Lost in the Reads

via unsplash I remember being in elementary school and getting assigned a topic for a research project. The whole class would go to the library to research said topic. Then the one or maybe two sets of encyclopedias would be set out on the tables with the instructions that they were not to be taken off the table, and you only had a certain amount of time to use the copy you needed because everyone needed a chance to use it. As someone who has since fallen down many a Wikipedia rabbit hole, this was a torturous way to be given an Encyclopedia, I wanted to look up EVERYTHING. via giphy This memory really resonated while reading lesson 6 and encountering the notion that, “ ‘Managing’ a school library resource centre or a reference collection does not mean building systems that protect it or limit access to it. In fact, it can mean the exact opposite.” I whole heartedly agree. Thankfully, my students have access to a lot of our reference resources online, and they can br...

Part 1: Evaluation of Reference Currently in Use: Title:   Nature’s Children (Series, 81 titles) Type: Print Books Date of Publication: 1986 -2001 Publisher: Grolier Educational, Connecticut Physical Dimensions:   8.5 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches Unacceptable Acceptable Exceeding Currency 10 years old or older Maximum of 5 years old 0-2 years old, or continually updated to remain current Purpose Provides minimal amount and/or contradicting information with little to no pictures and no supports. Provides an adequate amount of information with supports like glossary or index in place. Has large, colourful pictures. Provides ample amount of relevant information on subject. Has supports such as; glossary, index, table of contents. Has large, colourful pictures. Relevancy / Audience Does not meet reading level appropriate for either primary or intermediate. Information is unorg...

via giphy "Google can bring you back 100,000 answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.”                                                                                             --   Neil Gaiman I have always loved the idea behind this quote by library advocate and generally incredibly famous author Neil Gaiman (maybe you’ve heard of him? *). As much as I love the idea of being that amazing know everything, quipping factual answers like I’m the actual Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy , librarian -I’m never going to be that good. In fact, that quote strikes a bolt of fear right through my little imposter-syndrome heart. As a fairly new teacher-librarian, I am pretty sure I can find an answer on google, but I’m also pretty ...

Via Pexels This course has been eye-opening in more ways than one. On top of all the amazing learning opportunities working through the modules, and reading everyone’s blogs have given me I have also learned some valuable lessons in how to get work done while dealing with a teething infant. My final vision project wraps up a huge learning process for me. I am generally not one to put myself out there online, and now I have a blog, a reactivated twitter account, and a you tube channel. This may not seem like much, but it is huge for me right now. I have been able to see what a valuable experience sharing your work is to others, and I look forward to continuing to learn this way. Starting this course, I wanted to continue learning how to be an active and valuable teacher-librarian. Upon completion of this course (about half way through the diploma) I feel I have made some big strides in this direction, and have a better idea about how to continue this journey going forw...

via Pixabay This week I have been busy working on my tutorial videos. So far I have only have one completely edited and ready to post. This one video was quite a learning experience for me. I have never done anything like this so it was a big process from start to finish. I am hoping now that I know a bit more of what I am doing the other videos will be much less demanding. via Giphy Starting these video tutorials brought with it some unforeseen challenges. For instance, I sort of forgot that I am very shy, so talking on camera was a hurdle to get over. This was a bigger deal than I had thought it would be. I am constantly having to step outside my comfort zone in order to be the best I can be in my teacher-librarian position. I thought I was used to that, but I had a surprise bout of severe stage-fright once I pressed record! I found it helpful to write out a script and list my main points in BIG BOLD LETTERS on multiple post it notes all over my screen. Even with these ...

via pixabay                I started my career as a high school English teacher looking to go into Library Services. I am now in an elementary library and absolutely love it. I think I have adapted to the elementary setting and mindset quite well overall. However, introducing online databases to elementary students has tested the very limits of my patience, and judging by my very patient and competent elementary colleagues’ disdain for online research projects, I assume this goes beyond my own lack of abilities to properly communicate with the tiny humans.                While it would be so much easier to just print off what they need, and pull the books of the shelves, it is more important that students begin to learn online research skills early. This is why I want to make things a bit easier for myself and my colleagu...

via giphy I have been racking my brain all week with what I could possibly create that would bring value to my school community, and colleagues. It has not been an easy task. Looking at what our library offers I began to think about our online ERAC databases. Every year I try to coordinate class schedules, lap top cart bookings, and limited research time to teach students how to access and use these databases. Every year I fail at hitting all the classes, and often those I do get to see end up with a very brief overview because one of the pieces of the puzzle didn’t line up properly. So, back to my thinking and thinking, I knew I wanted to do something that would be immediately beneficial to those teachers I work with on a day to day basis, and at the same time would not be superfluous to my own library instruction with students. via giphy See where I am going with this? No? Me either -yet. But I think where this is heading is to the creation of some kind of online i...