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The most valuable thing that I learned in this course is that you can be a great librarian on paper, but if you aren't engaged with your practice, it won't translate. Leadership is such a huge part of SLMS, and I had never realized that before. It's important to be a leader not just in the classroom, but in the school community. Getting teachers and administrators to trust you enough to not only collaborate with you, but incorporate the new frameworks or tech that you're suggesting is a big ask. You need the clout behind you-- you need them to trust you.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that a lot of the particulars of managing a school library (purchasing, invoicing, reporting, budgeting, etc.) is already familiar to me. That's one less thing to be terrified of.

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The most valuable lesson I learned in this program was how relevant and versatile librarians are. I appreciate the introduction to the ALA community, and viewing the many webcasts highlighting the varied applications of this degree, and troubleshooting strategies for job-seeking. I have to say that I have worked with our librarian in the past on guided-inquiry and research projects, but my working experience with her was only within that narrow block of time, and I really had no concept of the scope of her involvement. It was a unique experience actually being part of collaboration outside my subject. My FE experience gave me insight into how completely integrated she in within all areas of curricula and instruction, and throughout this semester, and with each conversation and experience, I began to envision the type of LMC see myself creating. Thank you Dr. Valenza, for your comprehensive, flexible, and creative approach to learning. It was through this course that I actually began to put it all together; theory, model, approach, and application. I feel more grounded in my understanding of how to build a successful library program that meets the needs of future-ready students.

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The most valuable lesson I learned from this course is self-advocacy. I thought that I had to live with  the misconceptions that people have about librarians in my school. We don't just check out books to kids - we are gatekeepers of an immense wealth of knowledge that most people have no idea exists.  And we are the key to helping kids build solid foundations in literacy. I had to realize that  I am a piece of a bigger puzzle and I need to fight for my spot. The most surprising thing that I learned this semester came as a result of COVID-19 closure. While the  virus is ravaging the world as we know it, something good did come out of it for me. I realized that I am a GOOD teacher. I have great ideas that have been shaped by amazing teachers in this program. I have the knowledge needed to take my program to the next level, despite what others my think. This program has made me rethink the way information can be curated and shared with students, teachers and even myself. This , in turn, will affect how I design lessons in the real world. Advice for future students: write down your biggest self-doubts at the beginning of this class, and then revisit them at the end. I think that you will see significant personal growth. THANK YOU Dr. Valenza for giving me the courage to find my VOICE.

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The most valuable thing I've learned in the course was a two-fold experience. The first part was realizing my own self worth and leadership potential. Through collaboration with peers and building connections with stakeholders, I have started to develop my own vision for my library. This course has exposed me to so many tools and resources that I have an arsenal of ways to reach my students and the teachers I work with. Another fold in my growth was the professional aspect which deals with building my confidence to communicate with other library professionals and to not be afraid of change. I learned to be bold and step out on faith knowing that I am more than capable of facing any obstacle that may come up in my practice. My field experience along with this class gave me the ability to gauge my performance and work on areas that need improvement. Being able to ask my cooperating SLMS any questions, especially during the pandemic for virtual schooling and other needed information for faculty and staff. My cooperating SLMS also coached me when I had to reassure parents and would the get information out to them that they would need for their children's class assignments. This class has made me less nervous about my ability to perform the duties of a SLMS and to never be afraid to try different things to "grow" my program because, I have the skill sets to do it!

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Since I was in the unique position of already having a school media specialist position, my field experience was probably a bit different than the average student taking this course. Reflecting on the past three years as a media specialist, I firmly believe I am in the right career. I love working with a diverse range of students (Grades 6-12) over multiple years, and getting to perform so many different roles within the context of my position. I am truly part teacher, part IT guy, part community leader, and I get to interact with so many students and staff in fun and unconventional ways. From creating an inviting space and building relationships, running workshops and managing resources, to fixing equipment and putting out fires, my days are always exciting and different.

However, if I had to give future students advice, it would be to not get overwhelmed. This is one of the most multi-faceted jobs I’ve ever had or heard of. Unlike most jobs with clearly defined duties, the duties of a media specialist are sort of like the opening credits of Star Wars, a never ending list extending into the horizon. You can pretty much always find an area of your practice that requires attention and growth, and you will never truly “master” your job. However, if you look at all there is to be done as a weight or a burden, you’ll quickly lose your mind. Focus on one or two things at a time, improve on them, then move on to the next thing. Your aim isn’t to master everything, but to always be growing and improving: your practice, and the media center as a whole.

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Like everyone else in this time of tumult, I wonder what lies ahead? This semester has deepened my understanding of the immense resources and deep thinking available to help school librarians forge their path as the profession continues to evolve. This course taught me to be flexible and open to the wealth of resources and tools out there and that  is necessary to be familiar with many resources since every teacher will have different needs.

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This is my last dance with the Rutgers MI program. I was on the path to becoming a public reference librarian and now to being a school librarian in who knows what grade level. I attempted to expose myself to content and digital tools that would aid students in all grades.
My major takeaways include the knowledge that school librarians/teacher librarians, whatever title works for you, is foremost rooted in a desire to practice pedagogy that influences students to build on their existing knowledge and to hone the skills that will make them lifelong learners. This MI program heavily promotes lifelong learning.

We have embraced virtual/remote teaching because we had to, but it is the point of our job. We are here to aid students/teachers with the tools to enhance and grow their learning, to think outside of the norms, breakdown barriers and push themselves to do better with each bit of accurate piece of information they find. I am nervous to do this work, but feel much more prepared to address the real world of school librarianship having seen and learned about the many factors/duties of this job.

At first, Rutgers rejected me, but I fought to be in this program. I fought to follow this path that my faith brought to me,  that I could be more than I was in my previous job. I have found a career. Though things are uncertain, this risk I took/am taking has filled me with great joy that I would have loved to share with you, my fellow graduates at an actual ceremony. But I'm going to cry and smile big during our virtual graduation ceremony because I EARNED this degree.

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I've always known that a school librarian wears several different hats, but I never realized just how many possible hats one can wear.  I say possible because I've also come to realize that school librarians have the potential to be strong leaders in the school and community.  Beyond wearing the teacher hat and curator hat and readers' advisory hat and office manager hat and budget hat (and more!) we have the chance to wear several different types of leaders hats.  We can lead not only our students, but our teachers and admin as well.  By speaking up and making sure those around us hear us, we can help curriculum make more sense, share our expertise with professional development, open up the possibilities of school wide literacy programming and connect with public libraries and other community based groups such as the local historical society.  We have the means to advocate for our students, our staff and ourselves.  We know how a great library program should run if only we use the tools we have been given.  We cannot hide in the library and be successful.  I have learned have to tell our story.  If we don't, someone else will!  If you have not read the blog
https://500hats.edublogs.org/, I urge you to do so!

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This semester almost didn’t happen. Had my fiancé and Dr. V not wisely walked me back, I would have finished the MI program without earning my school library certification.

…let me explain.

I began my field experience about one month after accepting a full-time young adult librarian position at a strong county system. I am, admittedly, a lazy creature. Worse still, I’ve spent the past two years busting my hump to arrive at what I hoped would be a new period of professional stability. All told, there was a part of me that wanted to take my last semester of graduate school easy—and student teaching alongside a full-time job and other obligations didn’t strike me as a particularly languorous path. Initially, I’d planned to meet my 36-credit obligation without rounding out the school librarianship track despite the fact that I’d already completed every other requirement. Fortunately, I overcame my initial stubbornness, altered my course schedule, and plunged into my field experience.

I’m glad I reconsidered. I immensely enjoyed my field experience. I directly participated in a strong school media program, which I never had the pleasure of doing as a student. I acquired pragmatic advice and suggestions from a seasoned professional. All said, I remembered why I wanted to work as a school librarian in the first place.

At this moment, I’m not sure where my professional path is leading me, and that’s alright. The courses I took along the strengthened my youth services skill set; as such, even if I never work in a school library, I’ll still put the pedagogical prowess I’ve acquired to work as I collaborate with schools and interact with young patrons. Beyond these more immediate rewards, earning my school media certification has simply opened up additional options for me. As we speak, I’m applying to school media positions. I can only wait for the pandemic to play out, budgets to settle, interviews to proceed, and life to proceed along its inevitable course.

Though coursework at Rutgers could feel a bit standards- and theory-heavy, formal philosophies were always balanced out with actual learning products. Much of the work I completed for my classes transferred seamlessly to the field and, more importantly, the skill set I developed while creating school assignments allowed me to take up the same tasks on the job without inconveniencing my host.

It’s often said that nothing prepares you for a job other than actually doing said job. I disagree. In my opinion, there’s plenty one can do to prepare for a given gig, but nothing that can entirely prevent unforeseen events from transpiring. My coursework laid a pedagogical foundation for my practice; my field experience introduced me to the sort of interruptions that prevent a library program from proceeding unimpeded from a procedure manual.

To put it mildly, the past five months have proven challenging. I spent the first three doing my best to balance full-time work, part-time student teaching, and part-time coursework. I’ve spent the last two unsure where any of this effort would lead me.

Ultimately, this course has taught me the value of informed flexibility, of preparation and payout, of practice for praxis.

At the end of March, I was supposed to marry the love of my life, my partner in everything for nearly a decade. In April, we were to take a short trip to California. In May, I was to graduate. In June, we were set for a honeymoon we’ve been planning for years. Today, graduation is the only certainty.

I hope my current library system isn’t beset by budget cuts and that I can continue to serve this community. I also hope that the applications I’m submitting may present the option for a change. In spite of it all, I find myself ready for whatever challenge life next throws my way. Thanks to this course, shifting to school library management is among the least of my problems.

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Overall, this course has prepared me be a fully functional teacher-librarian in a digital classroom. It’s not how I expected my career in this field to start out. There has been no real adjustment period and being the only one in “my building” with my job has been difficult. When I was a classroom teacher there was a team I worked with and could ask for suggestions on how work something out. Now, it’s just me and the other district librarians. Even with their support, their individual situations and the expectations in their “buildings” are different.

I have learned that although it wasn’t my preferred method, forcing myself to use Google Slides to create my professional workshop for teachers was worth it. It taught me all the ins and outs of to ensure all users in the district are able to access the information in our shared drive and folders. I shared my workshop with my FE mentor, and she asked if she could send it out to her teachers!

For future students taking this course, I would say use your skills as an online learner to your advantage when applying for jobs. You know what it’s like from a student’s perspective and you know the best tools to use to ensure quality interactions, teaching, and learning occur. We know things will never be the same in the world of education when schools do reopen. We are uniquely prepared for this situation and can be leaders in our schools.

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At the beginning of the semester, Dr. V asked us to re-order AASL’s common beliefs based on our own priorities. Re-visiting the common beliefs at the end of the semester, I can see the intention behind the original order and how one common belief naturally flows to the next. Better still, I have the understanding to advocate for each one. The biggest difference for me personally is that I now see having a qualified school librarian lead in the library (common belief #2) as essential; it’s a common belief that needs to be at the top of the list in order to best support students, teachers, and the administration.

I loved the way RU575 and RU592 complemented one another because I was able to apply my coursework to my field work, bridging theory and practice. I was surprised by how comfortable I felt with my FE mentor and the students and made sure to show my appreciation as my mentor, the students, and the classroom teachers all helped me learn. In RU575, in terms of preparing for the real world, I appreciated Dr. V’s feedback on activities such as the 3-minute elevator speech and the mock interview. The big assignments gave me opportunities to learn how librarians lead as strategists and presenters. I was excited to learn that there are different ways to lead! Dr. V’s quote from Peter Drucker and Mark Fields about culture eating strategy for breakfast continues to resonate for me. Without considering the culture of a school, all efforts to support the learning community may be moot.

Some weeks were so busy and the modules so full that it was hard to read each post with the focus that it deserved. I’m hoping to go through some of the discussions, particularly where discussions spilled into subsequent weeks, and save resources from peers before we lose access to Canvas.

I would advise students in general, but particularly for assignment 2, to find ways to dream big about your school library while also staying grounded in the reality of your FE school. Sometimes having practical parameters (and an awareness of a school’s culture) provides just enough structure to inspire creative solutions and collaboration!

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This semester really changed my mind of my career and how  much I personally love my job. Coming into this semester I did not believe I would learn as much as I did. I learned so much and the best thing was building rapport with everyone that is in my course.
I have learned so much through their experiences and how we are all in different places in our careers and that is okay.
I am so glad that I built amazing relations with everyone and learned through networking and discussions.
Everyday I look at my daily check list of positive affirmations and thank this course for that.

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I think some of the most valuable things I’ve learned in both this course and in my FE time is the reminder that baby steps are okay (how do you eat an elephant?), we’re our greatest (and sometimes only) advocates, cultivate relationships with teachers, admin, lunch staff, and janitors. And never stop learning!

One of the greatest surprises was in my FE library--I was completely unprepared for and totally blown away by how quickly I would build relationships and connections with the students and even some of the teachers. It broke my heart that the closure happened so quickly and I wasn’t able to tell anyone goodbye. To be honest, prior to this course, I thought being a school librarian was pretty much student interaction, digital literacy lessons, and planning with teachers when we had the chance. I never imagined the strategic planning involved! It was challenging writing up my action plan and breaking up my goals into a 3 year plan. I’m not a long term thinker, so I know this is something I definitely need to be mindful of. Even if it’s just starting small.

Advice to students for next semester? Keep up with the timeline, remember it’s okay to take baby steps, take a few chances, ask all of the questions, and enjoy the ride! :)

I didn’t realize last week was our last office hours time. I’m disappointed I didn’t get to say goodbye “in person” to everyone. There are a number of us that have been on this journey together and I’ve enjoyed our time together growing and learning. Thank you!!

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I used to think the librarian's day looked like a "checklist." Now I think it looks more like a maze. This experience taught me so much about the challenging decisions librarians have to make on the daily. Not only are these decision challenging, sometimes they have to be made quickly. A strong knowledge of the school community culture and climate is necessary for succeeding in this job. I came across a great top ten list on NJASL. I think it sums up my thoughts exactly. My biggest takeaway=ADVOCACY. Every school needs a strong certified librarian. If we don't advocate for the necessity of our job by being an asset to the school community, we will become obsolete.

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Top Ten Reasons Every School Needs a School Librarian