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The following are the responses I have gotten so far-- quite
helpful!  Thank you all!  My favorite quote is from Larry Parsons:
"Remember, starting as a new MS Librarian is like jumping into a
moving roller coaster. Be sure to hang on tight!!"
>
> > I'm the media specialist in a new middle school (grades 7 and 8) and  have
> > a very good relationship with the English and social studies teachers when
> > they teach an inter-disciplinary unit on the Holocaust.  They count on me
> > for loads of print and some non-print suggestions for kids to read and use.
> >  Another thing that's been very successful is having me teach the English
> > classes Claris Works in the Mac lab so that they can do all their writing
> > assignments using that program.  The teachers really appreciate me doing
> > that for them.  Good luck to you this fall!
> > Virjean Griensewic  Dakota Meadows Middle School
> > North Mankato, MN 56003
> > misd77L@msus1.msus.edu      (home)
> >
> > From: GAIL_SMITH@cpsnet2.cps.edu
> > One of my most successful recent ideas was to assign each student to
> > read a book from our libary that is without a laminated cover or
> > dustjacket.  After reading the book, we cut construction paper to size
> > for each book and they designed covers which were laminaated and
> > permanantly applied to the book they read.  As part of the
> > preliminaries, I taught what info must goon the spine and cover which
> > was then put on by the student making the cover.  After the books were
> > displayed for a time, they went back into our regualr collection.  It
> > was such a popular assignment that some students in other classes asked
> > if they could make bookjackets too.  It helped provide covers for the
> > perfectly interesting fiction books that were going unread because of a
> > plain or boring cover and the children had the pride of creating
> > something real, not just an assignment that was done and then thrown
> > away.
> >
> > From: Frances Knight <fknight@tenet.edu>
> > First thing I would do would be try to do away with the reading classes
> > coming in at regular time.  Open the library up to all classes and so
> > that they can do research or whatever.  Let the reading classes come in
> > when they need to get books but limit them to part of the period.  When
> > they come in for a period every two weeks it soon becomes an off period
> > for the teacher and the students sense this.  The other teachers look at
> > it as a reading lab and they don't use it like they should.
> > Poteet High School
> > Poteet TX
> >
> > From: Madeline Buchanan <DEMS105@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU>
> >   I was a librarian in a middle school for four years. The first year I had
> >fixed scheduling as you mentioned in your letter.  Even though the teachers
 had planning time outside of the library schedule, they still resented being
 in the library with their students because they felt that I was in charge in
 the library and couldn't see the relationship of library activities and class-
>room projects.  Several would come, but would leave during the
>library time to run off papers, make telephone calls, etc.  The majority of
>teachers who did come to the library with their students used that time to
>grade papers or write lesson plans while I taught the library skills.
 >   We had flexible scheduling the other three years that I was in the middle
 school.  Because our sixth grade building was so far away from the main
 building, I still tried to schedule those students in every two weeks.  How-
 ever, the problem with flexible scheduling is that some teachers really want
 their students to use the library and assign projects that require library
 research while others never send their students to the library at all.
 In order to have a successful library program at any level, it is up to the
 classroom teacher to teach the value of the library and its contents and
 encourage the students to use the library properly.

> > Our middle school librarian has made two changes that have helped us a
> > lot.  One is a major change in policy, which doesn't seem so outrageaous,
> > but it did take a lot of negotiation.  We did find it necessary to
> > include the librarian in our planning so she knew how to help kidswhen
> > they came to her, but also she was willing to let us send kids over when
> > they needed to come, in dribs and drabs, to check out books when we were
> > doing reading workshop, or to research when we were doing inquiry.  It
> > was essential to their inquiry to visit individually when they had a
> > burning question.  She was also open to our sending kids to train other
> > kids on using the internet, the cd rom, etc.  She also has been stocking
> > our library with high quality picture books, "Rose Blanche, and Faithful
> > Elephants" about WWII, "Annie and the Old One", "The Rough-Faced Girl",
> > and "Sky Dogs", Native Americans, "Encounter" about Columbus, other
> > picture books that offer writing extensions.  And she may also take down
> > the sign that labels these books as Easy.  They're not.  They are deeply
> > provoking.> >
> > Jennifer Story> Dole Intermediate School  Honolulu, Hi 96819
> >
> > From: CJ Peal <XW33CJP%LUCCPUA.bitnet@vm42.cso.uiuc.edu>
> > > > Before and after school library times during which students
> > may utilize either library resources and/or the "quiet" and
> > "studious" atmosphere of the library would be two additional
> > items I would add to the list .  .  .
> > Best of luck - It sounds like you're heading down the right
> > road!!

> > From: Sue Swaim <HSS4@AOL.COM>
  It's great to hear about a success story which expands the teaching team to
  include the librarian.  It sounds as if your school is fortunate to have a
> kid-centered librarian who wants to work directly with students and teachers.
  I agree that the type of partnerships you described can be key components to
> successful schools.
> >
> > From: Colorado MESA Project <hmannms@spot.Colorado.EDU>
> >     I had to make a list of what I had done this year in order to
> > keep my job as a librarian full time in the middle school I am in. So
> > find below all the crazy and wonderful things which happened this school
> > year. Hope it can be of use to you!
> > Ed Glassman> > Horace Mann Middle School
> >
> > Work Completed as Library Media Specialist 93-94 School Year> >
> >     Taught library skills through video presentations and follow-up to
> > Constellation and Olympian team. 10-13 week programs
> >     Worked with students on History Day projects: Photographing,
> > purchasing, going to the public library, ethnic stores and fashion show,
    assembling shadow screen, supervising shadow puppet script creation.
> >     Assembled speakers for the school wide Invention Convention.
> > Hosted the convention in the library.
> >     Hosted Career Day with the Middle Lift program.
> >     Hosted a band concert
> >     Did story telling for 6th grade music classes: Japanese, African,
> > and Mayan stories
> >     Coordinated an internet project: Kids Global Project on weather.
> > Worked with students from every team in the building.
> >     Purchased exciting materials for the library. Will be purchasing
> > a vast amount of books when software arrives.
> >     Worked with Sirius team on reference skills and research.
> >     Worked with most teams on research projects.
> >     Redesigned the library
> >     Currently working with students creating a Navajo creation myth
> > for a mid May presentation.
> >     Tolerated classroom use of the library January - December?
> >     Supervised bar coding of books for our old system. Now will
> > supervise new bar codes being put on all the books over again for the
 Carl system. Carl  will come up this school year.
> >     Wrote a Library Power grant with input from many staff members
> >     Helped rewrite an LSCA grant for computers and software-GOT IT
> >  Wrote a Chrysler Family grant for books, bags, and family overnights....
> >     Taught students through presentations on the internet, Nasa
> > network. and CARLlibrary network.
> >     Taught and supervised student assistants
> >     Did mask show -Coyote & the Navajo Creation Myth
> >
> > Having the teacher with the students cries out for cooperative
> > planning!  For my two bits, I'd suggest that you approach the
> > library topics through application by integrating with the core
> > curriculum.  The more students see the relationships among and
> > between the things they study, the more they will value and use
> > them!
> > Dr. William F. Johnston Wise County Schools
> > Wise, VA 24293  wmjohn@rvgs.vak12ed.edu
> >
> > From: Mary M Woodard <marlow@tenet.edu>
> > I was in the same position you are now at this time last year.  After six
> > years as an elementary librarian with a fixed schedule, I moved to a
> > brand new middle school (7th & 8th grade).  While I didn't get as much
> > accomplished as I would have liked, I really enjoyed the flexible
> > schedule and planning library instruction to go along with classroom
> > projects.  One of my most successful units this year was an 8th grade
> > unit on famous Black Americans.  Another good one was a 7th grade unit on
> > human diseases for a science class.  Because I was opening a new school,
> > I got kind of a late start.  The library wasn't opened and ready for
> > classes until the end of October.  By then, teachers were anxious to have
> > their students doing research projects, so I didn't get to focus much on
> > reading and literature.  Next year I'm planning a reading program based
> > on the Texas Lone Star Reading List.  It will run all year and students
> > will earn incentives based on how many books they read from the list.
> > ANother goal I have for next year is more extensive planning of units
> > with teachers.  We have teaming at our school, and the teachers have a
> > "team" planning time for developing interdiscplinary units.  I'm going to
> > be a lot more involved in that in the future.
> > Kimbrough Middle School  Mesquite, TX  marlow@tenet.edu

> From: Larry Parsons <booker@guest.nwnet.net>
>   Congratulations! Remember, starting as a new MS Librarian is like
> jumping into a moving roller coaster. Be sure to hang on tight!!
>   For National Library Week, you might get the student body to support a
> "Guess the Quote" contest by providing gift certificates to a local book
> store. Our kids love it. For $40 you can give 4, $5.00 gift certs.,
> Mon-Thurs., then have two $10.00 gift certs. (one for the kids - one for
> the staff) on Friday. Folks love it.
>   Gum chewing a problem? Start a "Gum Tree" by making a cat scratch post
> without the carpet. Disguesting? Yes! Middle school kids LOVE it.
> Ilwaco Jr./Sr. Library
>

--
Jackie Keith                                 Salem Elementary
4501 Jackson Rd.                             Spotsylvania, VA 22407
(703) 786-8218                               jkeith@mwc.vak12ed.edu


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