Once again I appreciate that fact that the author reminds us that coordination/cooperation can and frequently does imply an instructional role. And, she makes the idea of moving to an instructional role very simple and straightforward, but recognizes that it may (often?) take longer...and hence the tickler file. I love this idea. I appreciate the step by step process she is taking us through to reach these higher levels of taxonomy.
The role of coordination is discussed and defined, and the examples given on page 19 are great...and I would venture to say we all work at this level. Though these examples made me realize I could/should be doing more.
By far, the best part of this chapter for me, was the section titled, "Moving Forward: Cooperation becomes Coordination." This was very easy to follow and extremely helpful...with excellent examples from the trenches. I also liked the lines on page 23, "While coordination is an essential step, it is, once again, important to remember that it is not collaboration. It is the second step on the instructional continuum that will occupy a share of the LMS's time but not so much that moving forward is not impossible." I think continuum is an excellent term and it really captures the concept of moving forward, but not dismissing the early steps...they all build on each other, and are important in their own right...and they do take time!!!
And, the section about support for coordination is excellent...what we've been saying all along! "In addition, with support from the building administration in the forms of expectations that information....will be a standard part of content area learning projects" (24). Hear hear!!
Again, the tools were good, got me thinking.
Looking forward to reading your thoughts/comments.
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I'm calling this my "wake up" chapter. My "to do" list is getting longer.
ReplyDeleteEllen, do you get a pacing chart? Page 19 makes me want to pull that thing out and really get going on it. We already pull, suggest, and ask-what more can we do?
I like the ideas also on 19 about video streaming. I would love to be locked in a room with the curriculum and a computer and just get it done. Maybe, we could pool some time to help each other out?
I also like the fact that Toni really wants us to "up the ante"- taking things one step further. I think most of us try to do it but get bogged down with other things.
I'm thinking (that would be a good thing).
Also, wondering if we should try to get Toni Buzzeo down here. Have her do author visits with the kids and inservice for grown ups!
Just a few meandering thoughts from the Happy Librarian.
Ciao
Buzzeo presents a gentle and reassuring push from cooperation to coordination in Chapter Two reminding us always to focus on student learning. I so appreciated the examples peppered through her explanation of the continuum. I totally agree that "continuum' is the perfect term for this journey.
ReplyDeleteWe do have the pacing calendars and do the same with ours. Perhaps some meetings with elementary coaches could help us move from our "planned gathering" to a higher level.
I do have some folders established with streamed videos in the V drive and share with classroom teachers but would like to involve more staff in previewing and downloading good material. This might make a good teacher/librarian PGP.
Kathy J. I, too, appreciated Toni's idea from p. 23 that coordination is an essential step, but that the business of coordination can keep us from having time to collaborate. I need to let go of some of the individual student service tasks and empower the MS library support staff to do more of that... (not ever forgetting those students), but allowing myself more time for working with teachers for planning, teaching, assessment.
ReplyDeleteAt the very beginning of the chapter (p. 17)I was overwhelmed by Toni's comment that we need "to request a newer, stronger instructional role." My immediate reaction was "who am I to request this...?" Then the zinger came: it's not about me... it's ALL about student achievement. Whether we're talking reading skills, information lit., technology skills, etc... it's all about the STUDENTS!
Loved the idea of requesting year-long scope and sequence info in order to better support them and the curr.(reminder of what I'd like to do for them).
After talking with my principal, we're planning to have the monthly fac. meeting in library in April. I will need to do a dynamite job of introductions to all sorts of resources and opportunities... hope to have much of it interactive.