Team: Rene Burress, LMS; Teacher A, 3rd grade social studies and Teacher B, 3rd grade social studies
Description: Teacher A a 3rd grade teacher who teaches social studies came to the library asking for resources on tools and artifacts. The library media specialist shared a collaborative lesson idea that went along with artifacts. Teacher A really liked the idea and shared it with the other teacher in her grade who also taught social studies. Teacher B was a little more hesitant. He wasn’t sure if this lesson would actually meet the GLE’s. Ms. Horner ensured him that she had just read over the GLE’s before asking The library media specialist for resources and this lesson did meet the GLE’s. The library media specialist suggested that not only did the lesson meet the GLE’s, but that doing this project together would give students a chance to work with two qualified teachers (the LMS and the classroom teachers) at once, which should increase student achievement. Teacher B seemed to be warming up to the idea. He said he would give it a try. Teacher B gave the library media specialist a resource record list that he wanted the students to use. The library media specialist talked to both teachers about how students would record the information they gathered from research. Teacher B suggested note cards. The library media specialist suggested that she could create a simple graphic organizer that would keep all the information collected on one page and help students stay organized. Both Teacher B and Teacher A were open to this idea. Teacher B then expressed concern that the library might not have the resources necessary to complete the research portion of the project. He said, “What if a student interviews someone about a Sadd iron. Do you have books in the library about that?” The library media specialist shared ideas about using books, print encyclopedias and websites. The library media specialist offered to collect the interview papers on their due date and create a list of artifacts that students would be researching. The library media specialist would then find sources whether print or web-based to ensure that all students had valid resources to use. Teacher A suggested that students should try to use at least one print source and one online source. The library media specialist brought up the idea of assessment and how the three teachers could determine if the lesson was going well. Teacher B suggested meeting each afternoon during third grades planning period to review how the morning went and discuss the next day. He said it would not take the entire planning period, maybe just 10 minutes. Teacher A and the library media specialist both thought daily reflection was a good idea to make sure we were covering all parts of the project and to make sure the collaboration was going well. The library media specialist then brought up evaluation again. She offered to be a part of grading the work done. Teacher A said the only grade she planned to take was on the final report. She would look at the writing mechanics and style and grade it. The library media specialist suggested that the research part could also be evaluated. A rubric that determined if students had used 1 print and 1 web source, if they had filled in all parts of the graphic organizer, etc. Teacher A said this did sound like a good idea. The library media specialist offered to grade the graphic organizers. Teacher B suggested that students get credit for completing the interviews and turning them in by the due date. The three teachers determined that the interviews would receive full points as long as they were in by the due date. Late interviews would be docked points. The library media specialist would create a rubric for the research piece and Teacher A was going to make a rubric for the final report. By the end of the first meeting, Teacher B seemed to have a different attitude about collaboration already. It was amazing to see his growth in just a matter of 30 minutes. He is a very purposeful teacher and he wants to ensure he plans well and I think it was important for him to hear that the LMS had similar values.
