Wendy Garland is the Librarian at Avery Elementary School in Dedham, MA.
I want to grow curious and creative thinkers who feel valued and empowered to share their ideas and opinions. I envision our library as a launch pad for ideas, surrounded by books and ideas on the shelves, walls, tables, and even windows. I want students to see their own thinking and I want other students to be able to see it. Seeing our own thinking displayed says, “I am valued,” “I am important,” “I am welcome here.” Making our library a welcoming and safe place is on my heart. It has been the overarching goal of my year. Making our learning visible has been a key ingredient to the recipe for “welcome.”
Sharing Our Thinking
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This was the scene when I asked students to respond to some prompts about technology in their lives. Students were lined up, jockeying for a marker and space to write. Yes, lined up. They filled every inch of the windows with their thoughts and ideas. I taped an image and prompts to the window and put out a basket of window markers. For weeks after the lesson, students continued to read the responses. Yes, we have an obstructed view of the outside and I will spend a bit of time playing window washer, but was it worth it? Without a doubt, YES!
The same day, the other set of prompts lay on tables around the library. Students were encouraged to respond with words, phrases, or illustrations. These filled up with *almost* the same level of enthusiasm. No paragraphs, complete sentences or essays required. They filled up the sheets.
My biggest success of the year was this checklist that I received from a student.
As a class, we set a realistic expectation for responding to 9 out of 13 prompts. This child finished all 13. The most important piece to the story is that this is a child who refused to engage in a single activity ALL YEAR. I gave her voice and choice and she exceeded our expectations, leaving a little drawing at each station.
Sharing Our Reading: Book Recommendations
Earlier this winter our entire school (even the teachers) practiced one of the habits of good readers. We shared book recommendations with each other. Many of these recommendations happen via conversation. I wanted to see what would happen when we could SEE our conversations and opinions. (Read my blog post about the experience here).
I pulled out some fun post-it notes that Todd Burleson gave me and had students write something on the sticky to get the attention of a potential reader. Why might someone want to read this book? What makes this book special? Students wrote a sticky note for a book and displayed it on the top of shelves and our “Awesome Table.” It wasn't long before these were gone. The power of suggestion sent most of these books home in a heartbeat.
I even asked teachers to do the same. I displayed the teacher recommendations on a table at the front of our library. These didn't go quite as quickly, but they circulated.
Sharing Our Reading: “I Am Reading” Signs
In the efforts of building a reading community I created signs for teachers and staff to hang outside their doors to make our reading visible and show students that WE are readers too. Books that teachers were reading were requested by students.
Sharing Our Reading: “I Am Reading” Signs
In the efforts of building a reading community I created signs for teachers and staff to hang outside their doors to make our reading visible and show students that WE are readers too. Books that teachers were reading were requested by students.
Our music teacher told me that the day she hung Harry Potter on her door (her favorite series of all time), she had 6 students stop her to discuss the books. She had conversations she never would have had if it weren’t for the sign hanging on her door.
My Takeaways
I have seen excitement and enthusiasm as a direct result of us seeing our thinking. No bulletin boards, incentive programs, or expensive programming were involved. Giving students a marker and public space to share their thoughts was all they needed to become invested in the work. What they are thinking about matters. It matters to them, it matters to me, and it deserves to be honored. The library is the perfect place to make this happen.
My Takeaways
I have seen excitement and enthusiasm as a direct result of us seeing our thinking. No bulletin boards, incentive programs, or expensive programming were involved. Giving students a marker and public space to share their thoughts was all they needed to become invested in the work. What they are thinking about matters. It matters to them, it matters to me, and it deserves to be honored. The library is the perfect place to make this happen.
