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As a traveling librarian, half of my day is spent in one building and the other half in another. My schedule doesn't allow for much collaboration with other teachers, especially other librarians. Over the last ten years, I have tried many different ways to collaborate with classroom teachers. In the beginning, it was very challenging to get the classroom teachers to see me as a resource, because the previous librarian wasn't one. From what I gathered from the teachers, she was a warm body in the room to check out books. Library skills were not taught and materials were purchased based on state guidelines. The classroom teachers didn't know I could be of any assistance to their teaching. After meeting with administration, my schedule was created to align with the grade level representatives plan periods. I didn't have any classes scheduled, so I was available to the grade level representatives to meet with me. They didn't come and I was at a loss. I knew I was going to have to force them to collaborate with me. I began showing up in their classroom during their plan to ask what the classroom teachers were doing in the month ahead. I did this, so I could supply them with supplemental resources and reinforce any skills for them in my lessons. The teachers were surprised that I was willing to help them reinforce their lessons. I created a chart to map out their main topics for the year. They loved the idea. Now, I know when they will covering certain topics and I can get the materials to them before they start planning.

Over the years, my schedule has gotten fuller. I don't have as much plan time and I have more classes and duties. Collaboration is more difficult than ever. I'm still available during some teachers' planning periods, but not all. Luckily, technology has made it easier to collaborate. I created a Google Drive document for the teachers to add topics for me to pull materials for their classroom. I began stalking my classroom teachers' Pinterest lesson plans boards. I would see a book they wanted to use in a lesson and I would put it on my purchase list. At the end of the month, I would make an Amazon purchase for all their "wish list" books. When the books arrived and were processed, the books would show up in their mailboxes like special surprises. I have a few teachers that get VERY excited when an Amazon box sits on the secretary's counter. I even hear one kindergarten teacher in squeal with excitement once in a while. My new method got the attention of one building principal and she gave me a high score on teacher collaboration on my end of the year evaluation.

This summer, I was having a difficult time keeping up with the teacher's Pinterest boards. I created a "Books to Buy" board on my account. I added all the teachers in my buildings, so they had permission to pin books on my board. This has gone over very well. It is much easier for the teachers to pin a new book on the board while browsing, instead of sending me an email request.

I'm considered to be a teacher on the Special Teachers Team. The counselor, art teacher, music teacher, and PE teacher are also on my team. Our team is required to meet once a week to collaborate. We use this time to discuss any behavior management techniques for those tricky students. The counselor updates us on new behavior management plans for students. This is important, because we used to be the last teachers to know what was going on with a student. Now, we are privy to all behavior plans and sometimes our input is used in creating the plans.

Need some more ideas on how to collaborate with teachers? Here are a few more of my ideas:

Host a book preview when you purchase new books. Invite teachers to come to the library after school one day. Purchase some cookies and put a platter out for them to snack on while browsing. If you have lesson ideas for the books, include those with the books.

Ask what behavior management plan classroom teachers are using and mirror the plan. One year, all the teachers were using the Clip Up/Clip Down Chart. The Special Teachers Team created the same chart for our rooms. Each teacher had a clip and the class would clip up or down in their special class. We rewarded the classes that clipped off the chart with a recess, bookmarks or special announcement by the principal. This year, a lot of the teachers are using ClassDojo for their behavior management. I asked those teachers to share their class on ClassDojo, so my team could give or take away Dojo points. This has worked out wonderfully, especially since the parents can see the points and messages live.

What are your ideas for collaborating with classroom teachers? Share them in the comments!

Today's post is written by librarian Amy Blythe. Amy is the librarian at Plattin Primary and Telegraph Intermediate in the Jefferson R-7 School district in Festus, Missouri. She spends each morning at Plattin with students in preschool through second grade and afternoons at Telegraph with students in third through fifth grade. She has been a librarian for nine years.

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Collaborating With Teachers - Elementary Librarian

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As a traveling librarian, half of my day is spent in one building and the other half in another. My schedule doesn't allow for much collaboration with other teachers, especially other librarians. Over the last ten years, I have tried many different ways to collaborate with classroom teachers.

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Teacher Librarians and Classroom Teachers: Collaborative Partners

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Canter, L, Voytecki,K.,Zambone, A., & Jones, J. (2011). School librarians: The forgotten partners.  Teaching Exceptional Children, 43(3). 14-20.
Diggs, V. (2011). Teacher librarians are education: Thoughts from valerie diggs. Teacher Librarian, 38(5), 56-58.
You tube video: teacher librarians and the classroom teacher.

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Free Image on Pixabay - Learn, Student, Laptop, Internet

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Download this free picture about Learn Student Laptop from Pixabay's vast library of public domain images and videos.

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Free Image on Pixabay - Notebook, Workplace, Desk, Iphone

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Download free images about Notebook, Workplace, Desk, Iphone from Pixabay's library of over 1,010,000 public domain photos, illustrations and vectors - 336634

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Teacher Librarian allows for collaboration within the school community between teachers and with teachers. Combining efforts to create a whole learning experience for students with other libraries, special education teachers, classroom teachers, and administrators paves the way to a diverse learning environment in the school.

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Free Image on Pixabay - Action, Collaborate, Collaboration

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Download this free picture about Action Collaborate Collaboration from Pixabay's vast library of public domain images and videos.

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Characteristics/role of the Teacher Librarian as an educational leader

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Characteristics/role of the Teacher Librarian as an educational leader

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To design online tools for the school and make them accessible for teachers and students.

Teacher Librarian are now coaching students to begin asking questions, think critically and create new meanings.

They are coaches that work alongside students to encourage their creativity and innovation as hey encounter new ideas and information.

Offer tutorials in new online tools accessible to students and teachers.

Opening the library to a school wide community and collaborating with teachers in the uses of the library.

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Importance of sustaining collaboration and networking in the library

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Importance of sustaining collaboration and networking in the library

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Our libraries are changing today they are being spaces where sustaining collaboration and networking within the school community is becoming more important than being able to just find information.

It has become important to keep staff informed on new pedagogies, new ideas, online resources and much more where the TL thus plays the essential role in facilitating for the school.

Research also indicates that school populations become a lot more successful in their academic achievement when TL and teachers work together to bring the best learning possible happen through technology and access to various resources.

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How has the goal of our library and Teacher Librarian changed today?

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Free Image on Pixabay - Books, Smartphone, Hand, Keep

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Download this free picture about Books Smartphone Hand from Pixabay's vast library of public domain images and videos.