Collaboration13

The bulk of the work I do is collaborative in some way. I need to develop and maintain positive relationships with my colleagues because I am dependent on them for access to their students to help deliver the content and skills for which I am responsible in delivering. These information skills are vital to them but don't work in isolation and must be give a context. I also need the support of my colleagues in encouraging students to participate in programs and initiatives offered as part of the library program. It makes a big difference in turn out and volunteerism to have other teachers help promote and advertise (if not offer incentives) for opportunities being offered.

On this page I've included some samplings of the collaboration I've engaged in during this year.

Over the course of the year, I worked with the tech teachers to talk with students about Creative Commons, copyright, and ethical use. In the first trimester, I did a presentation with the classes. After sharing with the teachers, they took on the topic in their teaching. I talked to Ms. Hauman who informed me that all the students in 7th grade have been exposed to the information. Good to know that I can pull on this knowledge when talking with them in other contexts! media type="custom" key="22898486"
 * Collaborations at Highland**

This year I did a lot of collaboration with the 7th grade students and teachers. In this way I'm able to integrate a lot of the information skills I need to teach through content area sessions. Starting with a project about finding news articles in seventh grade science where database instruction is delivered. Research continued in work with endangered species research projects. I also was able to do research sessions and provide resources in some of the LA/Lit classes where I could build on materials all of the 7th grade students had covered in science and move on from there.

I've been experimenting with some new ways to do content curation, a buzz word in the library field as a way to manage and direct users to content. After hearing about a site called Mentor Mob, I started playing with it. When I was approached by Priya Varghese and her student teacher about a way to link students with Bulfinch's mythology and other Greek mythology resources, it seemed like a match. I started a draft of the project, showed them how to use the tools, and then it turned into a teaching and learning activity for students. media type="custom" key="22905100"

The administration was very receptive to the need for a united front on the issue of research and supported the development of the Highland Research Manual. The final product is amazing!
 * Highland Staff Projects**

Being part of the discussion about text complexity and novel selection has been important to me. I worked in concert to develop and test a [|rubric] to use as a way to examine potential curriculum novels.

Guys Read
 * Collaborations with Other Libraries and Agencies**

In a new relationship with Lake Forest Book Store, I was able to get two big name authors to visit Highland this fall for FREE! Cory Doctorow spoke with 8th grade students and Cat Valente spoke to 6th and 7th grade students. They were both crazy-smart and gave excellent presentations for students who attended.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of my work. I strive to foster positive working relationships with my colleagues at Highland and others in agencies with which we could partner to improve opportunities for students and the library program.