(long) proselytizing on behalf of the media specialist

[Beverly Kay Maddox <bmaddox@MAILER.FSU.EDU>]

     Peter, et. al.: I hope this message is appropriate for LM-NET.
Cross-posting to state lists would be appreciated.

     I am a language arts teacher (part time LMS student at FSU), a
member of a 4 person team who will present a workshop on interdisciplinary
 units at the National Middle School Association meeting in November.
I have a hidden agenda and need your help.

     From previous experience in other schools, I know many middle school
     teachers underutilize or "misutilize" their media specialists when
     it comes to planning and conducting interdisciplinary units.  We are
     blessed with two
     media specialists at our school, a K-12 lab school, who are ready
     and willing to plan with us and take an active role in any inter- or
     multi- (there is a difference, isn't there?) disciplinary unit we
     undertake.

     However, not all schools have enlightened teachers who understand how
     critical the LMS is, not only  to successful interdisciplinary
     units, but to the nature of the middle school in toto.  Your mission,
     should you decide to take it, is to help me enlighten them!

     Send me a brief e-mail that addresses one or all of the following:
          1. describe a unit that you initiated, helped plan, and/or
             helped conduct in a middle school setting with a middle school
             teacher or team in the media center
          2. describe how you help teachers plan units
          3.  describe how you "team-teach" as part of a unit
          4.  describe how you train teachers to better utilize the
              information resources of the school.
          5. offer advice to teachers on how to use the information
             resources in your school
          6. describe the resources and services that a media center can
             offer
          7. anything else you think would be useful in proselytizing
             them to be media center believers

     Thanks for your support.  Any ideas, examples, advice I use in our
     presentation or handouts will be credited to the person or school
     sending it unless you decline the citation.

     PS:  I'm always bragging on Arkansas so I hope to hear from you
          Arkansans!

        Send input to bmaddox@mailer.acns.fsu.edu

        Beverly Maddox
        FSU Developmental Research School
        Tallahassee, FL