Annette Becomes a Teacher Librarian!

  “We cannot succeed when half of us are held back. We call upon our sisters to be brave – to embrace the strength within themselves and realize their full potential.” – Malala Yousafzai Libraries are important part of any society, especially societies in developing countries. Libraries help citizens become educated, informed, and empowered so that they can break the cycle of poverty (Fourie & Meyer, 2016). Globally, girls and women are at greater risk of illiteracy: around 496 million adult women are unable to read or write (two thirds of all illiterate people) and in developing countries, one in four girls do not attend school (UNDP, 2015). When women are able to read, there are lasting benefits: lower infant mortality rates, reduces population growth, reduces infection rates, fewer child marriages, more prepared for natural disasters and climate change, agency, leadership skills, and contributes to economic growth (Nathwani, 2022; TheirWorld, 2022).   (UNESCO, 2015) Dig...

How can we support the staff at our schools in developing their ICT skills?  Develop Relationships I think first and foremost, a TL needs to develop relationships with the staff and families in the school so that they respect and trust you (Howard, 2009; Johnston, 2012). Once a rapport is built, others are more willing to accept feedback and let other educators and administrators know your value as a TL (Todd, 2004). Often teachers are hesitant to explore ICT tools because they can be overwhelming, but a quality TL can support them in integrating it into their practice (Johnston, 2012) so students are able to become well-rounded 21 st century learners. The infographic below was interesting to me because only 72% saw teacher librarians as tech leaders, albeit this is from ten years ago. I'm curious if you were to survey your staff, who they would say is the tech leader in your school? I love how the article told me to steal this infographic . We have to get the word out!  (Is...

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner – I have two Bachelor degrees, one Masters degree, one diploma, and now working on my teacher-librarian diploma. My bank account doesn’t know what’s happening! Each summer I strive to read professional development books to improve in specific areas in my teaching. It certainly helps reading teaching resources at the park or at the beach with a cool drink on hand. I also utilize additional professional development opportunities throughout the year. In the past I have attended conferences, joined book clubs, led a workshop about creating a love of reading in an intermediate classroom, and scoured the internet for inspiration and expertise. (BCTF, 2023) Transitioning to a teacher-librarian position will allow for new avenues of professional development and connection. I began looking into different opportunities and woah! There are a lot! The BCTF’s professional development lens suggests that PD should be responsible, autonomous, and relevant and...

When I saw this week’s blog prompt, how do you foster a reading culture in your school, I thought, hey! I’ve done that! After completing my Graduate Diploma in Integrating Technology into the Digital Age, I laddered the diploma into a Masters Degree. I really enjoyed this program because it allowed each student to inquire into an area of passion within their classroom/school. We were asked to read the article,  “Collecting Data Through Performative Inquiry: A Tug on the Sleeve”   where Fels suggests listening to ideas of students with curiosity and wonder (Fels, 2012). My aha moment was not so much a tug on the sleeve, but rather twenty litres of water being poured over my head.  Let me explain.  On Fun Day every year, the Grade 7’s participate in Soak-A-Grad where younger students pay money to spray/dump water on the “graduates.” Being the good sport that I am, I said that the students could pay to soak me as well and the money would go to charity. One student came ...