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I identity with your frustration. When this became a problem for me, I banded together with PE and music teachers because we all had similar issues. We devised a reward behavior rating card for each class and had the kids take it back to the teacher after each "special" class. The teachers became competitive with each other to get the best report back and it really saved my sanity. And I am a very experienced classroom teacher and librarian. When kids do not see you as their "real teacher", they do not always behave well. There are probably many other tips that will help you, but this was the most impactful for me. Yes, seating charts help, but I also had no assistance when I was there, so kids had to manage themselves well. Rebecca Endlich Librarian Edmonds-Woodway High School http://school.edmonds.wednet.edu/ewhs/library/default.htm -----Original Message----- From: School Library Media & Network Communications [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of jennimklady Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 6:32 PM To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU Subject: [LM_NET] advice Hello, everyone. I am a brand new librarian about to begin my second semester in an elementary school library. First, I want to say that I love being a librarian but I don't think the place where I work is a good fit for me. The first semester was quite rough. I am planning on looking for a job at a middle school or high school for next year, but I would appreciate any advice to make the second semester bearable. Let me set up some background so that you know where i am coming from. I work in a public school that has multi-aged classrooms (3, 4, 5 year olds together, 1st-3rd grades together, and 4th-6th grades together). The way the library schedule is set up is that it is part of the specials rotation along with PE, Art, and Music. Each PK/K class visits the library every 4th day. Each first through sixth grade class, however, visits every other day. there are 8 1st-3rd grade classes and I see 4 each day and they switch each day. I have each class for 30 minutes (if they are on time) and then I either take them to PE or their teacher comes to pick them up at the end of their conference period. What this means for me is that I am lucky to have them 25 minutes. Each class has between 18-24 students, which means I cannot let them all up at the same time to go choose books or it is utter chaos. But I have found that even though i have set forth (and posted) clear expectations and rules for behavior in the library and try to control traffic by allowing a couple of table at a time to choose books, something is still not working. The students still feel as though it is acceptable to get up and wander, crawl under the desks, hit each other with books etc. (i've tried rearranging the asssigned seating),Then i have the students in line who are waiting to check out books and students who need me to help them find books. (I can't have a student worker run the computer because it is very temperamental and often gives error messages that i can deal with quickly and I would be running over to the computer every few seconds to deal with them so it is easier for me to run the circulation.) So I am frustrated that I have no time to teach the kids how to use the library or work on information literacy because I barely have time for crowd control and circulation. The principal is adamant about the children getting books every time and I am not allowed to withold checkout from them for behavior issues. I don't have anything else to hold over them. I am tired of being a babysitter and I desperately want to do the job I was hired for. Can someone PLEASE give some advice on things to try??? Much appreciated! Jennifer Murphy Librarian Alta Vista Elementary Waco, TX jennimklady@yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, you send a message 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 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html * LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, you send a message 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 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html * LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/ --------------------------------------------------------------------