Melissa's Musings
Monday, September 16, 2013
School Libraries as the HUB
When we think about our school libraries, we envision spaces filled with students and staff, purposeful talk, and engaging learning materials. When I think of our school libraries, I see both a real and virtual hub of learning.
What is a hub? According to Dictionary.com, one of the definitions for hub includes "...a centre around which other things revolve or from which they radiate; a focus of activity."
Think of all the different people, information and conversations that take place in your library every day. What is the role of the teacher-librarian at the centre of this hub?
How are you connecting students with:
-each other?
-information and ideas?
-with critical literacy skills development?
-experts in the local community, and from around the world?
-new materials?
How are you connecting staff with:
-each other?
-professional learning opportunities?
-information and ideas related to the deep and impactful study of the curriculum?
-book/resource recommendations?
-research supports?
-experts from around the world?
How are you connecting with your school community:
-parents and guardians?
-local businesses?
-community agencies?
-local history?
What do you think of when you think of a hub? How can our work, as teacher-librarians, support every student, staff and community member? I look forward to reading your comments!
Monday, September 9, 2013
September provides us with a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the routines we use in our school libraries. It's a fantastic time to seek student and staff input about what routines are working, which ones need revised and which ones may need to be introduced (or eliminated). As you think about "what makes this library work?" you may wish to consider:
What other routines have you thought about and chatted about with staff, students and the school community? I'd love you to share your thoughts below by clicking on the "Comments" button!
Aspects of Routine | Questions to Consider |
Student Voice and Choice |
|
Entry and Exit |
|
Circulation of Materials |
|
Layout of the Space |
|
Building Independence |
|
What other routines have you thought about and chatted about with staff, students and the school community? I'd love you to share your thoughts below by clicking on the "Comments" button!
Rejuvenating Your Space!
Change is good - repeat after me. ;-)
As busy professionals, often the last think on our minds is the actual space in which we work. But making a few small changes to the layout of your school library space can not only refresh the space, it can refresh you as well!
Some quick and easy ways to refresh your library space might include:
- have students determine and create items that will bring student voice into the space (e.g. an Intermediate-focussed bulletin board display; student watercolour art; a display of "favourite Kindergarten picture books"; student "recommended reads" tags)
- obtaining a new carpet for the primary reading area (bright and colourful is always good!)
- creating or rearranging a lounge space just for Intermediate students (if you build it, they WILL come)
- moving the portable shelving units onto an angle (this creates visual interest, as well as possibly easing access)
- create a space to highlight new books (e.g. follow the model from Indigo and have staff and students "recommend" books via comments on a sticky note)
- place moveable shelves on an angle
- rearrange long tables into collaborative spaces
:-)
Melissa
PS I love to chat about rejuvenation - for those of you working in YRDSB schools, please feel free to email me to set up a time that I can come and visit (just call me Sarah Richardson!)
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to this blog!
The purpose of this blog is to begin conversations related to school libraries.
Please join us!
:-)
Melissa
Melissa
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