I would like to thank all who took the time to respond to my querys about life in a
high school media center after 30 years as an elementrary media specialist. I
greatly appreciate your input. There have been several request for additional
information about the topic so I am posting a hit of the responces that I received
in the hope that it will be of help to others.
Paula Bainter
Ellsworth High School
Ellsworth, Kansas
----------
Having done it all over the course of my library career, I know we can
indeed be flexible. I went from K-12, to 9-12, to rotating middle and high,
then rotating middle and elementary. This year they are telling me I will be
all middle school. I, personally, will believe it when I don't go tearing
out of the building at 1:00 p.m.
In high school you will be working a lot more with teachers to plan
collaborative projects. Sometimes it won't seem collaborative, but it really
is. High school students have - or make - very little time for pleasure
reading, and that is sad. Some teachers really encourage it in their
classrooms, if they do, make it a point to have the class in one day every
week or so, and book talk, book talk, book talk. If they don't, make sure
they know this is a service you can provide.
Some teachers think all research is computer-oriented. They need gentle
reminders that libraries are still an excellent source of reference material
in the print format. Don't be afraid to go to their classrooms with
materials that you know will work for whatever project. Teach research
skills. Some have never learned how to do this, although you probably taught
them that in elementary - they won't remember it because they didn't need to
know it then.
Part of what you end up doing will be determined by who preceded you, their
style, their involvement in the total education of high school students. And
of course, you will have some of those same students you had when you were
in the elementary. That can be a mixed blessing. The same kids that drove
you crazy as elementary will probably still drive you crazy as high
schoolers. But it's neat to see how kids mature and grow, and you have a
second chance to make an impact on all of them.
Hope this helps. And have fun! Stay loose, laugh a lot, smile a lot, say
hello a lot, be enthusiastic. High schoolers are a crazy, fun, serious,
determined bunch of kids.
--------------------------------------
I was the kindergarten-preschool librarian before I moved to the high
school. BIG change. At the high school level it is most important in my
opinion for you to charm the teachers. They are the ones who set the
schedule and bring the students to the library. Offer to teach search
skills, etc. when they bring in their classes. Serve goodies at faculty
meetings, keep extra supplies they might need and the list goes on and on.
It is so different than elementary because at the lower level the students
usually have a set time to come to the library. This is my third year at
the high school and I absolutely love it. I never want to go back to
elementary. If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask. I
would be glad to tell you about my experiences. Maybe it will be useful to
you.
----------------------------------------
After a few years of elem. teaching, I began my librarianship in a high
school. Having worked in two large high schools and continuing as a district
support person for many years, I still think the greatest difference of the
two levels is in the lack of creativity and flexibility of most high school
teachers. Even during the times you may feel overwhelmed by curriculum and
more research requests, remember that the enthusiasm you undoubtedly bring
is a great asset. Have a great year!
----------------------
I, too, was riffed after 22 years in an elementary media center where I had
no assistant, just me and 500+ students. I had scheduled classes and was
expected to teach during every class's visit. I was very lucky to find a
job close by at a high school. I have completed one year there and had a
very successful year. I have a full time assistant who helped me greatly
but I would recommend the first thing to try to learn is your collection.
What needs to be weeded and what needs to be purchased. Don't change
anything the first year and ease in to changes as you see a need. I am
looking forward to my second year with high school students. They aren't
much different that little kids just bigger.
Have a great year and don't be nervous.
----------------------------
Hello...You might find the book Operating and Evaluating School Library
Media Programs a Handbook for Administrators and Librarians by Yesner and
Jay. It is a good tool to help you check on what you want to do, are
doing, and also to get your principal convinced of how the library should
operate. Try interlibrary loan. It is l998 Neal Schuman.[this is a
revised ed.]
Most lesson plans can be adapted according to the sophistication of the
content required. Look for Teaching with Computers by Jay and Jay (also
Neal Schuman_. The publishers tacked on Grades K-6 which is not the
intent of the authors. I think there is much in there that would help you
gain a concept of what is required in academics these days.
No lesson is satisfactory that does not require mental input by the
student which is supported by their cited research. You will avoid
plaigarism if the lesson is constructed in such a way that the end product
is not copyable.
Also get ready to fight teachers on copyright infringement re video, CDs
as well as print. Know your grounds well.
----------------------------
Greetings! I read your posting and thought my book, 100 Library Lifesavers:
A Survival Guide for School Library Media Specialists, might be able to help.
The book is available through Amazon.com or Libraries Unlimited (www.lu.com).
The book contains activities and management tips for all grades, but
specifically for the high school level as I am now at the high school level myself.
The sequel, 100 More Library Lifesavers, is due out this fall by Libraries
Unlimited. Good luck and hope this helps. The line "at sea" caught my attention
and I thought this book would be ideal for you! Have a great school year!
-------------------------------
One of the first things I would check on is if they schedule students as
library assistants. If they do, make sure you get place in the process.
Sometimes the front office will overschedule and/or dump students into this
position in the library. How big is Ellsworth HS? Find out who is the
chief scheduler (could be the counselor or a the registrar) . We try to set
a limit of the number of assistants (usually a max of 3) and we try to
interview those who want to be aides. I have also changed library aide to
Library Practice, a graded class where they are required to read, review,
make bibliograhies. It might be hard to decide since you know little about
the situation. Do you have a full time library clerk? Good library
students can make or break a school year. They can be a blessing that allow
to to work with students and a terror that take you time supervising them.
One time when I was new, they scheduled no one and another time they
schedule five kids into a period. In an interview I look for good
attendence, a helpful attitude. I have found that academic excellence is
not necessary. One of my best aides was a special needs student.
Try to avoid any type of fixed schedule like you might of had in elementary.
It is not necessary at high school. You can be open before/after/lunch time
depending on the help you have. Though sometimes at the first of the year
if there is a SSR program going, many teacher will want to bring their
classes and the first couple of weeks will need to be scheduled tosee them
all. Sometimes we do booktalks and bookcarts to speed the process along.
High schoolers will really vary from 9th to 12th to AP classes to remedial
classes. Teachers also really vary also. We have a schedule and a
collaboration sheet that I try to fill out with the teacher when they want
to use the library. I do not allow them to sign up on there own. If they
have been doing that before, you will have to decide how to handle it. I
gradually weaned them. First of all I tried to pop up when they signed up.
Then I put the notebook in the office in a obvious place etc. Just like in
the elementary school there are some you will never win with.
Concentrate on learning the curriculum classes at the school, the teachers,
go to the inservices offerred in the summer even if they do not directly
relate to you. Learn the jargon especially if they follow a certain reading
or writing program. Sit down with teachers and have them explain what they
have done in the past.
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