Reflections of my Librarian Journey- A Beginning

As my final assignment for one of my classes, I needed to reflect on what I have learned, what path I might be on, and where I eventually want to end up.  I had started several paragraphs in a word document, but I thought what better place to express these reflections than in my blog!

When I was very little, I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a special education teacher.  I dreamed of it and I became one.  I don't know how good I was, but I know that I tried hard and I always tried to grow and learn more.  Special education was my heart (it still is!)  I LOVED my classroom of kiddos and I loved the parents and staff I worked with, but I knew that I wanted to affect more students.  I had the opportunity to gain my first masters.  When I started the educational technology masters I had several of my librarian friends encourage me to become a librarian.  I somewhat listened, but I thought my next dream would be to work in a setting where I could open up doors and classrooms of students of all abilities by becoming an instructional technology specialist.  I became one, but found when I went to technology conferences I spent a good portion of my time with librarians.  I work hard as instructional technology specialist and strive to make a difference in even more classrooms with more students.  I think that I have done well, but I still don't feel like I have found my niche.  I am a little quirky, I like connecting with people, and I LOVE working with all different types of people in the community.  

I say all of this because part of any journey is not always knowing the exact direction that you are going, but realizing that there is a path along the way.  I just attended my first Texas Librarian Association Conference, and it was that epiphany of where my next adventure was going to lie.  I knew that I was on the right track to become a librarian, but TxLA16 secured any thoughts I had of being anything else.

For my career objectives, I know that they are going to change. I am not one that sits still well, but I am also one that strives to make a difference.  My current career objectives are to offer a place and space for patrons of any type to feel as if they belong.  To give patrons an opportunity to grow beyond the four walls of a classroom and get lost within the shelves of a library.  When they have found all they need to know on the shelves to be able to connect and extend their learning past the pages of a book.  One of my favorite sessions I attended at TxLA16 was that of Mellissa Sanchez so many great ideas came from that session, but my favorite was "A library is a place where they can dream and where dreams come true." Mellissa Sanchez  My career objective is to make a difference.

A few of my notes from Mellissa Sanchez's Session

As my journey continues, I know that I will need to grow and learn.  That is the exciting part about any journey is the adventure that one gets to go on.  As part of any journey there are ups and downs.  I enjoy blogging about my different adventures (both the good ones and the fails)  I know that I do not do everything right, but I also know how to ask questions along the way.  When reflecting by blogging I am able to put on "paper" and with pictures where my current journey is.  In my current job, I have goals that are set forth by the district, but I also look at my own data and figure out goals that I need for myself. 

Although I am just beginning this MLS journey of becoming a librarian, I am already seizing any opportunity to learn more.  I have already started to lean on my PLC through Twitter.  I am also grateful for the librarians that have already taken me under their wing.  I know that I can not do everything on my own and have already started cultivating resources that will help me further my career as a librarian.  Although I enjoy attending conferences and learning from others, I think I also learn by leading professional development and also blogging.  I understand the importance of sharing what I have learned and what I am learning.  

My hopeful career as a librarian will not be contained to the school that I am in.  Being a contributing member to my school is important, but for me it is even more important to be involved in various aspects of my community.  Learning from other librarians and my PLC are important, but it is even more important to be involved in organizations that contribute to the librarian profession.  Being a librarian is so much more than shelving books and figuring out story time.  It is to realize that there is a larger community that you can affect.  Being a part of a professional organization will not only open up more opportunities for myself to grow, but also more opportunities for my library to grow.

I am so excited to be on this librarian journey. I look forward to the adventures that I will be taking in pursuing this new dream.

Spring Break of my First Semester

Next week is my spring break from my first semester at TWU.  I have spent this semester learning how to juggle my time, because I do enjoy staying busy!

I have survived! Not only am I surviving.. BUT.. I am learning.  I recently had homework that required me to observe a library.  Now, that doesn't seem like it would be to hard..right? I mean.. I know how a library works? I am JUST KIDDING!  I am part of an awesome elementary school that has a wonderful and helpful librarian.  I am part of a community that has great resources to go along with the libraries.  I am also connected with librarians from all over the globe who are doing the most amazing things!

What I learned from this observation... I don't know anything!  In the big scheme of things I understand that the library is a big piece of a community (I think this one of the biggest draws for me to go into this profession) but I didn't realize all that my local libraries were already doing.  I spent my afternoon observing the South Irving Public Library  What a great observation it was.  I knew that they offered programs for children, but I didn't realize how much more they offered! I have already marked a few more things on my calendar to join in.  I might or might not have also picked up a volunteer application while I was there.

I am thankful for all the librarians that are changing how the community interacts with libraries.  I am even more thankful for all the librarians near and far that are doing amazing things! I am watching and taking notes!

About half way done with my first 6 hours... 30 more hours to go?  I am excited about one of the big events coming up, the North Texas Teen Book Festival!  I am very excited that this year they are offering a day before that has sessions for librarians and teachers.  I will be missing the main event due to heading to Austin for an ATPE event.  Excited to learn even more in my next courses.

New Adventures #librarianintraining

I received the tentative email that I was accepted into the TWU program to gain another masters.  This masters would be in Library Science.  I hit social media (because I follow some AMAZING librarians) and asked where was the best place to start for a list of books to read.

NOW.. Librarians are SO much more than knowing what books to read!  BUT.. I don't start school until the 19th of January.  That is a long time away.  I hit up the library yesterday and picked out 5 books (3 picture and 2 YA)  As I devoured these books in one day... I remembered why I LOVE reading.  I can get lost in the pages of a book so quickly and be transported to another time or place. On my main blog I will be writing about my upcoming goals for the year.. and one of them is to spend less time on the social media and more time in the crafting, making, reading and learning.

I have been in education for 14 years.  11 of that was in a self contained special education classroom and I am currently an Instructional Technology Specialist.  I LOVE my job.. I love being able to work with teachers and students and help them gain new understanding of various ways to increase their instruction with technology.  But, I also know that I am a Busy Bee and am always looking for a new way to grow and learn.  As I have watched and learned from my librarian friends I see the meld of technology, libraries, and overall learning.  After I posted my need for a good list of books to read I had a great friend send me a message about how librarians are so much more than reading. "The MAIN point being that the library is of course, as you know, is supposed to the HUB for all things and therefore sharing books becomes a fraction of what one would expect from a "school library""  Thanks Sue Levine!

I started a Goodreads account I have a new Instagram account and of course this new blog.  I also have a pinterest board that I am adding information too (this of course might change as I learn more.

I have LOTS to learn.. and am thankful for all the people that have already helped me on this journey.. and I know that I will be asking for a ton of help!

The Books I just finished-
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend (by Dan Santat)- Super cute read about an imaginary friend who goes to find his human.
Ideas for the classroom: Have students create their own imaginary friends- maybe create want ads for the imaginary friends.

The Way to the Zoo- (by John Burningham) Easy read about a little girl who finds a secret door that leads to the zoo.
Ideas for the classroom: This could easily be used for various sequencing activities.  Extension activities could also include  collaborating with other classrooms to build a virtual zoo.

Blizzard- (by John Rocco) This was my favorite of the 3 books (although Adventures of Beekle was a CLOSE runner up!) It might have been because of the current weather.  This book tells of an adventure of a boy during a blizzard.
Ideas for the classroom: The illustrations lead so many extension activities.  From the day of the week embedded in each page (have students create their own sequencing) to the map of the town that folds out.  Students can create their own map of the town and schedule of what would happen if this happened at their school.

The Dreamer- (by Pam Munoz Ryan and Peter Sis) I picked up this book because I LOVE Pam Munoz Ryan and have ready most of her books.  This book tells of Neftali who later adopted the name Pablo Neruda.  Neftali was a dreamer that had a beautiful way with words.  The book did sadden me, but I loved how the main character although frail and "shinbones" stayed with his dreams.
Ideas for the classroom- This would be a great story to use with a poetry unit to discuss authors.  Extension would be to research more about Pablo Neruda

Space Case- (by Stuart Gibbs) This was my favorite find out of the 5 books that I just finished.  This book is a great mystery that happens on the moon.  It is well written, and I was surprised by the ending (don't worry.. I won't give it away!)
Ideas for the classroom: have students write their own Moon Manuals or redesign the living quarters on a budget.

I am headed to the library to get my next set!