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//** ​ Amy- 1/6/10** I know that the schedule is a problem...has Terry mentioned anything about it? Do you think she realizes that you have very little time to do any administrative work, let alone work in the classroom or invite students in to do "research." I am not sure that Nancy thinks she has a great schedule, but she really can't complain AND...I am really upset about the inequity between building schedules...what they really need is a part time librarian for RES and WES. I do not think it will happen...but it is what we had when I was in the elementary school.
 * I am really happy that you took the time to write...I really enjoyed reading this. I also hope that you had a great break!

Maybe...it could happen when either Dave or I retire...I am pretty sure they will only have one librarian at the high school. That might free up some money for another part-time postion. In any case...unfortunately, it is not our call. It would be great if they put in another special somehow...again what does Terry think?

I am very happy that your "observations" have been great...I am NOT surprised.

As you know...the concerns that I do have are the schedule and the curriculum..WE do need to put something into TechPaths,,but when is the question. I know that our meetings tend to be gripe sessions, BUT if we had an a firm agenda or administrator present maybe that would not happen in the future!?

As far as the donated materials...I have found that less is more! My advice is to keep only the books that are really worth keeping...I used to feel bad about not adding donated things to the collection...but the time it takes to process the books must be considered!

I am sorry that it has taken so long to get the Smart Board..but I think it is coming and then we can celebrate! **//
 * Also..I am really into pink lately...as you can tell! Well..I hope to make one more visit to your school this month and sign "the" book..you have been a great mentee and I hope that you will ask me if I can ever help you with anything in the future. Take care....Ilene**

===I love working in the beautiful RES library. Some of the staff is a little tough- something I am not used to- but my kids are fantastic as is Meg- i love her- she has been so helpful and she sees my vision and rolls with it. The schedule is something that I am concerned a lot about... it is busy and if any more classes are added- I am not sure what they plan to do. As far as the collaboration piece- there is NO time- which i think is a must as a librarian. i don't know what the solution is- the ideal schedule is the one that Nancy has over at Ithan. 24 classes- time to bring in classes to the library during her open times- time to build the collection and figure out the needs of the school. Maybe they should have another special- COMPUTERS or Foreign Lang. (areas where they are behind- especially computers-(tech. ed) anyway, I am still waiting on the smartboard. who knows when that will happen. I would like to work more closely with Nancy and Sue and talk to Catherine some more but time is tough.... maybe the next in-service will allow for that... i do think a monthly meeting would be nice but you know no one wants to set time for that.... even every other month would be good- dinner and a meeting we could do 4-5... if i had it already on my schedule it would be no big deal- i am not sure why others can't do that.... the one thing that I do not want our meetings to be is a "time to complain" about things. I don't have the time or the tolerance to hear such waisted words. I have no concerns... things have been great. Going off of the list that Nancy provided last year- I have been teaching all of the necessary skills while introducing new literature to all of my students. I have already discussed my goals with Meg- and we are working towards them each day. My main goal for the library this year is to go through our donated books that have been sitting on the shelves in the back office for years... and to either put them on our shevles or to pass them along to someone who needs them. I am excited to start creating Smartboard lessons... and i hope that it arrives soon. I would have never thought it would have taken until January for it to arrive. The mentor program ends for me in February. I still have to attend January and Februarys meetings. I meet with Terry each month and she has been very supportive in any questions I have had. She observed me three times and had such kind words after her observations.=== =As for what the other elementary schools are doing... I am following the needed skills that nancy provided. I do not think we need to do the same lessons but if we are hitting the same skills that is most imprtant. So you say Nancy and Sue are not doing the same things? I have no idea what Catherine does for her middle school students. I would imagine the focus is on researching skills.=

=See you in the New Year! Lots of work to do.... I placed two large orders which was a lot of fun- reading reviews and finding the best books for my kids. I can't wait for the orders to come in and to start doing book talks!!!=

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=Enjoy your winter break!=

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=Amy~=

12/28/09 2pm

Amy, 12/10/09 ....So it has been quite awhile since we got together on the Wiki....I know things have been hectic, especially since you are a brand-new MRS....Is there anything that is an immediate concern? Please contact me ASAP...

Please think about your goals for the next part of this year...I would like to make sure that you have some kind of closure to this mentor relationship... I am not sure when you will be offically finished with this process, but I plan to find out and let you know.I believe you started in Feb. of last year. If you have that info, please email me. I will be over to sign your "book" for December before the break. Have you had any meetings with your principal? Any news on the you know what?? I think I might need to show this Wiki as proof of our "collaboration" to fulfill the peer coaching part of the mentorship. I'll let you know.

The thing that I am most worried about concerns all the librarians in the district...of course...that is the lack of curriculum in TechPaths...I am not sure what we should do? Have you done any work ( putting in the info.)on the elementary level? What kinds of things have you been doing lately? Do you know if the other elementary people are doing similar things...if not have you communicated with them? I spoke with Nancy and Sue and it seemed to me that they were not doing the same things...I think it is especially important to know what **skills** the students are leaving elementary school with..any contact with Catherine regarding the 5th grade? Do you know what kinds of things they do at the beginning of the year in sixth grade?
 * I know...lots of questions....I hope we can get some answers? Lots of food for thought. Maybe we can discuss some of these things when we meet next week.**

Have a good weekend, Ilene

Amy, 9/30/09 2:00
== Well, how are things going???? I am sure you are still working on making the RES Library your own.So much to do, so little time! I hope you saw the emails about the Nov. 3rd in-service. Be sure and sign up ASAP.Any news on the smart board, now that Joan is back? have you done anything on your ACTS Grant....I am still trying to figure out who I am working with....I was going to work with Nancy Schwartz, but she is now at the middle school. I think I can work with one of the Phys.Ed. teachers and our literacy coach. Do you know who your author will be for this year? Do you have any input? I am not sure what the agenda will be for the October 12, in-service, but please be sure to check out the __rtsd wiki__ and add your thoughts. I know we will be working to put things on the Curriculum Connections site, so bring copies (?) of some of your great orientation/library lessons. I had hoped to have a short meeting before 10/12 but Catherine and Nancy could not meet. ==

Ilene
Ilene,

So I got engaged... Pete asked me on July 11th... and we set our date for November 21st, 2009.... yup, now I am planning a wedding in four months... it is so exciting. I hope your summer is going well. Believe it or not... I am excited for september... I am ready to get back to teaching already. Talk to you soon.

Amy

7/20 1:46pm

Ilene,

Thanks for your kind words.... gosh, I feel like I have so much to do in the library. I spoke to Terri about where to place the Smartboard.... she had a few other ideas that I would love to run by you. The summer is flying by already.... in mid-July I plan on going into the library to organize some things. My mom and I brought most of my things there in June. ( i have so much work to do) ahhh.... I hope your summer is going well. If I have any questions I will contact you.

Talk to you soon,

Amy 7/6 1:23pm

   Amy, Hi...I hope the end of the year went well! I am sorry that I did not write sooner...the end of teh year got away from me....I am hoping that you are now off on you trip...I just thought I would write because I was thinking about you. I wanted to tell you that I think you did an outstanding job this year. I know that RTSD and especially IES were very lucky to have you. I am looking forward to working with you again next year. Please feel free to call over the summer (610-293-0855.) I would like to get together before school starts again. I know that there are things you want (and need) to do at RES. I am sure it will all get done when you get there and the year begins.... I know one thing...it will be here sooner than we realize.... Have a great vacation! Ilene 6/30 11:57

Library Reflections: (Amy and Ilene) Hi, Amy you are terriffic.....Ilene This is great! So happy to get started!!! Recently, I have been trying to brainstorm some local "famous" authors to come and visit RES... Claire sent me an email to remind me to think of some... do you have any in mind... She had mentioned Gail Gibbons. I was thinking Jerry Spinelli since he lives in Wayne- right? Maybe he is too expensive. I know that he does not visit schools very often but I figure it is worth a try since he will not have to travel and since he lives so close....

So how do you think I should handle this... last week I was teaching my first grade class- we just started the read aloud, all of a sudden a group of fifth grade students came into the library to do some research and the gifted classroom was filled with very loud third graders. It was so difficult to concentrated and my first graders had difficult time hearing me... so I approached the fifth graders to ask them to keep quiet and I reminded them that I was teaching a class- this caused such a distraction that I was not able to get through my lesson. I found out at the end of class that there was a teacher (specialist) with the group of fifth grade students- I was so angry about the fact that that teacher brought them down while I was teaching a lesson.. and that she did not quiet them down. I was especially angry because I have so much free time in my schedule to collaborate with other teachers.... as far as the gifted class- I spoke to her about just shutting the door when it gets too loud... Do you think I should approach that "teacher" who brought the kids down or should I bring it up to Pat? I want teachers to know and I WANT TO ENCOURAGE teachers to come down to use the library- when I am NOT teaching a class. I have no problem with a teacher coming down with one or two students, but 15 5th graders was not good... what do you think?

ok, I will write more later. it is crazy- I only have 4 more class meetings with some of my classes... insane- where is the time going... Amy~

Amy, I am so glad that I reading this....I think the teacher who brought the students needs to know how you feel. She probably did this in the past and was not aware (or just not considerate) of the new schedule. This is a great case to illustrate the need to meet face to face so that everyone understands the situation. If you approach her with some suggested times to bring students...it will make things better, I think. Let's talk about other suggestions like posting the times you and /or the library is available...Make it clear that she can't just bring the 15 srtudents while you are teaching in your space...that is your classroom and she would not think to bring her students into another teachers classroom when she felt like it! I will see you on Monday. Can you stay for a mentee's meeeting after the district meeting? Sue can not meet on Tuesday...Let's talk about the author visit with the other people...Has anything been settled yet that you know of? I also had the gifted class in that room...I often SHUT the door myself....the teacher and students then got the idea after I did it a few periods in a row! have you heard that you will be working at WES in the morning of the 19th and that we (librarians, minus Nancy) will be meeting in the PM....12:30-3:00. The place is yet to be determined..I am hoping we can work at RES....we won't be able to use the library, but at least you can see it... Have a good night and a good day tommorrow!

I lucked out b/c I never had to address the interruption experience with that teacher because she never came back. As far as the gifted classroom, I now walk over and shut the door or I send a student over to shut the door... which has been no problem.. If my class gets too loud, she does the same. It is sometimes tough figuring out how people are going to react to "their space" and such... I feel blessed that Carla and I work well in our situation. One big thing that I learned this year for next... I am going to make up a schedule to give to the teachers, letting them know the open times that the library has... I would like to collaborate more often with the teachers and they need to know the open times to be able to plan and do that...

If you can think back... what are some lessons that you taught your fourth graders... I am struggling with that grade level... I am noticing many skills in which they are lacking... the hardest part is to make sure I am not missing anything and to figure which concept I should teach first, second, third, etc...

Talk to you at the induction meeting.

Amy~ Amy....I have been having a little trouble with this page....I am really glad that you have found a way to work with Carla..she can be a wonderful ally. It is also great how well you have "fit in" in such a short time! As I recall I did a lot with the 4th graders in research for the regions of the US. I am sure I worked on the almanacs and atlases...let's take a look at the curriculum documents I have to see if we get any ideas for the last few weeks of school. See you in the AM at the in-service. Ilene

Hi Amy, Just thought I'd write a short note to see how you are doing....if there are any end of the year concerns that you have ,please let me know. I'm not sure how the budget/ordering process is being handled, but I would like to know. Make sure to leave enough time to do "shelf reading." I am sure you want the shelves in order before Nancy comes back. It can be done by parents if you have them. In the past, I was a le to close the library a few days before the students left. I am not sure what the policy is now, but we closed to get work done because my clerical aide left when the students did. Let's talk if you have any questions...take care. Ilene 5/31/09 PS....what are you doing with the 4th /5th grades?

My lessons with fourth grade have been so much fun. I have been working with them on how to locate and PUT back books in the library. We first started off with a "book find"... and this past week they put back any books that needed to go back on the shelf. With the help of Dawsie and I, they did a fantastic job. In the next couple of weeks we are going to preview some great summer reads and we are finishing up the read aloud that was started before I arrived. As for 5th grade, I am doing a reflection piece with them... A FLIP FLOP farewell... they are creating their own flip flop and are now writing //advice to students who remain at Ithan in regards to the library// and they get to choose from one of the following: //favorite book, author, series, or their favorite library memory.// After we finish that I will be focusing on their summer reads as well... that reminds me... I need to get that list from Nancy... when I contacted her a couple of weeks ago, she did not have it ready.. I am hoping she does now. I am concerned about the budget, did you have a chance to talk to Claire about it? She has been making things a little awkward, so to be honest, I avoid bringing anything up... my focus is Ithan right now and ending the year with a BANG! :-) I think that it is best to handle everything when she leaves at the end of the year... I plan on going in to RES on the 19th... I know that Meg and Dawsie work for an additional couple of weeks into the summer. So when do you think we will hear about the ACTS grant?

Ok, I am going to finish up some Sunday chores... fun, fun! Talk to you soon!

Amy 5/31/09 7:58pm

life has been busy... I am just trying to get all of the books back into the library and hand out any fines that remain... I have learned that this is the part of my job that I hate.... I know that it teaches kids responsibility but for some reason I still feel bad. I am excited for next week to fly by so on FRIDAY 6/19... I can get into my new library and set up as much as possible... I can not waiT!!! Its tough because as the next few days go by I am slightly bored because I really cant do anything else here at Ithan- I am going to spend my time making sure the shelves are organized. any other advice or things that I should be thinking of... let me know.

amy 6/10/09 12:52 pm. Amy....Please see above...I started writing at the top...OOPS.... Ilene 6/30/ 12:00 pm.

Amy, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! He is a very smart guy! How was the trip with your sister? Please let me know...call...610.608.8521 when you are going into the library...I would love to meet you there. I am available most days, in fact, I plan to go into the RHS library tomorrow. (Wed. 7/22) I am writing this from Penn State at the Leadership Meeting for PSLA Chair people. Ilene