HIT: ELEM: Planning time/scheduling

[Debbie Connelly <connellyd@MAIL.YAMHILLESD.K12.OR.US>]

Dear Barb,

    My school is K-5 with about 350-375 students. I hope my information can
help you!

        1. How is teacher planning time covered (and if you once were, but are
           no longer covering planning time yourself, who or what took your
           place?)

Teacher planning time is handled through 30 minutes classes of library, PE,
and music. Students go twice a week to PE and Music and once a week to
library. Last year I covered two elementary school with this same planning
time.  This next year I will be back at one school, gee... it was
discovered that having the librarian two days at one school and three days
at another with the library closed wasn't a good idea... I still plan on
seeing classes one time per week so that I can schedule in enrichment
groups such as "Great Books", and also have the flex time for research
groups to use the library as it is intended.
This past year I did change the time for intermediate classes and it seems
to work real well. 5th graders came down for a 30 min. lesson and then
their teacher joined for an additional 15 minutes for material check-out
(45 min, total). {I do not have an assistant to man the automated system
AND I DO NOT feel I can charge for a lost book if a student has been on the
main server. I know several people use their student aides to do this, but
I am real stubborn on this issue as I have made mistakes and faced upset
parents! It is an accountability issue.} So, the teacher is present for
management and assistance in locating reading materials, also she
recognizes appropriate choices either because of classroom assignments or
reading ability. 4th grade also came down for 30 min. lessons. I did have
an assistant from for two hours each afternoon, one hour of which was
recess duty so the library was open even on the days when I was at the
other school, students signed up in their classroom when they knew they
were going to need to come to the library and did so in groups of no more
than four per room (possible 8 at a time). This gave student's more
responsibility in planning. Of course, before and after school, and at
recess was always an option, too!

        2. What kind of schedule do you have in your building for providing
           your special classes (i.e. M-F, 4 day cycle, 6 day cycle, etc.-please
           briefly explain how it works}.

I touched upon special classes in the above answer. I prefer a flex
schedule for most of the special classes so that they can be scheduled as
the teacher and I see the need. The enrichment classes will be weekly, but
at this time I'm not sure whether they will be once or twice per week. I
also keep the library open to students who need to be excused from class
activities (birthday and holiday celebrations) for religious differences.
Good luck matching your philosophy, staff needs and support from your
principal!

Bye for now,


Debbie Connelly
Elementary Library Media Specialist
connellyd@mail.yamhillesd.k12.or.us