Thoughts from Teacher Librarians January 2010, FPU LIB 710 Synopsis Project by Katy Gladden Collaboration with Amy, Elaine, Georgia, Katy, Matt, Kenny, & Kathryn

Collaboration and Leadership “Collaboration – working with others—is a key theme in building partnerships for learning. Library media specialists have long understood the importance of collaborating with different members of the learning community.” American Association of School Librarians Association for Educational Communications and Technology – Information Power

Collaboration can be defined as working together.

Collaboration is a very important part to the role of the library media specialist.

We work to form good relationships with other teachers.

We work with teachers and administrators to provide programs that promote content-based objectives.

We work with teachers to present curriculum that incorporates information literacy and technology.

Collaboration with the teachers by the Library Media Specialist supports the entire school and library media program.

Here are some comments about collaboration from our Library Media Specialists.

Comments from Amy We can teach students to collaborate and make learning real by having them work together on a project. Hopefully it would be something that interests them. They would be able to do both, show their creativity and collaborate.

Comments from Elaine “Second, library media specialists can offer to write up the unit plans that result from the collaborative exchange." (Pg. 57). [Curriculum Connections Through the Library] From my perspective, this is the only way this will ever work in our school. The initiative will have to come from us. It will have to be a change that happens slowly.

Comments from Georgia Collaboration should be one in which the teachers and teacher librarian respond to learning needs, provide resources at point of need, give teachers a working partner, and promotes achievement.

Comments from Katy My belief is that this collaborative teaching approach and job structure not only works well for the other librarian and myself, but also provides a supportive learning environment for the students. In this case, greater student personal growth allows for greater personal satisfaction.

Comments from Kenny We as a society have long passed the time where memorization of facts is sufficient for our education. The new era our society and world have entered into (the “information age”) require a more effective way of thinking and using the skills one may acquire in the education process. Collaboration is a way to help educate society in this information era. Collaboration is a tool that can drive effective results in many areas of our society.

Comments from Matt As librarians, we have the opportunity to build on these processes through inquiry and literacy training. By integrating content and literacy skills into collaborative activities, students will gain experience for lifelong learning and employment.

Comments from Kathryn It can be difficult at times to try and make things happen and get little results. I spoke to a TL for my interview and she expressed the same items as you when trying to be a change agent. She said to start small, pitch one or two teachers to collaborate with, it may take time, but don't burn yourself out over teachers not wanting to make a change. After teachers see that you have really helped out a teacher and lighten their load and students are engaged, they probably will want to collaborate some.

Collaboration in the classroom requires drive, work, and commitment. How will you succeed in this effort?