I used to think of literacy as only one aspect of my work as a teacher librarian (TL). I held on to an outdated notion of literacy as only about reading and writing. My definition of literacy has evolved. I now see that literacy learning underpins all facets of my role. Literacy learning involves integrating […]
Collaboration
Participatory culture: An exploration in transliteracy
The parameters of what constitutes literacy is changing and evolving. The development of trans literacy is evolving into an important part of the role of the teacher librarian. Trans literacy is the ability for students to be able to navigate, read, write, understand, interact and think critically across a wide variety of platforms. I have […]
The art of curation
I have always known that collection development is an act of curation. I used to believe that curation was some sort of osmosis that I, as the teacher librarian, would have with the school community. I would just know what to purchase. The first challenge to my beliefs was being confronted by the complexity of […]
Selection Criteria: A perfect fit
Photo by Eliott Reyna on Unsplash I have found it a really interesting process to create selection criteria to support collection development related to my specific school context. I believe that Hughes-Hassell and Mancall’s (2005) criteria is excellent because it calls on the teacher librarian to address the individual and often complex needs of their […]
Collections & Community
I have posted about the value of collaboration before, and I believe that collaboration is a central aspect of the teacher librarian’s role. While collaboration is important for all teachers, a teacher librarian expertly liaises with all stakeholders, demonstrating leadership, negotiation and communication skills in the process. As I consider collection management, I reflect back […]
Call to action
As I hold a position of responsibility, I had some understanding of leadership but my beliefs have evolved. Looking back on my first blog post, Miller, 2023, February 19, I identified a connection between leadership and strategic planning, but I strangely thought innovative leadership involved subverting the strategic plan. I felt that school vision and […]
Shifting the paradigm…
Schools have a defined structure, culture and social fabric that is unique to them. When educational change and the unique influences of a school are considered, what is a major shift in one school might be common practice at another. I can only speak from my current experience and the cultural environment of my school. […]
Participatory Digital Spaces
“If librarians are teaching students complex, higher-level concepts, shouldn’t course guides reflect this shift?” (Stone, Lowe and Maxson, 2018, p. 281) The construction of research guides are a key part of the teacher librarian’s (TL) role and more complex than I imagined. As a 21st century librarian, I have learnt that limitless technology options allow […]
Interconnected Spaces
Photo by Pontus Wellgraf on Unsplash I have been reflecting over the last few days about the concept of interconnection within library design. Interconnection of spaces to facilitate moments of authentic connection between members of the school community. To create a space which inspires and demands innovative pedagogy. A space that supports interconnected learning by […]
Assignment 3
My understanding of Information Literacy (IL), inquiry learning and the role of the teacher librarian (TL) has grown exponentially. Looking back to The Role of Teacher Librarians in schools, I began ETL401 with a limited view of the role of the TL. Interestingly, while my understanding wasn’t nuanced, I intuitively knew that collaboration was vital, […]