Dundee Library Annual Report: 2015-16

Building the Learning Environment

This year I really focused on multicultural literature for our library. I see the student population changing within our building, and our library collection needs to reflect that. I had a moment this year when a 1st grader came up to me and asked where the books are about Burma. I searched and found that we didn't have any, and she looked a little deflated. I decided right then that this would be my focus this year. Luckily on Follett there were lists pushed out with Culturally Relevant Titles that I was able to draw from. I talked with students about what they needed or wanted to see in the library. I was able to focus on two large orders of multicultural titles that brightened many faces. I know I am not there yet in our library, but we have come a long way from where it was! Next year I hope to add even more, and focus on bilingual books as well.

One fun event we had at Dundee this year was an author Visit from Jodi Moore, the author of "When a Dragon Moves In" and "When a Dragon Moves In Again". It was a fantastic opportunity for the younger students to meet and listen to a real author, and her books happen to be some favorites of ours. She involved the students is so many ways that truly inspired. I am thankful for the Sherwood Foundation to give us the opportunities to fund author visits. The students were thrilled!

Teaching for Learning:

My instructional role in the learning environment

This year we had an opportunity to pilot the Big6 inquiry process with our students in all Omaha Public Schools. I was able to write some curriculum over the summer for the district to use. I was excited to be able to use some of these lesson plans with my students this year. I am one of  the Microsoft Innovative Educators at our school, so I have had a great opportunity to get training on the newest Microsoft products available to our staff and students.   One project that went really well was a third grade animal project using Microsoft Sway. I read aloud the story "What Pet Should I Get" by Dr. Seuss and had students choose an animal from PebbleGo (a district database) to research and create a Sway. The students were highly motivated to research and create their Sways. It was easy for them to edit and share their information with me. We even did a really brief talk about why they should cite their sources. I will be doing this project again next year for sure!

Students were asking if they could make Sways at home, or if they could use them in their classrooms for other projects. I have had several teachers come and ask me about what Sway is and how it works. I've been able to turn it into a teaching moment for both staff and students. It all comes in our Office 365 account too, so all students and staff have equal access to these tools.

Something else that we participated in this year was the "Hour of Code", which is a worldwide event geared toward computer coding and programming in schools. I had all students from 1st grade through 6th grade complete one "hour" of code (one class time) using different programs I found online, such as code.org. I have to admit that I was nervous about it, as I have never done any kind of computer programming before, but the students really took off with it! Several of them were talking about how much fun it is. Students who I never imagined would enjoy programming were taking about how they can't wait to go home and show their parents the things they learned to program!

First graders using Tyker.com's Candy Quest to learn about coding!

Empowering Learning Through Leadership

3 Personal Goals this year

One goal I have this year is to be more involved with Digital Citizenship and technology lessons for younger grades. I notice the trends in education lately are more focused on the digital citizenship and getting students involved in creating their own digital choices. I want to work especially with 6th graders on this topic, as I know this will become important to them in their social media lives soon. A program I am interested in using is from Common Sense Media called "Digital Compass", this is a choose your own adventure type of program that allows students to make good and bad choices for the characters based on different social media situations. For example, if a character should download a term paper from the internet, what consequences it could have, and then have the students reflect on these topics. I'm hoping it will be a an eye opening experience for them.

Along with Common Sense Media, I hope to apply and be chosen for both a Common Sense Media Educator certification (for the 3rd year) and Graphite Certification. This requires lesson planning, lesson writing, app reviews, and sharing resources with students and families. I know it will take some time and effort, but I feel that it would be worthwhile for me to do. Which has me thinking to a School Certification for next year at Dundee.

Update 4.23.16:

I am happy to say that I have been certified for both a Common Sense Media Educator and a Graphite Educator for this year!

A second goal I have is to increase the number of checkouts by male students. Last year there were nearly 400 less checkouts by males from the previous year. I really wanted to focus on what male students want and need from the library in order to increase numbers. Last year the boys checked out a total of 9,523 times. I hope to increase that number by about 300 by the end of this school year.

Update 5.17.16:

After running the final reports, I am happy to say that the number of male check outs has gone up! I have talked with students throughout the year, I have made orders and took into account the books that they want, and the number increased from 9,523 last year to 9,759! That is 236 more check outs by boy students! Although I did not hit my goal of 300+, I'm still happy with the increase. I plan to follow up on this next year, not as a personal goal for my Annual Report, but as a personal goal in my library.

The final goal for this year is actually a two year goal. I want to learn more and implement Makerspaces in the Dundee Library. This year I have focused on researching and reading as much as I can about Makerspaces and how they work in an elementary setting. I have read professional literature about it and I have talked with several others in other districts to see how they work in their libraries. I have been gathering data and started searching out possible grant options to fund these projects. Next year I hope to actually buy the needed equipment and have the students get busy making! The maker movement is taking this country by storm, and I know that there is a need for it in our building, I know there are students in Dundee who would just love an opportunity to create something.

I have been in talks with the president of Roncalli High School, who just opened their state-of-the-art STEAM lab in their old library. I have been invited to come sit at the next school board meeting to hear how they are utilizing their space. I have talked with people in the Lincoln school district who have Makerspaces in their elementary libraries. From what I have gathered, the matter of Makerspaces is just diving in and not being afraid to fail.