This fall 2016, I took the courses ISTC 789 Practicum and Portfolio at Towson University. My adviser is Dr. David Robinson. I was lucky to be asked by the principal, Dr. Tara Minter to work at her school as the new librarian. Rosa L. Parks Elementary is a very beautiful school. We have 916 students and I have a big library. I have 29,704 titles in my collection and we checkout books every other week.
During my practicum, I was able to apply what I learned from most of my courses in Towson. Talking to different patrons was not very difficult because my professor in ISTC 601, Library Media Administration, taught us how to talk to different kinds of personalities in school. I kept my library organized and circulate books regularly. I submitted my reports on time and gave copies to my principal, so she will be aware of what I am doing in my library. I also had a book fair in October, where we had a great sale compared to last year. We are having another book fair in April. I promoted books by giving book talks and asking all my kindergarten to sixth grade students to complete their reading logs for our Read to Succeed Reading Program. I also supported the literacy team, as being a member and helping them in their activities. We joined the Write-A-Book program and currently, we have 12 students who joined the program. I spoke with teachers so I could collaborate with them by using their themes in class to be our themes in the library when we checkout books, read an eBook or read-aloud. I wrote an action plan for the school year and have successfully done 90% of it. The teachers are very grateful and I really appreciate their kind words when they see what I am doing with their students. They appreciate all my effort and they support me in my library media program.
During my Portfolio class, I wrote reflections for the different AASL standards. It was difficult for me at first because I had to recall what I did since 2009, but my adviser was very helpful and understanding. He really pushed me to give my best. I was able to finish everything and as I was writing my reflections, I was able to look back and recall the lessons I learned from each course I took at Towson. This course brought out the best in me as a teacher librarian. I appreciate it more because I was doing it in my practicum.
During my practicum, I was able to apply what I learned from most of my courses in Towson. Talking to different patrons was not very difficult because my professor in ISTC 601, Library Media Administration, taught us how to talk to different kinds of personalities in school. I kept my library organized and circulate books regularly. I submitted my reports on time and gave copies to my principal, so she will be aware of what I am doing in my library. I also had a book fair in October, where we had a great sale compared to last year. We are having another book fair in April. I promoted books by giving book talks and asking all my kindergarten to sixth grade students to complete their reading logs for our Read to Succeed Reading Program. I also supported the literacy team, as being a member and helping them in their activities. We joined the Write-A-Book program and currently, we have 12 students who joined the program. I spoke with teachers so I could collaborate with them by using their themes in class to be our themes in the library when we checkout books, read an eBook or read-aloud. I wrote an action plan for the school year and have successfully done 90% of it. The teachers are very grateful and I really appreciate their kind words when they see what I am doing with their students. They appreciate all my effort and they support me in my library media program.
During my Portfolio class, I wrote reflections for the different AASL standards. It was difficult for me at first because I had to recall what I did since 2009, but my adviser was very helpful and understanding. He really pushed me to give my best. I was able to finish everything and as I was writing my reflections, I was able to look back and recall the lessons I learned from each course I took at Towson. This course brought out the best in me as a teacher librarian. I appreciate it more because I was doing it in my practicum.