2/19/17 Forum Post

What happened?
This past week I had something very interesting happen to me. I was told on Wednesday by
my CT that we will be meeting at one of the elementary schools the next day for a
curriculum meeting. We would be meeting with all the other librarians in the district to talk
about curriculum. I was pretty excited because I would have my notes from the curriculum
meeting to put into my portfolio. I was also excited to experience what goes on in a
curriculum meeting, since I have never been a part of one before. The district that I am
student teaching in is also the district that I am a library assistant for the elementary
schools, which I have taken a leave of absence from to student teach. So I was also excited
to see the LMS for the elementary schools and let her know how well everything was going.
We left the middle school at 12:45pm to be at the elementary school for 1 because thats
when the meeting was to start. The meeting was held in the library. When we arrived the
other assistant librarian is there. We waiting for almost a half an hour after 1 for the
meeting to start and I was starting to think that we had the wrong date or something
because we were the only ones there.
Eventually, the Assistant Superintendent, Head of the Board of Ed, and the School Principal
walk into the library. I had no clue what was going on, I thought this is who attends to
curriculum meeting? Then the Head of the Board of Ed opens a folder to show me and the
other assistant librarian that we were Februarys Employees of the Month! The elementary
school LMS had nominated us, as well as a few other staff members, for our hard work and
dedication to the school, especially with the reconfiguration, thousands of books to re-
catalog, and bouncing back an fourth between two libraries. I was totally not expecting it at
all or so soon in my career. My CT had known about it and had to keep it a secret from me.
It totally made my day and I am so honored to be named Employee of the Month.

What did I learn?

I learned a few things because of this one event. First of all, our hard work to help children
and faculty does not go un-noticed. Plus, working hard to do our job to help our patrons be
successful in school is itself an honor. Being employee of the month is just the icing on the
cake. Even if I didnt receive this award I would still work hard.
Another thing I learned is that now I know for sure, even more than I did before, that this is
the profession I am meant to be in. Even if I didnt get this incredible honor, I love what I do
and this award just gives me more proof that what I am doing is right. It feels good to be
appreciated and it makes me want to work harder and to become a better teacher. Not just
for my intrinsic purposes but for the students and staff of the school as well. By making me
better, I will make them successful.

Which standards from ALA/AASL and RIPTS did this particular incident address and
why?
AASL Standards:
1.1= Assess learners needs to design instruction for best practices, Support learning of all
students, use 21st century skills
As assistants we receive lesson plans created by the LMS. Our job is to follow those
lesson plans but also have the ability to change them a bit as needed. If something didnt
work well we would change it to make it work better. Or if too much was planned we
would pick and choose the best activities to do during the lesson, especially on ERD days.
We also support the learning of every student by helping them locate books on their
topics or give teachers resources for them to use in their lessons. We also change our
lesson plans based on the needs of the students.
We use 21st century skills when we teach them about using the Follett Destiny
system to locate books as well as digital citizenship.

2.1= Familiar with literature

In both libraries last year I weeded through the non-fiction books and separated
series chapter books for easier access. By doing so, I became very familiar with the layout
of the library, where everything was located as well as getting myself familiar with the
literature. I would also occasionally take a book or two home with me to read, that is if I
didnt have too much school work. By doing these two activities I am able to be more
helpful when helping students chose books.

5.3=organize library facilities and ensure equitable access

Again I helped organize the facilities by weeding mostly because of the
reconfiguration of the schools. This was a big job. I also helped separate the lower level
reading chapter books for 2nd and 3rd graders to find easier and did the same for higher
level books by creating an area of series chapter books for 3rd and 4th grade. By separating
and putting series of books together students could easily find the books they were looking
for more independently.

RIPTS:
Standard 10= Getting feedback from students, families, and colleagues and reflect on and
improve their own teaching
This standard fits because I received incredible feedback from colleagues that what I
am doing as a library assistant is desirable. This feedback makes me reflect on what I have
done to receive this honor as well as how can I make myself even better. When I receive my
masters and get a job as a SLMS, I want to work even harder and better than I am now.

Standard 11= Maintain professional standards guided by legal and ethical principles.
This award shows that I act in the best interests and needs of the students, follow
school policies and procedures while respecting my boundaries as a library assistant,
follow local, state, and federal laws, and finally interact with students and colleagues in a
professional manner. They wouldnt have given me this award if I wasnt professional.