Comments on: Lesson Planning and School Librarians http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/02/26/lesson-planning-and-school-librarians/ by Kristin Fontichiaro Mon, 21 May 2012 13:11:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Karen W. http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/02/26/lesson-planning-and-school-librarians/#comment-62221 Karen W. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:16:41 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/02/26/lesson-planning-and-school-librarians/#comment-62221 I do not do formal lesson plans for every lesson, but every time I am evaluated I need to hand in a formal lesson plan. I think formal lesson plans are especially important if you do not have teaching experience. Doing a formal lesson plan forces you to think about things like how to motivate the students, differentiation, and possible misconceptions. It makes you a better teacher. As you have been teaching longer, these things might come naturally. I do not do formal lesson plans for every lesson, but every time I am evaluated I need to hand in a formal lesson plan. I think formal lesson plans are especially important if you do not have teaching experience. Doing a formal lesson plan forces you to think about things like how to motivate the students, differentiation, and possible misconceptions. It makes you a better teacher. As you have been teaching longer, these things might come naturally.

]]> By: Chad L. http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/02/26/lesson-planning-and-school-librarians/#comment-62048 Chad L. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:12:01 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/02/26/lesson-planning-and-school-librarians/#comment-62048 I rarely have detailed lesson plans in place for my library lessons. I see students for 30 minutes in most cases and within that time, need to read a story and book checkout. That takes up most of the time. I rarely have detailed lesson plans in place for my library lessons. I see students for 30 minutes in most cases and within that time, need to read a story and book checkout. That takes up most of the time.

]]> By: Natalie http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/02/26/lesson-planning-and-school-librarians/#comment-61220 Natalie Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:32:16 +0000 http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2010/02/26/lesson-planning-and-school-librarians/#comment-61220 Lesson plans were required for supervisor visits when I student taught last semester. At the elementary school where I student taught, the principal required lesson plans of all the teachers including the school librarian every other week, so I had an extra dose of lesson plans in that area. The most important part of lesson planning, in my opinion, is figuring out your objectives or student learning outcomes and aligning those with state or national standards. The actual flow of things (activities, read-alouds, direct instruction, etc.) comes fairly naturally to me, so I wasn't a fan of having to write it all out. But for new teacher librarians, I think timing can be challenging and should be worked into lesson plans. This is the lesson plan template that was recommended for use during student teaching: http://www.lis.illinois.edu/programs/k12/handbook/pdfs/LessonPlanTemplate.pdf As to whether lesson plans should be required, as much as I hate to admit it, I vote yes. If we're asserting ourselves as teacher librarians, then we should be held accountable as such. In my undergraduate elementary education program, I was required to write lesson plans for every single lesson I taught, but in my graduate library program, I was only required to submit lesson plans for lessons that were observed - I definitely prefer the latter. While it's helpful and should be encouraged to write lesson plans for all those unobserved lessons during student teaching, it's unrealistic given all of the other responsibilities we have as librarians. But I don't think it should be eliminated completely because teaching is one of those responsibilities. Lesson plans were required for supervisor visits when I student taught last semester. At the elementary school where I student taught, the principal required lesson plans of all the teachers including the school librarian every other week, so I had an extra dose of lesson plans in that area. The most important part of lesson planning, in my opinion, is figuring out your objectives or student learning outcomes and aligning those with state or national standards. The actual flow of things (activities, read-alouds, direct instruction, etc.) comes fairly naturally to me, so I wasn’t a fan of having to write it all out. But for new teacher librarians, I think timing can be challenging and should be worked into lesson plans.

This is the lesson plan template that was recommended for use during student teaching: http://www.lis.illinois.edu/programs/k12/handbook/pdfs/LessonPlanTemplate.pdf

As to whether lesson plans should be required, as much as I hate to admit it, I vote yes. If we’re asserting ourselves as teacher librarians, then we should be held accountable as such. In my undergraduate elementary education program, I was required to write lesson plans for every single lesson I taught, but in my graduate library program, I was only required to submit lesson plans for lessons that were observed - I definitely prefer the latter. While it’s helpful and should be encouraged to write lesson plans for all those unobserved lessons during student teaching, it’s unrealistic given all of the other responsibilities we have as librarians. But I don’t think it should be eliminated completely because teaching is one of those responsibilities.

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