Three weeks from today. August 17, 2011. That's the day I'm going back to work full-time. I'll be in out for the next two weeks getting things in shape.
Some stuff I'll be working on:
Finish re-shelving fiction and box up the items to be weeded
List the potential weeds and send to board for approval
Create signage to further help students know the library
Design a new orientation for all students
Create calendar
Start inputting student home rooms into Alexandria
Delete students who are not returning
Take care of two months of mail!!!
Shelve books that arrived over break
Any last minute purchases
Wall, window, and shelf displays
WDMS studio
I'm also teaching one School News class. This will be my second year and it was pretty difficult last yea.r I want to work on my lesson plans and tweak some of the video assignments to add in levels of difficulty. I'm also hoping to get an intern from the high school's news class!
Also working on:
One Book, One School - choosing the committee and the book
Mock Newbery Book Club - setting the dates and ordering the books
How to help when I'm not around to help
Most importantly, the library needs a complete overhaul in both its design and its programming. I want to put us on the road to The National School Library Program and start raising money for a new look.
What are you doing to get ready for "back to school"?
Welcome Back! Students officially start school on Wednesday. Teachers and staff have our annual welcome back breakfast tomorrow, Monday, August 17, to kick off our new school year. We get together and chit-chat with staff we email or call but only see, in person, once a year. It's a hoot. The superintendent talks about our accomplishments the past year and we cheer and clap and celebrate. This is usually followed by a speaker whose ideas are to be the focus of the school year.
This year's speaker is Dr. Michael Shackleford, who'll discuss problem-based learning and effective instructional strategies. He'll meet with selected teachers throughout the school year to give more in-depth training. I'm looking forward to his words.
Part of my effectiveness strategies will include completing a policy and procedure manual for the library, completing a volunteer handbook, and dividing library duties between the media specialist and the media aide. I'm hoping this allows me more time to help teachers and students.
Author Visit We get to have an author visit this year! The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) has offered to help us out. In the past 3 years we've had Brad Tassell come to speak to the 6th graders and Doug Wilhelm come to speak to the 7th/8th graders. I'm hoping we can find someone that can speak to all students and then do some break out sessions with a specific grade. My first thought is James Preller - we do a huge anti-bullying campaign at the beginning of the school year and I'm working on teachers to adopt The Bystander, which releases in October. It's a great book and I believe it fits in perfectly with what we're trying to accomplish!
What author would you love to have visit your school?
