Re: High School to Elementary

[Toni Buzzeo <tonibuzzeo@TONIBUZZEO.COM>]

John wrote:

>After more than thirty years as a high school librarian, due to budget cuts
>I was assigned last week to an elementary school (K-5).  I've had no
>experience with this age group.    I would appreciate any advice anyone can
>offer to make the best start possible.   I would especially appreciate any
>pitfalls to watch out for.  I know I can mine the archives for lessons and
>activities.

John, if at all possible insist on a flexible schedule and establish the
expectation of collaborative teaching with your staff.  (It's so difficult
to undo precedent if you haven't begun that way.)

It's a wonderful opportunity to begin anew, to work closely with teachers
who are (as most elementary teachers are)  anxious to integrate several
disciplines to meet content standards across the curriculum.  Make
information literacy standards an integral part of the whole and yourself
an essential member of the teaching team, as I'm sure you were all these
years in your high school!  (My elementary collaborations book will be of
some help with specifics, too.)

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

I have taught at every level from elementary --> college, and I must say, I
love those little faces!

Best,
Toni


Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS <mailto:tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com>
Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year Emerita
Portland, ME 04103
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com

Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher/Librarian Partnerships for K-6
(Linworth 2002)
Collaborating to Meet Standards: Teacher/Librarian Partnerships for 7-12
(Linworth, October 2002)

The Sea Chest, illustrated by Mary GrandPre (Dial 2002)  NEWLY PUBLISHED
and STARRED in SLJ

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