This week are celebrating National Library Week (even though it was actually last week, but we were on Spring Break) and School Library Month. The kids are really enjoying the videos on the morning announcements. The teachers say they are really getting into them, clapping and laughing and talking about them. Two of the videos are in the Glogster below. The other two are Dewey Decimal Rap and Party in the Library which will be shown tomorrow.
And I've added something new this year. In the past, I haven't gotten a lot of participation from students in the Vote for your Favorite Book Contest. So this year, every student that submits their vote will be entered into a prize drawing. I enlisted the help of our PTA to provide gift card prizes. I will also have candy and pencils for the lesser prizes. Teachers will also be in a drawing for special 'teacher' prizes, also provided by PTA.
On another note, I had a teacher email me on Monday and ask if I could do a research skills class with her students before they start their poetry research project. Success! Once you get the word out that you can teach students these skills, teachers will ask YOU, instead of you begging them. :) I love my job!!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
April 11, 2012
This week our school system is on spring break. This is a nice time to relax and take a reprieve from all the planning and preparation for the move to our new school. Last week, I was very busy finishing up orders for furniture and other items for the new media center. In addition, I was asked by the district network administrator and the architect project manager to come up with a list of all technology and furniture that will need to be moved. After using our district technology inventory system (WRAD) to take stock computers and other technolgy, I did a whirlwind 'tour' of our present building, stopping by each classroom to inquire and take stock of major furniture items that will need to go with us. Almost every room has a rolling cart that will need to go, even though some of them will be finding new purpose as they won't be needed to hold LCD projectors. Our new school will have mounted LCD projectors and screens in every classroom. Some of the teachers wanted to take various pieces of furniture, such as an old wooden desk, small bookcases and even a lateral filing cabinet. Our principal and I have encouraged teachers to not take old furniture since the new school will be outfitted with brand new desks, tables, chairs, shelving, etc. But many have sentimental value attached and they really don't want to leave some items behind.
All in all, the library will be the biggest project to move. I obtained the name of the person I am to email when I need boxes for packing. Unfortunately there will be a charge for each box we get from the BOE, but I could never save as many boxes as I will need to pack approximately 8,500 LMC materials, not to mention the small equipment and supplies that will also need to be packed. I have also come up with a spreadsheet to figure out how the books will be put on the shelves....# of shelves we have now vs. # of shelves we will need to spread out and allow for growth. I also still have to decide what will go in the 'team-workroom' for teacher use and what will be better located in the teacher planning rooms in the classroom wing.
Since I have no media clerk, I am hoping to line up some volunteers, including, parents, teachers, staff, and even family members, to help with the packing and unpacking! Needless to say, I am learning a lot about the process of creating a new library and what is required to move an old library into the new facility. It's going to be a monumental project, but also one that will be rewarding and exciting!
All in all, the library will be the biggest project to move. I obtained the name of the person I am to email when I need boxes for packing. Unfortunately there will be a charge for each box we get from the BOE, but I could never save as many boxes as I will need to pack approximately 8,500 LMC materials, not to mention the small equipment and supplies that will also need to be packed. I have also come up with a spreadsheet to figure out how the books will be put on the shelves....# of shelves we have now vs. # of shelves we will need to spread out and allow for growth. I also still have to decide what will go in the 'team-workroom' for teacher use and what will be better located in the teacher planning rooms in the classroom wing.
Since I have no media clerk, I am hoping to line up some volunteers, including, parents, teachers, staff, and even family members, to help with the packing and unpacking! Needless to say, I am learning a lot about the process of creating a new library and what is required to move an old library into the new facility. It's going to be a monumental project, but also one that will be rewarding and exciting!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
April 4, 2012
I had a very pleasant surprise recently from my principal. Each week he issues a two-page newsletter that goes home with students in their "Wednesday folders" for parents to read. For the week of February 13th, he included a write-up about key teachers and staff and gave them special recognition. He generously included a portion about me in which he wrote: "When Deborah Lindblad joined Oglethorpe, she was hired as a media clerk. The School was still relatively small from an enrollment perspective and she had not completed her 4 year degree. Fast forward to 2012, Deborah is well on her way to finishing her Master's Degree. The OCS library probably has the highest volume of any middle school library in the system, meaning more books are checked out on a daily basis than the other school libraries. On February 7th, Deborah provided technology training to the entire OCS faculty and staff. With the technological advances being implemented in media centers, it became very clear during the training that we have the right peson in place moving into our new facility."
My principal also included some very nice words of praise in the comments section of my evaluation this year. He wrote: "Mrs. Lindblad goes above and beyond the call of duty with many aspects of her job. I am very pleased with the volume of books that are checked out in the OCS media center along with the AR updates on how the students are progressing with their AR goals. Mrs. Lindblad does an excellent job collaborating with the reading teachers to ensure that the STAR testing is completed. She also is a valuable asset for her technology expertise (hardware and software). Deborah also provided valuable professional development to the OCS faculty on February 8, 2012 related to the software that is used in the media center. It was very clear from that training that Mrs. Lindblad is at the top of the game in the media specialist profession. Mrs. Lindblad also sends out an enormous amount of email resources for our teaching faculty to use. She is very in tune with what books to order for the children and her record keeping of materials checked out and checked in is immaculate. Mrs. Lindblad does many extras (student ID replacement, media festival, information enrollment sessions, etc.). We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Lindblad on staff. She is not only a great media specialist but a great employee. Mrs. Lindblad has had another excellent year at Oglethorpe Charter School. I have been very impressed with what Mrs. Lindblad has been able to accomplish in our tiny OCS media space [900sq.ft]. She is long over due in having the space that she will be getting in the new school facility next year."
While this is wonderful praise from our principal, and I truly am humbled by it, I believe in doing the best job I can each and every day to assist our teachers, staff, and students in accomplishing and achieving all that we can to make every student a success.
My principal also included some very nice words of praise in the comments section of my evaluation this year. He wrote: "Mrs. Lindblad goes above and beyond the call of duty with many aspects of her job. I am very pleased with the volume of books that are checked out in the OCS media center along with the AR updates on how the students are progressing with their AR goals. Mrs. Lindblad does an excellent job collaborating with the reading teachers to ensure that the STAR testing is completed. She also is a valuable asset for her technology expertise (hardware and software). Deborah also provided valuable professional development to the OCS faculty on February 8, 2012 related to the software that is used in the media center. It was very clear from that training that Mrs. Lindblad is at the top of the game in the media specialist profession. Mrs. Lindblad also sends out an enormous amount of email resources for our teaching faculty to use. She is very in tune with what books to order for the children and her record keeping of materials checked out and checked in is immaculate. Mrs. Lindblad does many extras (student ID replacement, media festival, information enrollment sessions, etc.). We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Lindblad on staff. She is not only a great media specialist but a great employee. Mrs. Lindblad has had another excellent year at Oglethorpe Charter School. I have been very impressed with what Mrs. Lindblad has been able to accomplish in our tiny OCS media space [900sq.ft]. She is long over due in having the space that she will be getting in the new school facility next year."
While this is wonderful praise from our principal, and I truly am humbled by it, I believe in doing the best job I can each and every day to assist our teachers, staff, and students in accomplishing and achieving all that we can to make every student a success.
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