Ever since I started working as a TL three years ago, I
have found that it is a steep learning curve and at times, frankly, it's
daunting. Our TL group had a sharing day in the summer and we discussed the challenges and demands of our jobs. I feel pressured to plan amazing digital technology based lessons, to have an up-to-date accessible library collection that promotes reading, to start to think about doing the flip to a learning commons, to advocate to my staff and district and PAC why the library is important, to try and be a leader within the school, to promote the benefits of collaboration, to read all the latest and greatest children's literature and so forth - not to mention all the mundane yet time consuming daily tasks that are necessary when you are a teacher. It's overwhelming! .With this is mind, I truly, truly want to learn about more time friendly ways to share and learn and develop in my job!
I think I can continue to develop my skills, pedagogy and professional development in a number of ways including:
- Learn from my colleagues!
I've always believed that a teacher's best resources are other teachers! I found that this can be both formal - staff meetings, TL association meetings, PLC days, or informal - using our TL list serv to ask questions, emailing each other, chatting before or after school with staff, etc. I would argue that this is the single biggest way I learn and will continue to learn and grow as a TL. I think it's a win-win situation when teachers work together, not in isolated. Our district has early dismissal every Monday followed by an hour of PLC time. Unfortunately I don't work Mondays so I'm not able to take advantage this year, but I hope to in the future. This video talks about the benefit of PLC time.
- Follow other teacher librarians on social media. I wish I had more time to look at my various social networks, but I do get a sense of being connected with others in my field, especially on Twitter. I had no idea how to use Twitter until a few years ago and basically taught myself, finding it fairly user friendly. For those new to Twitter it would seem that there is a wealth of important describing Twitter as a valuable education resource and a "dynamic tool for building social engagement through the school community" (Dixon 39).
- Keep reading our blogs. I hope that some of us can stay in touch after this course! I found last weeks topic on reading communtities very helpful and already have some lesson ideas for the upcoming months. I do not have much time to dedicate to blog reading at this point - I could happily read everyone's post if it were possible - summer reading perhaps? Maybe we could have a virtual sharing day?
- Host a summer sharing day with your fellow TLs (we had one in the summer this is what it looked like and it was held at the public library which also builds community connections) or attend a conference.
I think there are a number of ways that other educators are sharing with each other including involvement in your PSA, being a part of your school's Professional Development committee, and sharing your resources and great ideas with others. I already mentioned that my TL group has a Live Binder which we all add to and develop. For example, if one of us has a great lesson idea to share, we will link it to our live binder. I find Livebinders a really handy, user friendly and easy to organize program - check out a how to video here.
Although helpful, I'm not sure that any of these strategies and tools are exceptionally innovative! I feel like I should be doing something with more piazza, so to speak but alas, time constraints don't really allow it. Perhaps TLs could start their own YouTube channels or host "sharing days" in a science fair type setting or use digital technology to connect more - whether its TLs in the same city meeting on Google Spaces or connecting to colleagues in another part of the world - I look forward to hearing some great ideas from my classmates!
Works Cited
Dixon, Brian. Social Media for School Leaders : A Comprehensive Guide to Getting the Most Out of Facebook, Twitter, and Other Essential Web Tools. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2012. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 13 October 2015.
