Thank you for all the well-thought advice.
i asked the group to give advice about grading libary classes:
How about asking him if any other faculty have a class load of that many
students?
-------
When you discuss this with your supervisor, ask them what other activities
you will omit/discontinue/cancel in lieu of this. (Somethimes that makes
them stop and think...)
Beyond that...This may be considered a change in your working conditions.
Perhaps it is time to have a private consultation with your union
representation. Then you might embark on an informal (or formal) course of
joint action.
IMHO as a former elementary school librarian, giving grades is punitive.
Library instruction is not a discipline. It's a(n integrated) process.
However, I can recall being in your shoes some years ago. And the punitive
aspect had short term value for controlling a few classes.
I envy your high school librarians for having good colleagues like you in
the elem. level. There is nothing in my district, and it certainly shows in
the way kids do their work.
-------
Research your state standards for any that might
apply to the whatever you teach, explain same to
your students, have THEM create rubrics for
progress, meeting, and mastery, and then have
THEM self-assess with "I" if in progress toward
meeting the standard, "P" for proficiency, and
"M" for consistent mastery [or whatever three
ratings they choose]. It is amazing to me how
tough students can be on themselves when this
system is used well -- and how honest.
If we are teachers, and paid as such, assessments
SHOULD be a part of the job, but that doesn't
mean that we must grade, or quiz, or test
necessarily. In doing the things required in a
library, students can prove to themselves what
they know or don't know and be part of the
process. Good luck!
---------
Because library skills cannot be taught in a vacuum. They are taught in
the context of the curriculum - and therefore, the grade for the project
is the teacher's responsibility. You can, however, help design rubrics to
assess library skills. I would not agree to grading any more definitively
than S/U.
----------
I can see grading some stuff -- like if you work with a fifth grade on
research
papers. You handle the notecards for the bibliography, maybe note-taking.
But
how can you grade kids in first grade? They listen to lots of stories,
that's
about it. I can see giving a class grade for conduct or you having some
influence on a conduct grade. That is what my school does. In fact, my son's
class was so bad yesterday that he has to write an essay on discipline. He
did
his, but some of his classmates said they wouldn't. Guess what? Those kids
who
do not do the assignment will fail conduct the next six weeks. Oh, that
means
their grades drop one full letter. Should be interesting to see if they can
get
out of the fifth grade!
-----------
How about...you have a hundreds of books to order, book reviews to read, 400
students to maintain in the student database, overdue notices to print out
and distibute, hundreds of books to catalog (if you order yours already
processed, I'll bet you have donations and equipment to enter), books to
stamp, cover, label, repair,etc. You also have a several thousand dollar
budget to maintain and be responsible for spending it wisely. And I almost
forgot about helping students in the library and teachers finding a last
minute book or information. That's on top of having classes. You simply do
not have the same daily responsiblilities as a classroom teacher or even
another "specials" teacher. You have more!
-----------
I had a similar job for 2 years, with 13 classes twice a week; the good
thing
was really getting to know the kids and being able to coordinate my
assignments.
I only had 200 kids in these 26 classes, though. The grades I gave were
basically plus, avg., or needs improvement, on about 4 criteria. Computer
grades were only for grades 4-6. It worked ok except I wished there was an
item for attitude/effort, so I could let the parents know that improvement
was needed.
You clearly have too much to do. If the other specials don't give grades,
perhaps you could try that argument. On the other hand, grades do make our
classes seem more important.
By the way, I complained that my job was too much for one person. The board
enthusiastically agreed, and changed it from one FT job to 2 half-time
jobs,
computer teacher and librarian. I asked to be interviewed for the 1/2 time
library job, but they didn't even interview me and gave it to someone else.
After 2 years but no tenure, I was told I didn't have a leg to stand on.
Chuck Finnigan
librarian~technology~planning time specialist
Central Elementary School
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
cfinnigan@swsd.k12.wa.us
www.swsd.k12.wa.us
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