I am more daunted by my new career than ever before.
As a TL will I ever have the time to be all and everything?
Can I possibly manage staff, construct a web site, develop a collection policy, advocate long ago denied fiction and non-fiction, collaborate in curriculum planning, enhance and manage information literacy all whilst being an effective teacher who has a precariously balanced(and rather limited) budget on my shoulders? (I'm trying not to think about the looming assignments during this break down :0)
I cannot understand what was happening in this library over the last 5 + years. I have never received this help when teaching, I have never seen (nor has anyone else) a collection policy, there has never been any input asked for from teachers, students or admin and not once has a librarian offered anything other than print materials to assist wth unit planning. Do I make the change or do I simply let it go? Am I stressed or just really angry?
My library was a disaster zone 4 months ago. My teachers are set in their ways, my assistant cannot self direct and my head is spinning. Now I have to wave my magic wand and make it fabulous - OOPS! No magic wands or any magic at my school ;)
How will I add the extra hours to my day and the extra days to my week?
Deep breath, hot coffee and back to it. I can do it, even without a spoon full of sugar!!!!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Research, Research, Research
It has been almost two weeks since my last entry and although this sounds like a long time, the days have flown by. Is this because I am studying and have assignments due?
Assessment 1 has proven to be a bit trickier than ever imagined. Pity it isn't like riding a bike - once you learn, you never forget :) Critically evaluating the resources for a unit, whilst educational, doesn't seem appropriate at this stage. I couldn't imagine going to a teacher and saying "the resources you have chosen are no good. You should be using this, this and this" I like having my head on my shoulders thank you. Whilst on occasion I will recommend something, I am rarely given a unit plan to evaluate. Who has the time? I am sounding very cynical but I guess at the conclusion I will be better equipped to help my teachers and who knows, I may even develop subtlety ;)
Whilst researching the available resources I have begun thinking about my library web page. As our school has a very large Distance Education dept as well as a Day School facility I am seeing the advantage to a web resource more and more. I am beginning to picture it in my head and have even started harassing our ICT guru about it. This is becoming very exciting. Stay tuned for some exciting links!
Time to get my nose back to the grind stone - Until next time
Assessment 1 has proven to be a bit trickier than ever imagined. Pity it isn't like riding a bike - once you learn, you never forget :) Critically evaluating the resources for a unit, whilst educational, doesn't seem appropriate at this stage. I couldn't imagine going to a teacher and saying "the resources you have chosen are no good. You should be using this, this and this" I like having my head on my shoulders thank you. Whilst on occasion I will recommend something, I am rarely given a unit plan to evaluate. Who has the time? I am sounding very cynical but I guess at the conclusion I will be better equipped to help my teachers and who knows, I may even develop subtlety ;)
Whilst researching the available resources I have begun thinking about my library web page. As our school has a very large Distance Education dept as well as a Day School facility I am seeing the advantage to a web resource more and more. I am beginning to picture it in my head and have even started harassing our ICT guru about it. This is becoming very exciting. Stay tuned for some exciting links!
Time to get my nose back to the grind stone - Until next time
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Beginning
I guess this is a little late for my first blog - but to be honest this scares the life out of me !!! A journal for everyone to read is rather scary.
My career as a TL has just begun and not without frustration. I work in a small Christian school and I took over a library in a state of utter chaos. Nothing was where it should be, the building is far too small and we are constantly having trouble with our editing software. I am also viewed as the person who provides NCT for the 'real teachers'.
My career began as a classroom teacher in secondary. I enjoyed the interaction with the students and even enjoyed the content. But after a while it became rather mundane. I felt I was teaching the same thing every day with little or no variation - the beauty of mathematics. I was kicking back one Saturday afternoon with the classifieds and a bottle of the good stuff when I came across an ad for upper primary teachers in a p-12 school. The plan was to teach primary for a while and dazzle them with my math skills. The bonus was no more before or after school care fees because my girls could attend the same school. The interview was actually kind of fun and needless to say I was offered the job on the same day. The only dilemma I faced was that they had offered me the position of teaching Grade 1! Can you believe that? After some soul searching I accepted and I enjoyed the experience for a little while. I found it rather funny that I was teaching Year 11 OP maths and then 7 short weeks later I was doing the Hokey Pokey and teaching the alphabet. But like all good (and not so good) things it came to an end. The position of TL became available and I applied, crossed my fingers and toes and got it. So this is now my challenge.
Not only have I been working very hard on changing the attitude of the teachers, but I have been working hard at changing my own. Yes, I was once a biggot who believed that the TL job was easy! Boy! was I wrong! I am now beginning to collaborate with teachers and training them into including me in their planning. I am enjoying it and despite the challenges and frustration I haven't made too many enemies yet.
I keep telling myself that I am an important part of our school and it is my job to help my (yes, MY) teachers do the best job they can. Why? because that is my job. I am there to help my teachers and ensure they have every possible resource (either human or material) to teach our students. I have begun my career by teaching the children how to study and write assignments, developing a literacy program, designing the NEW library and even a little fundraising and tutorng. Nothing like hitting the ground running.
Stay tuned - I'm sure the rose coloured glasses will eventually fade and I will let my annoyance fly within this space.
My career as a TL has just begun and not without frustration. I work in a small Christian school and I took over a library in a state of utter chaos. Nothing was where it should be, the building is far too small and we are constantly having trouble with our editing software. I am also viewed as the person who provides NCT for the 'real teachers'.
My career began as a classroom teacher in secondary. I enjoyed the interaction with the students and even enjoyed the content. But after a while it became rather mundane. I felt I was teaching the same thing every day with little or no variation - the beauty of mathematics. I was kicking back one Saturday afternoon with the classifieds and a bottle of the good stuff when I came across an ad for upper primary teachers in a p-12 school. The plan was to teach primary for a while and dazzle them with my math skills. The bonus was no more before or after school care fees because my girls could attend the same school. The interview was actually kind of fun and needless to say I was offered the job on the same day. The only dilemma I faced was that they had offered me the position of teaching Grade 1! Can you believe that? After some soul searching I accepted and I enjoyed the experience for a little while. I found it rather funny that I was teaching Year 11 OP maths and then 7 short weeks later I was doing the Hokey Pokey and teaching the alphabet. But like all good (and not so good) things it came to an end. The position of TL became available and I applied, crossed my fingers and toes and got it. So this is now my challenge.
Not only have I been working very hard on changing the attitude of the teachers, but I have been working hard at changing my own. Yes, I was once a biggot who believed that the TL job was easy! Boy! was I wrong! I am now beginning to collaborate with teachers and training them into including me in their planning. I am enjoying it and despite the challenges and frustration I haven't made too many enemies yet.
I keep telling myself that I am an important part of our school and it is my job to help my (yes, MY) teachers do the best job they can. Why? because that is my job. I am there to help my teachers and ensure they have every possible resource (either human or material) to teach our students. I have begun my career by teaching the children how to study and write assignments, developing a literacy program, designing the NEW library and even a little fundraising and tutorng. Nothing like hitting the ground running.
Stay tuned - I'm sure the rose coloured glasses will eventually fade and I will let my annoyance fly within this space.
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