[LM_NET] Vent and Target: Student aides

[Sarah Loch <sloch@MID-DEL.NET>]

My assistant and I are about at our wits' end with our library aides, so I turn to 
you, O Collective Brain. 
 
This is my first year in this school. Nobody told me what was expected of the 
library aide elective, so, in my naivete, I set up a syllabus with book review and 
digital booktalk assignments, as well as a vaguely defined Attendance and 
Participation grade. I should mention that I've changed things around for next 
semester with a rubric for what is expected of the students and a weekly 
participation grade. But when I was setting up for this semester I was given 
approximately 2 days notice that I would be expected to give these students a 
letter grade in the class. So my problem is this semester, where I've been feeling 
my way into the class.
 
My students know how to shelve books. We have gone over shelf order with them 
repeatedly; we've quizzed them and they've answered correctly. But when it comes to 
reading actual shelves and putting them in order they are, with one notable 
exception, horrendous. We've told them repeatedly that we don't want speed, we want 
accuracy, but most of them persist in breezing through their assigned section, 
fixing a couple of mistakes, and insisting that they are done. 
 
I know that these students are capable of doing this, because I have one who does 
it, and does it well. Do you have any suggestions for how we can motivate these 
students to do better? I've warned them that their lack of effort will be reflected 
in their grade, but they really don't seem to care.
 
I will post a hit if there is interest. Thanks in advance.
 
 
Sarah Loch
Library Media Specialist
Carl Albert Middle School
Midwest City, OK
sloch@mid-del.net
See what I'm reading now:
http://www.shelfari.com/salamanders_scribe/shelf#firstBook=0&list=6&sort=dateadded

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