Kick in the Butt!

Well I got back my results for my first assignment in over 30 years and was really quite shocked at how badly I have done. This is the assignment I felt confident that I had done well. So look out number 2. I have been a Teacher Librarian for quite a while and have just won a position because of my experience and expertise and I thought up until today that I was quite good at my job. I have yet to see the comments to see where exactly I went wrong but I know and I have always known that I am perhaps not an academic type TL but more of a practical hands on .. do the job type. It is such a shame because I know that now more than I was at teacher's college or when I have tried to further my studies before that I am ready to do this now .. I thought my mind is in the right place and I get what I am reading and can relate to it. But obviously that is not enough .. I need to really let go of everything else and focus...

The Role of the TL

I was doing some reading on this complex question. What is expected of a TL. What makes a good TL? I was asking myself the question am I a good TL and getting right into the swing of things when bam I was brought back to reality... What is the point of deciding what is a good TL and what we should be doing when on both library listservs that I read each day I constantly read about Teacher Librarians being asked to do little extras such as supervise students or have their library staff do some laminating or counting money for the front office or could you mind a class while this teacher attends a meeting ...  or have students in the library who do not fit in the playground etc... it is ongoing and it seems no one has the answer. Hey and none of mind helping out..... but
The role of the TL surely needs to be clarified and supported by the leaders in our schools. How do we and our role in the school become respected and valued? Is it not the job of the TL to sell ourselves and what we do ... I think until we sort out those social responsibilties that come with the position all of those other expectations and roles will always take a back seat...
It is a definate cry for help? Clarification? Recognition? It is there everyday.. take a look...

contemplation

I suppose it is different to people studying all the time and used to thinking as an Academic. I am used to thinking from the ground level as a TL or from the classroom and find that I know what to say and what I want to say and could back up a lot of it with loads of experience but it wouldn't be referenced properly or  sound right. I am finding these subjects very interesting and I really want to get stuck into it but the amount of support materials and background readings that you get these days is quite overwhelming I feel that I really need to write a masterpiece to at least pay some respect to the preparation and scaffolding that is put in place for students of today... wow this is big!

ETL 401

Hi Everyone
I have just set up my Blog for studying.
Gai Swartz