DirectServices13

Direct Services and Instruction is at the heart of what I do, actually working with students and staff members to foster teaching and learning, connecting them with materials and assisting in access and use of those things. While I won't mention all I've done here, my goal is to highlight some of the varied types of direct services and instruction provided to give a flavor of the work. Due to the nature of my work, there is much overlap with collaboration.

This year I started a [|teaching log]. While I didn't make it the whole year in recording all was doing, looking back was helpful in the creation of the portfolio and made me see the breadth of what I had done over the course of the first part of the year.

There's nothing like kicking off the year with 41 book talk and introductory sessions! With sixth graders, I did multiple sessions. One introducing new students to the library and another doing a book talk of the Caudill books. With seventh graders, I did a quick refresher and a book talk of some titles they might want to check out. With eighth graders, I did a power book talk from the LC wiki where I shared all the Caudill and Lincoln nominees. media type="custom" key="22898354"
 * Orientation**

I spent much time over the course of the year helping to launch Google Apps with students and helping students (and teachers) to use these tools effectively. media type="custom" key="22898512"
 * Google Apps for Education with Students**

I've been a guest presenter in classes often this year. Many times it has been to offer research support and instruction. As students in Mr. Smigielski's classes were working on a book report project early this year, I worked with the teacher on the assignment and then shared an example project with the students. I gave a project, had the students assess me using the rubric, and then talked about my approach and how-tos about [|creating my presentation].
 * Team Teaching**

As we launched Google Apps, I worked with several teachers to use the tools in conjunction with a teaching and learning experience. Linda O'Connell and I worked on a project to have her students create collaborative newsletters as they reflected on their Outdoor Ed experience. I got to learn about using and creating templates in the process! media type="custom" key="22903524"

While delving into the Common Core, I've started working with Carey Fox to build some resource-rich learning experiences for students. In May, several of her classes are working on a novel study of //Chains// by Laurie Halse Anderson//.// It's our first foray into this work. We've already begun brainstorming for next year as well.

Started as a mini-grant project years ago and something that I've done since my work as a high school classroom teacher, I feel like simulating the actual electoral experience for students is a valuable lesson in civic and can help make something that might seem daunting a bit more familiar when it is actually time for Highland students to cast their votes (for some of our 8th graders it might be the next presidential election!) It is great to get to work with the social studies teachers on this effort. We strive to make it as student focused as possible, training students as election judges to run the voting place.
 * Mock Election**

Over the course of the year much energy and resources are invested in the Illinois Readers' Choice Awards. We run a hybrid program of Caudill nominees (grades 4 - 8), Lincoln nominees (grades 9-12), and Bluestem nominees (grades 3-5). We had more than 60 students self-report reading ten or more of these books this year and more than 20 students read twenty or more of the books. One of the culminating activities is the Battle of the Books. We do an in-school challenge. I also founded the Lake County Battle of the Books eight years ago with other librarians. This year Highland hosted the Lake County Battle of the Books. Teams from four other middle schools came to compete and enjoy the company of other book-loving students.
 * Battle of the Books**

I get a chance to do a lot of readers' advisory over the course of a week, this is the art of matching readers up with materials that are just write for them. To be effective at this, I have to know a lot about the materials in our collection AND I have to know our students. I'll talk about books with students any chance I get - individually, to small groups, and to whole classes. There are many awesome book trailers - in fact our students have made some in applied tech classes. Kim and I have worked on this the past couple years and her student's trailers are embedded in our library catalog. This year I experiment with activities where students used iPods to scan QR codes which led them to video trailers to watch.
 * QR Code Book Talks**

The literary magazine is in its fifth year already. While the student editorial board is small, they are mighty and active in creating the publication. The staff volunteers on the editorial board continue to be amazing. media type="file" key="GroupThree - Cellular.m4v" width="300" height="300" media type="file" key="GroupOne - Cellular.m4v" media type="file" key="GroupTwo - Cellular.m4v"
 * Write in the Middle**

This spring when Mrs. Smith's class was working on historical fiction and presidential research, we did a two part session. First, we worked together on a book talk for students. We did an activity called a book pass which could be thought of as book speed dating This activity helped expose students to a range of historical fiction books that complimented the time period covered in social studies. Then we did a research session for students to do the research component for an upcoming social studies project. I had just been doing some learning on my own about new search tools for students and used this time to introduce some tools beyond Google like [|RefSeek] and [|SweetSearch]. I also created a sample project using an interactive image tool called ThingLink.
 * Incorporating New Tools in Instruction**

My work in the area of Direct Services and Instruction is varied and rewarding. I get an opportunity to work with every student in the school and a wide range of teachers. This allows and challenges me to spiral content and stretch to find materials and strategies to meet the needs of all of Highland's students.