Lost in the Reads

via Pixabay   “A good reference source is one that serves to answer questions, and a bad reference source is one that fails to answer questions.” – Riedling The physical Reference section of our library is outdated, hidden, and untouched by both librarian and patrons for the last few years.   Part of the reason for this neglect is our district collection of online databases . These online databases are useful, relevant, and should be gaining the main attention from teachers and students. However, online databases are not the only reference resources that should be available to our school community. Complementing these valuable resources with a useful print section of dictionaries, atlases, curriculum specific encyclopedias, and curriculum specific texts will increase student use of all references resources and better serve our patrons. Below are the steps necessary to overhaul this dusty, overlooked section of the library to enhance student learning in conjunct...

Teachers lead busy lives. Between planning engaging lessons, coordinating extra curricular events, differentiating instruction, providing meaningful assessment for learning, teachers do not have time to sit through pages and pages of resources and ideas. Good pedagogy is founded in student centred learning. The same applies when teachers are the learners. As a teacher librarian I should be able to provide meaningful, relevant, and current resources, that support what the teacher is already doing with their classes. Giphy Since nobody wants to be the teacher prolonging the meeting at the end of the day, my practice of sharing resources needs to go beyond the quick staff meeting blurb about what’s new in the library. I have come across a few tools that provide a framework for teachers to use in any subject area. These tools allow for the collection of resources and collaboration between collogues that does not require a significant time investment outside of already packed sched...