Learning Journey

This phase of blog posts provided ample opportunity for research and reflection.  I found I was very comfortable writing about creating a culture of literacy and professional learning communities. These two topics are passions of mine and I enjoy researching and learning more about them both. Creating a culture of literacy posts were the most relevant posts for my current situation as this is an area my school is currently putting a lot of attention towards this school year.  I enjoyed reading how other schools and libraries are promoting literacy. Through my own exploration and the explorations of others in the class, I continued to learn more about the role of a Teacher Librarian. The role of a Teacher Librarian is multifaceted. Teacher Librarians might be called on to do a variety of roles in our schools. We also have to be flexible in our own learning to accommodate the educators and students in our buildings.  With these multifaceted roles it also became clear from the variety of posts the role of the Teacher Librarian continues to evolve. It will continue to evolve as we experience curriculum changes and budget constraints. Our students and colleagues come to school with a variety of different skills and we must adjust to meet their demands.

The specific module which resonated with me that requires some additional professional knowledge is the subject of World Libraries.  This is an area I had never explored until Module 8. I found reading some of my peers’ posts very interesting and educational. It was interesting to view how my colleagues support different literacy organizations based on their school, church and community involvements.  I feel this is an area in which I have to explore further and continue to educate myself about. The other aspect in Module 8 regarding the use of mobile devices is something which also has never been a concern in my current educational setting. I am very fortunate to work and live in a very affluent area where the lack of access to devices or internet has never been a concern for our school or students.  The concerns in my school are about using devices effectively to maximize student learning. My school is 1:1 at all grade levels and is well supported by infrastructure.

My top 3 takeaways are:

READ, READ, READ
To foster a reading culture in schools, you need to be a reader as well.  This includes reading picture books, non-fiction, novels and professional books around literacy.  If you know books, authors and the research, you will be better equipped to have conversations with everyone in your building - staff, students, administration and parents.  

Share your Enthusiasm

This applies to fostering a culture of reading in schools as well as professional development.  Share your enthusiasm for literacy and learning with anyone who will listen. Your enthusiasm toward certain ICT skills and pedagogy and your willingness to learn will help set the stage when talking to your colleagues. It can become contagious and will undoubtedly assist us in creating a learning culture.

Be Kind to Yourself

After reflecting on these past four weeks. One thing that continued to surface was the abundance of resources, materials and ideas available.  There are many different ways to foster a reading culture, develop your ICT skills and build professional communities. With the abundance it can feel overwhelming.  You will want to try everything. Some things you will try and it will work out great. Other activities will not go as planned. At the end of the day, it is more about the willingness to try, experiment and continue to grow while still being kind to yourself and know you are doing the best you can.