School

Week two completed. The students came back to school with bright smiley faces all ready to learn. I love it when the kids come back relaxed and ready to begin a new year. Several people have inquired about my job, curriculum, and various other components of my occupation. I am a licensed teacher-librarian for grades k-12 and have actually been teaching students in information literacy for nine years. Although the curriculum is different in Zambia, the skills taught are similar.

I have classes in the library with 3 year olds all the way up to 5th graders. Each class attends once a week where they learn skills such as taking care of books, parts of a book, finding reliable materials, learning about genres, citing sources, navigating databases, note-taking, assessing information, and much much more. Yes, I also read to them and discuss books although this is not the only thing a librarian does these days. I am an voracious reader and try to share my love of reading through numerous activities and discussions. In addition to meeting each class once a week, I work with two grades intensely during a particular inquiry unit. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Program(PYP) has specific units of inquiry that the students invest themselves in for approximately a 6-8 week period. There are numerous units per grade throughout the year where children investigate such topics as "How the World Works," or "Who We Are," it is much more in depth that what I can write. During the scheduled inquiry unit, I meet with each class in the classroom once a week and the second weekly time the tech coordinator and myself work together with the students and teacher in the classroom. Together, we assist the students in the process and product ensuring each child progresses on skills in information literacy and technology according to standards. This is in addition to my library classes.

In the library classes, I have attempted to incorporate assorted techniques and tools to keep kids engaged in the process. One of the techniques is something called Genius Hour. I have collaborated with several teachers on this during the past 3 years and have some interest in it at AISL. I am excited to share this technique with other educators. I also use tools such as Kahoot or Socrative for simple pre-assessments as well as love to Mysteryskype and utilized Breakoutedu for building team skills.

The library itself is quite large and beautiful. It is one library shared by all the students in the school. there is a division of the younger students section versus the older students but neither side is forbidden to the other. We have a Lego wall and kits, a fish tank complete with a turtle, a "tree house" where students can climb into a loft like structure and comfortably read or work, numerous clear boards where students may write or draw on ( like a whiteboard), we also have a small corner with couches and a coffee maker for older students, teachers, and parents to relax and chat or read and work. Recently we were gifted a giant Connect Four game. The purpose of this stuff is for exploration, problem-solving, and collaboration.

In addition to myself as the PYP teacher librarian, there is the MYP (middle year) DP ( diploma) teacher librarian who also hails from NH! She is an incredible resource of energy and information and has made the transition to Zambia incredibly easy for me. There are also two library assistants who  are helpful, kind, and work well with everyone who enters the library.

In addition to the beautiful library, we have a spectacular campus set on 25 acres of land. We can eat outside every day if we like and oftentimes classes will be held outside. Quite a difference from NH! I am still learning a lot and am embracing the challenges that are placed before me.
Be well,
Jill ( Noisy Librarian)