Re: Noise levels

[Kathy Mladenich <klibrary@HARBORNET.COM>]

I love these threads which reaffirm our similarities in that we face many of
the same challenges and yet we each bring our own unique style to our jobs.
It's kind of like parenting - you adjust your method according to your
expectations and I suppose what you can tolerate in order to survive and be
effective. I personally thrive in an active, random environment but it needs
to be moving and functioning according to some pretty high standards. I
spend a lot of time educating the kids and staff to that standard which,
selfishly, is to create an environment which I project as the optimum
library environment - but I know - deep down inside that what I'm working
toward is where I feel the most comfortable. I find these threads so helpful
because they remind me of the many different "styles" which in turn create
unique learning environments - all of them valid. It gets me out of my
preverbal "box" and more keenly aware of other perspectives and hopefully
motivation to temper and tune my own method.

Yes, staff and visiting groups with IA's can be disruptive when you are
trying to work your library magic with a class of primary students.
Sometimes I need immediate results and I will say to the group I'm working
with...."On three, we're going to say....Too Much Noise"  Always....there is
instant silence from the other side of the library - maybe a giggle or
two -and then ......"On three, we're going to say, Thank you."  It probably
is more instructional to those who are trying to listen - than the noise
makers - but it works and...it's kind of fun, and....out of the box.

Another thing I do - which I realize is not for everyone....I make this
obnoxious buzzer sound - which goes along with all the other warning sounds
we listen for and drill - but sounds a little different. I call it "Library
Alert" The kids know it means freeze and listen - as apposed to drop and
cover, etc. Then, realizing that they are all "digitized" I announce that
the library volume was at a 8 (or whatever) holding my arms up like I'm
turning a huge imaginary dial - I say ....let's start at 0 and then take it
up to ....um.....about 3. They are very serious about this - love the
interplay and respond very well.

Kathy Mladenich
Library Technician
Artondale Elementary School
Gig Harbor, WA 98335

Library Web Page: http://www.peninsula.wednet.edu/school/artondale_library/
School: mladenich@peninsula.wednet.edu
Home: klibrary@harbornet.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Suby Wallace" <suwallac@COLUMBIA.K12.MO.US>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 6:10 AM
Subject: Re: Noise levels


> Wow, would I love to hear any suggestions you get!  My teachers
> get in the computer lab and really get to yuckking it up sometimes.
>  I've had to send kids in there before and say "Ms. Suby wants you
> to look at her please" (there is a glass wall between us) and then
> when they look at me, I give them the dreaded "shhhhh" sign.  I
> always smile when I'm doing it, and they usually take it pretty
> pleasantly and are chagrinned at their own noise level.  However, I
> wish they'd realize that first!!
>
> I really hate to ask kids to go say, "Ms. Suby wants you to be
> quiet" so I have them ask the teachers to look at me so I can do
> the dirty work!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Suby
>
>
> ------- End of forwarded message -------
> Suby Wallace, Media Specialist     suwallac@columbia.k12.mo.us,
> Derby Ridge Elementary School  (grades k-5)
> 4000 Derby Ridge Drive              573-886-2000
> Columbia, MO  65202              fax: 573-886-4729
>
> (home) subyw@socket.net
> http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/dre
> see the award-winning website created with a group of 6th grade students:
"Do We" Really Know Dewey?  http://tqjunior.advanced
> .org
>
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