Project+Page+-+Assignment1.4

=Project Page=

I have added the final draft of the paper here just to document it on the wiki.

** Classroom Library Collaboration ** Beside the principal of a school, the librarian has the biggest role in the school. The elementary principal Paula in her interview states that "there is no one else with that global perspective of the building". The librarian does get to work with all the children in the school and she comes in contact with all of the teachers. Because of this unique perspective the librarian is an extremely important learning specialist. The librarian is "one of the most important people who are at the school. There is no one else who impacts the academic achievement of every single child in the building like the librarian" (Interview with principal Paula). The librarian can “help to forge partnerships that include all stakeholders in the educational process, including principals, teachers, and students” (Zmuda and Harada, 2008, p.39). What are the benefits to these stakeholders? First, what is the benefit for administration to have a librarian who is willing to collaborate? Most principals did not learn about school libraries or what a librarian should do in their graduate work (Zmuda and Harada, 2008, p.27). Many principals are willing to spend extra money on tutoring and other interventions to improve student learning. The bottom line is administration wants to see improving test scores in their schools. Librarians need to have a good working relationship with their principals to let them know what they can do to help improve student learning and test scores. Librarians need to show how they can improve student learning and improve test scores by collaborating with teachers. When the principal understands the importance of using the library as a classroom, they will be willing to help with scheduling to allow librarians the needed time to collaborate with teachers. Second, how do teachers benefit from collaborating with the librarian? To teach the 21st century skills to students, the librarians need to collaborate with teachers. Teachers have many responsibilities and a large task in front of them daily. There is no reason for a teacher to feel like they need to do this alone. Teachers do not need to reinvent the wheel when they are teaching. It is important to collaborate with colleagues to “determine how to replicate those teaching practices that resulted in the desired students learning” (Zmuda and Harada, 208, p. 30). "Collaborating with the librarian allows for more planning, and a lot of more ideas come out of the planning because they feed off each other" (Interview with Kindergarten teacher Peg). I would rather plan with my team instead of planning by myself. It is always exciting to have time to sit down and plan with colleagues. Even though a teacher has been teaching for a long time and has tried many different ways to teach something, another teacher may have a fresh idea and a better way to teach that children. Two heads are always better than one! Teachers will benefit from working with the librarian because she has a person to share the planning workload, someone to help create rubrics, someone to help coteach the lesson, and someone to help with grading the projects or assessment. "Teacher collaboration with the librarian can be really excellent and result in really great projects for the kids" (Interview with HS English teacher Kelly). I see so many benefits for the teacher collaborating with the librarian, but my question is where does the librarian get so many good ideas. In listening to the testimonials the ideas to help many different teachers including the art teacher were excellent. Who does the librarian talk with to come up with so many good ideas? Where does the working librarian who is new to the job find all of these excellent ideas? Third, what are the benefits for the students? The ultimate goal of collaboration with the librarian is to improve student learning. “In the 21st century with the information age, children need to learn how to find answers to their own questions. It is extremely important to provide them with authentic learning experiences” (Interview with 3rd grade teacher Judy). When there is collaboration with the librarian the two can come up with great authentic learning experiences. This is not where it ends. Students need to learn to self- assess their learning experiences. “Helping young minds take charge of their own learning is the finest contribution educators can make to student success in the 21st-century world” (Harada, 2010, p.15). Students will learn to find answers to their questions, effectively evaluate sites, cite information correctly, and enjoy researching. Student learning will increase and test scores will also increase. Collaboration with the school librarian is a win-win situation for every stakeholder involved.

"Elementary Principal Tracy." Interview by Judi Moreillon. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. []

“Kindergarten Teacher Peg.” Interview by Judi Moreillon. Web. 17 Sept. 2010. [] Zmuda, A., and V.H Harada. The Learning Specialist: Clarifying the Role of Library Media Specialists. In //Librarians as Learning Specialists: Meeting the Imperative for the 21st Century,// 2008. 23-43  "HS English Teacher Kelly." interview by Judi Moreillon. Web 17 Sept.2010. []  “Third grade teacher Judy.” Interview by Judi Moreillon. Web. 17 Sept. 2010 []

Harada, Violet H. “Self-Assessment: Challenging Students to Take Charge of Learning.” //School Library Monthly.// June 2010, p.13-15.