Teacher-Librarians: Your Partners in Inclusive Teaching and Learning

Teacher-Librarians: Your Partners in Inclusive Teachingand Learning Brenda Dillon Brenda.Dillon@dpcdsb.org Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board Session 6 Bridges to Learning 2010

Agenda • Introduction • Your Speaker • School Libraries • Teacher - Librarians • Inclusive Teaching and Learning • Students and Programs • In the School Library • Support for the Classroom Program • Educational Leadership • Next Steps

Introduction Your Speaker • Experience • before teaching, at Faculty, classroom experience, library • TL, September 1996 – present • Qualifications • B.A., B.Ed. O.T.C., A.Q Specialists, Librarianship & Special Education, M.Ed. in Teacher - Librarianship • Interest • driving passion of my work as TL has been – and is - creation of an inclusive School Library (although focus has been PIP)

School Libraries • OSLA Policy Statement on School Library Information Centres • core of a lifelong learning community • teacher - librarians and teachers collaborating • traditional and emerging literacies • linkages and partnerships (OSLA, “Statement”)

Teacher - Librarians • OSLA Position Statement on the Role of the Teacher - Librarian • Curriculum Development and Leadership • Information Management • Collaborative Program Planning and Teaching (OSLA, “Position) • Ontario TLs • certified teachers • with classroom experience • who’ve taken AQ Librarianship courses, 3 parts (minimum part 1 necessary)

Inclusive Teaching and Learning • Programs and Students • In the School Library • Support for the Classroom Program • Educational Leadership

Programs and Students • academic streams / levels • Academic / University • Applied / College • Essential or Locally Developed / Workplace • Open, Mixed • special education programs / placements • GLE (resource / learning skills class) • PIP (for students with developmental disabilities, usually divided into Needs Severe and Needs Moderate groupings) • Communication Program (for students with severe language impairments, including ASD) • other (varies from school to school)

English as a Second Language (ESL) • levels A through E • ESL – term used for class / program • ELL (English Language Learners) – term used for students • Support programs • Credit Recovery, Alternative Education • specialized programs • e.g. Elite Athlete • varies from school to school

In the School Library: Program • You are welcome @ your library • Reading and Learning @ your library • Job Skills Development @ your library

You are welcome @ your library • This program provides: • introduction to the School Library • opportunity to develop library use skills • opportunity to learn about school computer network • opportunity to develop basic computer skills

Orientation • one period • introduction to School Library (e.g. staff, facility, collection) • basic information (e.g. circulation, computer use, rules) • computer exploration, Word basics • step – by – step written instructions, assistance as needed, work in pairs (peer support), variety, immediate feedback (online quiz) • adapted for GLE, Locally Developed, ESL A / B

Becoming a Library User • includes adapted Orientation as well as basic skills lessons and ongoing reinforcement • appropriate behaviour • vocabulary • library use skills (e.g. signing out and returning books) • two – fold goal • learn to use School Library • transfer skills to public library – life skill, leisure activity…

Reading and Learning @ your library • School Library goals include: • developing literacy skills • developing love of reading • creating culture of literacy / reading • helping students learn research / inquiry skills • helping students develop critical thinking skills • helping students become life – long, self – directed learners

Reading • picture book read - alouds, with activities • collaborative novel studies • assistance with personal book selections • book talks • Orca Challenge • Subject – related fiction (e.g. A Novel Approach to History) • Book Club (student, staff) • OLA Forest of Reading (White Pine, Golden Oak)

Research & Inquiry • one period introduction to high school research / inquiry for grade nine students • one period introduction to academic honesty for grade nine students • (so I see every grade 9 student for a total of 3 periods for “Orientation+”) • adapted sessions (e.g. For ESL students) • ongoing instruction & support (individual & whole – class, e.g. citation lessons) • research projects (various levels of TL / SLIC involvement, from Pathfinder to collaborative development / team teaching / shared evaluation) • weekly information literacy program for Communication class

Job Skills Development @ your library • This program provides selected students an opportunity to: • learn basic job skills • gain job experience • get reference(s) to use when job hunting • earn volunteer hours or co-op credit

Workplace Experience @ your library • students in PIP (and maybe Communication) • non – credit • basic job skills (e.g. attendance, punctuality, accountability, following schedule, following instructions, completing tasks) • appropriate work behaviour and social skills • literacy and numeracy • goal is preparation for Workplace Experience placement outside school

Student Library Clerks Program • interested students apply • while we do need competent, independent students, we also save some spaces for less able students • assigned tasks vary according to ability • opportunity to earn volunteer hours • opportunity to gain job experience • can ask for reference

Co – Op Education Students • offer placement to students interested in teaching or librarianship • credit - bearing

In the School Library: Collection Development • goal - meet both academic and personal needs of all members of school community • consider variety of formats to meet needs / learning preferences (e.g. print, audio, visual,…) • consider accessibility (e.g. MP3 files in Gale) • consider reading levels • World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia • primary and high / low non - fiction • picture books • pre - chapter books (e.g. DK Readers) • Junior novels • high / low fiction (e.g. Orca Soundings) • consider non – book materials (e.g. puzzles, posters) • consider making / publishing in - house

Support for the Classroom Program • collaboration is essential element in creation of inclusive school library • variety of resources to support differentiated instruction • collaborative planning, teaching, assessment and evaluation • ideally, library program is developed collaboratively with, and fully integrated into, classroom programs • most helpful if TL can be part of team working with students

Educational Leadership • Teacher – Librarians are experienced teachers • Teacher – Librarians have cross - grade, cross – curricular perspective • So, Teacher – Librarians can: • help with ideas for teaching strategies, activities, materials, etc. (e.g. literature circles) • model effective teaching • serve as mentors • provide leadership with regard to in - service / professional development (e.g. Learning Partners)

Next Steps • speak with your Teacher – Librarian • consider joining The Inclusive School Libraries wiki • http://inclusiveschoollibraries.wikispaces.com • Work in progress – check back! • Want to post? Contact me. • welcome to contact me for information, files • become an advocate for school libraries / Teacher-Librarians

Works Consulted Ontario School Library Association. OSLA Policy on School Library Information Centre and the Role of the Teacher – Librarian. OLA, 1996. 12 May 2010 <http://www.accessola.com/osla/bins/content_page.asp? cid=630-636-660>.

Teacher-Librarians: Your Partners in Inclusive Teaching and Learning