More suggestions for a portfolio........
Yes, include the professional information - conferences, etc. Also
include your state teaching license (does NY require this for a school
librarian?) and resume. Research projects. Pictures of students using
the library. Monthly circulation reports. Professional goals.
Collection development plans. Special projects such as book fairs,
reading incentive programs or liasons with the public library. Letters or
notes from teachers showing appreciation. Use lots of graphics,
different colored paper, etc.
I don't have my portfolio at work but I had four sections (such as
professional qualifications and development - library operations - special
projects - research units).
****************************************
I would suggest that you use the presentation of your portfolio as a way to
educate your administration. Let them know what sets a school library
teacher apart from a librarian or library clerk: you support curriculum
and teach information literacy skills. Keep a log of your meetings with
teachers and instruction with students.
Tape yourself and include a video in your portfolio. Take pictures of your
displays and bulletin boards. Show what you have learned at your workshops
and conferences and how you have applied what you have learned to your
daily practice.
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I too have to put together a portfolio this year as a part of my
evaluation. I am going to use the National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards Certification material as a pattern to set up mine.
As you know they started giving national certification to media
specialists for the first time last year. I took part in the pilot of
this program. I downloaded the NBPTS Library Media Standards. If you go
to this web site you can explore:
[ http://www.nbpts.org/standards/stds.cfm#framework
]http://www.nbpts.org/standards/stds.cfm#framework
*************************************************************************
We have the portfolio requirement at my school, too. Lesson plans and
samples of activities are included, also copies of correspondence with
teachers/administration/parents, newsletter articles I've written for the
school newsletter, printed photos of displays and exhibits I set up,
descriptions of events like visiting authors and how I promote that, etc.
We
take lots of digital photos of kids using resources/doing activities
throughout the school. For example, when 4th graders were learning about
primary and secondary resources, I set up a display of a variety of both
types, took a photograph of the display and also of students using the
materials, and added an explanation (easy to do with PowerPoint). We also
include copies of certificates from professional development, meeting
agendas if we're making a presentation, etc. I also attach notes to each of
these explaining what worked, what didn't work, how I could have done
something better - being reflective. I haven't yet had anyone take my
picture reading aloud, but that's coming. I'm trying to show not only what
I
do but how that relates to encouraging students and teachers to use the
media center. I have to do monthly usage reports for the system, so if I
can
figure out whether my antics increase circulation & visits I'll include
that
information. Hope this helps.
***************************************************
Do you have a library web page? Include that.
What about any reading incentive programs?
Don't you have classes that come to the library to do research? Do
You create pathfinders or research guides? If I have classes coming in,
I create lesson plans for the information/library skills portion of that
lesson.
What about any newsletters to faculty.
Technology that's been added while you've been there.
Just some ideas.
*********************************************************
Just a thought, you may want to include evidence of projects you have
worked on with teachers. These may be acrostic poems of athletes if the
students come to the library to find their facts in research books before
writing the poems; summaries of magazine articles after you have shown them
how to use the Reader's Guide or electronic sources, etc... I think you get
the idea. Do you have newspaper clippings about what goes in the
library-author visits, book fairs, book clubs? Cooperation with PTO or
parents as volunteers? I would think that all of these could be added to a
librarian's portfolio. Hope this helps.
********************************************************
We have to do portfolio's also. I have my assistant take pictures of me
as I read different stories. If I use a prop as I read to the students I
have her take a picture. I take pictures of my bulletin boards and
displays. I take pictures at the beginning of the school year to show
the "Before" picture before I decorate and the "After." When I show
Powerpoint slide shows, I print out copies and include them. Any
certificates I receive from workshops or conferences. Things that I give
out as incentives to the students (bookmarks, etc.). I take pictures of
students doing things - reading, receiving awards.
That's all I could think of for now. Good Luck.—
**************************************************************
Last year I was site coach for a teaching and technology group,
and as I did it for credit myself I had to come up with a portfolio on how
I integrated technology with my position. You're welcome to look at it and
see if it gives you any ideas of things you might include. The URL is
http://t3.k12.hi.us/cfoster/mentor/index.htm
In each section the things listed under Aina Haina Elementary School are
the items that fit with my library position ... but remember that a
portfolio should always include your professional development too ... like
being a member of LM_NET!
******************************************************
I have always shared instructional materials I have created for
classes. I include other program materials such as reading incentives and
staff development activities. Basically it needs to reflect what you do
all day all year -- how you interact with staff, students and parents.
**********************************************************
We are doing the same thing here this year. I am including planning
documents I use with teachers, samples of bibliographies I've prepared,
any
memos I send to teachers about new books, internet information, etc,
newsletter articles. good luck.
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I've never been asked to produce a portfolio but have often wished that
someone would ask me for one so that I could show them what I do all day or
all year (other than "check out books" as you said!). I would open all my
file drawers filled with material that I keep from year to year to show
them
evidence of what really goes on. You mention that classroom teachers have
lesson plans, tests, etc., to make up their portfolios - well, so do I, and
so can you!
Before any class comes to the library, I ask (insist) for the actual
assignment sheet(s) or packet that the students will be given. This
information, along with discussing with the teacher how I can best prepare
for the classes and making notes of all that goes into the preparations,
all
go into folders listed, "Hancock - Jr. Research" or "Redding - Freshmen
Scavenger Hunt." So any notes I make from year to year, any bibliographies
I create, any extra research I perform (like updating career websites from
year to year) all go into these files. Thus, you could create an
outstanding portfolio of Sophomore Projects, Senior Research Papers, etc.,
etc. [This system also solves the problem when you ask a teacher as s/he
signs up for library use, "What will you be doing/aiming for?" and get that
dreaded answer, "Oh, I don't know exactly yet - just look up stuff,"]
You could also add things like your budget, divided into fund numbers,
showing how you've allocated spending for the last year or two (good time
to
put in a plug for needing more money!), a copy of your latest inventory,
monthly circulation stats, and so on, depending on how massive you want to
make this portfolio.
******************************************************
Pictures of student work displayed in the IMC
Pictures of bulletin boards
Thank you notes
Samples from your "suggestion" box
Give kids a survey on the IMC - have samples - and tabulate results
Copy of your IMC schedule book
List of trainings attended
List of magazines you read monthly for prof. development (SLJ, SLMAM,
American Libraries, etc.)
List of community meetings attended
Biblio. on any professional readings or a copy of the articles
Show planning documents for replacement of books/equipment
Copies of anything you give to staff or your PTA newsletter
Handouts from trainings YOU conduct w/ staff
**************************************************************
Jacqueline Bergson, Librarian
Rippowam Cisqua School
Bedford, NY 10506
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