Strategies, successful ideas and concerns shared by participants in the Oct. 21 session at OELMA:
.Student Strategies
.Teacher Strategies
.Administration Strategies
.Community/Parent Strategies
Selected Online Handouts & Links:
Mount Gilead Exempted Village Schools
Library Strategic Planning Committee
http://www.deblogan.com/mg.html
Collaboration Words O' Wisdom
http://www.deblogan.com/collabor.html
Media Link
http://www.deblogan.com/medialin.html
Monthly Library Media Summary
http://www.deblogan.com/month.doc
How To Influence Students and Win Teachers Bibliography
http://www.deblogan.com/winbib.doc
Student Strategies
Concerns:
* Motivating all students to read.
* Materials, strategies, and resources for working with students with special needs.
* Educating students as to the purpose of the library.
* Inadequate space and/or library staff to meet student needs.
* Convincing students that INFOhio resources are better than aimlessly wandering the net.
Possible strategies:
* Purchase materials they want to read.
o low to high levels
o work with one to one
* Provide a pressure free environment where they are not "graded."
* Win them one at a time.
* Motivate through
o selection
o displays
o modeling reading
* Give students ownership by having them help to select materials.
* Teach consistent cumulative research/information skills.
* Build community by providing interesting items i.e. chess set, puppets, etc.
Successful Student Ideas:
* Senior Mailboxes: We save pictures and clippings about the students (for all 12 years sometimes) and when they are seniors, I send them a "Print Shop" card with the things I've saved for them. - "Congratulations from your library." Jan Kiikka
* Take student suggestions for purchases. Buy and booktalk them as student suggestions.* Each year choose an over all media center theme. This year the theme is Lewis & Clark- 200th Year. When each student reaches their reading goal, set by their grade level reading teacher, they get their picture taken with a theme hat. (This year the hat is either a coonskin hat or Indian headdress.) The librarian then has them sign a reading certificate that is then laminated along with the picture. The library is decorated with the pictures. To start the year, all teachers and staff are pictured in the theme hats to decorate the library. Students also receive a bookmark and compass upon reaching the reading goal.
* Have a bookmark designing contest.
* Have students write book reviews.
* Have students vote for a favorite book at election time.
* Sponsor a student mock Caldecott Read-In.
* Have contests with prizes donated by local businesses.
* Have a teen advisory board.
* Have fifth grade students come in after lunch once a week to help with decorating the library and shelving books.
* Decorate the library. Students love seeing decorations for different celebrations/occassions.
* "Increased the number of times high school students can visit the library from study hall from 2 days per week to 5 days per week." Jackie Yambert
* Host poetry cafes.
* Provide chess boards and sponsor a chess tournament.
* Develop a library Web site. Advertise library events and link to resources.
* Have a "Get Caught Reading" bulletin board. Students know they may have their picture taken if they are caught reading. Students check the board in the library to see the new pictures each week.
* Provide a monthly display for Master Works (artists and or composers) program. Change each month as grades change artists/composers.
* When teaching book care, tell students to bring you any "damaged" books they find on the shelf. They love finding them on the shelf. Repair the book if possible and show the class any unrepairable books. The kids are appalled by the damaged books and respond by taking better care of borrowed books.
* Rock N' Read-Students read while sitting and rocking in rocking chairs. Students who rock and read to the entire class are rewarded with a slushy from the school store. Mary J. Goss Media Specialist/Berne Union Schools/Sugar Grove OH.
* Lunch in the Library - Sponsor literary circles in the library during lunch periods.
* "Name that Book" - Students listen to a short (one line) book description over the announcements. The first student to phone the library with the correct answer wins.
* Empower students by having student aides "run the library resource center."
* Compliment, compliment, compliment...It does not matter if it is students, teachers or administrators that you are dealing with. They all want to hear compliments about themselves (appearance, accomplishments, family, etc.)
* Remember students' birthdays and extra curricular activities e.g. "How did that soccer game go last night?"
* Display things like animated toy figures that move and "sing" when you go by or touch a button. or provide manipulative puzzles that students can play with to draw students in.
* Give new book booktalks at the beginning of the year. First distribute a 3/5 card to each student. Have them list 3 books they are interested in checking out. When booktalks are finished, have students turn over the cards and choose the book they wish to check out first. They must list the specific reason they want to check it out. 25 are selected and the students are invited to come into the library to have their pictures taken holding the respective books. The pictures and cards are displayed on bulletin board titled, "I'm bored. What can I read?" Students love reading the student comments.
* International Library Day (Oct. 25, 2004)- This year the IASL committee has asked schools to share information on local industry. Clyde McPherson Middle School has established a relationship with Transylvania Romania School (setting of Dracula). http://www.clyde.k12.oh.us/jh/stbstult/index.html
* World Almanac for Kids Game- Taught the skills needed in using an almanac. Played a game like Jeopardy with classes competing against each other. One team won the school championship. Kids loved it and want to do it again.
* Annual year end book swap. Approximately, six weeks before school ends, students can bring in any books from home to swap or trade. Books must be good condition & be appropriate for grade 1-6 students. For each book brought in, students receive ticket(s). One ticket per picture book and two tickets for each chapter book. (Students may turn in as many books as they like.) Students hold onto tickets until the swap date. Librarian sorts through books and creates a "book store." The last week of school students "spend" their tickets. When students are done, teachers are invited to swap. Leftover books are donated to a local church. Michelle Sisk
* "Hawks Read" Library Program. Began as a summer reading program. Students kept logs of books read over the summer. The principal dressed in costume to celebrate the end of the program. The top reader in each grade level received a book of his/her choice. Now this program is ongoing throughout the school year. Reading logs are collected monthly and prize drawings are held. Local businesses donate gift certificates for prizes.
* Jack Daws Book Talks - Once a month spark interest in a particular book (3-6). Bring in things from the book. Create a waiting list for readers. (Example- Tale of Despereax - stuffed rat/mouse with a needle and thread, crown, & servants clothes)
Teacher Strategies
Concerns:
* Lack of time.
* Lack of planning.
* Lack of communication.
* Lack of planning.
* Lack of collaboration/cooperation.
* No team players.
* Only want to use library computers.
Possible strategies:
* Attend department meetings.
* Offer to spend money.
* Talk enthusiastically in lounge about new materials.
* Have breakfast at the beginning of the year to show new books.
* Show new books at open house.
* In a newsletter highlight upcoming shows, Web sites, new books, etc.
* Email blurbs - specific subject areas & on Friday send humor.
* Dress as characters to visit classes...high school too!
* Collaborate- one on one - one by one.
* Use 5 minutes of inservice time to show resources available.
* Pull materials to balance computer use.
* Ask teachers to require print sources.
* Develop positive relationships even if teacher does not use the library.
* Offer to grade bibliographies.
Successful Teacher Ideas:
* Put thank you notes in teachers' mailboxes for bringing students in for research.
* Think of teachers when you go to conventions and bring back surprises.
* Order materials that teachers will use.
* Give teachers "vouchers" or "gift certificates" before summer break. They return vouchers with titles, authors, and ISBNs in the fall. Library then purchases items and place in the collection.
* Christmas Shopping - "I team taught Internet research with the Freshman English teacher. We went over various search engines and building search strategies. The students were given a Christmas list of "gifts" to look for. For example they were to find roving for me, a certain book for the English teacher and a sports item for the coach, etc." Mary J. Goss Media Specialist/Berne Union Schools/Sugar Grove OH.
* "I wear costumes which helps me get into the teacher's classrooms; they now ask me to come in dressed as a certain character; the collaboration is great." Linda Y? Reynoldsburg High School
* Suggest materials to add to the teacher plan.
* During inservice, create a Web quest to assist teachers in doing research utilizing INFOhio databases, print materials, AV, and other online resources.
* Volunteer to give quick minute booktalks for 8th grade language arts teachers when the students need to choose books for literature circles.
* Have either Breakfast with the Books or Snack with the Books @ 3:00.
* Help the teacher do anything that makes their life easier...
o replace overhead bulbs
o provide Tylenol
o have change for the pop machine
* Email, email, email appropriate teachers about books, videos, or even Web sites that may support their curriculum.
* When helping students with an assignment that the teacher does not tell the librarian about, send a friendly FYI email promoting the library resources.
* Have a "tea" or breakfast for teachers during the first week of school. Display the new books and point out which books apply to their specific curricular area.
* Distribute a library newsletter to keep teachers informed about new books (as they arrive), Web sites that they might be interested in, magazine article of special interest, t.v. programs they may want to view, etc. (Classroom Connect is good for ideas and is free from a local cable provider.)
* Display student art work in the library.
* Invite the Art Club to make Dewey Decimal signs and faux stained glass hangings for the windows.
* Have a "Lunch in the Library" at the beginning of the year to showcase new materials.
* Invite teachers to go through weeded books before discarding them. Jan Kiikka
* Email teacher to let them know the titles of new books coming in.
* Email book ideas connected to classroom activities.
* Teacher Collaboration: Ecosystem. Study with 5th grade students. Match with Library Guidelines and Language Arts Standards. Have whole class reading books on owls. Share classroom/library read-aloud- Hoot. See ILILE for lesson plans. W.W.
* During Teen Read Week ask teachers to give bonus points to students who show their library book slip to prove they are reading a book. Many teachers participated.
* Add FP & DRA to the cataloging of the books in the literacy room. The teachers love this because they can go online and type in the FP and DRA level of their students to see an entire list of materials that will work for that student. This frees up more time for teachers to work with students.
* Successful Collaboration- Second grade. Collaborate on an Ohio Animals Research Project. They incorporated the new technology, science and social studies standards while also using Big 6/Super 3. They did online and print research (Enchanted Learning, Heineman First Encyclopedia, and grade level non-fiction.) The collaborating teacher and librarian developed note-taking forms, bibliography templates, and writing models. It was a fabulous success! The students will build upon the skills in 3rd, 4th & 5th grades.
Administrator Strategies
Concerns:
* Autonomous-They do not know what we do. (This can be good and bad.)
* Need additional professional staffing.
* Need one media specialist per school.
* Money.
* Educating administrators as to the impact of libraries on student achievement.
Possible strategies:
* Invite them in.
* Send positive news articles.
* Do board presentations.
* Give PTO presentations.
* Send a monthly report to superintendent and principal.
* Attend staff and department meetings.
* Educate administration, community and parents about the difference between professional and not certified workers.
* Address money concerns to specific uses.
Successful Administrator Ideas:
* Invite principal and superintendent to be guest readers during Right to Read Week.
* Sponsor a Board of Education/Administrative after the meeting coffee event to preview INFOhio resources and purchased databases. Make this a hands-on activity.
* Invite administrators to spend the day with the librarian. Have them see what you do in addition to teaching information skills. They will gain a new appreciation for how diversified and adept at multitasking we are!
Community and Parent Strategies
Concerns:
* Connecting with older community members - the library has changed!
* Transient nature of the population - students moving in an out.
* Time to interact.
* Desire opportunities ot make them part of the learning team.
* Lack of awareness of what we offer.
* Levy land in library land.
* Volunteers.
* PR.
Possible strategies:
* Electronic workspaces for community.
* Volunteer program.
* Support PTA & attend PTA events.
* Open media center on evening per week in the summer.
* Use media center as community meeting room.
* Have a Friends of the Library Group.
* Have volunteer activities that parents can help with at home.
Successful Community and Parent Ideas:
* Invite parent volunteers to help shelve books and read stories.
* Have grandparents come in and share their favorite book(s) with teens during lunch period. Provide a snack.
* Book fairs!!! Really celebrate reading. Decorate, dress-up and have parent volunteers dress-up. Have activities like games, pictures with local celebrities or cardboard cutouts.
* Attend as many PTO meetings as possible to help communication between parents and the library.
* Have parent volunteers to home for a luncheon.
* Give parent volunteers their own check out cards and privileges.
* Have a summer reading program. Open the library two days per week (10 weeks) for three hours a day (10-1). Have a theme and use stickers. (An Ohio Reads Grant was used to pay staff and buy prizes.)
* Birthday Book Club - Request hardback books or $15.00. For each donated book place a bookplate in the front of the book. (The plate should say, "This book was donated to the ______ School Library in honor of ________'s birthday on ________.) Decorate with stickers of balloons, birthday cakes, candles, etc.
* Give volunteers extra checkout privileges. "Mine check out books for student graduates of my elementary school because they don't visit their middle and high school library as much."
* Have guests from the community read to/with classes.