Re: [LM_NET] Collaboration

[Barbara Paciotti <barupa@SWBELL.NET>]

In response to the request for some collaboration comments, I'd like to 
contribute that the most critical thing for me was getting familiar with 
the curriculum.  We can't expect teachers to come to us, we have to go 
to them, and we'd better have our "appropriate resources" guns loaded 
with "curriculum knowledge" ammunition. (or would that be the other way 
around?)

Originally I borrowed teachers' curriculum binders, copied the basic 
parts, and created my own 6-8 curriculum binder.  As I began studying 
subject areas, I was able to pinpoint places I could promote 
collaboration--usually research projects--and then work with selected 
receptive teachers to create  better lesson plans and handouts.  
Sometimes it was a successful collaboration and sometimes less, but it 
was a beginning. 

We have an online curriculum now--with many prescripted activities--and 
I can access it directly anytime and anyplace I want.  We've had a lot 
of curriculum writing the past two years, and librarians have had some 
input, which has helped greatly.  After 5 years I've built enough of a 
reputation with my teachers that they now come directly to me, even 2 or 
3 weeks ahead of time, if they even sniff the word librarian in the 
curriculum outline!!  But I still go to them with ideas for trying a new 
way of doing some project if I sense that collaboration will make it 
more effective.

I admit after 5 years that I still don't do half as much collaborating 
as a few of my district colleagues, but with 1/3 to 1/2 staff changes 
over each of the past 4 years and with the complete rewrite of 
curriculum the past 3, I'm satisfied that I'm doing as much as I can.

Last year I began working on a curriculum matrix for myself that charts 
all the "library-oriented" assignments so I can begin a program of 
library skills that progresses and builds throughout the 3 years the 
kids are with me.  Once I complete that I'll be able to approach 
teachers with some real collaboration schemes!!

Barbara Paciotti, SLMIS
Barbara Bush MS, Irving TX
barupa@swbell.net

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