To Flex or Not to Flex… That Is the Question Presented by Pamela Kuck Instructional Technology Director CESA 8 [email protected].

To Flex or Not to Flex…That Is the Question

Presented by Pamela KuckPresented by Pamela Kuck

Instructional Technology Instructional Technology DirectorDirector

CESA 8CESA 8

[email protected]@cesa8.k12.wi.us

The library media specialist plays important roles:

Information specialistInformation specialist TeacherTeacher Instructional consultant Instructional consultant Partner of the learning processPartner of the learning process

Significant change can occur with flexible scheduling Curriculum-integrated instructionCurriculum-integrated instruction Focus on the individual as learnerFocus on the individual as learner Accommodation of students in a Accommodation of students in a

variety of ways - singly, in small variety of ways - singly, in small groups, and whole groupgroups, and whole group

Classes based on instructional Classes based on instructional need, rather than a fixed calendarneed, rather than a fixed calendar

Classes designed to support a Classes designed to support a classroom activityclassroom activity

Common barriers to flexible scheduling: Traditional blocked time does not support Traditional blocked time does not support

a reason to be there or a connection with a reason to be there or a connection with the classroom the classroom

Coming to library on a certain day can be Coming to library on a certain day can be viewed as an escape from the classroomviewed as an escape from the classroom

Media specialists are "trapped" in a rigidly Media specialists are "trapped" in a rigidly scheduled programscheduled program

Administrators may fear the librarian isn't Administrators may fear the librarian isn't working when he or she isn't teaching a working when he or she isn't teaching a classclass

Teachers perceive library class as their Teachers perceive library class as their “prep time”“prep time”

””Class visits to the library Class visits to the library media center are scheduled to media center are scheduled to facilitate use at point of need. facilitate use at point of need. Any functions that restrict or Any functions that restrict or interfere with open access to interfere with open access to all resources,including all resources,including scheduled classes on a fixed scheduled classes on a fixed basis, must be avoided to the basis, must be avoided to the fullest extent possible." fullest extent possible." (AASL and AECT, 1988)(AASL and AECT, 1988)

Instruction will have meaning if:

It meets a need and can be applied to a current It meets a need and can be applied to a current problem, rather than teaching in isolationproblem, rather than teaching in isolation

Students can learn a library skill while simultaneously Students can learn a library skill while simultaneously using it using it

Library resources are not separated from the classroom Library resources are not separated from the classroom We provide students with the intellectual tools to We provide students with the intellectual tools to

accomplish work in content areasaccomplish work in content areas We integrate the library into the classroom curriculumWe integrate the library into the classroom curriculum Library media skills are used as a means to an end and Library media skills are used as a means to an end and

not an end in themselvesnot an end in themselves We combine classroom teacher's subject expertise with We combine classroom teacher's subject expertise with

the library media specialist's knowledge of learning the library media specialist's knowledge of learning materialsmaterials

It makes sense:

To bring students to the library when there is specific instructional need

That what is taught in the library be integrated with what is taught in the classroom

That what is taught in the library is taught when students need to know it

Benefits: Better management of library resources Better management of library resources More awareness of areas that need additional More awareness of areas that need additional

materialsmaterials More responsive to students needsMore responsive to students needs Use not determined by a scheduleUse not determined by a schedule Increased student interest in books and more Increased student interest in books and more

enjoyment in readingenjoyment in reading Increased use of critical thinking skills inIncreased use of critical thinking skills in studentsstudents More student access to the libraryMore student access to the library Increased circulation of materialsIncreased circulation of materials More positive attitudes in studentsMore positive attitudes in students More use of diverse, resource-based activitiesMore use of diverse, resource-based activities

The importance of The importance of principals sharing the principals sharing the vision of the library vision of the library resource center program as resource center program as a collaborative partner in a collaborative partner in classroom instruction classroom instruction cannot be overlooked.cannot be overlooked.

Library media specialists in schools with flexible schedules: Engage in more consultation with teachers and Engage in more consultation with teachers and

develop more integrated units of study than do those develop more integrated units of study than do those with fixed schedules (ratio of 4:1) with fixed schedules (ratio of 4:1)

Teach more information skills lessons integrated with Teach more information skills lessons integrated with classroom instruction than those on fixed schedulesclassroom instruction than those on fixed schedules

Conduct more assessment of student work than Conduct more assessment of student work than those on fixed schedulesthose on fixed schedules

Plan more frequently with teachers and for longer Plan more frequently with teachers and for longer periods of time than do than those on fixed schedules periods of time than do than those on fixed schedules (fixed schedule spends up to five minutes planning (fixed schedule spends up to five minutes planning with a teacher whereas flexible schedule spends with a teacher whereas flexible schedule spends more than thirty minutes.) more than thirty minutes.)

Foster more critical thinking in studentsFoster more critical thinking in students

Questions to ask: What are the services you would like to provide to children What are the services you would like to provide to children

on an on-going basis? on an on-going basis? Which areas of the curriculum for each grade level will best Which areas of the curriculum for each grade level will best

integrate into the information skills and literature integrate into the information skills and literature promotion programs you want to provide? promotion programs you want to provide?

How can you accommodate for flexibility and meet How can you accommodate for flexibility and meet scheduling requirements at the same time? scheduling requirements at the same time?

If this necessitates new thinking and new requirements of If this necessitates new thinking and new requirements of staff, how much support will your administration offer you staff, how much support will your administration offer you to help make changes? to help make changes?

What are realistic expectations for change in one year? in What are realistic expectations for change in one year? in two? in three? two? in three?

What will be the measures of success for each year? What will be the measures of success for each year? What are your criteria for the overall plan of change? What are your criteria for the overall plan of change?

You will still be teaching You will still be teaching encyclopedia and skill lessons, encyclopedia and skill lessons, literature enjoyment lessons, literature enjoyment lessons, and production lessons, but and production lessons, but these will be taught within the these will be taught within the context of social studies, context of social studies, language arts, science, health, language arts, science, health, or literature.or literature.

How to Start Be committed to the conceptBe committed to the concept Get support and commitment from Get support and commitment from

the principalthe principal Work towards it in stagesWork towards it in stages Explain concept to teachers and have Explain concept to teachers and have

them set it as a one year goalthem set it as a one year goal Plan inservice workshops for teachers Plan inservice workshops for teachers

on resource-based instructionon resource-based instruction Start with one teacher, one grade Start with one teacher, one grade

level, one activitylevel, one activity

Best way to make changes:

Begin with your most supportive staff membersBegin with your most supportive staff members Realize that your schedule has to be the most flexibleRealize that your schedule has to be the most flexible Seek out new teachers, some of the strongest advocates for Seek out new teachers, some of the strongest advocates for

flexible schedulingflexible scheduling Inservice teachers by providing information on the topic, Inservice teachers by providing information on the topic,

examples, suggestions, alternativesexamples, suggestions, alternatives Communicate staffing expectations in an enthusiastic, vocal, and Communicate staffing expectations in an enthusiastic, vocal, and

articulate mannerarticulate manner Initiate change from the top -- Principals need to be the initiators Initiate change from the top -- Principals need to be the initiators

of the change in library scheduling and program planningof the change in library scheduling and program planning Update and revise library policiesUpdate and revise library policies Continuously evaluate and solicit feedbackContinuously evaluate and solicit feedback Assess, modify, reject, and changeAssess, modify, reject, and change Spend considerable time beforehand working through the idea Spend considerable time beforehand working through the idea

with staffwith staff

Teacher concerns:

Lack of time for planningLack of time for planning Loss of prep timeLoss of prep time Fear of losing quality library Fear of losing quality library

timetime

Flexible scheduling does have Flexible scheduling does have a schedule. Schedules include a schedule. Schedules include the progression of the the progression of the curriculum, the school's curriculum, the school's calendar, each grade's daily calendar, each grade's daily schedule, assorted duties, and schedule, assorted duties, and planning time.planning time.

Role of the principal Require teachers and the library media Require teachers and the library media

specialist to plan togetherspecialist to plan together See that rules and regulations are See that rules and regulations are

developed in order to encourage developed in order to encourage maximum instructional use for maximum instructional use for teachers and studentsteachers and students

Assume the responsibility of making Assume the responsibility of making the media specialist and the teaching the media specialist and the teaching staff aware of the interdependence of staff aware of the interdependence of classroom instruction and the use of classroom instruction and the use of the library media resources. the library media resources.

Advantages of flexible scheduling

Students and teachers use the library Students and teachers use the library media center more oftenmedia center more often

Students make better use of the library Students make better use of the library media center since they use it only when media center since they use it only when they need tothey need to

Instruction is improved and research skills Instruction is improved and research skills are encouragedare encouraged

Students become independent users of Students become independent users of informationinformation

Instructional gains are greaterInstructional gains are greater Information skills are integrated into the Information skills are integrated into the

instructional programinstructional program

Problems to Overcome:

Lack of resources to meet Lack of resources to meet increased demandincreased demand

Lack of space to meet teacher Lack of space to meet teacher demandsdemands

Lack of time to meet the Lack of time to meet the increased useincreased use

Useful Tools

A master monthly calendar to keep track of who is A master monthly calendar to keep track of who is coming in when and for whatcoming in when and for what

A binder divided by grade level to keep track of A binder divided by grade level to keep track of which classes and grade levels have achieved what which classes and grade levels have achieved what skills, state standards, etc.skills, state standards, etc.

Library passes for teachers to give as students Library passes for teachers to give as students have a free minute. When they return to class, the have a free minute. When they return to class, the pass is free to be used by another student. pass is free to be used by another student.

15-minute weekly blocks scheduled with the aide 15-minute weekly blocks scheduled with the aide for checkout time for checkout time

Planning forms on hand, including what objective Planning forms on hand, including what objective will be met, which state standards will be covered, will be met, which state standards will be covered, and who will be doing what. and who will be doing what.

Flexible scheduling is not for the easily flustered or the control freak: It requires patience, flexibility, compassion, and an It requires patience, flexibility, compassion, and an

enormous sense of humorenormous sense of humor It’s noisyIt’s noisy The shelves are more disorganized from increased The shelves are more disorganized from increased

useuse Resources are often tattered and scatteredResources are often tattered and scattered It requires one to think on their feetIt requires one to think on their feet Lessons often change direction in midstreamLessons often change direction in midstream Library media specialists feel torn in several Library media specialists feel torn in several

directionsdirections Budget cuts and shrinking resources can be a Budget cuts and shrinking resources can be a

challenge challenge

You CAN create a flexible You CAN create a flexible environment that will environment that will encourage your students to encourage your students to become lifelong independent become lifelong independent learners and ensure that you learners and ensure that you become an integral part of the become an integral part of the learning environment within learning environment within your schoolyour school

Is flexible scheduling worth it?

Yes, yes, a thousand times YES!