Sunday, September 25, 2011

Illness and a love affair with tape

On Sunday night, I got very sick and was unable to go in on Monday. I called Mrs. Walsh and let her know I was unable to come. On Wednesday and Friday, I worked from 8 to 12 both days because I still felt under the weather.

Because she doesn't have a large budget, Mrs. Walsh has to order materials or order the materials to protect the books. She chooses to order books because she rather have the students read than protect books. She had gotten in a new shipment of books that needed to be cataloged. Both days, I cataloged this books and put tape along the spines and other areas that needed to be protected from the wear and tear of kids. I read to a 1st grade class. I also started working on my bulletin board.


Clip from:
http://www.fundraw.com/clipart/clip-art/2206/Tape-Dispenser/

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Week 3

This past week was the first time I went in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (Sacred Heart Library is only open those days). I did similar things as the last couple of weeks. For example, I cataloged VHS tapes, shelved books, and checked books in and out.

I have also started putting books into the Alexandria system. Mrs. Walsh is laid back about how the materials are put into Alexandria because the library is not really big. I have to search for the book. If a MARC record is found, I use it but if not I have to due a manual entry. For a simple manual entry, I add the author's name, title of the book and a call number (such as F BOO for fiction and 760 BOO for non-fiction materials). Alexandria automatically gives me a barcode number that I must stick in the book. Before I put a book in the system, I have to check Renaissance to find out if there is an AR quiz for the book. If there are no AR quizzes, then we have to set the book aside and not put the book on the shelf until an AR quiz is available. The students have to meet certain AR point goals each 9 weeks and it is pointless to put books on the shelves if they cannot be tested on.

I am still learning the ropes about how to be patient with the children. Each class is different from the last in behavior. Some children will try to get books out of their reading level and insist they must have it. Sometimes, they get too loud. Sometimes, they want to ask questions that are really not relevant to the book you are reading to them. However, I am learning how to run a library and how to deal with children of different ages.

This week, I am creating a bulletin board with a theme of books that are coming out as movies (more details to come). Also, I am super excited about hiding gingerbread men in early December.

I worked from 8 to 1:35 on Monday, 8 to 11:45 and 1:22 to 2:40 on Wednesday, and 8:00 to 11:40 on Friday.

Renaissance Learning

http://www.renlearn.com/

Picture Source:
http://2helpme.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/library/

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Practicum: Week 2

I worked from 8 to about 2:30 on Wednesday and from 8 to about 2:40 on Friday.

I am still trying to learn more about the Alexandria system but it is getting easier to run. Both days, I check book in and out and shelved. I cataloged more VHS tapes and added/deleted books to the system. I also searched the system to check how many copies of certain books were in the system already.

I also read to 3 different classes. Sometimes, it is difficult to read to them because they want to ask questions or they don't pay attention or talked to each other. I had to explain fiction and non-fiction to the pre-k classes which is difficult. They had a tornado drill on Friday. It was a new experience to not be a student and be involved in one.

I think it is getting easier but I'm still learning the flow of things.

Friday, September 2, 2011

First Practicum Experience

Today, I went to my first day of practicum at Sacred Heart School. I went in at 8 when school started and left around 2:15 this afternoon. I expected it to be a little crazy the first day I went in and considering that it is Friday, it was a little crazy. First, Mrs. Walsh explained how her library is set up. The library is set up is two main divisions: non-fiction and fiction. Non-fiction is under the Dewey system while the fiction is by F and the first three initials of the author last name. The fiction is narrowed down by reading leaving (3,4,5,6,etc.), picture books, and series books. She always showed me where the videos were.

Mrs. Walsh uses the Alexandria system for circulation purposes. She taught me how to check books in and out, how to catalog materials, and how to renew and search for materials. I check in a few books before the first class showed up early.

She teaches each class for about 30 minutes a week. Certain classes come in on certain days. Each class has a different book (or more) for their age. Pre-K through 1st do projects while 2nd through 6th check out books. It felt rushed with each class because it is a Friday, a holiday weekend and the first football game of the season for the high school. However, Mrs. Walsh allowed me to check out student materials using Alexandra when it was needed and I even got to read to a 1st grade class. When classes were not there, I check in books and even got to catalog a few books and videos.

I really enjoyed the first day and once I get a grasp on Alexandria and getting to know how the classes work, I will enjoy doing this practicum.

Random facts: Former First Lady Laura Bush was a librarian and we use many idioms in our everyday speech (such as "That is how the cookie crumbles")


Links:

Sacred Heart
http://shshattiesburg.com/
Alexandria
http://www.goalexandria.com/

Clipart courtesy of 
https://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/trc/2005/clipart/index.html