Media Transformation in Progress...

Note: After 2 years, it's time to awaken my sleeping blog. Hopefully you will see at least a weekly post from me (sometimes short and sweet, sometimes more thoughtful..;). I will also be updating the links and the media center website. There's much that is out-of-date, but I'm not going to let myself use this as an excuse for not blogging. Y'all please keep me accountable!

It's that time of year when we reflect on the past and look forward to the future. Some years we need to completely start anew, while others just need some tweaking. As I think back on the first few months of the 2015-2016 school year, I realize how far our library media program has progressed. We've gone from a one (wo)man show to a collaborative team whose core members are Tanya Churchill (Instructional Technology Facilitator), Elizabeth Mankin (Media Assistant extraordinaire), and me (School Library Media Specialist.) The three of us have pulled in multiple classroom teachers, specialists, and our new Principal, Travis Shillings. As a team, we've transformed the computer lab to a "learning lab" to include laptops (verses the antiquated desktops), a Makerspace, tech accessories, arts and crafts supplies galore, open-ended materials, and flexible seating. The media center continues to be a work in progress - we are constantly moving and shifting to create flexible work spaces that serve multiple purposes. I've come to realize that the lab and media center will always be in transition, with the ultimate goal being enjoyable and usable work spaces that support the Underwood community in teaching and learning.

Speaking of work spaces, our latest project is the media office. Before the holiday break, we began the transformation from a cluttered storage/work space to an aesthetically pleasing place for staff, parents, and community partners to collaborate. Tanya, Elizabeth, and I are housing our desks in this space so that we can keep our ears open for ways to support learning at Underwood. We vision this as the starting point for AMAZING collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication.

This transformation has been a long time coming, so it's exciting to see it finally happening. (Those of you who have worked with me know that I'm good at researching and planning new ideas, but not always effective in getting them rolling - I need to be pushed off the cliff with new initiatives, so to speak.) My big push came this summer when I had an amazing opportunity to work with Lea(R)n Trials as a Summer Fellow.  Lea(R)n has it's office at HQ Raleigh, a collaborative office space located in downtown Raleigh. I was inspired by this space - working there helped to form my vision for our Learning Lab and Media Center spaces.

So, in reflection and looking ahead.....we've made some BIG changes, but these transformations will continue indefinitely with constant tweaking. Please stop by (but, beware....we'll probably pull you into a project!)

Summer Reading - How do I motivate my family?

This time of year I am often asked for summer reading suggestions. The real question being asked is "how do I motivate my children to read during the summer?" We do not have a specific summer reading program promoted by our school or school system, but I do have some family-friendly suggestions.

First of all, for my own family I encourage reading as a fun activity that offers something for all interests. My belief is that I can't force them to love reading as do, but I can find something that they will each enjoy reading...but that's a topic for another post. Even though I am teacher and librarian, I never ever never require reading for my kids during the summer. (Gasp!) But, if you come into our home or see us at the beach or pool, you'll see us surrounded by stacks of books or magazines. You'll also see iOS devices full of audio books and eBooks. And, new this year, is the Trowell Family 40 Book Challenge posted on our refrigerator. If you have a middle or high school student, you may be familiar with the 40 Book Challenge which is based on Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer. Our family goal is to read 40 books between Memorial Day and the first day of school. That gives us about 12 weeks, which is roughly 3.3 books a week. We have 2 avid readers and 2 occasional readers, so this should balance out nicely. If you are interested in setting up a summer reading challenge for your family, please feel free to copy and adapt this template to your family of readers - Family Book Challenge  ***Please notice, I am not designating a certain number of books for each family member, as this is too close to "required" reading for my purpose.

So, how do you find titles to peak your young (and old) readers' interest? My main "go-to" sources are the public library, the local bookstore, Goodreads, and Indie Bestsellers.

Wake County Public library's website - www..wakegov.com/libraries - allows you to not only search the catalog and electronically keep up with your account, but also to place holds on books. Be sure to look through the multiple lists of books, blogs, and more under the "Reading" tab. The lists I use for my children are the Kids Book Lists and the Teen/Young Adult Reading Lists. I often will pull up a list on my iPad, place it in front of my son, and then ask him to select titles for me to place on hold. He's not a super-enthusiastic reader, but he is motivated when he selects books this way. He always asks "have you gotten the email that my books are in?"

Those of us in Raleigh can't talk about books without mentioning Quail Ridge Books and Music. QRB is an independently owned bookstore located in Ridgewood Shopping Center. Even if you do not live nearby, a visit to shop or to see an author at this bookstore is always a treat. They also have a website with resources such as Staff Recommendations for Kids, information on bookclubs, and a calendar of upcoming community events.

If you have not tried out Goodreads yet, I highly recommend this social networking site . Without signing up, users can search books by title, author, or genre. For example, children's literature can be found under genre > fiction > children's. If you choose to join Goodreads, you are able to connect with friends to see what they are reading. Books can be marked as "read", "currently reading," and "want to read."  Please note that Goodreads is not intended for use of anyone under the age of 13, so I am recommending this as parent resource. Please follow me at goodreads.com/atrowell!

Indie Bestsellers lists are published by IndieBound, a group that brings together independent booksellers to promote independently-owned businesses. IndieBound also offers Indie Next Lists, which will give you a peek at new and upcoming titles. QRB is a member of this association, you know that it is a quality source for book suggestions and reviews.

If you are still searching for that "just right" book for  your family member or yourself, please check out the   Book Lists located on the Underwood Media Center website. And, as always, feel free to contact me if you need suggestions.

Happy Summer Reading!

Shared Beliefs

I've just had a big "AH-HA" moment! So, I'm drudging through the last  pieces of my (almost final) graduate classes - putting the final touches on my e-portfolio, taking a final exam, reflections, and more reflections - when it all came together. For almost every major assignment for the past twelve classes, I've had to align with standards - ALA/AASL Standards for Initial Preparation of School Librarians, ALA’s Core Competences of Librarianship, NC Standards for the Master of Library Science Degree, the Common Core standards, and the NC Essential Standards for Information and Technology. And, let's not forget the biggie - the North Carolina School Library Media Coordinators Standards. As a teacher, I get it when it comes to standards. We should be working towards common goals with our students, and these goals are outlined in the standards. My "Ah-Ha" is with the standards, specifically the new NC School Library Media Coordinators standards, as they relate to me personally. My realization is that the standards outline what I believe to be true of effective school librarians.

My core beliefs are that School Library Media Coordinators...

• should demonstrate leadership. 
• should build a learning environment that meets the instructional needs of a diverse population of students. 
• should implement a comprehensive 21st library media program.
• should demonstrate knowledge of learners and learning and promote effective instructional practices. 
• should reflect on their practices. 

Further, I fully share NCDPI's Vision for School Library Media Coordinators:

The demands of providing a 21st century education dictate new roles for School Library Media Coordinators. School Library Media Coordinators are called on to have a larger role in their schools and school communities. School leadership is distributed among the staff and administration in order to bring consensus, common understandings, and shared ownership of the vision and purpose of the school. School Library Media Coordinators are valued for their leadership abilities throughout the school as well as in the media center. 

School Library Media Coordinators help make the content engaging and meaningful to students’ lives as they support teachers and facilitate the integration of curriculum and related projects across disciplines. In the school and the media center, School Library Media Coordinators facilitate instruction, encouraging all students to use 21st century skills to discover how to learn, innovate, collaborate, and communicate their ideas. They serve as facilitators of information skills development through the provision of professional development, coaching, mentoring, and co-teaching activities. Their work includes supporting the development of authentic and structured assessment strategies to assure that students demonstrate understanding of the content taught and ability to apply the skills they have learned. School Library Media Coordinators demonstrate the value of lifelong learning and instill a love of reading and learning in the students with whom they come into contact.

To pull all of this together, I am sharing WCPSS's Instructional Technology and Library Media Services team's work philosophy:

We build supportive relationships by guiding students and educators in using the right resources and tools for the right learners at the right times.

These words resonate with me - I truly feel that my primary responsibility is to do just this! My job is to  build relationships with my staff, students, and community so that I can guide them in using the right resources and tools for the right learners at the right time. Thanks to NCDPI and the new standards, along with my county's team for helping to clarify what exactly it is that I believe. How fortunate I feel to work as part of a system with which I share the vision!