Value of a Full Time TL
I have been a parent at Stein Elementary for the past 4 years. I cannot even begin to tell you the value I have found with the teacher librarians at our school. My children are both avid readers and always find their interaction with Mrs. Schiele engaging. She has provided the kids with many opportunities they would not have with a half time teacher librarian or a paraprofessional in the library. It amazes me every time I see all of the technology the students are being exposed to and using as a result of having a teacher librarian.
The Technology My Kids are Using is Amazing
My first grader knows how to work a SMART board, knows how to type and use other forms of technology. Last week when volunteering in third grade I watched the kids taking a quiz with “clickers.” They were able to answer the questions on a device that to me looked like a cell phone. Instantly a pie chart was available for them to see how many people chose various answers. I was in shock at how much technology is available to all grade levels. Both of my students have spent hours in the technology lab with their teacher librarian working on different projects. My kids are using Google docs, making presentations online and coming home with a link to a wiki site for me to see what they have done.
The Idea of Cutting Teacher Librarians is Appalling
The idea that Jefferson County School District is considering making further cuts to the teacher librarians is appalling! By the time my students graduate from high school, technology will be a part of everything they do. Having a dedicated teacher librarian at every level of school is a necessity to keep our kids in Jeffco on the cutting edge. We say we are Building Bright Futures, but taking away teacher librarians is the opposite of that mission. All elementary schools and middle schools MUST have dedicated teacher librarians to keep students up to date with the technology in this ever changing world. None of us would have guessed 5 years ago that today our high school students would be working online from home to collaborate on a group project in Google docs or that kindergartners would be doing narrated presentations on line. We cannot predict how much more things will change, but I can guarantee that without teacher librarians to attend trainings and bring technology to our students at every grade level, Jeffco students will fall behind.
This is something I feel strongly about and I appreciate your attention.
