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Pat wrote:
<<...I teach in a K-5 elementary school in rural western North Carolina....My
question to the list is, how do I make the case for flexible scheduling in my
school when the other teachers are not willing to give up that 45 minute
planning period they get once a week while their kids are in the library?
....>>

Pat, I don't think NC teachers are EVER going to give up their 45 minute
planning time.  They are mentally hanging by their fingernails because of
overcrowded classrooms, desperately needy students with little or no support
outside of the classroom teacher, EOG's, teacher accountability hoopla, low
pay, low-level of respect from the community, etc.  They absolutely NEED the
45 minutes we provide them each day.  (It still irks me that classroom
teachers don't get a lunch break at my school.  We have the budget for
lunchroom aides but can't find anyone who wants the job.  Does that surprise
anyone? HA! HA!)

With all that said, we know, as SLMS, that our students learn more
efficiently and effectively when their activities in the media center are
connected to their classroom. So how do we get those teachers to work with us?

1) Start small.  Pick the seemingly most willing teacher or grade level to
approach about collaborating on a unit.  Be patient.  Keep trying.  I'm in my
5th year and still can't get a couple of teachers I really want to
collaborate with, to work with me.

2) Go to your grade level meetings and ask what you can do to help them
deliver the curriculum.  Perhaps offer to supplement their next science or
social studies unit through your media classes as classroom teachers seem to
have the least amount of time for those two subjects.  They will probably
jump at the chance to work with you!

3) Don't ask them to fill out any paperwork.  YOU write it down.  YOU keep
the records.

4) If you can juggle your schedule at all to open up any flexible time slots,
offer extra time slots to the teachers as a possibility, if once a week won't
suffice.

5) Pull resources for them to deliver to their classroom. Deliver yourself to
the classroom if necessary.

6) Never say no, if you can help it.  Find a way to redirect their request so
you can accommodate them.

7) Run quick newsletters highlighting new resources and great collaborations
with teachers you connected with hoping to spark interest in other teachers.

8) Most of importantly...keep detail records of your collaborations in your
plan book and toot your horn to your principal.  Write an end of year report
promoting your program and all you do.  You absolutely have to have
administrative support to go flex.  It will not happen without the
administration.

This is my 5th year and I just finished my MLIS last April, so I'm no
veteran.  We've had some special staffing situations that has allowed us to
be creative; a 6th special class teaches our media classes bimonthly which
opened up flexible time slots for us.  Our 5th grade classes have two Spanish
classes per week therefore don't come to us for a weekly class; just weekly
check out and flexibly planned research units.  We will NEVER have a total
flex schedule.  But, this year, our 4th grade teachers are asking us to come
to their grade level meetings.  Their asking us to teach science and social
studies units with them. It's exciting!

Good Luck.

Kathy Cadden, K-5 Media Specialist
Nathaniel Alexander Elementary
Charlotte, NC  kclibro@aol.com

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