Fiscal Issues- Carrie Doss Aylor

[Carrie Doss Aylor]

Version:1.0
StartHTML:0000000187
EndHTML:0000014084
StartFragment:0000002376
EndFragment:0000014048
SourceURL:file://localhost/Users/adamaylor/Desktop/SL%205020/fiscal%20issues.doc
 

Short Term / Low Cost Activities

• Setting up a relationship with the local public library, elementary school, and high school would be fun.  My school is fortunate, that all of these are within walking distance of the school (less than 4 blocks).  I think it would be cool to set up book
  clubs, reading partners, and mentors with these libraries.  Some of the middle school kids could be
  paired up with elementary kids to do read-alouds or book talks.  The middle school kids could also be
  paired up with high school kids who could serve as mentors or book club
  peers.  (Many of our honor society
  kids also need community service hours, and this would be a fun way to earn
  those.)  I would also love to see
  some of the 8^th graders take “field trips” to the public library
  branch in order to do research for their “InfoQuest research paper.”  This is a joint paper in the social
  studies and language arts classrooms in which students take a research topic
  all the way through the research process to a movie-making skit that serves as
  a visual of their research/learning. 
  I think the public library would be a great place for kids to do “real”
  research.

• A “free book” bin would be a great way for low-income students to have books of their own.  Many of the materials that are discarded or weeded from the collection could be used for this.  Weeded materials from other schools and libraries could also
  be collected.  Teachers and
  community members could also donate gently used or new books to donate.  There would be time needed to inform
  people in the program and in the need for donations, but over time this could
  be a great way to permanently get books into the hands of students that do not
  have many or any of their own.  A
  “Take One, Leave One” bin could also work for this.  This would basically be a “donate a book and take a book”
  idea.  I currently have something
  like this for the teachers in my building, where we leave a book and take a
  book on the “teacher book shelf” in the library.  I think this could be expanded to the students as well.

 

 

Short Term / High Cost Activities

• Starting a book club for Colorado writers and books might be a way to engage students and teachers in reading, but also would provide more access to authors.  Last year, the 7^th grade classes read Savvy
  by Ingrid Law, a Boulder author. 
  We then invited her to make an author visit to not only our school but
  to another middle school in the district as well.  Because she lives to close to our district, the travel cost
  and author appearance cost was reasonable because we split it between the two
  schools.  Not only did the kids
  LOVE meeting a real-life author, but also it was nice to have a real-life
  Colorado author!  The kids definitely
  connected to her!

• I think more audio/visual resources would enhance the learning of students, regular, special education, and ELL.  Many of the students would be
  more engaged to listen to books on CD or MP3 players.  Many of our special education and ELL students also have
  specific IEP goals or ELL standards that focus on listening abilities and
  comprehension.  Having the
  resources for them to read and listen to texts would be a wonderful enhancement
  to the learning they already do in the classroom.  The high cost would come in purchasing the resources and
  maintaining them, as they will be handled a lot and at times roughly.  The resources have the probability of
  having to be replaced as they get worn out.

 

 

 

Long Term / Low Cost Activities
three to five years

 

• As a school, we host a literacy night each year.  The language arts department hosts the event and pays for any necessary items, i.e. food, decorations, etc. (so no cost to the
  library).  This year we had the local library come and bring the
  bookmobile.  This was at no cost to us, and it drew a large crowd. 
  All of the students' families were able to sign up for library cards and learn
  more about the public library's facilities.  I think this is an activity
  that would be beneficial to continue.

• The library could start up a blog or Wiki page in which to provide updates on new books, reviews, and interesting items that students, teachers, and community members would enjoy.  The library has a webpage, but this is
  pretty dull and non-interactive.  A
  blog or Wiki page would allow more student interaction and would promote
  interest in the library.  Although
  the cost is “time,” with a little attention and thoughtfulness, these would
  promote a more welcoming environment in the library.

 

 

Long Term / High Cost Activities

three to five years

 

• The library currently has one computer lab available for teachers to sign up and bring their students to.  I think the purchasing of a
  mobile Netbook lab would be an awesome way to provide more students with
  opportunities to use technology within the classroom.  The mobile lab would provide easier access to computers and
  would allow more students the ability to incorporate technology into their
  class work.  Currently the library
  lab fills up months ahead of time, so it is in high-demand.  Having another available lab would be a
  huge asset to the students and teachers at TMS.

• With the possible purchasing of more computers, I also think E-books are a useful resource in which to invest.  With more
  computer access, more students would be able to research using E-books while in
  classrooms, not simply in going to the library.  This would be costly, but would save shelf space, are more
  engaging than printed text, and would “hold up” better to use over time.

 

 

[Carrie Doss Aylor]

Sorry...I'm not sure what is going on with the spacing craziness. I typed up my responses and then tried to copy and paste them into the discussion (three different times). Somehow I managed to make it a mess, but the ideas are there!

[David Sanger]

You have some great ideas.  I like the "book bin". Helping kids build their own collection of books at home is a powerful tool for literacy.  I hope you follow through on the collaboration with the public library, high school and elementary.