Re: Flexible Scheduling

["Tamar M. Fox" <tmfox@UMICH.EDU>]

        As a compromise to flexible scheduling, this year I am
reintroducing grades 4-5 every other week for 45 min, instead of every
week for 30min. The justification was new technology and moving towards
flexible scheduling. When my schedule was prepared, with all those OPEN
times, I decided to list ideas for teachers: booktalks, research, tech
training, etc. I also listed professional responsibilities- video taping,
scheduling our new Dynacom system, processing, pulling resources for
classroom teachers, etc. Hopefulling, this will show those reluctant
attitudes that flexible scheduling does not equate with media
specialist's laziness ( some think I'll just take advantage of the
freedom). One teacher has already complained that the "math" doesn't add up.
It takes a great deal of patience to walk the staff thru the change.

On Mon, 29 Aug 1994, Marbeth Szczerban wrote:

> Dear Teresa and LM_NETters,
>
>    Hooray for you!     Rather than send around a sign-up sheet for those
> days, perhaps you could inform teachers that you are available on an "as
> need" basis.  Then they come to you and sign up with the projects in mind
> that they want to do with their students.
>
>   I do this in my MS (and have for 11 years).  The results are great
> becaue then teachers have a PLAN in mind BEFORE requesting a time slot in
> the librarian's schedule.  Then they do not just schedule their own free
> time or a book exchange from ____ (the warm place).  +++++please keep in
> mind that it is OK to have an open period sometimes; you have plenty to
> do! Open periods are great for "walk-ins" to receive even greater
> attention from you. ++++++++++
>
>   By the way those teachers STAY in the library and work with the students
> too.  With the teacher's input, seats are assigned if they are coming more
> than one day for research/bk exchg. This is important so that kids know
> where they are to sit and not waste time changing seats. (A seating chart
> also helps me get to put names and faces together more quickly!)
>
>   Hope this helps you,
>   Marbeth  :-)
>