[CASL-L] [EXTERNAL] Re: High School Learning Commons and Student Use
Rocca, Jen
Roccaj at brookfieldps.org
Wed Jun 7 05:49:56 PDT 2023
I sympathize. Study Hall in the LLC is a red flag.
I'm at a school of 900 with a block schedule.
- All students are assigned to an actual study hall. We have a limited
number of students who can choose to leave their assigned study hall to
come to the library. The number of study hall students is limited by how
many study halls are happening in the building at the time. We take about
30 students per block for study hall. So if there is a block where 6 study
halls are happening, we'll take 5 kids from each study hall.
- We can put study hall students on one side of the library and still
teach on the other side of the library. This means study hall students must
keep some reasonable noise levels in place. It's requires a lot of
monitoring and I don't like it but I understand. As I say to the kids,
"What you want is a lounge to hang out in. I get that. That sounds great.
But this isn't the lounge. There are people here doing academic work.
You're welcome here as long as your noise/activity level doesn't stop other
people from concentrating."
- If we have 2 classes in the library simultaneously, we can close to
study hall students.
- Students can lose library privileges for repeat offenses of conduct
unbecoming a library
- Last year we were assigned an actual study hall. We close the library
to outside study hall students when we have our own assigned study hall.
This was a semi-controversial decision.
- If your school cares about NEASC accreditation, I would bring that
into the argument. There needs to be a full-time librarian in each
building. I would argue that if you have to supervise study hall students
all of the time, you are not able to serve as a full-time librarian. You're
halftime at best because you are not available to leave and work with
teachers or even teach in your own space the way any other teacher in the
building is able to teach.
- I second LibraryTrac. It's been invaluable for us. I could expand on
how we use LibraryTrac if you want.
I'm super lucky in that we have 2 librarians in my building and a full-time
clerk. I know I'm lucky. Even with that, we are busy all of the time
working with teachers, visiting classrooms, having teachers in the library,
as well as collection development, etc. I think the NEASC approach can be a
strong one.
On Tue, Jun 6, 2023 at 2:50 PM Cathy Andronik via CASL-L <casl-l at mylist.net>
wrote:
> Stephanie, you have my sympathy and my total understanding. I've been
> there--including the block scheduling. My reaction was retirement soon
> after what you're describing started happening (pre-COVID for me). But
> hindsight is a wonderful thing. Here's an idea: When the comments come
> from YOU, it comes across as you, just you, complaining about what the
> administration believed, no matter what WE think of it, was a convenient
> solution to a problem. But sometimes we need to PROVE we're needed. Enlist
> teachers you have collaborated with in the past. Sit down and talk to
> them, and to teachers who have expressed an interest in collaborating, or
> with whom you would like to collaborate, and put together a slate of
> lessons you'd love to do --but cannot because of the study hall situation.
> As a group, approach the administration and explain this (make sure you
> have the ideas fully fleshed out and realistic, dates, timelines, etc.).
> It's sad in this day and age, but administrators STILL don't quite know
> what their librarians are or do or are supposed to do; they still think of
> us as bound to the library and in charge of what- or whom- ever happens to
> be within its walls. For years I've said that librarians need to
> infiltrate administrator certification programs and conferences, to bring
> them into the 21st century. But I digress. The reply your administration
> would say to YOU, alone, might not be the same reply he/she/they would want
> the rest of the faculty supporting you to hear, or it could be worded in a
> more open way that would allow for some progress. Ultimately, though, when
> I was in this situation, I thought about where my own priorities as a
> teacher librarian lay, what my value to the school was. Was I a teacher
> first, or a study hall monitor first? Needless to say, I was a teacher
> first. So, if I was invited (or invited myself) to do a collaboration in a
> classroom (given that a library full of study hall kids was untenable for
> most groups), I let the administration know that I would be outside the
> confines of the library for that period/block, and it was up to them to
> find CERTAIN coverage (not the assigned teachers who never showed up). The
> more it happened, the more they'd have to rethink the whole study hall
> situation. Passive aggressive much, lol? If I hadn't been that close to
> retirement, I'm not sure I would have risked it. It did not make for a
> comfortable relationship with the administration.
>
> Best of luck.
>
> Cathy Andronik
> Retired, Brien McMahon HS, Norwalk
> On Tuesday, 6 June 2023 at 02:26:02 pm GMT-4, STEPHANIE PATTERSON via
> CASL-L <casl-l at mylist.net> wrote:
>
>
> I am the sole media specialist with a 2000 or so enrollment. Since COVID
> all study halls have been here in a very spacious library but it has been a
> largely social. Teachers with scheduled "duty" to question students coming
> and going at 4 entry points has been lackluster at best. I have not done
> any collab with teachers at all, and I am the level 1 tech interventionist.
>
> PreCOVID freshmen had classroom study halls and the rest could either go
> to the cafe or stay in library. That was ideal- I could get out and about
> and the sanction for poor behavior was go to the cafe.
>
> We are moving to block sch next yr... and for all the emails I've sent
> about safety and overcapacity and supervision (sometimes 1:150) it falls on
> deaf ears. I've no idea what will happen next year- seems to vary depending
> on who is talking about it.
>
> Stephanie Patterson
> Southington High School Library
> "Building character with critical thinking, creativity,
> collaboration and communication."
>
> tel: 860.628.3229 at ext 11335 or ext 11377
> ------------------------------
> *From:* CASL-L <casl-l-bounces at mylist.net> on behalf of Hsiang, Sara <
> hsiangs at stratk12.org>
> *Sent:* Friday, June 2, 2023 1:43 PM
> *To:* Jaclyn Deloma <jdeloma at milforded.org>
> *Cc:* CASL_L <casl-l at mylist.net>
> *Subject:* Re: [CASL-L] High School Learning Commons and Student Use
>
>
> CAUTION: This message has originated from an External Source. Please use
> proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or
> responding to this email.
>
> Library Trac has been great here! A bit of time to set up but you can
> customize visitor caps per period, per day, etc.
>
> On Fri, Jun 2, 2023 at 1:22 PM Jaclyn Deloma <jdeloma at milforded.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hi All!
>
> This is our first full year implementing our Teaching and Learning Commons
> as plans were derailed due to COVID. I am the sole Media Specialist
> without assistance and therefore, the school placed 11th and 12th grade
> study halls in the TLC during each period where the adults could serve as
> extra sets of eyes for all students. In addition, 9th and 10th grade
> students are allowed during their study hall periods, so the amount of
> students can become certainly overwhelming and the usage of the TLC has
> definitely veered away from what its multifaceted purpose should be. I've
> spoken with admin and they would like a plan moving forward on ways to
> structure the environment to be in alignment with the TLC's purpose.
>
> My main concern with the current environment is safety along with wear and
> tear of new furniture, (many freshmen are being asked to stop rolling
> around on the chairs), and the fact that a social hour has commenced,
> expunging the critical elements of our TLC space utilized for 21st century
> learning. I also have varying perspectives/viewpoints on what the study
> hall teachers feel their role should be while in the TLC.
>
> If you wouldn't mind sharing how your high school organizes and manages
> student access/numbers in the TLC, I would really appreciate it! Feel free
> to reply to me off list.
>
> Thanks in advance!
> Jackie
>
> --
> *Jackie DeLoma*
> *Teacher Librarian*
> *Foran High School*
> *Milford Public Schools*
> *jdeloma at milforded.org <jdeloma at milforded.org>*
> *(203)-783-3502 (x-2320)*
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
>
> --
>
> *Ms. Sara Chute Hsiang (pronounced "Shang") (she/her; mother of they/them)*
> *Library Media Specialist*
> *Stratford High School Library Learning Commons*
> *INCLUDE>ENGAGE>INSPIRE*
> *e-mail: *hsiangs at stratk12.org
>
> <https://owa.stratfordk12.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=aaed58e8bd7b493987063630b7234de7&URL=mailto%3akaluzynskis%40stratfordk12.org>
> website: https://sites.google.com/site/stratfordhighvlc/
> <https://owa.stratfordk12.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=aaed58e8bd7b493987063630b7234de7&URL=https%3a%2f%2fsites.google.com%2fsite%2fstratfordhighvlc%2f>
> SHS NHS site: https://sites.google.com/view/nhsshs
> SHS Outing (Outdoor Adventure) Club:
> https://sites.google.com/stratk12.org/shsoutingclub/home
> School Instagram and Twitter: @SHSLibraryLC
> <https://sites.google.com/view/nhsshs>
> 245 King St, Stratford, CT 06615
> Phone (203) 385-4245, x3054
> "Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back
> the right one." --Neil Gaiman
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--
Jennifer Rocca (she/her)
BHS Teacher Librarian
203-775-7725 x-7775
"We are a learning community committed to fostering intellect, respect, and
integrity."
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