Re: ELEM:FLEX VS SCHEDULED - discussion

[Paula Neale <hickman3@TV19.KCPT.ORG>]

As a media specialist who worked for years at the secondary level where the
scheduling was flexible as a matter of course and then for years under a
fixed schedule in an elementary school, I too have mixed feelings.  When I
was at the high school I spent too much time trying to make the teachers'
ideas for a research project work.  If I had it to do over again, I would be
much more assertive about changing the focus so that the kids would learn
how to find information rather than knocking myself out locating enough
resources in advance so that the assignment could fit into the desired
"3-day library slot" or whatever the teacher had in mind.

Now in elementary school I can certainly see the advantage of coordinating
with the curriculum, and collaborative planning and teaching.  I also know
that there are some teachers who will NEVER work with me that way and who
will if forced actually sabotage any efforts I may make.  My colleagues who
are totally in favor of flex say not to worry about them but as Karen said,
that leaves their kids out in the cold.

This year with the impetus of a budget reduction which cut elementary
library clerks to half time, we are trying some new things.  We do have a
fixed schedule but it is now bi-weekly instead of weekly.  I am encouraging
the teachers to send kids to exchange books when they bring back those they
have checked out rather than wait until the scheduled day.  This is
difficult so far.  I now have 5 teachers doing this on a regular basis, but
I started with just one so I guess that's progress.  I havejust ordered some
cute little buttons to serve as library passes and I hope that will help the
kids as well as the teachers to remember that we are open to them "at the
point of need."  I am also considering an occasional impromptu visit to
classrooms for a poetry break or short book teaser, but I will have to be
careful because time on task is one of our building goals and they already
fuss about too many interruptions.  One thing that I find really puzzling is
that I have always had at least an hour or more every day scheduled as
reference time where individuals or small groups could come to the library
and some of the teachers who used that faithfully are the very ones who now
say they can't find the time to let kids come to the library unless they can
schedule the whole class at once.  Incidentally they do have that option.
They can sign up for additional lessons or checkout times.  It is the having
to sign up that is causing the resistance.  However it is not everyone, so
I'm going to try to outlast them.  One thing I have noticed so far that is
worth fighting for is that the kids who come to exchange books on their own
or in small groups are much more serious about finding a book they want to
read.  Some of my whole-class checkouts are a nightmare of trying to police
the game players who hide out in the stacks and pinch or poke each other and
supervise the kids with overdues who refuse to sit quietly unless someone is
standing over them.  One big advantage I have is that except for a 4-year
"solution to overcrowding" the library has never covered planning time.
However there is a pretty strong tradition that library time is the time to
grab a cup of coffee, run off a few copies, make a phone call, etc.  I don't
mind that most of the time, but I do make a point to include the teacher in
part of the lesson as often as I can so they won't get the idea that this is
a break that they can count on no matter what.  I am using elm to write this
and I hate it because I can't go back and look over what I've written to see
if it makes sense.  Next time I'll word process it and paste it in.  Anyway
any ideas and successes you've had in implementing flexible scheduling or
getting teachers involved in technology or in fact to change their ways
about anything is always a useful topic for this list, I think.
--
Paula Neale                             ||  Ingels Elementary School
Library Media Specialist                ||  11600 Food Lane
hickman3@TV19.KCPT.ORG                  ||  Kansas City, MO  64134
(816) 761-4343