Slice of Life: May: The icing on the cake.

May is...FULL

May is...FUN

May is gratifying. Readers of this blog know that I love how I spend each work day. The fullness and fun of May is like the proverbial icing on the cake. It is such a sweet month. May is the time when I get to work with classroom teachers to develop collaborative culminating projects, projects that hopefully tie together the skills, strategies, ideas, and knowledge that the students have been gaining all year. 

Last week was just the first of many full and fun weeks. I used any increment of time that I could to work with classes.  Along with working with the twenty-one classes of students during my fixed schedule, I was involved in other learning experiences that included classroom teachers as well.

I introduced (location, access, and navigation) electronic resources to third grade students and their classroom teachers. 

I spent forty-five minutes in a first grade classroom working with the students and classroom teacher during their ocean animal research project. I introduced the electronic databases and then spent the next thirty minutes working with engaged learners.  

I spent an hour in a third grade classroom assisting the students and teachers with a project for a unit on New England mammals. I introduced an image database that we are piloting and guided the students through a presentation that included two slides - one with a riddle and one with an image of their mammal.

I spent time in all the fifth grade classrooms working with students to create knowledge products on various science subjects. The students have been information gatherers, script writers, prop creators, and film-makers. 

I spent an hour with a second grade teacher and her students working on a poetry project. I introduced, explained, and assisted in the creation of poems capturing what the students learned during a science unit on forces of motion. 

 

May is...BITTERSWEET

May is...EXCITING

May is gratifying.

Slice of Life: Knowing you love what you do

This is the second day back from vacation and I had a great vacation. It was relaxing and free of any set schedule from Monday on - the best kind of vacation. There are many wonderful memories, but the two days on Martha's Vineyard biking and reading stand out. I loved the book that I was reading so much that I couldn't wait to get to the next place, so I could get off my bike and read.  I was reading The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier, it's a well-crafted, victorian ghost story. 

Knowing that I couldn't get up and leisurely drink my morning coffee and read made waking up yesterday was a bit hard. Walking into school and exchanging vacation adventures with other staff was not, and the day only got better when the students and I shared vacation reading stories. 

Today was more of the same, but also a serious look at these next eight weeks of school. I spent the afternoon meeting with teachers and planning units, this collaboration benefits the students and makes my work more fun, but it also strengthens my working relationships, I feel like a teacher partner.  It was about 6:30 pm when I finished my work. On my way out of the school, I stopped by the Principal's office to catch up on life and school. I then stopped in to catch up with my running partner (we had planned to run, but didn't). Finishing my school day with these casual conversations reminded me of how lucky I am. As I left my school building, I carried with me a feeling of happiness and contentment. I love doing what I do in the place that I spend each working day. 

Slice of Life: treasure from the sea

It is our spring school vacation here in Massachusetts. My daughter and I are enjoying a staycation of sorts. With Easter and The Marathon, it didn't feel like vacation until yesterday. We decided that we would try to visit a few new places this week. Yesterday, we got up early and headed for Plum Island in Newburyport.  I am always struck by how short a distance I have to travel from my normal stomping grounds in order to feel like I have "gotten away." 

A mere hour from my house and I felt hundreds of miles away. We went directly to the Wildlife Refuge, which is beautiful and rugged. Unfortunately, we were unable to walk along the six miles of beach because of the nesting shore birds (Piping Plovers), but we did get out on state park property on the point. This little spot had all that we wanted: tide pools, rocks, sand, gentle rolling waves, and an expansive view.  I think this last thing is why I love being at the ocean, the sky opens up and the horizon reveals itself. This opening of the physical landscape brings a calmness to my being. I feel small in this environment, which allows me to relax. 

And relax we did! We spent five hours exploring tide pools, walking over rocks, lying on the beach, navigating boardwalks, eating lobster rolls and fried clams, and walking through the town, but one moment stands apart from all the rest - the two of us, looking for "treasures" amongst the rocks. 

Sadly our oceans are full of trash, but some of it speaks of a different time or of those who make their lives on the water.  When they were young, the children loved collecting these sea treasures: bits of fishing nets, lobster traps, buoys, and rope; as Tom Zart said, "one man's trash, is another man's treasure." 

Yesterday, as we wended our way through the rocks, we found "sea rope", "sea metal" and "sea leather," and as we did, we would call out to each other.  We are collectors at heart. 

In the old days, we would always leave the beach with as many pieces of the sea-worn fishing items as we did rocks and shells, but yesterday was different, we referenced these items and evoked memories, but we left them on the beach. The treasures we collected were of the more traditional kind: rocks, shells, and sea glass. 

They are treasures because they are beautiful, but they are also treasures because I collected them with my daughter, they now hold the memories of a day at the beach spent together doing the thing we enjoy - exploring and collecting. 

Slice of Life: Write on!

This month of poetry centers has had its successes and its challenges. The greatest challenge is finding ways to both share poetry and integrate the centers (as well as adding library skills to the centers). The greatest success has been the amount of writing that is occurring. I am heartened by the courageous poets who are willing to share their ideas, passions, and vision.  

The students are whipping out some poems and thoughtfully working through others, but either way, they are writing...and enjoying it. They are playing with words, which I think bodes well for their writing futures.  Referring to this centers-based unit, someone talked about "play" in my library (versus skill development). I think that all play is learning and that all learning is important. I will build in more library skills, but watching the students writing poetry these past two weeks makes me think of my mother's phrase, "Children need to know the joy of unsupervised, unstructured play." This poetry unit is supervised and somewhat structured, but it doesn't feel like it, it feels full of joy.  "Mrs. Reed, come read my poem!" can be heard over and over. That is a cool thing to be hearing. I look forward to seeing the impact of this experience on future projects. Write on!

Slice of Life: What's this in my mailbox?

I returned home from work on Monday to find not one, but two personally addressed envelopes in my mail slot.  Apart from Christmas, the contents of my mail generally consists of catalogs, bills, and advertisements.  My mother-in-law and my parents are the only regular snail mail users an even their use has waned. With my bag still slung over my shoulder, I opened and read the notes. It's school library month (along with poetry month) and one of these notes was related to that, the other was just a well-timed note from a friend. 

When I turned 50 (back in December), I had a few ideas as to how I should mark my birthday. The best idea I had was to write 50 notes. I couldn't decide how to choose the 50 people that would receive them -- one person for each of the 50 years? -- 50 friends chosen at random? -- 50 different ways people have helped me grow into who I am?  The cards that I received this week has renewed my interest in this idea.  I love the idea of surprising someone with a note, maybe I'll even begin a correspondence and we'll write letters back and forth. 

I grew up having pen pals. It was what my friends and I "did." We would share our pen pal's letters. We made new friends. We learned about other parts of the world. When I was 16,  I became a pen pal with a boy from Ecuador who came on the Tall Ships' visit that marked the 350th Anniversary of Boston. I was a member of Greater Bostonians chorus and we were matched up with the young sailors to be their guides for the day. I still have a softball signed by him on the day we met. Why a softball? I have no idea. We had fun and we continued to exchange letters  for over a year.

I was always a letter writer. I wrote letters to friends through college.  Long letters, pages and pages, that would take days to write. Somewhere along the line, I stopped writing letters and notes. In this busy, fun, and active life that I lead, there seems to be less and less time to put pen to paper. I connect with my friends all the time - through 140 character tweets, text messages, Facebook posts, Skype visits, and phone calls. My children connect with their friends this way and even send text messages and emails to grandparents. I imagine many of my students do as well. In this era where we can connect with everyone we need to through a data device, the need to put pen to paper has all but disappeared.  What has not disappeared is the impact of receiving a hand-written note. These two notes that I received in the mail yesterday were gifts. I think I need to share this experience with my children and students as well. It would be so sad if letter writing disappeared. I am inspired to put pen to paper thanks to these two notes. How about you?

Slice of Life: #WhyLib

Saturday, as I was heading off to deliver a presentation on Twitter as a Personal Learning Network (PLN), I got involved in a Twitter conversation where we were sharing how we had found our way to becoming Teacher Librarians. Within minutes an initiative was born, replete with its own hashtag, #whylib. Andy Plemmons, over at Barrow Elementary, has captured the interaction and explains the initiative here. Sherry Gick, over at Rossville Middle and High School, did a great job of getting us going with her post. We are all adding our stories to this Padlet. Please check both of these resources out and share your #whylib story.

As you can imagine, I was excited to have this hot-off-the-presses example of twitter as a PLN to bring to the presentation, but even more, I was excited about this new vehicle for growing our PLN. I believe that stories change us and help us grow,the stories that get printed in the books we share with students, the stories that live on our blogs, and the stories we tell each other. It is now twenty-four hours later and I have already read a few of my colleagues #whylib stories. The work these colleagues do every day is inspiring, but so are their journeys. I feel closer to these friends having read about how they found their way to teaching in a school library. I look forward to reading more #whylib stories in the coming weeks.

I'll start my story in the middle and, with some trepidation, share the Statement of Career Objectives that I submitted with my application for the School Library Teacher Program in the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science.

"One of the best aspects of growing up in the South End of Boston was the proximity to everything.  One favorite haunts was the Prudential Center, where I would go to get a raspberry-lime rickey from Brigham's Ice Cream Parlour along with a view of my world.  I would head up the elevators to the Skywalk, where I could see: the YWCA, the Cyclorama, Copley Square, the Bancroft Elementary School, the park, friends' houses, and the place that still is my favorite, the South End Branch of the Boston Public Library.  It is two blocks from my parents’ house.  Getting there for some years involved crossing through an abandoned block, which only made the trip more magical.  There it was -- an inviting oasis.  Judy Watkins was there to greet me with a warm smile and genuine interest in what I was reading.  She knew me and knew what I liked to read.  She was always happy to help find books or steer me in the right direction.  I was an avid reader and she played a significant role in that aspect of my life.

I never stopped reading.  I still love to read, but when I had children I realized how much I loved to read with others and to share books.  Reading for my own pleasure is different for me than reading for someone else’s pleasure.  I enjoy the books I read with my children, but I especially love their reaction to the books and the discussions that ensue. 

When thinking about the next phase of my life and what would make me happy, I keep coming back to books.  It is what I love most.  I want to be a school librarian.  I want to be the person to help a child find the book that opens the door for them and starts them on their journey through literature. There are  many books that have moved me or changed the way I think, how gratifying to think of  helping a child find the book that moves them or changes the way they think.    Having spent a year teaching reading, I am fully aware that reading does not come easily to all children.   It is hard to find a “just right book” in a subject area or genre that interests a child, but there are many good books available and I look forward to the challenge. 

I would like to start my career as an elementary school librarian.  First, I think there is a personal knowledge of and relationship with the students.  I have spent a significant amount of time in my children’s school library and have witnessed the relationship between the student population and the librarian.   Second, I think a school library is the core of a school.  It is an essential resource for students and faculty alike.  It is the gateway to information.  Third, I like the range of reading ability, from emerging readers to independent readers.  I enjoyed my time working in classrooms assisting with reading activities. Finally, I would enjoy being part of a team of educators.  Mostly though, I want to be like Judy Watkins and support children on their literary journey."

Eeep. It sounds pretentious, but at its core, is the reason I found my way to becoming a teacher librarian. I love books. I love to share all things book-ish.

What I didn't anticipate, when I wrote that essay, is how much my understanding of a school library program would change during my time at Simmons and every day since. I also didn't realize how skills gathered and honed during my earlier careers would feed into this one. My path has been a funny one - restaurant owner-Bread&Circus manager -community development consultant- readings specialist-teacher librarian.  It might look as if these occupations are not connected, but they are.

A few of my beliefs and how my occupations influenced them:

A Smile Goes a Long Way
I owned and operated restaurants with my husband (during college and for a short time after). I had started waiting on tables at fourteen and grew up understanding the value and impact of good service. Knowing what will make a person happy and being willing to find a way to make it happen can make any business better and any interactions better. This may seem like a stretch, but greeting people with a smile, being a problem solver, and understanding the impact of a person walking away feeling good about an interaction are just part of my being. A part of my being that serves me well in my school setting.

My Experience is Not Your Experience
My childhood was wonderful and unique, but it would not have been for everyone. The experiences I had growing up helped cement the idea that we are all individuals and cannot represent any other individual or group of people. I left the restaurant business and entered the field that I felt drawn to and that fulfilled my college studies. (I was a political science major with an economics minor.) I joined a community development consulting firm, where I worked in low- and moderate-income communities across the country developing loan consortia and programs to support minority economic development and affordable housing.  During my time working for the firm, I acted as a mediator, I helped bring the banks to the table, I led many meetings, and I wrote a lot. I spent a good deal of time listening to people's stories, each of our stories is unique. We are who we are because of the experiences we have had. Each student is an individual.

Technology is a Powerful Tool
In the restaurant, I was in charge of handling the accounts payable and the accounts receivable on a 1982 IBM computer (oh, this things was so new and so cool).  The flashing green lines held a mystery that I wanted to unravel. I went on to work on Lotus 123 spreadsheets and I was hooked.  By the time I got to the consulting firm we were writing our own code at the command prompt. I remember liking Microsoft Word over word perfect, but then getting so angry when Microsoft Word became all knowing and started to take the fun out of coding one's writing. The modem that we used to send files down to the office in Florida was an external box that required some serious set up. Technology has always been a tool for me, the fun now is seeing how the students can use technology as a tool to consume and produce content, express themselves, and share their understanding.

We are All Learners
I have earned a degree in each of my last three decades (20's, 30's and 40's).  I hope I never stop wanting to learn new things. I love being a student, working hard and puzzling out assignments. Unfortunately, I can't afford to be a student all the time, but I can be a learner all the time. Each day in my school library, I am learning beside the students and I am puzzling out lessons, units, activities. 

Stories Connect Us
Judy Watkins put into my hands The Dark is Rising and for that simple gesture, I will never forget her. This act planted a seed, a seed that sat dormant for twenty five years. During my time as a reading specialist, I found myself down in the library looking for books that would teach what the basal readers or other boring (I am sorry!) and didactic books that went along with the program were meant to be teaching. Daniel Pinkwater's The Big Orange Splot was a much more fun way to learn about blending, the same goes for learning about digraphs and trigraphs, inferring and sequencing. I think that good stories resonate within us and the things that we are learning during that process are more easily assimilated because of this. Stories connect us to learning in many ways. I come from a bookish family (my parents were avid readers), but the relationship that Judy Watkins had with me was different. She wasn't related to me, yet she knew me and she knew what I liked to read. I didn't have libraries in my schools until I reached 7th grade and even then, I don't think we went to the school library more than three times over the next six years. I wanted to be Judy, but I wanted to be that person in a school setting that I never had. 

There you have it, more or less, I became a teacher librarian because I love books and because I (somewhat egotistically) wanted to be the person who would put that one special book in another person's hand. But I have grown (thankfully), and become wiser (a process that i hope has not stopped!).  I am not sure that being the person to put the book in a person's hand is really my goal anymore. I think I just like being part of the bigger reader and story picture. 

I really just love going to work every day. I love going into a space filled with books and technology; a space where I get to explore and learn about the power of technology with the students; a space where I am able to a part of the magic that happens when reader and story connect, and, if I'm lucky, I get to see where the journey goes from there. 

April is School Library Month, 

a perfect time to share your #WhyLib story. 

You can find information on the initiative here. 

We are all adding our stories to this Padlet. 

What's holding you back?