Valerie Diggs is the Librarian at Lowell Catholic High School, an Adjunct Professor at Salem State University,
and a former President of MSLA.
Questions for this column may be submitted using the confidential link at the bottom of this post.
and a former President of MSLA.
Questions for this column may be submitted using the confidential link at the bottom of this post.
A week or two ago we asked for questions for the next issue of the Forum, but the following question was too timely to wait until mid-October.
Question: What are the most important things to do at the beginning of the year at a new school? Especially when you have a full teaching schedule for the very first time.
The beginning of every school year is frightening and anxiety-provoking, even for veteran school librarians. This anxiety can be heightened when you know you are teaching a full schedule and have little, if any, time to plan and get acclimated to the school, the students and staff in that school, and to plan what exactly you will be teaching! One very important thing to remember is that it will take two to three years to really build relationships, establish trust, and develop leadership skills tailored to your new position. There is no rushing the process, only knowing that slow and steady wins the race!
Here is a brief list of how to begin to feel comfortable in a new position at the beginning of a new school year:
The beginning of every school year is frightening and anxiety-provoking, even for veteran school librarians. This anxiety can be heightened when you know you are teaching a full schedule and have little, if any, time to plan and get acclimated to the school, the students and staff in that school, and to plan what exactly you will be teaching! One very important thing to remember is that it will take two to three years to really build relationships, establish trust, and develop leadership skills tailored to your new position. There is no rushing the process, only knowing that slow and steady wins the race!
Here is a brief list of how to begin to feel comfortable in a new position at the beginning of a new school year:
- Find a yearbook or directory of staff members with pictures, if possible. This will help you to navigate the sea of new names and faces you will encounter in your new school. Getting to know people, ie. fellow staff members, students, parents, administrators, etc. will take time. But you will need to start somewhere.
