ISCI 754 Discussion Post 2: Partnerships and Programming

 


Between modules two and three, the article by Helen Benoit (2012) about the Family Language Kit Program was very relatable for me. My husband and I both teach at middle schools that serve very large populations of English language learners. Both schools have large Hispanic speaking populations and my school enrolled over 100 students from Russia and the Ukraine since December 2022. Our ELL teacher tried to arrange book sets for students along with information in multiple languages for parents. We offered an afterschool English class for parents as well. Having the kits used at the Hamilton Public Library available in our public and school library would be a game changer for many of our students.

Something that I strongly disagree with can’t be linked to a specific reading/viewing. I honestly find it sad and frustrating that public libraries and school libraries must constantly struggle and advocate for funding. Many of the readings in this program (this course and others) emphasize the need to prove the library’s impact and importance in order to advocate for funding. It doesn’t seem fair that a hub of learning, connection, and acceptance in the community and school should have to beg. I am both offended (which doesn’t happen easily) and saddened by this.

As a future librarian, I plan to use a lot of the story time programming ideas from module 3 if I work in an elementary school. I need those resources after working as a middle school teacher for most of my career. My dream job is school librarian at McCarthy-Teszler School, a self-contained school for special needs students. The story time tips with finger puppets and the planning templates from module 3 will be very helpful here also. If I stay at my current middle school, I will be inspired by the Lego Programs article by Tess Prendergast. Offering a Lego lab in the MakerSpace of our library would be a great way to bring new students into the library and start building bonds with those students.

 


References:

Benoit, H. (2012, March 21). Family language kit program: Connecting with immigrant families. WebJunction. https://www.webjunction.org/documents/webjunction/Family_Language_Kit_Program_Connecting_with_Immigrant_Families.html

Prendergast, T. (2012a). Brick by brick Lego-Inspired Programs in the Library. Children and Libraries, 20–23.

 


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