I have been a SLMS for a year and a half. Fortunately and unfortunately I was allowed to do my internship at my school with supervision from a SLMS at another school. I think this is why I am having so much trouble now. In my previous life I was a 7/8 teacher at a school that had a computer lab but now I'm a SLMS at a Elementary School (PreK4 - 5) with a Computer Lab that is used during Computer time. HERE IS MY PROBLEM: I have no idea what to do with my students!!! Yes I try to teach Information Skills but when I run out of those I'm at a loss. I honestly don't know what to do. The teacher's drop the kids off and I'm alone with the students. I only have 30 minutes and that never seems to be enough time to read a story, do an activity, check in and check out books. I tried just having the kids come in and check in and check out books but they got too rowdy so I have to something but I don't know what. Does anyone know where I can find mini lessons to do? Any suggestions?
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I understand your situation completely, as I'm in an analogous situation myself. Laura posted some great ideas, and since I'm sure you're being bombarded with ideas, I'll just post a few links to some sites that might help you out.
I know that this sounds dumb... but have students work on recalling beginning, middle, end of each story... You can do this verbally or have them illustrate it on paper. It fills a need for sequenceing storylines in English/LA standards and believe it or not... it is a hard skill for my K-2 students. Most of them get it by the middle of 2nd grade, but K and 1st... really have to work at it. If they are illustrating the storyline then you can call them up a few at a time to check out.
Absolutely, I forgot the obvious!!! That is challenging for my students as well! Another good one is to go through: setting; characters; problem; solution; summary; main idea; lesson/moral. You can also make a story cube. Have the kids roll a 5x5 (approx.) cardboard box & you can label ea. side with setting, main character, etc. They can sit in a large circle on the floor and roll it to come up with the answers. They love doing this!
Laura, we only have 2 computers in the Library and they barely work. I have been looking online but I come up empty. I keep hearing "Set up stations." My only question is, what will they do at these stations and how do we rotate so they can have enough time to check in and check out books?
Jocelyn Sams > Yavodka OwensJuly 9, 2012 at 4:00pm
Yavodka, This is a tricky one. I didn't realize you had to cram book checkout into class time. What I do with my stations is have students visit one station per week. In other words, they rotate to a different station the next time I see them (the next week) instead of the same day. So we'll work on the same 3 centers for an entire month.
It's the only way I can work more closely with the students and give them individual attention. Do you have an assistant that can handle book check in and out?
Hi Jocelyn, I like your idea of rotating stations once per visit. This will be my first year as a librarian - new school - new staff - new kids! I have each class for around 50 minutes, plenty of time to complete a lesson and check out books. I'd love to hear some of your station ideas.
No I do not have an assistant. I usually try to make it easy by reading a picture book and doing a craft. However because some of my classes are so large its difficult. Plus, when you add that I pay for most/sometimes all of the supplies myself it gets hard. Especially, since I commute 54 miles each way to my job. I must admit that all of the advice I have been getting is helping. I'm just thinking of ways to incorporate the stations. I have 2 computers that work SLOWLY but I'm sure that I can do the stations thing.
I am working on this very thing on my website right now. My lessons are designed for 35 minute class periods. I normally do stations in my classes. Visit Elementary Librarian and look for my updates on Facebook and Twitter! So far I've finished August and September. I'll be posting more about my plans in the next couple of weeks! Good luck.
So are you saying that you don't have access to computers? If not that is no big deal there is still plenty that you can do. Maybe you can set up stations? You can also find tons of lessons online. You can break a lesson into mini lessons and make it work over several weeks. I just friended you so if you need more help we can communicate that way. Let me know specifics and it may be easier for me to help you.
Replies
Hi,
I understand your situation completely, as I'm in an analogous situation myself. Laura posted some great ideas, and since I'm sure you're being bombarded with ideas, I'll just post a few links to some sites that might help you out.
http://teacher.neisd.net/library/public/lessonplan/
A bazillion library lesson plans.
http://fcpslibrary.wikispaces.com/
Excellent source of lessons brought to you courtesy of the fine SLMs of Fairfax County VA PS.
These are some great places to start!
Dan
I know that this sounds dumb... but have students work on recalling beginning, middle, end of each story... You can do this verbally or have them illustrate it on paper. It fills a need for sequenceing storylines in English/LA standards and believe it or not... it is a hard skill for my K-2 students. Most of them get it by the middle of 2nd grade, but K and 1st... really have to work at it. If they are illustrating the storyline then you can call them up a few at a time to check out.
Absolutely, I forgot the obvious!!! That is challenging for my students as well! Another good one is to go through: setting; characters; problem; solution; summary; main idea; lesson/moral. You can also make a story cube. Have the kids roll a 5x5 (approx.) cardboard box & you can label ea. side with setting, main character, etc. They can sit in a large circle on the floor and roll it to come up with the answers. They love doing this!
This is a really good idea! Thanks for sharing it.
Yavodka, This is a tricky one. I didn't realize you had to cram book checkout into class time. What I do with my stations is have students visit one station per week. In other words, they rotate to a different station the next time I see them (the next week) instead of the same day. So we'll work on the same 3 centers for an entire month.
It's the only way I can work more closely with the students and give them individual attention. Do you have an assistant that can handle book check in and out?
Hi Jocelyn, I like your idea of rotating stations once per visit. This will be my first year as a librarian - new school - new staff - new kids! I have each class for around 50 minutes, plenty of time to complete a lesson and check out books. I'd love to hear some of your station ideas.
No I do not have an assistant. I usually try to make it easy by reading a picture book and doing a craft. However because some of my classes are so large its difficult. Plus, when you add that I pay for most/sometimes all of the supplies myself it gets hard. Especially, since I commute 54 miles each way to my job. I must admit that all of the advice I have been getting is helping. I'm just thinking of ways to incorporate the stations. I have 2 computers that work SLOWLY but I'm sure that I can do the stations thing.
I am working on this very thing on my website right now. My lessons are designed for 35 minute class periods. I normally do stations in my classes. Visit Elementary Librarian and look for my updates on Facebook and Twitter! So far I've finished August and September. I'll be posting more about my plans in the next couple of weeks! Good luck.
So are you saying that you don't have access to computers? If not that is no big deal there is still plenty that you can do. Maybe you can set up stations? You can also find tons of lessons online. You can break a lesson into mini lessons and make it work over several weeks. I just friended you so if you need more help we can communicate that way. Let me know specifics and it may be easier for me to help you.