HIT: Lesson Planning for the New Librarian

[Heather Rider <heatherfeather_@YAHOO.COM>]

Original question:

Hello. I have a master's in library science and have
worked in all kinds of libraries except school
libraries.

I have taken a position as a media specialist at an
elementary school next year and would like tips on how
to prepare this summer.

My main concern is lesson planning. I have a
curriculum alignment guide from the school district's
media services department, which lists appropriate
books to use in read-alouds and lessons for each
grade. I am currently going through the library's
collection to see which books my school owns.

How do I start developing lesson plans for next year?
I feel unsure where to start. Any suggestions would be
appreciated.

Responses:

While the question was a two-parter, the bulk of the
responses focused on lesson planning. I have condensed
the responses as follows:

--Get into the library during the summer to get to
know the collection.
--Meet with teachers to see what their curriculum
plans are for the year (Lang Arts, Science and Social
Studies) and to find out what their specific needs
are. Try to integrate what you are doing in the
library with what is being taught in the classroom as
much as possible.
--Use the curriculum as a guide, but make decisions
based on what the kids now know and what you want them
to learn.
--Start out the year with lessons on library
orientation, procedures and book care.
--Plan the year using a long range plan (using a
spreadsheet or other organizational device, with
grades across the top in columns and the months along
the side in rows) which can be modified as the year
progresses.
--Plan lessons in units or on themes. Units can
include author studies, library location skills, using

--Many schools do mostly literature awareness in
grades K-3, with a gradual introduction of skills in
grade 3, to mostly skills in grades 4-5.

Websites for lesson plans:

http://hcps2.hanover.k12.va.us/instruction/media/
(click on the red book)

http://mte.anacortes.k12.wa.us/library/lesson.htm (one
librarian’s year-long plan)

http://oakland.dpsk12.org/stories/storyReader$54
(another year-long plan)

http://www.learnnc.org/learnnc/lessonp.nsf/homepage?openform
(lessons under the heading information skills)

http://www.libraries.phila.k12.pa.us/lion/lessons.html
(a compendium of library lesson sources)

Heather Rider
Librarian
Smithfield Elementary
Charlotte, NC
heatherfeather_@yahoo.com




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