Thanks to all who responded to my post. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts,
ideas, and some of you sent attachments for which I am also grateful. I have
included the responses below.
Original Post: I would like to have student aids in the media center next year but
would like to hear from you about your requirements, grading procedures (this class
would count as an elective credit), and advice on how to start this program.
I am the media specialist at our high school library. We have an 8 period day and
with that being said, I have an aide every period except one. Our students love
being in the library, in fact, they requested it to be in their schedule the year
before. We limit our aides to seniors who have a period open. The grade they
receive is like any other aide class. It goes down as an S. Hope this might help
some.
My aides are volunteers who need National Honor Society service hours, so there is
no grading requirement, just that they keep track of their own hours. I have them
shelve books, dust, tidy magazines, etc.
Link for NC Media assistant curriculum objectives
Ø http://www.ncwiseowl.org/zones/mediatech/MediaAssistants.htm
I have student aides; they are required to learn the Dewey Decimal system
(worksheets), read a book per month- create a book trailer for the book, work their
assigned shelves, help process books (stamp, strip, barcode, and cover), as well as
other tasks as assigned.
I have always had library aides and they are a great addition to the media center.
I limit it to 2 or 3 students per period and they must be juniors or seniors as it
is a lot of responsibility.
My grading consists of daily grades 10 pts. per period and they also are graded on
their shelves- magazines and books. I will attach my syllabus. I have units each 9
weeks and assignments as well. They help me recommend books, they check out books,
equipment and basically help me run the media center. Good luck and have fun. Hope
this helps! v If you have any more questions, let me know.
What an interesting question? I have media aids, but they are not given a grade;
it is expected they will make an automatic 100, if behavior becomes a problem they
are removed from being an aid. My suggestions are as follows:
1. Keep them busy, any down time leads to trouble, even with the best of
intentions. With this said I have created a chart, b/c I have 5 aides in first
period. They switch off checking in books. They must shelve at least 10 fiction
and 5 non-fiction books. I don't have the heart to make them shelve all the time,
I hate it and so do they. After they shelve I have different tasks set up for them
to do: straighten all tables and chairs, wipe all surfaces down, straighten book
shelves, dust, put out display books, pull books for display, pull books for
classes, put up display posters and decorations etc. Only on Fridays do I just
make them shelve.
2. I would make them sign a contract. On the contract I would have listed your
expectations from the aides and consequences for not meeting those expectations. I
would have the student and parent sign the contract.
3. Talk to your students about confidentiality and the breaking of this can lead
to serious consequences.
4. If you are assigning a grade definitely test them on the Dewey decimal system
and how books are shelved.
5. I have students repair books and process them.
6. Have a trust worthy, organized student help keep your desk cleaned and have
them file away papers for you.
I hope this helps. I asked for aides and never got them my first two years; then
this year I got 5 in one class and none in the other, it has been a little bit of a
pain.
My mentor librarian while I was working on my MLS had aides in her Jr. High
library. She taught the kids how to shelve, how books were processed into the
library, they checked books in and out, they were in charge of the Channel One
setup each day, and they had a book report due each 6 weeks, a new genre each six
weeks. She gave "quiz" grades sporadically on their shelving (each aide was
assigned a section they were to shelve and straighten each day). She gave
participation grades for circulation duties, and the reports were test grades.
Their semester exam was a 5 page paper that they wrote comparing the books they had
read for the semester. Oh, and any overdue books cost them a point off their
average for each day overdue. Her reasoning was that they were in the library
every day and had no excuse for overdues.
I have had library aids who get an elective credit for several years.
First of all, I have found that I don't need more than one aid per class period,
and I have never had one every period. I have had more than one per period, but
they are less productive then. I have a student application and a personal
interview before selecting the aids from the junior and senior classes only.
Guidance and our principal allow me this privilege! I don't take everyone who
applies, and I have never had a student question me at the beginning of the next
year if he/she was not chosen. BTW, I do visit each of their teachers before making
a selection and talk personally about work ethic, motivation, etc. You don't want
to make work for yourself!
I have a syllabus like all other classes. Aids get a weekly grade based on daily
duties. I put these jobs into a checklist type chart, and aids sign on their honor
at the end of each class period what they accomplished. I also give them some
longer assignments like preparing a book talk that they give to classes who come in
to check out books. They also help with bulletin boards and displays. I don't know
if this gives you enough to go on; I could send more ideas if you want.
I have a maximum of 3 aides per block period (90 minutes). They check books in and
out, put books on reserve for students, put books away, straighten all tables and
chairs, remove books to clean every shelf in their sections and check for repairs
(once per 9-weeks), cover and repair books, read a book from their section and make
a poster of that book.
I split up the shelves so that each student has a non fiction, fiction, reference
(matches their non fiction section) and video section. In other words THEY put all
items away!
I make them sign a grade contract.
Vivian Hart, Media Specialist
vivianhart@anderson5.net<mailto:vivianhart@anderson5.net>
Westside High School
Anderson, SC 29625
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