Elyse Bryant:
Cudgeong Valley PS
Profile
I began as a casual teacher in 2009 and continued casual teaching around the Newcastle/New England region for 7 years. We then moved to the Central West and I continued teaching, before being offered the Teaching Librarian position at CVPS in 2019. This will be my third year in this position. I will finish my Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) at CSU at the beginning of 2022.
I love being in the library and connecting with all the students across the school. The rapport being able to build and a love of reading is my favourite part. I am currently in the role that I dreamed of and love doing the TL position each year. This year finds me with another teacher as the TL position is 1.2 so it will be nice having another person who loves the library as much as I do.
CVPS seems to gain a class every year. We have gone up a class each year since 2018. We are starting with 24 classes this year. We tend to gain and also lose around 20 students a term due to the area we live and the comings and goings of the industries which support our town, often having a variety of EAL/D students from varying backgrounds.
Hmmmmm I have been completing my Master over the last 12 months, so I haven't had time to read much at all (except from research papers). Usually I love a good fantasy or romance, depending on my mood. I usually read in genres and switch them up every few months.
Favourite time of the school year
I love the beginning and end of the year the most as it's always so fun and exciting. I have to admit though, as most TL's probably do, Book Week/Term 3 is always a lot of fun. I love to change my library around and immerse the students in the theme. Each student across the school makes something to add to the theme. There was a jungle for 'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds' and Alice in Wonderland for 'Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds'.
Stage I enjoy teaching most and why
I am part of the ES1 team and have loved my time with them. When COVID hit and our zoo excursion was cancelled, I thought why not bring the zoo to the students. So I did!! We had a blast and that's the reason I love the littlies....their complete sense of wonder and appreciation :)
Best library event I've organised (so far!)
Last year for Book Week we had an 'Alice in Wonderland' theme. I like to tie our PRC and Book Week theme together. We held a Mad Hatter's Tea Party for all the PRC finishers. We had such an amazing time together!!
I teach a love of reading to K-2 and digital literacy to 3-6. I have loved my themed units in infants and the older students have loved my varied versions of the backpack bear. This year we are doing podcasts for 3-6 and I cannot wait. The students are excited and I hope it inspires those reluctant readers to start using varying forms of literacy.
I do, however, need to get much better at time management and putting books away. I look at the 200-400 books I receive each day and just sigh. Though at least I can relish in the fact that they love coming to the library and borrowing!