LSC 520- Observation Log
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Post a link to a visual that represents your learning this semester. This class is one of my favorite’s courses I have taken during my time here at University of Rhode Island. Although the other courses helped me learn about the library and information pieces of my profession, this class got to the meat of being a School Library Media Specialist. I was finally able to see what it is really like being a SLMS. I have a much better understanding on what my career entails and from my understanding SLMS are one of the most important staff members in a school system. My reason for saying this is that our job is to support and assist students, teachers, and staff in their educational success. Collaboration, curriculum meetings, literacy, problem-solving, and circulation of books are just some of the things us librarians do to support our patrons. I also enjoyed meeting face to face with my classmates. I learned many new things from them including experiences, lesson plan ideas, and especially technology tools. The warm-up and exit activity presentations were helpful to me because it gave me some good ideas for assessing and adding some fun to the library. These are some of the ideas that I will definitely be trying out during my student teaching and continuing during my career.
There are many things that impacted me this semester. Certainly the readings helped give me more insight to what goes on in the everyday life of a SLMS. The activities that were assigned in this class gave me some experiences as to the activities I will be performing. And finally, by volunteering and talking to my Cooperating Teacher I get excited about practicing my profession. With that being said, the volunteer experience had the most impact on me. While working as a library assistant I don’t get to see the SLMS all too often (we are each in a different building). Therefore, it’s hard to get questioned answered and learn things from her. While observing at the intermediate school I was able to explore a lot. The librarian was able to show me real life experiences for example setting up the book fair, using Follette to select books and hear her explanation for purchasing them, reviewing the budget, and how to perform a collection analysis using Follette/Destiny. These were just some of the important things I was able to see because I will need to know how to do these once I’m in charge of my own library. It was also nice to get to know the librarian, the library, and the school I will be working in for 12 weeks during student teaching. Although I have come to the very last semester here at URI and I enjoy what I have been learning and doing, I still don’t feel 100% comfortable taking on a library on my own. Coming up with lesson plans and teaching students are not a concern to me. I am more nervous about all the other jobs that encompass a SLMS, more specifically writing a budget, keeping my library up to date (weeding and ordering books), and other more administrative jobs. Therefore, I am looking forward to student teaching so that I can get more comfortable. Having a mentor to discuss issues and situations as they are happening and to have someone guide me through this process will help me acquire more confidence. I am more fearful of not being able to do my job to the fullest; to be the instructional partner, teacher; leader, information specialist, and program administrator that I am suppose to be. I understand that this will come with time and to add little bits at a time. So my hope is that by student teaching I will feel more comfortable taking on my own library. Although, I have expressed my nervousness, I am also very excited. I really do love what I do and I can’t want to make more positive changes to student’s lives. I realize that being a SLMS is an important job. I am honored to have chosen such a significant profession and to have the ability to make a difference. I love to when children find a book that they can get excited about or when they feel really connected to a lesson or story. I know there will be some ups and downs with this career: things to look forward to, mistakes to be made, create joy, and tedious work. But in the end I know it’s all worth it and it will be a very enjoyable and never boring career. Thanks to all those who believe and support me! According to Sharon Coatney's article "Essential Questions and Answers for Implementing Inquiry" (2015), she states that inquiry learning is natural since that is the way students learn; "they want to know everything." Therefore, she follows the constructivism school of thought, where "students take an active part in his or her education" (Coatney, 2010, p.93). In this type of teaching, "learners are encouraged to question and inquire into what they want to know so that curiosity is promoted." In another article by Jean Donham, she follows the same school of thought stating that the basic fact-gathering and fact-learning is a task no longer worth doing. Instead of fact gathering, assignments need to be made meaningful to students so that their learning reveals a "so what" concept. This type of learning also includes analysis, synthesis, and which are essential for deep learning.
Personally, I feel that what is stated above is 100% true. Student's need to take an active part in their own learning. When I was in Elementary school and all the way through High school, I didn't feel connected or enjoyed 100% of what was assigned. The only time I was excited was when I got to choose my own topics for projects and papers or use my creativity, but that was few and far between. During those fun and enjoyable projects I most likely learned more than writing a paper on something I didn't care as much about. Once I'm a certified School Library Media Specialist, I hope to create lesson plans that get students involved in their own learning and make assignments and projects that we work on meaningful to them. I want them to enjoy learning and not by just listing off facts and having them remember them because this is no longer practical. I think creating an active classroom will also help students learn the more important topics better if we immerse them into the material rather than verbally throwing it at them. Discuss some of the roles, responsibilities, and traits of school librarians and reflect on your strengths and areas that need developing to be an effective school librarian
School Library Media Specialists have many jobs and tasks that need to be performed on a daily basis and throughout the school year. It is our job to make sure that the needs of our students, teachers, and communities are being fulfilled. This career is to turn our students into life-long learners, critical thinkers, communicators, and problem solvers (Empowering, p.11). Not everyone can do this career. Therefore, SLMS have certain traits, just like any teacher or school administrator, to help complete this task. School Library Media Specialists are leaders within their school and school systems. There are many excellent traits that they have to have in order for them to do a successful job. Looking at the article created by the American Library Association, “Leadership Traits”, I feel the most important traits SLMS’s should have are physical, emotional, and social. First off, this career can be physically demanding. As explained before, SLMS have many task and jobs to accomplish throughout the day and throughout the school year; therefore it is a constantly moving occupation. Also, when working with young children a high energy level to keep up with students and to keep them engaged. As a Library Assistant for two elementary libraries, I see this every day and I like this about my job. A SLMS should also be organized and an effective planner. The librarian’s physical space should be organized so that he/she can find what he/she needs and so it doesn’t look like a mess for library patrons. The librarian should also have effective plans including goals, policies, and lesson plans to keep the librarian on track and decrease stress. These two traits are my best traits. Making lists, color coding, and labeling helps me stay on task, find things quickly and easily, and to make sure I don’t forget anything. The next is emotional traits: desire to improve, self-confidence, empathy, and optimism. Being a SLMS can be stressful, but a good SLMS know how to control his/her emotions. Personally, the trait I need more work on is self-confidence. Because I’m fairly new to this position, I don’t feel like I know this job 100% yet. I know it will come when I have more experience. Therefore, my strength has always been determination to improve. I am also very optimistic, acting positive even when things aren’t going well. I am also a very empathetic person. I care about my students and I love to encourage them inside and outside my classroom. I also want to be able to be a person they can come to if they have a problem or are upset. This kid of a relationship with students is what helps them succeed and feel comfortable at school. As a teacher we do lots of communicating, which is why it is important to have social traits. We communicate with students, teachers, and administrators for all different kinds of topics. We have to be honest, good listeners, a motivator, a collaborator, and rapport builders. My biggest strengths are being a good listener and building rapport. I want my patrons to feel comfortable and excited when they come into the library. I get to know my patrons so I can find out what their wants, needs and concerns are so I can make their library experience useful for them. My weakness, however, is that I’m not one who takes initiative. I may be outgoing with my students, but it is hard for me to do that with co-workers and superiors. I hope this will change once I have more experience and self-confidence in this career. School Library Media Specialists have a very important and enjoyable job. But with that comes the responsibility of becoming a leader. Leaders must contain certain traits in order to fulfill this career. Overall, a SLMS should have physical stamina to do the job and a good work ethic as well as be able to stay positive and communicate with all library patrons. Works Cited American Association of School Librarians. (2009). Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs. Chicago: AASL. Leadership Traits. (n.d.). American Library Association. Retrieved from <http://www.ala.org/nmrt/initiatives/ladders/traits/traits>. |
This is the home page for LSC 520's Observation and Activities Log.
To access my Elementary, Secondary and Urban observation logs click on the appropriate link below: University of Rhode Island
Harrington School of Communication and Media |