Fieldwork at Elizabeth Learning Center Begins

June 1st, 2010
Elizabeth Learning Center
7 am-4pm (9 hours)
CCTC Standards 12, 13, 14, 20, 22

I arrived at Elizabeth Learning Center at 6:50 am and was guided to the main office where I met Teacher Librarian Ken Completo and the school's principal. After getting a parking permit I started my fieldwork at this wonderful site. Mr. Completo spent hours orienting me to the library and its processes. He is finishing his first year at ELC after being a Supervising Field Librarian for a number of years.

Elizabeth Learning Center in Cudahy, CA is a K-12, or "span" school. It has an extremely complex year-round schedule that accommodates about 2500 students in elementary, middle and high school. There is a 3-track system. The library is divided into two sections, elementary (K-5) and secondary (6-12). The two groups have specific days to use the library, although Mr. Completo accomodates teachers on their off days. Today he accomodated two 1st grade teachers who had been displaced due to testing and the Memorial Day holiday. Next year the school will switch to a traditional schedule, which Mr. Completo welcomes. There was also a workshop on financial literacy for seniors who were not testing.

The library is a warm and welcoming environment with student work and other stimulating decorations. Six computers (both MAC and PC) are available for student use (school related work). Students came in before school, at both nutritions, and throughout the day to use the computers and/or print.

I learned that checking out books to elementary aged students is very different than the older students I am familiar with. I assisted in 1st grade book check out. It was amazingly efficient. The students knew to get book markers to mark the place on the shelf where they got their books so they could reshelve them with ease. Mr. Completo has a strip of yellow tape on the floor where the little ones line up to check out their books which keeps them from crowding around the circulation desk.

I met the library aide, Ms. Garcia. She seems to know a lot and I am sure I will learn a great many skills from her. I thought it was really effective when two classes of first graders checked out books simultaneously, one class with Mr. Completo and one with Ms. Garcia.

Both first grade teachers, Ms. Platas and Ms. Ruelas said they would love for me to come to their rooms and do read-alouds. Both asked me to find books on animal homes to go along with an Open Court thematic unit. Later in the day I visited Ms. Platas' class and read two stories. This was my favorite moment of the day. I was a little nervous at first, as I am a high school teacher, but the children were darling, well-behaved, enthusiastic.

I was introduced to Perma Bound and given the contact information of Tim Pert, the Perma Bound rep. One of my projects/tasks is to compile a list or order of picture books for the library. Mr. Completo showed my how to use the site, access his account, and the different things it can do. I started out using the CDE website for title suggestions. I also read reviews provided on the Perma Bound site. I will continue looking at home tonight in some of my own School Library Journals and other resources. I put a call into Time Pert and am waiting a reply. I also examined the Open Court thematic units to help guide my selections. Another interesting thing I learned is that on Perma Bound LAUSD cataloged (I must remember not to confuse LAUSD cataloged books with approved) books are identified which helps when searching.

I also learned about the LAUSD star, circle triangle system for books:
star=picture books
circle= repetitive books with controlled language and vocabulary
triangle= pre-chapter books

Mr. Completo and I discussed potential projects to show that I have met my competancies and settled on:

• Classroom read-alouds and books talks in 1st and 5th grade and middle school special education to support curriculum
• BookTalk in library for fifth grade class to support curriculum
• Collection Development: Picture Books, and elementary DVDs
• Preparation of a Summer Reading list and literacy tips for students and parents to be presented to 4 community representatives.
• Short digital presentation on one of the Open Court thematic units to be presented next year.

I helped students find books on pandas, John Wilkes Booth, planets, the sun, jokes.

I checked out one(!) book.

I racked my brain for about 30 minutes trying to help one 4th grader find a specific fact on Mission San Buenaventura. I looked everywhere. Ms. Garcia looked in print encyclopedias. I looked on the digital library. Finally, I googled it. Lots of information on the mission but not the specific fact she was looking for. I will continue looking tonight. I feel so lame when I can't find something.

Mr. Completo shared the plans for a major remodel of the library that he has been working on all year. He has asked for $180,000! I am reminded that things take time and revision. The blueprint for the renovations has been revised 23 times!

I was also showed all sorts of materials that can help me in my projects.

Overall, it was a busy day, and I feel like I got a great orientation. I got through my jitters and look forward to the rest of the days.

Now I am going to prepare my book talks/read-alouds for tomorrow. I selected both fiction and non-fiction related to the Civil War. I also have to make my final selection for a book to read to the special education class.

Whew!