Watching young people discover their life

To continue on with my musings from yesterday--

One of the greatest joys of my job is watching young people figure out what they want to do with their life.  And I don't know how many times when a young adult tells me the path he or she wants to follow, I want to laugh--not out of meaness but because I'm thinking, "It's about time you figured out what everyone else all ready knows!"

I saw this in my step daughter when she told us she was going to apply to Southwest Airlines to be a flight attendant.  She loves to travel, constantly on the move--this is the perfect job for her.  I saw this in my own daughter when she tentatively told me she was getting a teacher certification.  Matter of fact, I did tell her, "It's about time you figured it out!"  She's an awesome math teacher, and I knew it when she was young.  But it took a while for it to sink in.

Now another young man, former student of mine, is making some changes in his career plan.  He told me about it like he thought I might be surprised.  But I remember the books he read in 6th grade--I couldn't get enough for him!  So no, I'm not surprised. 

I love the recognition when a young adult realizes what career path to take.  Sometimes it happens in school.  Sometimes later on.  It bothers me that we as educators push students to choose a college path and a career path before they've had time to explore and see what's out there. 

If we can give our students time and opportunity to explore, who knows what they can dream up?  Who knows what career choices they will make? 

I do know when a young adult reaches the "aha!" moment in a career choice, it's magic.  And just like making a hole in one in golf--it's the reason I get up and come to work every day--just in case today is the day it happens again.

Am I a "Stranger in a Strange Land"?

So the best part of the Memorial Day weekend was getting a chance to rest and recharge the ol' batteries for this last push through school.  Our district has time off during the year and therefore, we go about a week longer than most of the area districts.  It's such a teaser--summertime weekend of activities and then--back to school!  But as I said, the rest and recharge helps get through the final days.

And because I was rested, I had some random thoughts I thought I would share.  One idea I have been musing over is what exactly is my job?  I am a little unique in the library world.  For twenty years I was a language arts teacher and then for the last twelve years, I've been a librarian.  But lots of days I still feel like an English teacher.  Matter of fact, I sometimes laughingly tell people I'm an English teacher whose classroom happens to be in the library.

But in all seriousness, sometimes I wonder--do I have feet in both worlds?  I see the dichotomy in this blog and I've been asked the question, "Is this blog for teachers or librarians?"  Can't it be for both?  Because I feel like both--especially on those days when I'm working with my IB students on their research paper or answering a million questions about citation formats or pulling up research for kids who say "the databases have nothing in them for my topic"! 

I became a librarian because I thought I could affect more students than I could as classroom teacher.  But it's not as much of an impact.  Kids don't see me as a teacher or as someone who can help them.  I'm the librarian--the old dragon lady.  So would I have been better off staying in a classroom where I can directly see the influence I had on students?  Or do I keep plugging away in here, hoping my scattershots of help dribble out to the masses?  Or hoping that by helping teachers I can, indirectly, help more students?

One of the reason I made the transition from the classroom is because I was beginning to feel too old to deal with all the mulitude of issues teachers are responsible for.  But now, when I have over 200 kids coming through the library on a daily basis and kids doing projects of every shape and size, I have to wonder if the life of a teacher wouldn't be easier.

I'm close to ending my career in education at this point.  I think I only have about one more good year left in me so to even consider a classroom again is silly.  And I do love my classroom in the library. But I have paused to think, on more than one occasion here lately, maybe I am a stranger in a strange land, someone who doesn't quite fit either category.  But then again, maybe I'm just the future of teacher-librarians, with the emphasis on the teacher part.

Either way, I do love my job---but right now, I'm very glad it's almost the end of another year!

Technology use in College

Okay this is interesting--a look at technology use by college students.  The times they are a-changin'......


And seriously, students can't go 10 minutes without checking their smartphone???

TED talks

Okay I don't know about you, but it's getting way too close to the end of the school year for me. We have one more week left and to give me some moral support and something to hang on to, I found this great TED video featuring Sir Ken Robinson. He's got some of the best ideas in education and he's got a great delivery too! Hope this one helps you end the school year too.


 "And every day, everywhere, our children spread their dreams beneath our feet. And we should tread softly."



 

Libraries in the 21st century

I know this is a topic everyone is writing/ talking/ reading about these days.  What's happening to libraries?  How are they changing?  Are they even relevent these days?  I think those of us in the library world know our roles but does the rest of the world?

The reason for these thoughts happened yesterday.  Once again, I get the feeling the general public thinks of us as the little old ladies with the bun and glasses shushing our way through the day.  People don't see us helping students, accessing technology--showing students how to access technology.  I was at a meeting to design a new high school.  The consultant in charge kept talking about a "distributed media center" concept.  I kept raising the question of supervision--monitoring the different areas.  Considering I'm the only librarian, a distributed space is impossible for me to monitor. 

The consultant kept telling me these spaces were for students to collaborate and work.  Again I asked about supervision.  She finally said that this was a 21st century concept and we needed to understand this is what our students needed! ARGH!!!  Like I don't all ready know that!  What does she think I do all day? 

I really felt like she was reaching over to pat my hand and telling me to get with the times.......and I was so insulted because I think, of all people, librarians understand 21st century learners, but the general public doesn't understand librarians!  I guess we need to keep getting our message out there.

Digital citizenship

This summer our district is forming a committee to explore digital citizenship.  I'm on the lookout for resources or information we can use to help us decide on some district guidelines.  I found this one website of resources--evidently this is becoming a hot topic all over! 

I think the committee is comprised of librarians, tech people and admin people.  I'm curious to see how this will all work out.

Any suggestions of other resources would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

Book quotes

If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.

Here's a great site I found via Twitter--50 Inspiring Quotes about books and reading.  Enjoy! 

If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.