Just found out I will have 54 classes a week in 5 schools. I love my job as a librarian, but I am afraid of burning out. Any suggestions of great lessons for K-5. THANKS in advance.
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I agree with Donna, try 'Library Skills" for your classes. As a Librarian, you are confident with the knowledge and all materials are in your Library. It doesn't need to much time to prepare it. You may start with circulation desk stuff, spine labels (it will help you if your school library has different colors of spine labels), Library maps, Fiction and Non fiction and simple steps to find a book. The level of K-5, they really need the basic information about their school library and as a teacher we need to repeat the information again and again. Good luck. Books can guidance you is in http://www.ricgroup.com.a; Fun-brarian; or thousand plans on internet
I had exactly this situation a number of years ago in Michigan. One thing I quickly discovered is that 5 different principals had different expectations for the librarian!! I would try to talk with each principal to see what he/she expects from your time in the building. I tried to collaborate with teachers as much as possible so my lessons would be relevant to what was going on in class. Each of my schools had a library aide, and I wanted to make sure that what I did was unique and different, and not just a repetition of what the library aide would do with the kids. I also had to be very careful to avoid stepping on toes! One school had a large puppet theater, so I got kids involved in writing and performing puppet plays. I worked with a basic "library skills" curriculum, and tried to come up creative and fun ways to teach the skills. I became very involved in puppetry, and really honed my storytelling skills. A number of years ago I wrote a 5 part powerpoint presentation to teach shelf location and The Dewey Decimal System. If you would like it, let me know and I will share it with you. I had this situation my first job out of graduate school. I know it sounds like a disaster right now, but when I look back on my career, those three years did so much to build my skills as a librarian! Donna Clark
Wendy Smart > Donna ClarkSeptember 19, 2011 at 12:57am
Hi ,
My media position has been cut to .7 media and the other .3 added with math and reading interventions. I'm furious. I will see 11 classes most days between the two. Have a media assistant 4.5 hours. I have to 30 minute prep times to prepare for classes PLUS manage the media center functions.
I'd love to see your PowerPoint also and any advice from anyone.
Wendy_smart@mora.k12.mn.us
Thanks so much for your reply. Your situation sounded alot like my current one. I was in tears 2 days this week. I have great assistants and supportive staff. I would love to see your power point. Here is my e-mail address. psheared@rsd.k12.wi.us. THANKS Pam
WOW, I won't complain again about my 30 classes a week. It doesn't sound like you will have time for much of a lesson. How long are your class periods? Will the students be able to checkout books at other times during the week or only during the time you are in their school? I am assuming that you will be at each school for 1 day a week. How many students are in each school?
Wow! Do you have a Union? Because that sounds like a violation. Our instrumental teachers have schedules like that. I wouldn't want it. But if I did I would really concentrate on literature. I wouldn't do a lot with papers, work sheets, or internet. You can do a lot with focussing on reading, discussion, and comprehension. Remember, you have to carry things from school to school. So just carry books. Make things as simple for yourself as possible.
Good luck. Concentrate on what you like, not on what you don't like. Hopefully that will keep you going.
Replies
I agree with Donna, try 'Library Skills" for your classes. As a Librarian, you are confident with the knowledge and all materials are in your Library. It doesn't need to much time to prepare it. You may start with circulation desk stuff, spine labels (it will help you if your school library has different colors of spine labels), Library maps, Fiction and Non fiction and simple steps to find a book. The level of K-5, they really need the basic information about their school library and as a teacher we need to repeat the information again and again. Good luck. Books can guidance you is in http://www.ricgroup.com.a; Fun-brarian; or thousand plans on internet
My media position has been cut to .7 media and the other .3 added with math and reading interventions. I'm furious. I will see 11 classes most days between the two. Have a media assistant 4.5 hours. I have to 30 minute prep times to prepare for classes PLUS manage the media center functions.
I'd love to see your PowerPoint also and any advice from anyone.
Wendy_smart@mora.k12.mn.us
Hi Pam,
I have tried to email you several times but it bounces back. Perhaps if you email me first it will get through.
dclark@harpethhall.org
Donna
Wow! Do you have a Union? Because that sounds like a violation. Our instrumental teachers have schedules like that. I wouldn't want it. But if I did I would really concentrate on literature. I wouldn't do a lot with papers, work sheets, or internet. You can do a lot with focussing on reading, discussion, and comprehension. Remember, you have to carry things from school to school. So just carry books. Make things as simple for yourself as possible.
Good luck. Concentrate on what you like, not on what you don't like. Hopefully that will keep you going.