If worded a bit differently, the suggestion of having students help
straighten shelves, or help another student find something, or whatever you
decide to have students help with, could be considered as an assessment of
what had been taught: "Putting into practice. xxx..." or " Utilizing
learned skills xxx..." - things like understanding shelf order,
alphabetizing, proper opening and shutting down of computer programs,
demonstrating understanding of differences in genres, self-directed pleasure
reading, ..or whatever else they are doing. This would then be viewed
differently than them being student helpers.
A key thing is to start looking at activities as components of standards-
and not worrying about them always being formal or directed components.
Having students do things that align with the standards is one way of
assessing them other than quizzes or written assignments.
Thus, anything a student does can be used to demonstrate something they have
been taught- even if all they are doing is looking something up on their
own, or finding information about something that interests them that isn't
necessarily about a topic they are currently studying. If you observe it,
you can consider it an assessment of what they had learned. You could write
a quick note about what you observed, and then have the info ready if
anyone questioned why students are doing those things.
As a wise teacher I once worked with said " A good teacher makes every
moment a teachable moment even if it isn't written down in a lesson plan."
Of couse this doesn't mean that you stop requesting aides or assistants. If
they try to tell you that the students are doing what an aide would help
you with, you could remind them that what the students are doing is part
of the assessment process not a paid positin.
Toni Koontz
Retired Librarian
Columbus Ohio
----- Original Message -----
From: "Susan M. Davis" <susan.davis@BROWARDSCHOOLS.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 7:49 AM
Subject: Fwd: LM_Net: Messy shelves
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> Hello! This is in response to your posting on LM_Net about
> messy shelves.
>
> While I do have an aide who does the checking out and the
> classroom teacher helps with book selection, the shelves
> still get messy. I do require them all to use paint sticks
> to mark their spots, but if 3-4 students take books from
> one shelf, the books are bound to lean down and look
> unattractive.
>
> What I have done is this: There are always a few students
> who cannot check out due to not bringing their books back.
> I put them to work doing "library chores" so that they
> have something to do during check out time. One of those
> jobs is going around and pushing the books back up. I also
> have them do jobs like sharpening pencils, making sure all
> of the programs are closed on the computers, etc...
>
> It has made a HUGE difference in the overall look of the
> library when the students are done (especially second
> grade... they are always the worst! :). The students are
> happy to help and have something to do, and they take
> MAJOR pride in their work. It has been one of the best
> things I have implemented this year.
>
> Would this fall under the student helper category and not
> be acceptable? Even if it does, there are always a few
> students who find their books very quickly, and may need a
> job to do while they are waiting for everyone else to
> finish since silent reading is not always feasible (it
> tends to get noisy during check out time).
>
> Good luck! :)
>
>
>
> Susan Davis
> Media Specialist, NBCT
> Bennett Elementary School
> 1755 NE 14 Street
> Fort Lauderdale FL 33304
> 754-322-5464
> FAX 754-322-5490
> susan.davis@browardschools.com
>
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>
>
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