Deep Thinking

Day starts when a teacher calls at 6:25 a.m. Those accidental calls happen when teachers call you at home frequently. Get the 4 boys (including #1 son recovering from pneumonia he developed playing soccer while I was at SLJ Summit) up and off to school. Meet with teachers to reschedule last minute class checkouts due to our short 3-day week. Begin paperwork on AR rewards, add newly purchased AR tests since we can’t afford the Renaissance yearly fees, update goals, and print certificates. Grind coffee beans and make coffee for upset teachers while they vent. Hand out catalogs to teachers needing to order classroom furniture and equipment. Help teachers find videos, books on CD, and Essential Literature. Add to school web page for 3rd grade White House unit. Copy files to 12 computers to prepare for 3rd grade Branches of Government Kidspiration activity.

School begins. Assist students with AR tests. Am very relieved the greatest assistant in the world has re-arranged her schedule and is here for all 3 days to do class check out for 6 classes. Meet with reading specialist in her room to re-write part of the School Improvement Plan. Check email and sign up for Nettrekker class. Class checkouts to three 4th grade classes. Teach kindergarten class about the library with Library Lil and sing Judy Freeman’s Hi-Ho-Librario. Class checkout 1st grade. Meet with student teacher to demonstrate how to write a grant, assist her in finding materials in catalog, and phrasing needs from student point of view. Teach kindergarten class with Criss-Cross Applesauce chants. Collaboratively teach Branches of Government with integrated technology skills to third graders. Class checkouts of kindergarten, second grade, and third grade. Consult with technician on repairs needed in classrooms. Work with individual third and fourth graders on research for science and biographies. Meet with reading specialist to adjust SIP. Meet with secretary/clerks as chair of a SACS committee to gather data for student support. Coordinate activities with volunteers. Dash into classroom to help teacher with technology question. Classcheckout of two additional first grade classes and life skills class.

Prepare for lunch. Vendor arrives with thank you gift of bread and update on backordered titles. Vendor offers to research specific titles to replace backorders. Walk with vendor to lunchroom to grab a tray. Substitute cafeteria lady requests information on how to become a library assistant. Dash back to library to find other vendor has arrived 40 minutes early. Introduce vendors to assistant and two volunteers responsible for the awesome decorations from bookfair. Coordinate review of new materials with volunteers and assistant holding and looking at books while I attempt to eat. Prepare orders. Prioritize some for next year.

Third grade class arrives for lesson on the White House using web resources and panoramic tours. Simultaneously 2/3 a fourth-grade class arrives to check out books. Second, first, and additional third grade classes arrive for class checkout. Teachers request materials pulled on American symbols. Plan with first grade teachers for Thanksgiving lessons. Unjam copier. Teach first grade parts of books lesson utilizing volunteer Michael Tyler’s experience as an illustrator and artist. Bus duty. School ends.

Deliver videos to teachers. Drop by classrooms to suggest units, lessons, and titles. Meet with teachers afterschool for planning. Finish AR tasks. Gather email inventory results from faculty. Sort mail. Prepare for Friday. Update wiki. Host afterschool YMCA group. Upload photos. Copy CD for teacher. Make photocopies of professional articles. Answer email. Stagger home.