Now we're talking.

Last week was 0 to 60. All the planning I fit in during the low-key first week of school paid off as I have begun introducing myself to teachers and students, as well as "orienting" everyone.


Library orientation is an exciting time for me, and so important during my first year in the school. It gives me a chance to get everyone on the same page, and to make sure every student at least knows who their new librarian is. (Whether I'll remember who they are is a different matter--how do you remember 900 kiddos in two weeks, or even a year? That's a mystery I'll still have to figure out.) Orientations are also a chance to show the students how exciting the library can be...which is why my lessons have been a little chaotic for my normal taste. But I'd like to break the SHHHHH library stereotype of last century and help be a part--not just a bystander--of the 21st century.


A very quick rundown of library orientations. For 7th and 8th graders, I rolled around to my Language and Literature teachers (who signed up for a time during my spiel at their Monday grade-level meetings) to do a mini-orientation. After a quick plug for the public library and handing out library card applications, we spent around 15 minutes doing a Kahoot quiz over our library policies. I discovered Kahoot during our new teacher trainings, and it has served me well for this activity. I just made up 9 questions covering policies ahead of time, then gave the teams iPads and let 'em go! The most difficult part of this turned out to be wi-fi issues; otherwise, the quiz format--with only the social pressure to get it "right"--was perfect for my common sense and conversation-starter questions.


Link to my library orientation Kahoot: https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/f1bc00f8-8fa7-44d4-bfe0-8e3ef209eb16


For the 6th grade classes, I requested they come to the library for a half-block of time (around 45 minutes). We did the same exact Kahoot quiz at the end, but to start off I did a 10-minute split and switch--one group doing a scavenger hunt of the library spaces while I walked the other group through the Library Catalog and accessing our eBooks. The scavenger hunt was the most fun to plan, because I drew from the Pokémon Go craze that hit the digital universe less than a month ago. Thanks, Karissa Fast and Pinterest, for the great idea! (https://karissamlis.wordpress.com/2016/07/14/pokemon-scavenger-hunt-in-the-library/) Best idea to go along with these activities--setting up a 10-minute timer on the screen. Otherwise I'd go way over time, for sure!


As I said, it's been 0 to 60--I was bouncing around to all four grade-level meetings on Monday and finally met all the teachers (just as important as letting all the kids know who you are), and I did ten 7th and 8th grade orientations plus eight 6th grade orientations. I also had the pleasure of starting some collaboration with a teaching team of Language and Literature/Individuals and Society on an interdisciplinary project they're doing. I'll be beginning that the next week, and starting to plan a lesson on finding good photos and citing them properly.


I'm loving being busy--this is what I feel my job is all about! I still have a lot to learn, though, especially getting the boring processes of the library (circulation, displays, etc.) down pat. But I can't say enough how positive an environment this is and how blessed I am to be here.


What I'm NERDing right now: Information Literacy lessons. Get those 21st century skills, man!

One week down.

One week down.


Despite the library itself feeling big and empty much of the time this week, I have definitely kept myself busy. Since every day seems to be different, I have started keeping track in a notebook of the various tasks that have been keeping me occupied each day. Our checkouts have picked up: three Bridges classes and about 50 students with passes visited the library last week. Friday during Bridges I could hardly leave the circulation desk, and I feel as if I'm learning circulation through trial by fire. Which is good, because since I'm hoping I'll be doing less circulation and more teaching and so on, I'd rather have it down to a reflex. Happily, I have many different people to ask when I'm unsure of the way various things are handled--error messages, damaged books, missing books and fines, ordering new materials, book displays, and so on. I really lucked out in that I have the elementary library just downstairs and the high school just across the plaza. Thank goodness for DCC's K-12 campus!


I still feel a little disconnected from teachers and students, so last week I made sure to rectify that by planning a way to meet everyone in the school--attending grade level meetings and leading library orientations. I hope that my preparations pay off in the coming week. And of course, I consulted Pinterest for neat library orientation ideas, and I can't wait to try it out--more to come on that!


The technology aspect of the job is also a learning curve, but I feel that I am climbing it adequately. I have had no problem making some simple website fixes, and I was able to sit in on a tech meeting about how the school uses OneNote for keeping track of MTSS (special ed.) accommodations. I also had a teacher approach me for my first collaboration opportunity--having to do with technology, of course--so I have some more tech research to do!


All in all, it's great to be back in business. I still feel overwhelmed with people (I mean, 900 students and dozens of staff members, just in the middle school), but I know that becomes easy as time goes on. I already know the names of a dozen kids, even if only from when they've come to check out books--some of the awesome nerd kids, like me. :^D


What I'm NERDing now: Pokémon. (Just you wait!)

Day of Days

Four years for the first degree, three and a half for the second, lots of job applications, one interview, and here I am at last, a middle school Teacher-Librarian on the first day of school! Since the first day of new teacher orientation over a week ago, I have been bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, drinking up all the boring trainings and squeezing productivity out of every last minute of “in your classroom” time.

In the days leading up to this, the day of days, the day when we finally welcome our students, I have been eagerly soaking up trainings on website management, library programs, district policies, and schoolwide procedures. I have met dozens of colleagues, noting who will be good resources for what, who I can look forward to providing support for over the school year, and generally fostering professional relationships with everyone from our custodians to our district leaders. I have prepared our library space: hanging posters, taking down old student work to make way for the new, arranging tables, and placing books in displays. Perhaps most importantly, I have begun planning for the upcoming school year: 6^th grade library orientations, teacher collaboration meetings, collection development, book fairs, national library events, Library Advisory Board club, and the list goes on. And on and on.

First week of school—not for the faint-hearted. But what an exciting opportunity to set the stage for the entire rest of the year!

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What I’m NERDing right now: OneNote lists. Providing the perfect degree of organized chaos for my scattered brain.