Delivery of Services
Students come to the library for a variety of reasons and situations. Individual students come in to check out books and Chromebooks, have Chromebooks repaired, quiet study, dual enrollment / online classes, reading, and more. Groups of students come in with their classes for group projects, research, lessons from the librarian, among other things. Instructional content is delivered through whole group instruction, small groups, individual discussions and through online sources such as the webpage and Canvas.
Standards and Objectives
Any lessons taught by the librarian meet standards and objectives set by the American Association of School Librarians in their Standards Framework, as well as standards and objectives of the specific class. The library mission statement is posted on the webpage and serves as a form of standards and objectives of the library program.
Motivating Students
Lessons are designed to be engaging and interesting for the students. A variety of learning styles are taken into consideration when designing lessons. Engaging book displays, Lunch & Learn events, coloring & games, and Instagram all serve as a way for students to feel a sense of belonging in the library as well as motivate their interest in learning.
The Hilltopper Readers’ Cup is a school-wide, year-long reading incentive program for all students. It encompasses four separate reading challenges and two different events. Students read, log their minutes and compete for prizes.
Presenting Instructional Content
The librarian presents instructional content in many different ways. Direct instruction is delivered through presentation/lecture format using the ViewSonic for visual display. Individual instruction is common as students come in with various questions and needs. Instructional content is also displayed on the library webpage, Instagram, and posters.
Lesson Structure and Pacing
Lessons begin promptly when the class arrives with their teacher. Students are given the opportunity to ask questions and practice what they have learned through hands-on experience. The library webpage provides self-paced learning on a variety of topics.
Activities and Materials
Activities and Materials used to present instructional content are relevant to the topic. Examples used during lessons include those related to the task and are of interest to the students. Students have access to a wide range of materials in the library. They have books, technology, de-stressing activities, and more.
Questioning
Many library lessons are taught in conjunction with the classroom teacher who asks questions before and after the lesson while in the classroom and through assignments. All students are expected and encouraged to participate in discussion of the topics during library lessons. Occasionally, the library posts academic and/or fun quizzes on Kahoot and Quizizz for students to participate in on their own time. Prizes are awarded to students who take part.
Academic Feedback
The classroom teacher provides academic feedback on assignments that result from library lessons. If students participate in Kahoot or Quizizz through the library they are given feedback on their answers. When talking to individual students, the librarian provides feedback on the skill the student is practicing.
Monitoring Student Understanding
After instructional content is delivered, students have an opportunity for hands-on experience with the learned skill. The librarian monitors understanding during this time and assists those students who need individual assistance.
LMS/LIS Content Knowledge
The librarian is well versed in use of the databases and technology used at Science Hill High School. The librarian implements a variety of instructional strategies, such as direct whole-group instruction and individual assistance, when delivering content. The librarian stays abreast of current topics and new young adult fiction of interest and shares ideas with students when browsing for books.
LMS/LIS Knowledge of Students
The librarian conducted a diversity audit of the collection to make sure it accurately reflects the community served. The librarian stays current on pop culture and topics that interest students, in order to provide books they want to read. The librarian also looks at school-wide test data to determine needs when ordering new materials and takes into account requests from stakeholders. The librarian discusses needs with teachers.
Thinking
When working with teachers on collaborative lessons, students must utilize their learned skills in a practical manner. For example, after learning how to search the SHHS databases, students conduct research for an assignment and after learning how to use the library catalog they search for books and locate them on the shelves. One collaborative lesson with the French teacher culminated in a digital escape room activity where students had to answer questions about the lesson.
Problem Solving
During the process of materials selection and research, students must use a variety of problem-solving skills. Everything from critical thinking, categorization, drawing conclusions, and predicting outcomes to ethical use of information, information seeking strategies, and identifying relevant/irrelevant information is used in these processes. Students also generate ideas, create, design, synthesize information, and use self-assessment strategies.