As school library staff, in my case in the role of teacher librarian, we know we must work to foster relationships and learning opportunities for our entire school population.

This can be a thrilling and inspiring aspect of the role of the teacher librarian. Often, it is also a challenge for many of us as we strive to connect with other educators in our buildings.

Although this page is dedicated to the topic of collaboration, it is by no means intended to be a "how to" guide. It is merely my journey thus far in developing my own practice in the library learning commons. It is my hope that by sharing my narrative, other school library professionals might feel more confident in the tremendous work they already do to serve their school communities.

What do we know about collaboration?

What did collaboration mean to me the first time I was in the library learning commons?

How can I establish a climate and culture of collaboration?

What can school wide collaboration look like in the library learning commons?

Design Thinking, Maker Education in Action:

A Snapshot of a School Wide Collaborative Experience

Where is my understanding of collaboration today?

Collaboration in Action:

Indigenous Peoples Atlas Floor Map

What are my “enduring understandings” about collaboration?

Bibliography/Resources

References

Brown, J. (2016, December 1). The Case for Free Flow Book Exchange [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://open-shelf.ca/161201-book-exchange/

Brown, J. (2017, April 18). Uncovering the ‘Truth’ about Makerspace [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://open-shelf.ca/170417-truth-makerspace/

Brown, J. (2019). Reflections in the Library Learning Commons: Collaboration. Retreived from https://sites.google.com/pdsb.net/reflections-in-the-llc/home

Brown, J. (2019, April 4). I won’t be levelling the library … and here’s why [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://open-shelf.ca/190404-i-wont-be-levelling-the-library-and-heres-why/

Brown, J. (2020). Finding the Magic. Category: Library Learning Commons. Retrieved from http://mrsjbrown1975.edublogs.org/category/library-learning-commons/

Canadian Geographic. (2020). Giant Floor Maps. Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. Retrieved from

http://www.canadiangeographic.com/educational_products/ipac_floor_map.asp

Canadian School Libraries (CSL). 2020. Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada. Retrieved from http://llsop.canadianschoollibraries.ca

Ontario Library Association. (2010). Together For Learning: School libraries and the emergence of learning commons. Retrieved from

https://www.accessola.org/web/Documents/OLA/Divisions/OSLA/TogetherforLearning.pdf

MacKenzie, T. (2019). Classroom Inquiry’s Secret Weapon: The Teacher-Librarian. Canadian School Libraries Journal 3 (1). Retrieved from

https://journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/classroom-inquirys-secret-weapon-the-teacher-librarian/

Meeham, R. J. (2019, November 27). What Teachers Can Be [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://robertjohnmeehan.com/

Loertscher, D.V., & Zepnik, J. (2019). Coteaching Revisited: The Replication Study. Teacher Librarian 47 (1), 40-47. Retrieved from https://tmcanada.blogspot.com/p/tmc6-loertscher.html

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2016). The Kindergarten Program. Retrieved from

https://files.ontario.ca/books/edu_the_kindergarten_program_english_aoda_web_oct7.pdf

Peel District School Board (2017). Empowering Modern Learners. Retrieved from

http://www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stcentury/byod/Documents/Empowering%20Modern%20Learners%20Vision.pdf

PBS Kids. (2018). Design Squad Global Build. Retrieved from https://pbskids.org/designsquad/

Training with Bill. (2016, August 7). Zipline Niagara Falls Canada Mistrider [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://youtu.be/RpVa1L3hev8