announced our final project for the year- write a children's book, make it yourself, and read it to the kids at the local library. Excuse me? How was I going to write an entire story in my now third language, make it look nice and pleasing to the eye of a 4 year old, and then actually read it out loud to them?
My partner and I worked long hard hours, we missed out on residence house events and turned her room into a ground zero disaster zone. After a week, we created a masterpiece. Now all it took was the confidence and proper pronunciation to get it done. It was called "Llamas in Pajamas" and really only brushed the surface of Latin American culture. It was about two llamas who, of course were wearing pajamas, crossed Southern America meeting friends and learning pieces of their culture along the way. The book was hand-made, and hand-bound.
We presented the book to the kids, read it to them and something sparked in me. I knew it wouldn't be the last time I would read to a group of wriggly and smiley-faced children. Our class voted on the best books, and we came in second place. The book is still on display in the local library, three years later!
That summer, my friends and I rented a seven bedroom house in our tiny university town, and got to work finding jobs. I searched high and low, interview after interview. Finally, it was down to two possibilities. A clerical job at the University, or a co-coordinator for the Summer Reading Club at the local library. My confidence level did not allow me to believe I could really do well at either job. Somehow, I flourished during the library position interview, and I was successful! That day began my ongoing love affair for working in libraries, and of course, with kids.
At the age of 20, I understood what it meant to wake up every day, and go to work enjoying every single aspect. The kids, my co-workers, the atmosphere, the program. Most of all, I enjoyed how much of the work was created solely by myself and the other coordinator. We were in charge of sparking the minds of the youngsters, keeping their reading up, and of course, being as silly as a "big kid" can be. I worked at this job for two summers, and was torn when I knew I would not be returning.
Before my second reading club summer, I traveled to Québec City and there I met my boyfriend. We spent a year in a long distance relationship, and now we are reaching our two-year point of meeting one another in Canada's most romantic city (barf). He is a teacher at a small school in a rural prairie town. I guess you could say that is how I got here. I spent the last 9 months working at a children's museum, and working at a national museum. These jobs helped me to build my self-confidence, learn, co-operate and work on my biggest weakness- multitasking. I can now say that I can easily plan an event, clean after guests, supervise volunteers, and answer the toughest questions while keeping my sanity intact. There were so many other feats to those jobs but my mind isn't quite recalling them at this moment.
A job opening at my partner's school has brought me here once and for all. I am the librarian! It is not quite like the Summer Reading Club, but it is the job I have been working towards. To me, this is a career, and I plan to treat it as so. This blog will be the place where I keep fragments of ideas, plans for the future, experiences that I can read over and see my progress.
If anyone ever reads this, please enjoy! This is a journey for the both of us.
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