Auntie Librarian

Hubby and I had a lovely trip to Belize. This time we went to Placencia instead of San Pedro and liked it much better. Trip highlights include: a sailing and snorkel trip, Monkey River trip, kayaking, biking, a day on Ranguana Caye, and a day at the lovely Turtle Inn. I read Orange Is the New Black and Game of Thrones on this trip. 

It's the end of the school year. That magical time after standardized testing when weeks and days are filled with field trips, permission slips, yearbook day, field day,  rewards & celebrations, banquets, dances, awards ceremonies, graduations and more. For a school librarian here is what the and more means: inventory, lost library books, more overdue notices and the  "I never checked out that book." or the "I turned that book in." claims,  summer reading promotion, summer reading book and material distribution, and last minute student projects & reports as well as last minute collaborative efforts. There is also the end of the year report to your principal and the state survey.  Ooops!  I left out the frayed nerves, the strained relationships that also come with the end of the school year. And I completely forgot the "Who are they going to cut for next year?" anxiety.

"Stressed Out" by Jonathan Edward Lee https://www.flickr.com/photos/bakaotaku/5318737895/in/photostream/

This can lead to a giant stress induced meltdown. Here is what I do to try to "Keep Calm and Carry On."

• Focus on the future. We had a motivational speaking group called the Strength Team come to our school recently. Something they said has been helpful to me. "Successful people focus on what they are going to, not what they are going through."  I have been thinking about my vacation plans and what I am going to do with my summer. That really helps. This is not going to last and it is almost over. My mother loved Robert Schuller. She watched him on TV, read his books and sent in donations. For one of those donations they sent her a glass ornament that said, "Tough Times Don't Last, but Tough People Do." This quote helps me. 
• Breathe. I try to remember to take slow, deep breaths when I am feeling stressed. 
• Embrace the crazy. Sometimes when things get too busy, I try to think of what the opposite would look and feel like. It helps me remember why I chose to become a teacher. What would my job be like if there were no ________? (Fill in the blank with anything - students, field trips, summer reading). Most likely, it would look like something I do not want or would not enjoy for longer than a day. Part of the reason I signed up for this job is because of the super-busy, challenging nature of it, and it is also super-rewarding and satisfying to me, and because I love office supplies and technology.
• Exercise. Make it non-negotiable. Even fifteen minutes of exercise will help.  Yoga really helps me. I also love a nice walk. 
• Listen to music. It is amazing what music can do for my state of mind. 
• Realize you are not alone. It is crazy time for everyone! 
• Take Stock -  I need to put some goodies in my end of year report, so now is the time to look at the year and celebrate the highlights. 

Being President-Elect of SCASL is providing me with plenty of new and interesting opportunities. For example, I was asked to come to our local Rotary meeting and give a ten minute talk. I have never been to a Rotary meeting before. It was a very worthwhile experience.

Below, is part of my speech.

I signed up for the SCASL Preconference session called iLead with Ann Martin and Gail Dickerson. We explored the topic of leadership and leaders. One recurring message I kept hearing Ann Martin say was that our students learn from us when we choose to take on leadership positions.  Because I was a candidate for SCASL's President Elect, I nervously listened to the messages about being a leader.  I have been in what I consider a leadership position at my school for a long time and it just feels natural. Being the SCASL President is another story.  I was worried that taking on such a position  would take me away from my students and end up not being such a good thing. So, I found it comforting to think that my decision to accept a leadership role might just wind up being good for my students.



As I walked in to school this morning  that message hit me smack in the face as I looked at signs and decorations that welcomed me back. I am still absolutely bowled over by the balloons, cake and signs posted all over the building. I don't think I will ever forget today.

Students did not make the signs or hang up the decorations, but they certainly were proud and impressed and curious about SCASL and my role in the organization. They made me laugh with their questions about Secret Service Agents and motorcades.

Wouldn't it be something if all of this inspired one of these students to someday accept a leadership role? I will carry my students with me on this journey. I can't wait to see where it takes us.

Of course, we have been preparing for SCASL's annual conference long before last week.  The IT Committee prepared  a session and display board on our new membership management software: Memberclicks, readied the Guidebook Conference App and continued to update our website as needed by our conference planners.  Memberclicks sent a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as some pens and stickers. It was great fun giving them away. Cathy Jo's idea to put the names of all members who had updated their memberclick's profile was genius. It thrills me to no end that Judy Garner, the librarian who won the $50 gift card, is buying books for her library with it! Next year I'd like to put another of Cathy Jo's ideas into action by giving avatar awards like, cutest avatar, most mysterious avatar etc. 

I'm gonna whoop somebody!

It felt good to relax after all that hard work, but I still had one more session to go the next day.  Friday morning, my colleague Pam Fowler headed to Columbia with a car load of students to do a 9:45  iMovie presentation with me. By the time I made it downstairs from the second General Session and Toni Buzzeo's awesome keynote, our session was full. Not only that, but I had just learned that I was President Elect and had to plan the next conference. My head was spinning!  Our students did a fantastic job and most people seemed to come away with at least one thing they could use. I think the green screen app we shared was impressive to many people. So, we shared it in Cathy Jo Nelson's "Don't Worry Be Appy" session and then  took our students out for cupcakes! This made for the perfect ending to an amazing conference experience. It seems that I am going to get off this bullet train for a few days and then get right back on another one as I take the reins of SCASL's President Elect and begin to plan the 40th Annual Conference. 

Students make the best technology presenters!

 Next year, I am going to plan to recognize our top readers in December or January. I think this may promote participation in our reading program. It definitely can't hurt right? I don't necessarily mean prizes or awards, I am just thinking of recognizing them and telling them to keep up the good work. We had a Super Reader event in December, and that would have been the perfect opportunity to recognize the top reader from each grade level. Next year, we'll do that.

Here's a blog post I made on our #bookbootcamp blog about middle school humor.

http://bookbootcamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/whats-so-funny.html

I am having a fantastic time learning with this excellent professional development opportunity.

I find myself visiting the wiki and twitter hash tags when purchasing books. I can't believe all the titles I would be missing out on if I did not participate.