Massachusetts School Library Association
            MEMBER PORTAL                
​Join or Renew     Member Directory​
  • Home
  • About Us
    • MSLA Leadership 2022-23
    • Executive Board Meetings
    • Joint Statements: MLA, MassCUE
    • Spotlight Archive
    • Strategic Plan 2016-22
    • MSLA Constitution
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Join or Renew Your Membership
    • Members Map
    • Email List
    • Regions >
      • Boston
      • Northeast
      • Metrowest
      • Southeast
      • Central
      • West
  • Conference
    • MSLA and PDPs
  • Resources
    • DESE Rubric
    • Certification & Licensure
    • Program Standards & Rubrics
    • Job Description: School Librarian
    • Job Listings
    • MLS Strategic Planning
    • Intellectual Freedom
  • Advocacy
    • MA School Library Study for Equity & Access
    • Everyday Advocacy
    • ESSA
    • Exemplary Programs
  • Newsletter
    • 2023 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2023
    • 2022 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2022
      • May 2022
      • October 2022
    • 2021 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2021
      • May 2021
      • October 2021
    • 2020 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2020
      • May 2020
      • October 2020
    • 2019 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2019
      • May 2019
      • October 2019
    • 2018 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2018
      • May 2018
      • October 2018
    • 2017 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2017
      • May 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
    • 2016 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2016
      • May 2016
      • October 2016
    • 2015 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • April 2015
      • November 2015
    • MSLA Forum 2002-2013
  • Awards
    • Judi Paradis Memorial Grant
    • Archive: History of Awards
    • 2019 Awards Pictures
    • 2018 Awards Pictures
    • 2017 Awards Pictures
    • 2016 Awards Pictures
    • 2015 Awards Pictures
  • Bookmark Contest
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 and 2018 Winners
    • 2016 and 2017 Winners
    • 2012 to 2015 Winners
    • 2009 to 2011 Winners
    • 2004 to 2008 Winners
    • Bookmark Judges

Digital Learning Day at WGBH - Anita Cellucci

1/19/2016

0 Comments

 
Digital Learning Day at WGBH was a fantastic day!  The sessions were so relevant to our work as school librarians, and the time embedded to chat with colleagues during lunch or the tour made the day complete. I shared a few words before reading important info for the day and introducing the key note speaker. Many people commented on my opening, so much so that I decided to share them with you here.    

                                                         A poem by Mary Oliver


                                                         With Thanks to the Field Sparrow,
                                                         Whose Voice is so Delicate and Humble
                                                         I do not live happily or comfortably
                                                         with the cleverness of our times.
                                                         The talk is about computers,
                                                         the news is about bombs and blood.
                                                         This morning, in the fresh field,
                                                         I came upon a hidden nest.
                                                         It held four warm, speckled eggs.
                                                         I touched them.
                                                         Then went away softly,
                                                         having felt something more wonderful
                                                         ​than all of the electricity of New York City.

When I was thinking about what I would say today, I was reflecting on the complexities of our profession, of the simple truths and the day to day miracles that happen in our libraries -  and how often we, as educators, are pulled in so many directions - often with very little help and sometimes with little comprehension by colleagues and administrators of what it is that we actually do.

Whenever I feel stretched thin and overwhelmed or if I am questioning my choice of my profession - and we all do it at least once each school year -  I stop and  think about why I decided to teach and why it HAD to be in the library. The answer is always the same - it’s the kids. It doesn’t matter if that kid is 5 or 17 - they not only deserve to have a library and a professional educator staffing it - they need it.

According to a recent article in the NY Times, Is the Drive for Success Making our Children Sick?
Nearly one in three teenagers told the American Psychological Association that stress drove them to sadness or depression — and their single biggest source of stress was school.

As Mary Oliver’s poem illustrates - we have gifts all around us if we look for them. The library can be that gift for our students. As educators we can advocate for them and empower them to find the gifts for themselves.

At the beginning of this school year, my assistant principal approached me about a student. The student needed an internship. The student was described as - “not an academic”, “lost”, “needs a place to be”, “no direction” - would I be willing to be his internship teacher?  Naturally, I said yes. I found out later that it was a student who had received a disciplinary action in the library when he was a freshman - he is now a senior.  To me that didn’t matter. I was willing to give the internship a try and get to know him today and not hold onto what happened 3 years ago.
As I do with all of my interns, I asked this student to tell me about himself - what is he good at, what does he like to do outside of school - I then offered some tasks for him to do in the library - he likes to build things, he likes mechanical things. Through the internship he is able to create tutorials for students and teachers for equipment in the library.

It’s customary in my school for some intern teachers to give small tokens of appreciation to our students before the December break.  This student was so appreciative of the gift that he was smiling more than I had ever seen him smile at school. He thanked me 3 times before the end of the period and over the vacation break - I received an email from him with his appreciation of the gift.  

The gift was a  $5.00 Dunkin Donuts gift card. I am reminded of how small acts of kindness matter.  

In the words of Maya Angelou - “This is a wonderful day, I haven’t seen this one before”.
0 Comments

    ​Carrie Tucker

    E.Bridgewater Jr/Sr High 
    MSLA president

    Carrie Tucker

    Archives

    May 2017
    November 2016
    July 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

The Massachusetts School Library Association  works to ensure every school has a school library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum and has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement….Read more…..and Learn more about MSLA

Contact MSLA:
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner
P.O. Box 336. Wayland, MA 01778
ekristofek@maschoolibraries.org
​
508-276-1697 

Massachusetts School Library Association. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright 2023.