Kara's+Notes

Kara's Notes
Kara Johnson Deanne May Dr. Judi Moreillon LS 5443 24 September 2010

Collaboration Mini-Case Study 1. Summary Why should teacher and school librarians collaborate together? Who benefits? These are some of the questions teacher, librarians, and administrators may ask when planning lessons, library visits and/or schedules, and student projects. The goal of this mini-case study is to prove that everyone in the school environment can benefit from teacher/librarian collaboration. Collaboration between the school librarian and the classroom teacher can benefit everyone in the school environment including students, teachers, librarians, and administrators. Perhaps most importantly in the school setting, the students can get the greatest benefit from collaboration between librarian and teacher. According to a study by Lance, Rodney, and Schwartz, when administrators put an emphasis on a strong library program and teacher/librarian collaboration, student state test scores rise (16). In an age when so much emphasis is put on state test scores, this study can inspire collaboration between even the most hesitant teachers and librarians. Another benefit of collaboration for students is that they will have more individualized attention since there are two teachers instead of one. Kindergarten teacher Peg noted that when she collaborated with her school librarian, the students were able to benefit because there was a smaller teacher/student ratio, thus allowing more time and attention to be spent with each individual student (Kindergarten Teacher). Moreillon supports this observation and extends it further in asserting that the utilization of centers can lower the teacher/student ratio even further by providing more individual one-on-one attention to the students (5). Common vocabulary, common sets of standards, and common channels for communication school wide are more positive effects of teacher/librarian collaboration (Moreillon, 6). Eighth grade language arts teacher Karen observed that her students were able to use common vocabulary and strands of thought when it came to using writing process, note taking, and report writing skills learned in the library (Eighth Grade Teacher). The students were able to have more continuity across the different subject areas, thus allowing them to make connections with their learning. Librarians can be very important people in a school when materials are needed. Librarians have the ability to utilize interlibrary loan to obtain materials from other libraries when they are not available at the school’s library. Eighth grade language arts teacher Karen stated that when she collaborated with her school librarian, students were better able to attain the materials they needed than if she had not collaborated with the librarian (Eighth Grade Teacher). Librarians are also important resources when it comes to teaching students how to do citations properly and teaching new technologies to students. At times, teachers do not feel as comfortable teaching students how to cite sources or how to utilize new technologies. Librarians can be the first person to go consult when teachers need help in these two areas. High school English teacher Sherri noted that through collaboration with her librarian, her students were able to do proper citations and appropriately use technology, two areas she did not feel as comfortable teaching (High School English Teacher).