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Okay, I have to add my bit to this thread. There are so many cliches running through my head...Dance with the one that bring ya...Ya get, whatcha get and you don't throw a fit...I keep thinking that we all walk into different situations. You have to deal with the reality that you have, but still keep working towards what we believe to be best for students...and that is a flexible schedule. And I think therein lies the rub. What research says is best for students doesn't always translate into our own philosophy...and our philosophy drives our goals. I've seen all sorts of programs work really well -- fixed, flexed, or mixed. I've seen all sorts of program be an embarrassment to the profession -- fixed, flexed, or mixed. We determine whether our program works. There will always be people who will be easy sells and those that will refuse to be involved collaboratively...no matter if they stay in the library during our lesson or not. I just hope that no matter what reality we each deal with, we are working to make libraries and information literacy the hub of our schools where point of need instruction is the norm. I didn't realize that so many libraries are fixed. I am fully flex. I teach about 25 classes a week. Just another perspective. Geneva Johnson, NBCT 2004 Library Media Specialist Ator Heights Elementary Owasso Public Schools johnsong@owasso.k12.ok.us Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 14:08:58 +0000 From: Ronda Foust <rfoust150@COMCAST.NET> Subject: Subject: Re: Elem---FIXED vs FLEXschedules---> This has been a GREAT conversation, and as someone coming into the field just this year (graduation May 10!!!), I've been very interested to hear the different viewpoints on scheduling. From what I've experienced so far, I too see some benefits to the fixed/mixed schedule. To go even a step further, the best experience I've had with the fixed/mix schedule was at a K-4 elementary school where library was treated as a special area class and the librarian saw every class at least once a week for a class period of about 50 minutes. This offered ample time for information literacy lessons, book talks, story time and a 10-15 minute checkout. This school had a good atomosphere of collaboration, and while the classroom teachers did not come and stay with the classes for library time, there was plenty of communication between the librarian and the classroom teachers and the administration was definitely on board. Perhaps, therein lies a key to making a fixed/mixed schedule work-! -commun ication and collaboration--and then even MORE communication. A while back I asked LM_Netters about whether they used lesson plans. I was surprised at the diversity of answers--from those librarians who were required to submit lesson plans every week to those who didn't do them at all. This may be my naievete showing through, but it seems that, if there is concern about showing "value added" to administrators and teachers who either don't know or who doubt the benefits of a first-rate library program, taking the initiative to develop and share library lesson plans --especially if they are NOT required -- might be a step toward showing the lessons and how they fit into the curriculum. I'm not suggesting that we hit people over the head with what we do, but that we document the value-added ourselves, and show the correlation to the curriculum. Perhaps in some environments, we might have to start small--finding just one teacher who we can work with when we meet with resistance to collaborative efforts (for whatever reason). I would love to hear some ideas any of you have on ways to "start small"--ways to incorporate the curriculum and bring teachers and administrators together--particularly in environments that are perhaps resistant (again, for whatever reason) to collaborative efforts with the library. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------