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I am a "specials" teacher just as you described on a fixed schedule.  I enjoyed 
the article about Readers Workshop.  Sounds like a great plan, with many useful 
suggestions.    I have one little problem and that is that I am *required*  to 
give grades,  and not just on behavior.   I have to have 3 - 5 "assignments"  
per 10 week term on which the child is assessed objectively (i.e. with a rubric, 
not just A for Effort).    If I could remain anonymous,  I might confess that in 
7 years,  I still manage A for Effort but this year we have a new "curriculum"  
which involves, alas, the Dewey decimal system, website evaluation, genres and 
poetry.   "Reading" is left up to the specialists!!

In these economic times however,  I do not want to give anyone provocation to 
think that only a clerk is needed to "run" a library. With flexible scheduling, 
their teacher would come with them and might feel that another masters degree is 
surplus to requirements, when an aide will do.   I am glad to be employed.  My 
plan is to continue to model enthusiasm for both reading and research and just 
make sure that as much time as possible is spent promoting books and getting 
stories and information into the hands (hearts and minds) of eager students.

 Meg Hawkins  MLS
Teacher Librarian
Darby Township School 1-8
Glenolden PA


caughey195@yahoo.com



----- Original Message ----
From: Robert <rajoyce59@VERIZON.NET>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Sent: Fri, July 9, 2010 6:00:28 PM
Subject: ELEM-(share)  What's so special about specials?

Shared with permission from the sender on another listserv.  RObert Joyce 
Virginia rajoyce59@verison.net  





What's so special about specials?
via Shelf Consumed by Leigh Ann Jones on 7/9/10



Specials rotation.   The very words strike fear in the heart of elementary 
librarians.  If you're a secondary librarian, a new elementary librarian, or a 
really fortunate experienced elementary librarian, let me explain.

Specials rotation is the infamous fixed scheduling you heard about in library 
school. Specials are the classes where the kids go while their teachers are 
having conference periods. Generally the specials schedule rotates between art, 
music, P.E., and sometimes computers. In a large elementary or if numbers at 
certain grade levels are high, the library may be placed in the specials 
rotation.

What does this mean?  It means that every single day one or more classrooms of 
students will be dropped off at the library for a 45 minute block while their 
teacher has planning time with the team. It means that the librarian will not be 
able to plan collaboratively with these teams. It means that the library 
schedule will be driven by these fixed blocks of time.  And it also means that 
the quality of the entire library program suffers becauseĀ the librarian is not 
able to serve students and staff at the point of need.  


If you are attempting to fend off being in the specials rotation, I would 
suggest that you read the following:

AASL Position on Flexible Scheduling

School Libraries Work

AASL Resource Guides for School Library Program Development

If you have already lost the battle and are in specials rotation, I would 
encourage you to document instances when the fixed schedule bumps research 
projects and spontaneous opportunities to meet needs. Talk with administrators, 
teachers, and parents about why a flexible schedule is best.  Be sure to frame 
your reasons in terms of student needs or it may sound self serving.

In the meantime, what should you do during specials rotation?

Be positive and professional.  Don't make the kids pay for a scheduling issue.
Resist the temptation to kill time with arts and crafts or worksheeets. 
Ditto (double ditto) for library lessons such as learning about Dewey, how to 
use the almanac, etc.ICK!!

Ok, so that was what NOT to do.  How about some things TO do...

If it were me, I would implement Reader's Workshop. The goal of reader's 
workshop is to foster a love of reading, and tons of research supports the fact 
that the more kids read, the better readers they are.  Reader's Workshop is 
something meaningful that students can do during specials rotation, and it has 
the added benefit of requiring little planning from you. DEFINITELY prefererable 
to busy work.

Set the tone for reading each day by reading aloud.  Read a chapter a day from a 
novel that will hold the attention of your students.  If you need suggestions, 
try Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook.  Alternate the types of books you read but 
make sure they are ones that your students will enjoy.  Have fun with the 
reading and avoid the temptation of "making a lesson" out of everything.  Just 
have fun with the book and your kids.

After reading aloud, each student should settle down with a good book(s) to 
read.  Kindergarteners and other students with limited reading skillsĀ can enjoy 
all types of books with illustrations and photographs.  You should always model 
reading.  The importance of this can't be overstated.  If you're up doing 
something else, it tells the kids that reading isn't important. 


You can find all kinds of information about Reader's Workshop online.  You won't 
need to take grades, of course, but tips on managing RW may be helpful. 


If you'd like an occasional change of pace, you could intersperse I-Search 
research projects.  Again, even the youngest of students can choose and research 
a simple topic with assistance.

Although specials rotation isn't what's best for kids, you can make the best of 
the situation with meaningful learning in a positive environment.



Things you can do from here:
  a.. Subscribe to Shelf Consumed using Google Reader 
  b.. Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite 
sites


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