Re: Library stats

[Melissa Davis <mbdavis@tenet.edu>]

Joan Bennert wrote:
> I don't know all the issues but here are some of my observations:
> Teachers like fixed scheduling for planning purposes. Students are
> required to at least come and browse when we allow fixed scheduling. (In
> my opinion too many students do not go to the library and are proud that
> they have never taken a book out.) The library should be such an
> exciting place where student want to come even if they are not yet
> readers. We need administrators who understand this is not a prep,
> support sustained quiet reading and literacy. We need help such as
> volunteers who can run the library and release us to teach.

A couple of years ago our campus began a concerted, organized effort to
increase student scores on the TAAS test. As a result of the specific
steps that were taken and the emphasis placed on everyone following
those steps, teachers felt they no longer had the time to do the
"extras" like research projects. Class use of the library declined by
more than 50%! but individual student checkout increased.

Now you and I both know that those same test elements should be taught
in CONTEXT, not isolation. But my teachers only saw the time they had
available (both classtime and their personal preparation time) and the
new requirements they had to meet, and said "Something has to give!" And
the something that 'gave' was all the neet, creative projects that they
had developed over literally years.

We are gradually getting them back. And in some cases the projects they
are doing now have been improved by their experience.

As more states institute statewide tests to measure student performance,
your teachers may face the same kind of decision.

--
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
        Melissa Davis                   Librarian
        Splendora Middle School         Splendora I.S.D.
        26175 FM 2090                   Splendora, TX 77372
        Internet: mbdavis@tenet.edu     PHONE: (713)689-2853
                  mbdavis@lcc.net       FAX: (713)689-8702
        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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