study hall redux - part 4

[lori joffe <lkjof@ICDC.COM>]

close to the end, but not quite.

Lori K Joffe
Librarian
Bensalem High School
lkjof@icdc.com

I have been at this for 30 years this Dec. and have no sure fire
answer. However I found that having the study hall teacher write out
individual passes with name, time and reason for coming helps to slow it

down. I have a small library so if classes are coming, I tell the SH
teacher to send NOBODY. I was a SH teacher a long time ago, so I have
seen both sides of the problem.

Are you saying that complete study halls are assigned to your LMC with
you as the duty teacher?  I know of only one high school of the several
where I previously worked as a substitute teacher that allowed that.
The
practice ended when a new LMS went to the Principal and pointed out that
it
was not done in any other schools in our area.  The first step was to
have
another teacher assigned to enforce the quiet study hall.  In other
schools
various numbers from as few as 6 are allowed a pass to the library on
the
condition that they behave appropriately.  They can be asked to return
to
the classroom or cafeteria for non-compliance with library regulation.
In
the best schools I have worked in there are teachers and administrators
in
the hall during all periods who will be happy to escort "problems" out
of
the LMC.
     If you are trying to make the LMC open for librarian-teacher
collaboration you need to talk with your building administrator and
explain
logistics.  You need a given number of seats available to accommodate
the
1-2 classes you can work with at any given time.  That leaves seats for
only
so many from study halls.  But make sure that you are making the library

available for teachers to bring full classes in with them, whether or
not
they need your constant attention. (As a classroom sub, my afternoon
reward
for completing assigned work was free time with me still supervising in
the
LMC.)  Your cooperation will save you the problem of having the
"difficult"
students sent from study hall.  Yes you may send them back, but the
teacher
bought half a period or more of not having to deal with them.
    Oh the games teachers will play!

I make laminated passes for my teachers, only 4 per teacher, maybe this
would limit how many students each teacher sent
Students sign in w/time when they get here, and sign out and take pass
back
when they leave

Ask teachers to call first before sending students, give compliments to
the teachers on their students and always give a reward for special help

given by students when they are there. (Many times students would help
me
shelve books when they were waiting for their groups to go back to
class)
  It really helps to have the students sign in and out on a sheet of
paper
at the desk and have a comment area for compliments on their conduct and

behavior. The sign-in sheet helped me very much when we had a fire drill
or
a "secure premise perimeter" drill. I knew who was there from what class
and
who had just left and might need finding. Jeannette Croft

I have the study hall monitor assign each student one library day
per week.  I put all the names in a database and print out the schedule
for study hall and for the library.  If the students need to come to the

library more than the one assigned day per week, they must get a pass
from me personally.  Not all of the students in study hall wish to come
to the library once a week, but if they do, they have the opportunity,
and I have an even number of students each day.  The first time they
come to the library, I tell them how I expect them to behave.  If I have

any problems with them, they lose their weekly pass and must get a pass
from me for any return visit.  At that point, I require a school
assignment.  It works pretty well.  Seems to be more equitable than
first come first served.

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