I enjoy reading my old pal Harry Tuttle’s blog. Harry has a wealth of experience in K-12 learning environments, and he’s a straight shooter. He’s been a classroom teacher, a technology coordinator, a consultant, a NYSCATE president, and now exists as an educator in residence in the academic realm. But more than anything, Harry’s practical.
Harry recently had a post that speaks to me a teacher librarian and represents a major tenet of School Library 2.0.
Tuttle writes….
“I worked with many respected teachers but these teachers did not serve as central expansion into their grade level, team, or school. Although they did fantastic technology-based learning projects with their students, the word never got out. Their brilliant learning lights were hidden behind the doors of their classrooms.
I did work with a few teacher leaders. As soon as they found out about a great technology integration application, they would tell others or bring them in to see it. The other teachers would follow the lead of the teacher.
If you are in a school, identify those teacher leaders and concentrate on them. They can become the biggest advocates for integrating technology. They can create meaningful ripples throughout the building. If you have a respected teacher who is also a teacher leader, then help that person’s light to shine brightly throughout the school.”
This philosophy is critical for the 21st century librarian. Identify the teacher leaders in your building. Create in-roads and work with them. Find creative ways to use all of your available resources and the 2.0 tools Chris Harris is pimping over there on Digital Reshift. Show what’s possible with the services that you have to offer. Like Harry says, it will create meaningful ripples.
I’d like to introduce you to a new monthly feature at School Libraryland that connects readers to the most popular book of the month from the K-5 school library at my school. I’m calling it “The Circ Files.” And if you’re one of those that just cringed because the last thing you need in your life is another book review, I promise to make this short and to the point.
