Target Grant

My principal and I are working on a Target Makeover Grant...it sure would be great if we get it!  I would love to move the floor "wiring" to be able to get the phone away from where it is and to get some updated books added to our collection. The pics made the library look better than it actually is!!!

I also really need time to work on our collection and there never seems to be enough of it!  I spent some time over our last break weeding and discarding books and a little mending.  Between interlibrary loaning, searching for books to assist instruction, and merely organizing the shelves, cataloging comes dead last! 

I really need to branch out and get more student and parent involvement in the library, in order to free up time to catalog!  Well...I need to get moving.

I am giving my first parent workshop at another library on Feb. 17th..."Fostering a Love of Literature in the Home"  and am nervous as all get out!  I am busy getting my flyers ready, making sure I say the right thing to attract a decent crowd...then nervous about boring the heck out of them!  Part of the time I will also familiarize them with the school library and sign them up in the computer so that they can check books out for their kiddos.  I really need to advertise the school libraries at both sites...getting more books into the homes of our families!

Monday Holiday Frustrations!

I do teach about MLK jr. Day and Presidents days in Feb. but what really is frustrating is when we have a holiday and everyone is off, why do I have to hear the complaining by teachers when I come back! I don't make the calendar and you had the whole day off! The kicker is when someone says" can't you take my class today!" I can't make Tues a Monday....wow if I had that power! Now if a school was scheduled, they don't really miss because I go to that school the very next Mon, which in turn pisses those Mon people off ....god forbid they were the ones who missed then they would be ticked! I make it equitable for all by equally dividing up the days....honestly it is super annoying to hear about the damn day off when no one was there! You did get your break....you had the whole flipping day off....god, I wish I could tell them that, but I don't and smile and tell them I will see them next week! Yuck! Chronic complainers! I only work 50 percent at each school and I want to tell them how damn lucky they are that they only hav one classroom to run! Jerks...complaining about a stinking 25 or 45 min. Time frame....not like it was that their kids were missing out on instructional minutes or the fact that we are collaborating on some great project....nope!

Ok, enough ranting! Gotta get that crap off my chest though! I don't know how principals do it...dealing with adult baby-whiners! Really! I could never be a principal I would implode!

So, studying for National boards last night paid $45 so they could go to a movie night and I could get some work done! ....just about killed me to send the damn check for $1400.00 for the retakes! Honestly $350. A section for a 30 min. Test and to submit a paper! Crazy! Ranting again!

Trying to figure out how to write about my accomplishments over the last 5 yrs....grr! Does getting my family life back on track count? Nope! Well, at least that is good! Oh crap! All I am doing is complaining ! Bit stressed Mark has been gone for 10 days and I have been getting up at 5am peeling the kiddos eyelids open, white knuckle driving to work to get there on time and then rushing to karate, soccer, basketball while making dinner getting homework done, packing lunches...holy crap, no wonder I fell asleep with. The kiddos!

I better get an attitude adjustment! God I am whining! I really do have a great job and great family! And I am super happy to be doing what I enjoy doing!

I am getting a storyteller for my kids PTA for an author week at their school. I am planning the week, but like in the fall I realize I am the chair for the committee, which really meant that I am the committee...yikes! Hoping that changes this spring! Thank goodness I picked the week and I will be off from work...however all my paper stuff is due!

Oh well...feeling better! Gotta get going with girl scout cookies selling posters and cub scout meeting stuff...I am in charge of mtg. Next week!

Parent survey & teacher survey

I want to poll the reading specialists and Cotsen mentor as well to see what they believe would be most beneficial for parents in our school community. I have also think book give a ways to those in attendance would be good. Should kids attend as well?

Teacher survey

I am contimplating a teacher survey regarding a parent read aloud workshop. So far I have been visiting sites regarding parent workshops and I am finding the same question... Focus on love of reading and establishing print rich, environment or fluency & comprehension strategies for parents to try at home. My principal at Lafy said she'd like me to focus on the first then we can take it from there w/ another workshop.... I need to ask Ed what he would like my focus to be. Sometimes I think it would depend on my audience ( grade level of students/ parents) and of course teachers desire and principal as well... I also want to incessant # of books available to kiddos $ parents at home thru before &after school circulation.

SSC Mtg

I am really glad I joined SSC since it will be a good way for me to become more involved in my school community. I have always felt welcomed and valued as a staff member, yet not being at a school 5 days a week totally bummed me out! I went from being an intrical part of the staff ( management chair for MANY yrs, SSC member, Safe & civil school member, etc. to zippo in 2 yrs! Really, it is my own fault that I have been not involved...and I am glad I am finally starting to take a more active role! Stop the pity party and make the most of my good situation! I work with a great staff that has the same reading and writing philosophy that I was schooled & trained in and taught in NY and that is huge! I am so lucky to be a part of most of their training and share in their enthusiasm for crafting lessons... Lucky!

I want to build the parent check out program and really need to get the word out of the kind of revives I can provide. We have lots of kiddo that do not have many books in their homes nor at able to visit the local library and I need to reach out to my parent & student community!

Today at the SSC mtg. The Wizard News...something like that was mentioned and I love the idea of having a library corner...place where I can publish info. To the families! What a great way to reach out and tell them what Whittier library has to offer their family!