Thank you, David Warlick. After devouring (not literally) Classroom Blogging: A Teacher's Guide to Blogs, Wikis, & Other Tools that are Shaping a New Information Landscape, 2nd ed. I have decided to join the professional blogosphere.
I wonder what I can contribute to the world of information-techno literacy?
I left this draft yesterday. Today was another typical day in the middle school library, which means the day was like no day previously. Typical? I woke up at 3 this am and began reading email (couldn't sleep so of course I tried to catch up). I was immediately intrigued by an lm_net post which started the wheels in my brain turning on a grant idea. When I shared it with my principal his comment was, "I hope you get a granddaughter JUST like you." I chose to take that as a compliment. He was probably thinking, "Here comes My Friend Rabbit, again!"
This is year 30 and for the first time in my entire career I had a student ask to interview me. Of course, I was the only adult in the library and I think she had just finished writing down the questions as the bell was getting ready to ring. Two questions in her interview struck a chord with me. This budding reporter asked me what the best thing about my job was. Without a doubt, the best thing about being a middle school librarian is middle school students, teachers, and parents. I absolutely love this age group and the crazy bunch of adults who choose to work with seventh and eighth graders. I love collaborating with teachers. I love showing and watching a student discover how to search for just the right bit of information, be it a book, a magazine, an image, a newspaper article, the latest research. I just love to sit and visit with the kids, to browse the shelves together, to talk about what we're reading. I think it's an awesome idea when a student comes to me and says, "Mrs. A, did you know the latest (fill in the blank with your favorite YA series) is out?"
The second question was about what I dislike about my job. Some of these things I can "fix," and some I can't. I don't like limited resources. I write grants; I beg; I have bookfairs; I have other departments share the costs. I don't like the perception that I just read books. My job is so much more than books. I am a library SCIENTIST. My "ology" is informationology. I study information, how it evolves, how it is used, how it is delivered, how it can be retrieved, how it can be verified, how it can be presented and on and on and on and on.
I am an instructional specialist. I study the curriculum of all the departments on my campus. I have to if I am going to be a wise steward of the resources I am given and if I am going to manage those resources to have the greatest impact on the patrons I serve. I study new methods of teaching; I work on lesson plans with the teachers. I discuss with my administration ways I can impact the achievement of the students and the teachers while preparing the former for high school and the latter for the changing educational environment.
I am an instructional technologist. I work closely with the teachers. I seek out ways to incorporate technology in the classroom. I become familiar with a webquest, with a scavenger hunt, with designing a webpage, with using a blog, with using a wiki, with online research, with podcasts and on and on. I read everything I can on using the technology and seek out a willing accomplice (another teacher) to introduce our students to using the technology again.
I am an ethics instructor. I model ethical behavior in using the information of others. I cite my sources. I look up the answers to copyright questions. I grade the bibliographies of the students because I can and because I am passionate about giving others the credit they are due.
I am an advocate. I champion the cause of the reader. I champion the cause of the researcher. I champion the need to immerse oneself in the technologies of today to avoid the undertow of ignorance. I turn on my Yahoo! messenger so students can reach me at home while they are studying. I open early and stay late. I participate on leadership committees, on campus and within my district and region. I write letters.
I get frustrated. There are days I feel I am banging my head against the wall. And then the student comes in and says, "Mrs. A, you ARE the coolest librarian ever!" I am ready to battle again.
Debbie
I left this draft yesterday. Today was another typical day in the middle school library, which means the day was like no day previously. Typical? I woke up at 3 this am and began reading email (couldn't sleep so of course I tried to catch up). I was immediately intrigued by an lm_net post which started the wheels in my brain turning on a grant idea. When I shared it with my principal his comment was, "I hope you get a granddaughter JUST like you." I chose to take that as a compliment. He was probably thinking, "Here comes My Friend Rabbit, again!"
This is year 30 and for the first time in my entire career I had a student ask to interview me. Of course, I was the only adult in the library and I think she had just finished writing down the questions as the bell was getting ready to ring. Two questions in her interview struck a chord with me. This budding reporter asked me what the best thing about my job was. Without a doubt, the best thing about being a middle school librarian is middle school students, teachers, and parents. I absolutely love this age group and the crazy bunch of adults who choose to work with seventh and eighth graders. I love collaborating with teachers. I love showing and watching a student discover how to search for just the right bit of information, be it a book, a magazine, an image, a newspaper article, the latest research. I just love to sit and visit with the kids, to browse the shelves together, to talk about what we're reading. I think it's an awesome idea when a student comes to me and says, "Mrs. A, did you know the latest (fill in the blank with your favorite YA series) is out?"
The second question was about what I dislike about my job. Some of these things I can "fix," and some I can't. I don't like limited resources. I write grants; I beg; I have bookfairs; I have other departments share the costs. I don't like the perception that I just read books. My job is so much more than books. I am a library SCIENTIST. My "ology" is informationology. I study information, how it evolves, how it is used, how it is delivered, how it can be retrieved, how it can be verified, how it can be presented and on and on and on and on.
I am an instructional specialist. I study the curriculum of all the departments on my campus. I have to if I am going to be a wise steward of the resources I am given and if I am going to manage those resources to have the greatest impact on the patrons I serve. I study new methods of teaching; I work on lesson plans with the teachers. I discuss with my administration ways I can impact the achievement of the students and the teachers while preparing the former for high school and the latter for the changing educational environment.
I am an instructional technologist. I work closely with the teachers. I seek out ways to incorporate technology in the classroom. I become familiar with a webquest, with a scavenger hunt, with designing a webpage, with using a blog, with using a wiki, with online research, with podcasts and on and on. I read everything I can on using the technology and seek out a willing accomplice (another teacher) to introduce our students to using the technology again.
I am an ethics instructor. I model ethical behavior in using the information of others. I cite my sources. I look up the answers to copyright questions. I grade the bibliographies of the students because I can and because I am passionate about giving others the credit they are due.
I am an advocate. I champion the cause of the reader. I champion the cause of the researcher. I champion the need to immerse oneself in the technologies of today to avoid the undertow of ignorance. I turn on my Yahoo! messenger so students can reach me at home while they are studying. I open early and stay late. I participate on leadership committees, on campus and within my district and region. I write letters.
I get frustrated. There are days I feel I am banging my head against the wall. And then the student comes in and says, "Mrs. A, you ARE the coolest librarian ever!" I am ready to battle again.
Debbie
2 comments:
A brick in that wall you're banging your head against, just slide open, just a bit ;-)
Great post!
-- dave --
David, your cool!
-- My Momma!! --
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