Melissa Zahler SLIS 794

I was able to sit down and speak with Kelly Burbage, a librarian at Mitchell Elementary School located in Charleston, SC. Our discussion focused on the AASL National School Library Standard of Explore. While Kelly implements the explore competencies in her library in many ways, there is a strong influence of the makerspace movement. Kelly has taken a lot of time to learn about makerspace and recently became a NASA Ambassador. She finds that through makerspace activities her students have become more inquisitive and what to learn more about a certain topic. She has noticed a positive correlation between increased makerspace lessons with an increase in nonfiction circulation. Print materials are used in conjunction with technology such as iPads and green screens. Kelly is on a fixed schedule and one issue she faces is time. The students’ exploration is limited to the confines of 45 minutes. This fixed schedule also hinders her ability to develop and implement more detailed collaboratio...

I was able to sit down and speak with Carol Smith, a librarian at North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary School located in Charleston, SC. Our discussion focused on the AASL National School Library Standard of Inquire. There are many ways in which Carol implements the competencies of inquiring in her library program. With her students in the 3rd-5th grade, she focuses a lot on various research projects. While at times the topics are more specific or limiting, more often than not it is open to the student to decide upon a topic they would like to know more about. The main resources utilized are print materials and digital databases located in MackinVia. Due to the nature of research, Carol is able to collaborate with other teachers in the school but does say that it is hard to find the time to meet to discuss topics and goals. She has found that collaboration seems to go over better with the teachers when she presents them with an idea of how she can assist with the current standar...

I was able to sit down and speak with Jennifer Thrift, a librarian at Charles Pinckney Elementary School located in Charleston, SC. Our discussion focused on the AASL National School Library Standard of Collaborate. Collaboration is a true passion of Jennifer. She works extremely close with her school’s instructional coach to keep up to date with the current learning objectives of grades and used the instructional coach to help support and disseminate information about possible collaborations. On top of that, she also strives to build close relationships with her teachers because she believes that collaboration is built on trust and that can only be gained by developing relationships. She has a rather large social media presence and utilizes a lot of various technology in her lessons and ways to reach the teachers. Even though she has a flexible schedule her days are always filled so time to speak to teachers is her largest challenge.  Collaborate . (n.d.). photogr...

I was able to sit down and speak with Leslie Cooper, a librarian at Stiles Point Elementary School located in Charleston, SC. Our discussion focused on the AASL National School Library Standard of Curate. Leslie implements the curate competencies in her library in many ways. She finds that building a relationship with her students and teachers is the most important element. By getting to know the students and teachers on a more personal level she better able to ensure that each person acquires what they want and need. However, being on a fixed schedule does hinder the amount of time she has to have those personal conversations with her students. In regards to her teachers, the fixed schedule also created an issue because during their planning periods is when she has their students and meeting before school or after school is almost always impossible. In all of her collaborations with teachers, there is some level of curation, it just depends on the particular project to dictate ...