Zipping around the Internet and into many inboxes these days is an article in the New York Times. In Web Age, Library Job Gets Update talks about how very different our jobs now are. It showcases school librarian Stephanie Rosalia of Public School 225 in Brooklyn. Thankfully, it's not a picture of her just checking out books, but rather teaching information literacy skills.
You should most definitely take a read! You should also watch the video.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I passed the test. Now what?
I found out yesterday that I passed the School Leaders Licensure Assessment. In my state, as in some other states, there are several ways to earn an administrative credential. Typically, one needs to take courses and earn a credential or a master's degree.
However, there can be an alternate route. Pass the test and get the prize. Based on the number of people who were in the room when I took the test, this has become a popular route. How successful are folks? My guess is not very.
The test takes six hours to complete and you will write for the entire time. No multiple choice anything. There are twenty-five constructed responses. Not for the faint of heart.
I do not want to assert that I am smarter than the average bear, but I do have a series of experiences in public education that should be helpful on such a test. I am also a better-than-average writer. Now look at my test score below.
Score required: 173
Tom's score: 174
Not a particularly stellar pass. A pass, nonetheless, but it makes me wonder how much of a cash cow this particular examination is for ETS. More than several in that room of forty applicants were there for a re-take.
The cost for the test is $430. That may be the most expensive ETS test. Given that folks are trying to test out of many expensive classes, ETS knows what it is doing.
Now to the second part. Now that I have this administrative credential (or will when all of the paperwork is done), what is my plan? Should I go out and apply for every vice principal job on the planet? Are you insane? I do know that there are people who want such jobs. I would most assuredly not be one.
At this point, I do not know what I will do with it. I have a great job being a Teacher Librarian. I control my destiny for the most part. I work for a district and for people who allow me to be creative. For me, that's a great place to be.
However, there can be an alternate route. Pass the test and get the prize. Based on the number of people who were in the room when I took the test, this has become a popular route. How successful are folks? My guess is not very.
The test takes six hours to complete and you will write for the entire time. No multiple choice anything. There are twenty-five constructed responses. Not for the faint of heart.
I do not want to assert that I am smarter than the average bear, but I do have a series of experiences in public education that should be helpful on such a test. I am also a better-than-average writer. Now look at my test score below.
Score required: 173
Tom's score: 174
Not a particularly stellar pass. A pass, nonetheless, but it makes me wonder how much of a cash cow this particular examination is for ETS. More than several in that room of forty applicants were there for a re-take.
The cost for the test is $430. That may be the most expensive ETS test. Given that folks are trying to test out of many expensive classes, ETS knows what it is doing.
Now to the second part. Now that I have this administrative credential (or will when all of the paperwork is done), what is my plan? Should I go out and apply for every vice principal job on the planet? Are you insane? I do know that there are people who want such jobs. I would most assuredly not be one.
At this point, I do not know what I will do with it. I have a great job being a Teacher Librarian. I control my destiny for the most part. I work for a district and for people who allow me to be creative. For me, that's a great place to be.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What am I up to?
I have many things going on right now, so I have been behind in posting. Let's see, I have been:
- Developing an online library service course for students in my district. It is an out-growth of one of my Fresno Pacific University courses.
- Taking the cataloging course at FPU. This is, I believe, my second-to-last course in the teacher librarian services credential program (and I have not decided yet if I want to do the master's degree).
- Teaching two courses for FPU. The first is an expansion of the course I have been teaching, but now it is three units and offers more technology. The second is that same two-unit technology course for graduate math & science students. It has been interesting to see the difference between library folks and math/science folks.
- Helping to coordinate the recent Clouds & Clout Conference for CSLA Northern Section, Region 3.
I hope to be posting on a more regular basis from here on out.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Donkeys and Books
As I have mentioned here and elsewhere, I am a big fan of Ethiopia Reads. The BBC now has up a video showing the Donkey Book Cart they use.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Fresno Co. Public Library Bookcart Drill Team 2008
I wanted to share the love with local Fresno folks. Great job!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Give your blog away!
Yes, that is exactly what I mean! Give your blog to your teachers. No, not this blog. No, not your other blog.
The blog that you use for collaborating with teachers. I have been spending the last week working on a small careers project with my AVID teachers and students. As part of the project, students did research on careers and wrote short essays about said careers. I created a blog where students could post pre-research comments on careers I had chosen. Eventually, they also posted Post-research essays in the comments section.
See: AVID Careers at Tehipite
What usually happens in these circumstances is that the blog is abandoned. What I did was offer it to the AVID teachers to keep and use for the rest of this year and beyond.
My hope is that these teachers will post other assignments, have students begin to post, and more. The absolute worst thing that could happen is that it ends up abandoned.
Anything up from there is a victory.
The blog that you use for collaborating with teachers. I have been spending the last week working on a small careers project with my AVID teachers and students. As part of the project, students did research on careers and wrote short essays about said careers. I created a blog where students could post pre-research comments on careers I had chosen. Eventually, they also posted Post-research essays in the comments section.
See: AVID Careers at Tehipite
What usually happens in these circumstances is that the blog is abandoned. What I did was offer it to the AVID teachers to keep and use for the rest of this year and beyond.
My hope is that these teachers will post other assignments, have students begin to post, and more. The absolute worst thing that could happen is that it ends up abandoned.
Anything up from there is a victory.
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