Judi, et al...
These are great questions, and I think that most of us know
INTELLECTUALLY that a flex schedule has many, many benefits over a
fixed schedule, but in our real lives, we just can't make it work! It
is one Teacher-Librarian against the whole building of classroom
teachers who want their prep time! I teach in a library endorsement
program and we have great discussions about the pros and cons of
each, but the reality is we must deal with the cards we are dealt.
Unfortunately, what I have seen, particularly at the elementary
level, if you are not on a fixed schedule, your position can go out
the door in no time. No matter how well researched, no matter how
much better the students can be taught, the curriculum can be
supported, etc., when it comes down to the almighty dollar, teacher-
librarians are expendable. Just ask the elementary librarians in the
Federal Way, WA school district. When faced with budget cuts, the
principals supported those positions being cut. They 'didn't
contribute to student learning' or some such quote.
We all must work within the system we have, and try to work as
collaboratively as possible within that system and not have to make
excuses. At least I see and know every child in my building. They
(the students) love coming to the library (except perhaps the 4th
graders, who at this time of year don't seem to love anything! ;-) ).
I know I don't get as many information skills taught as others, but
my kids read, love books and are becoming independent users of the
library. I communicate with the teachers about what we are doing and
sometimes they even come to be voluntarily!
Sometimes 'best practices' are also 'impossible practices'.
Just my 2 cents worth.
****************************
Barb Engvall
=^..^=
Teacher-Librarian
John Campbell Elem
Selah, WA
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/JC/jc.cfm
bengvall@mac.com
On Apr 30, 2007, at 2:03 PM, Judi Moreillon wrote:
> Dear Linda and All,
> From my perspective, the problem with "working around" fixed
> schedules is
> that these schedules often do not allow for more in-depth
> inquiry/research/literature projects that impact student
> achievement and
> life-long learning.
>
> Also, if classroom teachers are not present while their students
> are being
> taught by the librarian, then how will they know the great teaching
> being
> conducted through the school library program?
>
> How will library and classroom colleagues gain the knowledge they
> need to
> reinforce the learning that is happening in each environment?
>
> How will classroom teachers know that the position of teacher-
> librarian is
> worth fighting for in their schools?
>
> If fixed schedules are currently the norm (I'm unsure that the LM_NET
> respondents represent the thousands of people serving in elementary
> librarians - but I suspect fixed schedules at the elementary level
> are now
> the norm), then I feel our profession has taken a giant step
> backwards.
>
> As someone of served in both fixed, mixed, and flexibly scheduled
> school
> libraries, I KNOW the difference. The classroom teachers with whom I
> collaborated and cotaught and the students with whom I learned were
> significantly more engaged in teaching/learning information
> literacy and
> integrating literature into the classroom curriculum in the open-
> access,
> flexible scheduled library.
>
> And my own sense of self-efficacy was greatly improved in the flexibly
> scheduled library by the high-quality student outcomes and
> collaborative
> teaching.
>
> In my experience (and the research seems to confirm this), the best
> practice
> in school librarianship is for professional teacher-librarians to
> engage in
> collaborative teaching for instruction - rather than providing
> planning time
> for another educator.
>
> The mixed schedule is a good compromise and first step, but
> shouldn't we
> always strive for the best practice?
>
> Best,
> Judi Moreillon
>
> Judi Moreillon, M.L.S., Ph.D.
> Literacies and Libraries Consultant
> Author: Collaborative Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension:
> Maximizing Your Impact
> http://storytrail.com
>
>
>>>> Linda Martin <lindamartin423@GMAIL.COM> 4/29/2007 7:52 PM >>>
> Isn't it ironic that Pamela found that the "overwhelming majority" of
> her
> respondents operate under a fixed schedule, while we are taught that a
> flexible schedule is the norm and the ideal. What if we shifted our
> paradigm to the reality and focused on a way to work around scheduled
> classes? How many of you schedule meetings with teachers after
> school?
> How
> do you make collaboration work for you?
>
> Linda
>
> On 4/29/07, Pamela Hamilton <phamilton53@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello Colleagues,
>> Thank you for the quick response to my query concerning fixed versus
>> flexible library programs. The overwhelming majority of elementary
>> schools,
>> around the country, operate on a fixed schedule as library is
> generally
>> considered one of the planning periods for classroom teachers. Most
> of
>> the
>> classes are 45 minutes. What did surprise me were the varying
> comments
>> concerning the fixed schedule. Some librarians feel it assures them
> the
>> opportunity to interact with all students, teach Information
> Literacy
>> Skills
>> and encourage a love of reading. Others would prefer a flexible
> schedule
>> to
>> allow more time for collaboration.
>> There was another group I found very interesting- those operating on
> a
>> modified schedule. This included fixed times for the younger
> children and
>> a
>> flexible schedule for the older, even in K-5 schools, additional
> planning
>> time built into the day to allow for collaboration or one day a week
> with
>> no
>> scheduled classes.
>> Thank you,
>> Pamela C. Hamilton, Librarian
>> Blackstone Primary School
>> Blackstone, VA
>> phamilton53@hotmail.com
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
>> Exercise your brain! Try Flexicon.
>>
>>
> http://games.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?
> icid=flexicon_hmemailtaglineapr
> il07
>
>>
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>
> --
> Linda Martin
> Teacher Librarian and Storyteller
> Gainesville, GA
> lindamartin423@gmail.com
>
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