PASSIONATE ABOUT SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Tag: COVID-19

Ramblings: School Libraries During and Post COVID-19 Webinar Series

Webinar Series – School Libraries During and Post COVID-19

School libraries reacted quickly to COVID-19 and the lockdowns and changes to schooling systems from 2020 and into 2021.

EduWebinar put together two free webinars about school libraries and the way they quickly pivoted to continue to serve their school communities during COVID-19. I was proud to be part of the first webinar. You can view both webinars on the EduWebinar website, as well as access the fantastic range of resources listed there.

While your school may not be as effected by lockdowns or COVID in general, there are many great ideas and programs that the presenters share.

 

Ramblings: Exciting Term 4 2020 Updates

Exciting Term 4, 2020 Updates

I know 2020 has been a massive, scary, horrible year for many. I have been blessed to ride through 2020 pretty smoothly, thanks to some wonderful employers and a great country in which to live.

Term 4, 2020 is set to be massive for those of us in Australia (and for many around the world, no doubt).  I am so pleased to say that I have taken on a Teacher Librarian contract for Term 4, working in the most beautiful junior school library. This means I am working across 3 schools during Term 4, 4 days a week as teacher librarian and 1 as a library aide. It’s going to be a very busy, but very exciting term.

Here are just a few of the exciting things that are happening in Term 4 to get involved with.

CBCA Book Week

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Ramblings: ACCESS Articles

ACCESS Articles – June 2020

I have been extremely fortunate to be able to contribute two articles to the ASLA ACCESS June edition 2020.

Both articles wouldn’t be possible without the contribution from all the wonderful library teams around Australia who shared their experiences in their roles and during COVID-19.

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Ramblings: Running Online Book Clubs

Running Online Book Clubs for Students

COVID-19 might have made online book clubs necessary for the past few weeks, but I have always allowed our school students to connect online. During COVID social isolation and schooling from home, our book clubs connected online and via video chats.

Online book clubs for students might look completely different depending on what platforms are available to each school and how each book club operates. I share here what worked for our school library and students and some of the things I learnt.

Backstory

At my school library, we have weekly book clubs that are divided by age group. For the past few years now I have been running a Year 6-12 book club that meets weekly to talk about what they are reading and writing, take a look a new books, argue about cliff hangers vs edge grippers (a term we made up, we believe), hold unofficial book launches and generally have lots of fun each week. I also run a weekly Year 3-4 book club and we do similar things, but also read aloud from a picture book or novel and colour in or do bookish craft. Our awesome library technician runs the Year 1-2 group and I was also recently approached by a group of students wanting to create a new Year 5-6 group. For more book club ideas check out this post. 

When COVID hit and schools were closed, I turned to online measures to keep our readers connected.

An Online Platform

Our school uses SchoolBox as an online learning management system. When that was launched I asked leadership for a Book Club group page for my Year 6-12 book club. Since then, we’ve been chatting, holding quizzes, sharing book-related Pinterest boards, giving book recommendations, sharing our writing and taking polls to determine everything from our favourite genres to preferred reading locations. Having an online area for the members to connect has allowed those not so vocal in meetings to have their say. It’s also added an element of fun to the group with quizzes, videos and polls. Members who can’t always join the lunchtime weekly session can stay apprised of group news.

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Ramblings: School Libraries During COVID-19

School Libraries During COVID-19

COVID-19 has, very quickly, changed our world. It seemed to come out of nowhere (though some dystopian writers might say they predicted this years ago) and within a matter of weeks and months, life as we know it has been altered. For many, the impact has been far greater reaching than a change in civil liberties. It’s a heart breaking situation for many.

Within schools, it has sparked quick change. A big drop in attending student numbers. The move to online learning. A very quick learning curve for many as they navigate new technologies and new pedagogies.

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