How The Organized Librarian originated

   How did I begin thinking of and writing about The Organized Librarian?  I started as I briefly outlined ib my book (The Organized Librarian) When I was several years into my job as an elementary librarian at the elementary level. AT the time I was” dancing as fast as I could” and very frustrating. I had 700 students, a large library, and a huge collection. My help (library assistants) was came and went for each change of period. Sometimes I had no help, and the library schedule was just overwhelming!

  So I took a deep breath and began to organize my work spaces.  I started with my back room because that was the worst!  Then I did my circulation area. Finally I worked on organizing my curriculum / lessons.  And I began writing every down, and keeping track of what I was doing, and what I needed to do. When that was finished, I wrote the book and compiled all that I had done. After that I started my blog.

Take the lead Librarians!

   Warren Drake (recipient of the 2017 AASL Distinguished School Administrator Award) wrote a very insightful and encouraging article recognizing the need for librarians and updated library spaces.

    He believes that in the future, students education will need then to be constructing and owning (taking responsibility) of their learning. Students will impart their knowledge, which will be gathered from library sources to create projects and include PBL( Project based learning)  Students connect to the world with resources provided by school libraries.

  According to Mr. Drake (Superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish ( LA) schools ) , the library is the schools largest classroom. Librarians have a unique position because they interact with each student. He sees librarians as instructional partners with teachers and staff, helping them transform and strengthen education and instruction.

https://www.slj.com/2018/02/opinion/repurposing-school-library-positions-take-lead/#_

Snow days and no Electric!

 Well, its been crazy here- Nor'easter on Friday  so no power until Monday,Many of my colleagues are still without power! So needless to say - could not post .  Just trying to stay warm. Then yesterday we were hit with another storm that also threatened  our wires - we did not lose power - just a few flickers. So I will try and get back into the groove!

Daily Routine at the Library

    Take a few minutes each day ( or right before you go home) to help you be more organized and get more accomplished each day. Look at your master list of to do's  and your daily planner or plan book. 
    Write in /Schedule the tasks  you plan to accomplish. Tackle the harder / most unpleasant/ most pressing items first on your schedule.  This is when  your brain is most likely the sharpest and your have a strong desire to get tasks done.
     Schedule less pressing items or routines items throughout the day.  Another good time to get items accomplished is right after lunch. After you have a break, eaten your lunch away from your desk, you are Likely to be able to refocus to complete what is in your plan book. 

   Check your planner / to do list throughout the day. Cross or check off items as they are completed . It will be encouraging to cross off items and see at the end of the day what has been done to further your goals at work.

Larger Goals / projects to be completed

   When you are doing all the routine tasks and activities you may feel like you are treading water. When you have a big project, it might seem like you will never get it accomplished.

   Plan a time when you have some flexibility, and put in your planner that you will work on that project. What I do is to break larger projects down into manageable steps/ tasks. In other words, plan on working on a segment of the project at least once each week (more if you have open blocks of time).  Make yourself a deadline of when you need the project complete.  Look at the ways you can accomplish it through a series of steps or tasks.

  Check off each segment as you complete it each week. Work diligently until your project is complete.

Learn around the world- Virtual Field trip

     Learn around the world provides virtual field trips based on Geography and Science. They take classes around the world. Classes can visit space stations, underwater labs, and foreign countries. Many of the programs are interactive. They offer both paid ad free trips.

    Geoshow is geography based, interactive and free. Do a Geoquiz( like Kahoot) and participate with other classrooms  around the wor4ld.  The spring line up is on the site for what they are offering.

    Virtual field trips are 45-60 minutes long. The staff travels to locations around the world to showcase people, and places.

     When you sign in and register , the sites also gives an introduction,  standards , and lessons to go along with the VFT. There are also teacher resources linked to each field trip – note taking sheets (for an additional small fee and other items to go along with the VFT

Organize your day- Map out a schedule

    After you have your master list written for the week or day, and prioritized you jobs/ tasks. A good step would be to maps out when you will complete your items.

    All Commitments, / appointments. / Scheduled classes   should be put first into your plan book or daily planner at the time specified,

   Then you can incorporate from your master to do list. Look at the most important items (marked with an A) and then B items. Write these tasks / activities in available time slots. But do not pack in more to dos than you can realistically get finished.

    Also allow 30 minutes in your daily schedule every day so you have a little flexibility in case things don’t go as planned.

    Also leave yourself time at the end of the day to work on the next few days schedule.

Storylineonline-

http://www.storylineonline.net/

This is one of the coolest sites I have seen in a long long time- I am so excited
to show this and use this with my teachers and classes!! Boy will this save time
for so many educators. And the students will LOVE it!

If you haven't seen this before - check it out. I want to use this with students for black history month! ( there are many great books here) Also  there are teachers guides for most of the books so you can really use the books for extending learning!!

Google arts and Culture

Google arts and Culture

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/

 Google arts and Culture is a fascinating site to explore!  There are collections of art, history, and   images / stories about people and places around the world from a variety of  sources.  I could spend hours and hours just browsing. But there is also a search box so  you can ask for specific topics to see what you come up with- I put in World War I and got tons of information  including  articles, videos , images, and primary sources. There is art work, from the time period, photographs, illustrations,  and flyers from this time.  Just check this  out- you will find something that is interesting and you can use!

History, Music, Art and Social Studies teachers are most likely to use this in their classes February's theme is Black History Month - which includes( Under Home)  Black History and Culture. There is enough material here to explore black History  for several months!!

Book publishing sites

http://www.lulu.com/create/books/

 LULU.com is a site that offers authors young and old  the ability to create their own books and share stories and knowledge. Lulu Jr. (for young children) and Lulu allows students and adults to become published authors. The site is encouraging and helps build literacy skills.

Lulu provides tools to help you publish your work for personal use or to sell for pro0fit. There are many resources: featured videos, articles on the knowledge for publishing, forums for discussion, and self-publishing guidelines. This would be great to use with students to help them with writing goals. There is an area for teachers to manage their classes and their students work.

https://storybird.com/

  Story bird’s  claim is that anyone can produce visual stories in seconds.  Illustrators and artists around the world have their art work available for use by creators of stories.  Families, student’s & teachers, and authors use story bird to create  & publish their own stories.

  Visitors to the site can read books from their favorite writers. They can create their own stories and share them with friends and families.  Teachers can help their students use Story Bird to have them learn the art of writing and have them produce their own books. (This encourages  reluctant writers and readers) Authors use story bird to give them a growing audience and connect with more readers,

Weekly Reading- So Be it

  Heidi and her mother (So B. it) live in Reno, next to Bernadette. Bernadette and Heidi take care of mother (who is mentally challenged) . Heidi has been with Bernadette and her mm since Heidi was a week old. Heidi doesn’t have aby other family that she knows of. 

   But when she finds some old photos, she being to wonder and ask questions about who the people were in the pictures. Her Mom’s limited vocabulary includes Soof. Heidi cannot figure out what it means. Heidi and Bernie start making calls to Liberty, NY to try and find out about the people in the phots..

  Heidi travels to liberty and finally gets the answers she is looking for. This is a bittersweet story that I would totally recommend.

The Librarian and the Principal

   Advocate for your library and its programs and increase your influence with your principal. This is one sure way to make sure your principal doesn't want to close the doors on your library. Think of your principal . What does he/she need? What materials and services would be helpful to them? What do they care about? What makes them successful?  What does the principal want to accomplish?

   Influence come when the school librarian  helps solve the principal's and staff members problems or help them achieve their goals.  So, begin by finding out your principals objectives and concerns. In addition to your annual and monthly reports. speak to you principals about what they want to see happening  in the schools. Are you helping to achieve the goals of the school and the students?

 This will go along way to keeping your programs alive!

Weekly Reading- The Magnolia Story

    I am a big fan of Fixer Upper(HGTV) , so my husband got me "The Magnolia Story"  by Chip & Joanna Gains for Christmas.  Chip and Joanna met at her Fathers Firestone store  when Chip was there with a friend. Chip was outgoing and an entrepreneur. Joanna  called her self an introvert.  After dating , they were soon married and lived in their first renovated home.

  There story is told in both their voices , but mostly Joanna's. It details their many projects , setbacks, and problems. This was both interesting to learn about their early married years , and also inspiring   in ways they managed their personal and work lives in the businesses they pursued. This is  well written and show cases how they appreciate their hometown and the simple values of family and their ethic of hard work.