Collaboration Plan
Collaboration
Collaboration is working in-depth with teachers to advance student achievement. While working with colleagues, ideas are generated, creativity is fostered, and partnerships are built upon trust and friendship. Librarians are no longer simply checking out books for students. We plan, implement, and evaluate with classroom teachers focused on lifelong information and technological needs of the students. With these “new” responsibilities, the overall impression of the librarian as an involved teaching partner builds value and interest with classroom teachers and administration.
How Collaboration Is Accomplished
The librarian should be involved with instruction and focus on the state and information literacy standards. Buzzeo affirms the significance of Keith Curry Lance’s studies on increasing student achievement when collaboration occurs and the librarian is focused on the curriculum and standards. In order for colleagues to work well together, we must be friendly and flexible. Building interpersonal relationships and attaining a productive and enjoyable work experience with all members of the faculty is important for collaboration.
Overcoming Obstacles
There are obstacles that may get in the way of collaboration, but with careful planning, collaboration can still be successful. First, time is an issue, as there are endless tasks that teachers perform on a daily basis. Library programs on fixed schedules are also challenged for time. Suggestions for overcoming this obstacle include: building in collaboration time where meetings are already planned, such as grade level meetings and professional development days. Secondly, some teachers are opposed to change, as they are comfortable with the way units are planned and lessons are presented from year to year. A suggestion for alleviating this problem is to start small. Collaborate with a few teachers and let word travel of the success and positive student results. Build trust and friendships gradually and be aware that some people are resistant to change.
Librarians should become a part of an instructional team. Communication on many levels is of the utmost importance. Communication is evident through professional development led by the librarian, involvement in the school and district’s committees, and the overall welcoming presence in the library and throughout the school.
Promoting Collaboration – A Year-Long Plan
Make the initiative to get to know people. Recognize that informal planning opportunities occur as well as formal planning. Be flexible and adaptable to different teaching, planning, and evaluation styles. Always use the curriculum as a starting point and find resources that correspond and support classroom content and skills. It is necessary to stay focused and strive to be the “essential link” in the school. The following are suggestions for collaborating throughout the school year. Additional actions and activities should be added as seen fit. Many of these actions will be performed many times throughout the year.
August-September
1. Invite parents, guardians, and grandparents to volunteer in the Library Media Center. Hold a training session focusing on the layout of the library, policies and procedures. Serve refreshments and get to know them.
2. Attend grade level meetings and staff meetings. Provide information and suggestions for collaborating.
3. Discuss the benefits of collaboration to garner support for collaborative work, professional development, and teacher motivation.
4. Hold a professional development session explaining the benefits of collaboration, what it looks like, and examples for lessons and projects.
5. Know the administrator’s goals for the students and focus on areas for improvement. Align planning with these goals.
October-November
1. Keep records of collaborative lessons. Reflect and update as needed.
2. Continue to participate in the curriculum writing opportunities throughout the school year.
3. Display student projects to encourage other teachers to collaborate.
4. Plan an author visit and invite teachers to work with you in making the experience memorable (Toor and Weisburg 97).
5. Plan a Book Fair and ask for parent helpers. Include a Family Night so that everyone can be a part of it.
6. Inform the principal of collaborative lessons taught and the results.
January-March
1. Provide incentives for teachers to visit the Library Media Center, such as conversation, food, and most importantly, resources (Toor and Weisburg 86). Plan a New Book Preview breakfast. Display all new resources and invite all teachers to browse and check out the new materials.
2. Build trust through confidentiality (Toor and Weisburg 87).
3. Stay in contact with the local public library. Organize lunchtime book clubs and communicate student projects.
4. Make contact with local businesses so that they will become proponents of the library.
5. Communicate with the School Board when the opportunity arises.
April-June
1. Make a case for teacher/SLMS common planning time for the next school year, focusing on the benefits of working together for student achievement.
2. Communicate collaborative planning, lessons, and results on a regular basis, formally and informally with the school staff and administration (Toor and Weisburg 109).
3. Invite the principal to visit the Library during a lesson (Toor and Weisburg 117).
4. Work with a local book vendor, in addition to the larger companies. They may have more flexibility and offer the same, or more, resources compared to the larger companies (Toor and Weisburg 133).
6. Invite the public library children’s librarian to hold a summer reading assembly, describing their reading incentive program and getting students excited about reading over the summer.
Works Consulted
Buzzeo, Toni. Collaboration to Meet Standards: Teacher Librarian Partnerships for 7-12. Worthington: Linwortth Publishing, 2002.
Doiron, Ray and Judy Davies. Partners in Learning, Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1998.
Stripling, Barbara. Learning and Libraries in an Information Age. Englewood: Libraries Unlimited 1999.
Toor, Ruth and Hilda K. Weisburg. New On the Job: A School Library Media Specialist's Guide to Success. Chicago, Illinois: American Library Association, 2007.
