What in particular did you like?
My field experience at Arvada West was not at all what I expected. I had heard storiesabout what high school libraries were like. I admit I was nervous about havingnothing to do and sitting around for 80 hours feeling a sense of desperationand frustration.
Was I ever wrong! I spent my time at AWest working with students and teachers, helping torefine processes, researching tools for lessons, setting up for classes andattending meetings that will drive the school. I enjoyed every minute of it andI learned so much from Susie Lackey. We had some great and inspiringconversations about advocacy. We did some networking and reached out to folkswe knew to help us resolve some problems and answer some questions, and we doveinto the unknown by creating lessons that were new to everyone involved. It was80 hours filled with broad thinking, problem solving, teaching, researching,and learning all kinds of amazing tools. I came away from the experienceenergized and ready to tackle some of the issues in my own building. I met withmy principal and shared my insights, and we devised a plan to share some of myideas with the staff. I also joined the district library leadership team!
What were some successful activities you did?
I was able to teach several lessons during my time at AWest, I began with just helpingstudents with some science research. Later that week I helped prep for anancient civilization class and then I taught all but one of the sections ofthat class. Finally, I did quite a bit of work and research for a documentaryproject, including meeting with the teacher, making suggestions, puttingtogether the information for the students and then teaching 2 different lessonsabout it to the students. All of these were great experiences and I trulyenjoyed them. I was particularly tickled when I would later see the samestudents in the library outside of class time doing more research. I was glad Iwas able to continue to help the kids.
All together the experience was an excellent one and I am thrilled I had a chance to work withsuch an energized and dynamic high school librarian. I learned more than Icould even fit in a paper and I will take away not only the skills I learnedbut the relationship I developed with an inspiring high school librarian.
