THANKS TO ALL! Your opinions help to guide my decisions.
----- Original Message -----
From: Julie Masterson <Julie_Masterson/HFL@HFL.MONROE.EDU>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 4:03 PM
Subject: Target: Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling in Elementary Schools
> Okay, I have read the research on flexible vs. fixed scheduling in
elementary
> schools, now I'd like to hear the opinions of the professionals. What do
you
> think?
>
> Julie Masterson-Smith
> Manor School Library Media Specialist
> Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
> Julie_Masterson@hfl.monroe.edu
Subject:
Re: Target: Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling in Elementary Schools
Julie-
Please post or send the replies on to me, if you don't mind. We are
undergoing a discussion in my district on a "variation", i.e. seeing 3rd
graders for 3 months, 4th graders for the next 3 months, etc. I have grave
doubts about this. But I am not totally close minded.
Amy Ipp
Glenwood School
Short Hills Nj
Lu83@aol.com
cc:
Subject:
Re: Target: Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling in Elementary Schools
Julie: Not a professional here; but I feel like one after working as a
librarian assistant with the same librarian for 9 yrs.
We have a combined flexible with fixed schedule. To make sure every student
is given the chance to check-out, each class has one 15 min. c/o time
weekly.....they may come back at any time during the school week and day to
return their books for another one with teacher's permission. ALL of the
time we are open for anything the teachers request......small group research,
small group pleasure reading, whole class research w/ teacher assisting,
small group reading enrichment assisted by the librarian, computer research,
small group or individual check-outs, etc.
We feel with the flexible schedule, that the children get their hands on the
books more ........ they actually get and enjoy more hands on time with
books. The children feel it is an absolute privilege to enjoy the library
away from a whole class setting.....they appear to appreciate books more when
they have more quiet one on one time with a book away from the multitude of
children in their class after they have finished their daily classwork. It
is also a privilege to the librarians to be able to deal with the children on
a more one on one basis.....we feel that we have more input on their
education that way.
Judy Magee
Librarian Asst.
Madison Sta. El.
Madison, MS
Flexible scheduling
My opinion---just mine. Please do not print with my name.
Flexible scheduling is an ideal in elementary school. However, its success
depends on the size of the library, the size of the campus, the number of
staff members to handle everything, freedom given to students to come to the
library on their own (some campuses do not allow young children to roam
alone), automation, support of principal and staff.
I have played around with it for 10 years in an elementary school.
Generally speaking, it is not well-received by teachers. I also never had a
library big enough to accomodate flexible access for check-out and research
at the same time as a lesson or story was happening. Flexible scheduling is
sort of like whole language.
I really think elementary students need structured lessons in library use.
It is very difficult to be sure that you have covered all of the skills with
every class with flexible scheduling. I do think flexible access for
check-out and small group research is essential, though. I also believe
that skills are best taught at the point of need. Depending on staffing and
school size, though, whether flex or fixed, it is often impossible to see
all classes once a week (as teachers would like) and provide any time for
administrative activities, collaborative planning, etc.
My best schedules were a combination of flex and fixed. PreK came to the
library once a week for a story. K came to the library once a week for a
story, some skills, and later on, check-out combined with some skills or
story. 1st came to the library once a week for the same, but started
checking out in the first few weeks of school, after a review of
responsibilities and procedures. 2nd through 5th were on a fixed schedule
every other week for 45 minutes each time. Skills were combined with
curricular objectives or whatever they were studying at the time (as were K
and 1st whenever possible) and they could check out books.
That left me with 3 open check-out periods each day---30 minutes before
scheduled library classes, for about 45 minutes around lunch periods, when
my assistant was not available to me, and 30 minutes at the end of the
school day. In addition, I had Fridays unscheduled, and available for
flexible scheduling with a class or even an entire grade level, to come and
spend as much time as we deemed necessary for a project. Also, it gave me
Fridays as a whole day for outside speakers/readers/programs for the whole
school, when I didn't have to change any other schedules around. At various
times, depending on the size of the student body, I sometimes had a couple
of hours in a block on another day, to do the same. And to tend to
administrative tasks, computer troubleshooting, etc.
Not every teacher was with happy with the every other week aspect---but
there weren't enough hours in a week to see every class once a week anyway!
Many saw the advantages of having a day they could schedule when they needed
something extra. I felt comfortable in that I was sure I got in some of the
necessary skills. Since my scheduling came after the scheduling of
PE/music/ fixed reading times, I was able to have a set time each day for
each grade level (not the ideal for me--that meant I saw 4 or 5 grades in a
day).
So, my opinion for elementary school is that we need a combination of flex
and fixed scheduling that allows for teaching a sequence of library skills
to everyone, and allows times for independent research and book check-out.
Sharon Gonzalez
Librarian
Connell Middle School
San Antonio, TX
sgonzalez3@satx.rr.com
sgonzalez@saisd.net
Subject:
Re: Target: Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling in Elementary Schools
I've done a fixed schedule where teachers could stay and participate in
lessons, a flexible schedule with teacher collaboration and participation
and a fixed schedule that provided planning time for teachers. While the
fixed schedules can be made to work, the flexible schedule definitely works.
If you use a fixed schedule with teachers - you can plan and co-teach, you
can integrate skills but not always at just the right time, you do get to
see all children in equal doses. If you use a fixed, prep-time type
schedule you can plan but not co-teach. It is much harder to integrate
skills at the right time and right level. You have very little if any
flexibility to work with varying levels of learning or in having kids return
another day to finish work - everything is blocked in by the schedule. With
a flexible schedule, you can plan ahead and have the teacher as a partner.
You can each work with smaller groups of kids. Kids can return to the
library several days in a row or go back to the classroom as they finish
work in the library. You can connect skills and lessons with classroom
units at just the right time and complete big research and literature
projects. So, I vote for flexible but can make fixed with teachers work. I
am very much against providing prep time - information skills are tools not
a stand-alone curriculum like PE and art and music. If uniform checkout is
a concern, you can always have short, scheduled checkout times, especially
if you have an aide or volunteer help. If uniform class time is the big
issue, then teachers will have to understand the need to schedule you and
your resources - and the principal will need to back you.
Judy Smith
Media Specialist
Vandergriff Elementary
Fayetteville, AR 72703
501.521.2850
Subject:
RE: Target: Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling in Elementary Schools
The teachers at my school would never stand for a straight fixed, or a
straight flexible schedule, so we do both. We're a K-6 school and here's
how we do it: Mornings we have a fixed schedule - one week primary classes
are scheduled, the next week it's the upper grades turn. After lunch, it's a
flexible schedule. Our school is really pushing Accelerated Reader, so in
the afternoons each teacher can send two to three kids whenever he/she wants
to to get another book. Teachers may also send kids for research, etc. It
seems to work out really well. Of course, at first some of the teachers
didn't want to come only every other week. They gave me the old, "My
students are going to be so sad they can't see you every week!" To which I
responded, "What are you, nuts?? You're students can see me every day.
You, however, will only see me once a week!" Heaven forbid they actually
have to teach for another 30 minutes every other week!!!
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Lisa Jessup
Library Clerk
Pendleton Elementary School
Buena Park, CA
LJessup@bpsd.k12.ca.us
Subject:
RE: Target: Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling in Elementary Schools
I like the fixed/flex schedule. I have classes for set periods of time, but
the center is always open for walk-ins. The fixed part gives me the
opportunity to formally teach media skills to ALL students, not just those
that visit the Center frequently. A fixed/flex schedule also allows for
meeting with classes to work on special projects. We have a very active
Media Center, and I think part of the reason for that is because the
students feel comfortable knowing how to use it.
I hope you'll post a hit, I'd love to see the responses you get.
Norma Gregory
Friendship Elementary
Deltona, Fl
norbud@cfl.rr.com
From: STIRKK@annunciationacademy.org on 03/25/2002 09:25
PM GMT
Address Information
Subject:
Re: Target: Flexible vs. Fixed Scheduling in Elementary Schools
After 16 years I can say the theory is great :) but it doesn't work in
practice :))))
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Mailing List Home