It is difficult to read the plethora of information about the roles of the teacher librarian without feeling dizzy. I remember being at staff meetings where a new approach or requirement was being introduced and I would wonder how on Earth I was going to add more to my load. Sometimes I would be working on the school musical, undertaking the year advisor role, assisting with lunch time theatre sports as well as my usual teaching load and then something else would be added to the mix. I felt a bit this way when I read about the expectations of the teacher librarian.
However, the purpose of these articles is to explore the potential of teacher librarians, to examine their impact on learning, to set a standard that people can aspire to. There is a quote that goes something like shoot for the moon and if you miss at least you will land among the stars. That's how I feel about this role now. There is so much that a teacher librarian can do in terms of improving the learning outcomes of students and staff development as well as connecting the school community.
The best idea I think is to apply strategic planning principles to the diverse role of the TL so that changes can be implemented in a systematic and manageable way.
I have really enjoyed reading through your last few posts. I feel like I'm on the same page as you when it comes to the role of the TL.
ReplyDelete