Alan November

So I don't like to toot my own horn or say "Hey Hey look at me, look what I'm doing."
I also worry........
-Are the kids learning
-Am I doing enough
-Do the teachers think  the kids are just playing
-Do people think I'm just a babysitter for 50 minutes
-I saw another librarian doing that, I'm not doing that

The list can go on and on.  I was comfortable with the job I was doing when I was at the same school for 15 years and I knew the teachers respected and appreciated me.  Then I made the move to another school and had to start all over.  It was scary and it was a bad time for me in my personal life.  My father's health went down and I spent a lot of time in Mississippi taking care of him and then had to move him to an Assisted living place here.  So to say the least I don't think I was at the top of my game my first year at my new school.  I turned the library program upside down and things seemed to be going well.  The kids liked me, they liked coming to the library so I guess things are ok.

Fast Forward to October 2014 and Alan November came to our district to do some presentation for parents.  Parent U was a big hit and we heard lots of positive things.  He had 2 hours before his presentation and he chose to come to Donald.  Wow what a big deal.  As soon as he got in the building you see the library.  Well it just happened to be the start of our Story book Pumpkins on Parade.  That got his attention right away and he got out his phone and started taking pictures.  Before you know it he is in the library talking to me, taking pictures, and talking to the kids.  Now you would think he would be impressed with the fact that we were talking about Digital Citizenship and maybe he was but he was more impressed with the library, all the stuff we have, the creative play the kids can do and the fact that they were so engaged.

On top of that one of our Associate Superintendent was with Mr. November that day.  After stopping in the library with him she got so involved with what was going on in the library that she didn't even go visit any of the classrooms, she stayed with us.  She then told me that our library might be her new happy place and how impressed with what we were doing, how the library looked, and our Cozy Corners.  

After this day I felt very proud of what I have created at Donald, so for this month I'm not second guessing everything I am doing.  I'm still not going to toot my horn but I'm going to take the compliments and be proud of myself!!

Welcome Back

Welcome back to the Library!!!

We are so excited for the 2014-2015 school year.

I hope everybody had a GREAT summer, I know that we did.  Mrs. Zuch and her husband went to New Zealand and spent lots of time relaxing.  Mrs. Zuch also made a point to go into every library she could find.  She found that libraries in New Zealand are just as welcoming and warm as those in the United States. One of the libraries had a working puzzle station.  It was good to see people enjoying themselves!  Another library still used the old fashion date stamp check out system.  The books didn't even have a bar code on them.

Mrs. Zuch hiking in New Zealand

I went on a cruise to celebrate my son's high school graduation.  We went to the Bahamas and saw some of the most beautiful water I have ever seen.  We did a ton of swimming and snorkeling.  The fish were beautiful and the sand felt different than anything other sand I had ever felt.   We also went to Universal Studios in Orlando.  I had the best time because we got to go into the new Harry Potter world before it opened to the public.  It was so great because I'm a huge Harry Potter fan and I'm pretty sure I was more excited than most people there.  I even rode every single roller coaster with my son.

Me and my Niece Anan on Hagrid's Motorcycle

Walking into Diagon Alley

My son Ross and I in front of Hogwarts

Ditch Dewey?

Where is the Scary section?

Where are the mystery books?

I need a historical fiction book?

How many times as librarians have we heard this and what is the answer........there is no mystery section the books are shelved by the first three letters of the authors last name.  Little heads drop, eyes wonder about and I get a "really" look.  I offer to help but it just isn't the same.

Now if the kids go to Barnes & Noble they can find that section and that makes them happy. so why are we holding on the Dewey Decimal system?  Because that is how is has always been?  Yes probably. Also most librarians are type A personalities (I would never think that about myself but the older I get i think it might be true.)  Maybe we do all like the books in perfect order like Miss Lotta Scales in The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy.  However is that the best thing for the kids.  Well I'm not sure.  So I'm asking the kids should we Ditch Dewey?

The 3rd and 4th graders are going to do a little research on this by talking to adults, going to the public library and maybe even visiting a bookstore.  Then they get to decide yes or no, come up with a presentation and try to persuade me.

Shhh don't tell them, but I think it is a great idea.  It will be a huge amount of work for me and Mrs. Zuch but if it best for the kids then I say yes.  I don't think it can be done quickly or that it is best for the Easy section but I can totally see all those chapter books sitting pretty by their Genre.

Only time will tell if the kids think this is a good idea or not.  I'm really excited to see what they think.

Stay tuned.

To iPad or not to iPad that is the Question?

For me the answer is simple, YES!

I feel I have a different perspective on this topic because I moved from a school where we only had 30 shared iPads to a school where every child has one.  WOW what a HUGE benefit and advantage these children will have.  I heard  recently from Jennifer Lagarde that "We have to be using technology to communicate, collaborate, create, and think critically!"  I think that is the vision of LISD and what we are doing at Donald.

Does it happen overnight?  No!
Will there be bumps in the road?  Yes!
Will it cost money to get these devices into the kids hands?  Yes!
Will it take some management on the part of teachers and parents?  Yes!
Will the kids try to use the iPads for an expensive toy?  Yes they are kids!
Are filters 100% effective 100% of the time?  No!


I think you get my point when I say the benefits are too great for us to ignore.

I for one feel so blessed to work in a place and for a district that thinks 1:X is the way to do it.

Better late than never

I know, I know, I had great expectations of writing this wonderful blog at least once a week.  Well to be honest with you I'm a little intimidated with writing where kids, parents, colleagues and strangers might read it.  I'm going to put my fears aside and give it a try.  Let me start by saying I write just like I talk, so please no judging.

A little about me - I grew up as an only child and I was playing school from as long as I can remember.  I wasn't a good reader at all and everybody knew I had ADHD from a very young age.  Now back in the early 70's there weren't many Dr.s who even knew how to help me.  Imagine me in a quiet, cold library - it wasn't fun for me or for Mrs. Alford.  She was my first librarian and as much as I wasn't a good fit for a library I LOVED it.  I think it must have been the smell or the beautiful book spines because it sure wasn't having to sit still at tables and being quiet.  I went on to become a teacher and loved every minute of it.  I found myself wanting to plan and work with the librarian and so it hit me - this is what I need to be doing, I want to be a Librarian.  And that is exactly what I did and I haven't looked back.  The role of JUST reading books and story time is long gone and technology has moved in.  If you think about it, it makes sense since we are Media Specialist.  Technology is a form of media.  I couldn't be happier with the changes in my job and my choices.

So this blog is going to be full of the ups and downs of the Media Center and me.  The changes we are going through and the joys of Donald Elementary.  Most importantly I will also write about Books, because they are my favorite things.

So Mo Williems is one of my favorite authors and Gerald and Piggie are 2 of my favorite characters.  If you haven't read them then you should.