[CASL-L] Library/Makerspace Scheduling

[Rebecca Kerrigan]

Good morning!
I'm in an elementary library as well and we use Makerspace in a few ways.
We do have a designated Makerspace unit at the end of the year, where we do
inventing and problem solving, typically with a Rube Goldberg focus. Our
Makerspace is not big enough for a whole class, so we do end up using
library time (but again, it's part of our curriculum so it works.)
Another thing we do is work in Makerspace choices with some of our
projects. We are finishing up our research unit now, and one of the project
choices is to go into the Makerspace and design/build/invent using what
they learned.
We also use Makerspace in conjunction with Nutmeg books. The year we did
Trombone Shorty the kids made instruments in the Makerspace. This year we
used Cog and put out robots, and we were able to use Ozobots to map out a
road trip with Coyote Sunrise.
We definitely aren't able to use it as a 'traditional' Makerspace yet, but
instead it has enhanced a lot of what we already do.
I hope this is helpful!
Rebecca
Rebecca Kerrigan
Library Media Specialist
Roaring Brook Elementary School
Google Certified Educator (Level 2)
(860) 404-4810


On Mon, Feb 14, 2022 at 3:02 PM Katie Finlan via CASL-L <casl-l at mylist.net>
wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> tl;dr how does your school schedule library class time vs makerspace class
> time?
>
> We (Hebron Elementary School) are in the process of setting up a
> Makerspace in a room attached to the library.  Until the room is put
> together and useable, I am doing "Maker Monday" activities in the library
> space.  Students have been loving the activities, and I've enjoyed them as
> well, but I am finding they all require more than the one 50-minute class
> slot I've allotted for them on Mondays.  Because the maker activities are
> bleeding over into additional days, my library curriculum is somewhat
> suffering.  For this year, I will make it work, but I want to be proactive
> about next year's schedule.
>
> Next year, the vision is that students will do maker activities within my
> class so that they have guaranteed maker experiences, and then there will
> be additional opportunities for classroom teachers to sign up to bring
> their class to the makerspace, while I am teaching library.  My principal
> is open to ideas about pulling me out of the specials schedule, today he
> suggested expanding my library class time to 60 minutes (I still don't
> think this will be enough time, over my 50 minutes).  He also said he'd
> like to see what we research in library overlap with what we do in the
> makerspace, which sometimes it will, but not always.
>
> I'm wondering, if you have a makerspace AND a library to manage, how do
> you do it timewise? I'm trying to think of a creative solution, such as, I
> see all of third grade in the morning for a week for makerspace, and then
> 4th, 5th, and 6th in the afternoon for library class, but I can't really
> wrap my head around it, it seems like there just aren't enough hours in the
> day!
>
> Also, if classroom teachers access the space without you, how do keep
> track of when materials run out and how long projects are taking and such?
> When do you take pictures to share with the school community? When do you
> get to see finished products?
>
> Thanks in advance for your help and repsonses!
>
> Katie Finlan
> Hebron Elementary School
> Library Media Specialist
>
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