Rachel Lee

IST 661 Personal Growth Plan

Description of School / Students: Using data from the 2010-2011 school year1, LeMoyne Elementary School has nearly four hundred students enrolled. This school is considered high needs and contains grades kindergarten through fifth. 49% are Caucasian, 32% are Black or African American, 9% are Asian, 8% are Hispanic, and 3% are American Indian. 83% of these students are either eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch. This data does not include the percentage or number of students who are in pre-kindergarten, economically disadvantaged, or considered special needs. LeMoyne Elementary School did not meet their Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for English Language Arts (ELA) for the 2010 2011 school year, which means 1 out of 5 students were making AYP instead of 1 out of 1. For the 2011-2012 school year, LeMoyne Elementarys accountability status for the ELA is considered Improvement (year 1) Comprehensive. This means that for two consecutive years, the school has not met AYP. 48% of third graders, 32% of fourth graders, and 18% of fifth graders scored at least a Level 3 out of 4 on the ELA in the 2010-2011 school year. Personal Growth Plan: 1. Instructional Program / Collaboration Goal: A curriculum map developed for the upcoming school year. It should be flexible enough for any changes, but comprehensive enough to provide a direction for instruction. Importance of Goal: This is an important goal because in order for students to learn effectively, there needs to be at least a basic plan created prior to the start of the school year. This organization allows for students to enter a library environment conducive to, building upon, and providing resources for what they may already be learning in class. Actions: Prior to the start of the school year, I would develop a library program that mirrors the needs of the students based on the previous and current years assessments. This includes looking at the reports based on testing and what areas need improvement. As the school year begins, I will sit in on faculty meetings for each grade and record their teaching agenda. This will help with building the curriculum map and creating relevant lesson plans for library instruction. Once the curriculum map is created, I will suggest areas where the library can be a valuable asset for students to understand the content throughout the year. Impact: Teachers see the value of the library through the organization of the curriculum map and how they and their students fit into the plans. They want to become a part of library instruction. Students not only understand, but are excited about the content they are learning in class since there is potential for increased depth in assignments due to the available resources in the library. A higher percentage of third, fourth, and fifth graders will improve on the English Language Arts (ELA) exams.
1

Data retrieved from https://reportcards.nysed.gov/files/2010-11/AOR-2011-421800010012.pdf

Rachel Lee

IST 661 Personal Growth Plan

Measurement: By collaborating with teachers, I can receive verbal feedback on whether students are retaining and comprehending the content they are learning in class from their experience in the library. Projects, both digital and physical, that mirror students retention of new knowledge will allow me to assess students progress. An increase of the percentage of students retaining knowledge and performing at least a 3 or higher on the ELA exams. 2. Literacy and Independent Reading Goal: Ongoing book and tech talks2 will excite students about material in the library and if there is not a magazine, book, or resource available, students and teachers can add it to a Suggestion Box. Importance of Goal: Book talks are a source of motivation to students because they can observe how exciting reading can be through discussing the different materials in the collection. The Suggestion Box enables the school community to feel like an integral part in the library through their suggestions, which assist in enhancing the library collection. Actions: While collaborating with teachers and completing a comprehensive curriculum map, lessons can be created with student needs taken into consideration. Submissions from the Suggestion Box will act as a guide when developing the collection and determining materials for book and tech talks. Based on the reaction and feedback from students and feedback, I will change the materials or approach the materials differently for the book and tech talks. Allocating time for independent reading is important for all grades to ensure that students are excited and motivated to read in their spare time. This gives students an opportunity to discover material that they may be learning in class or heard in a book talk. Impact: Students are excited about new materials and are curious about learning more about what they are reading. Teachers see the value of independent reading and incorporate it as an option during class for free time when students finish an assignment or exam early. Students are talking about books they want to read or want to see in their library with myself, teachers, fellow classmates, friends, and/or family members. Measurement: I will know this goal has been met through students enthusiasm when new books arrive and are processed in the library. Students improve in English Language Arts (ELA) exams by performing at a higher level in reading comprehension. 3. Library Environment Goal:
2

Book talks are discussions about new and current books in the library collection. Tech talks are discussions about new and current technology in the library collection.

Rachel Lee

IST 661 Personal Growth Plan

The library stacks and shelves will be against the walls, opening up a more versatile space for learning on an individual, small group, and/or large group basis. The alligator mascot, Gator, will be a more prevalent theme throughout the library. This includes having a cartoon image and decorations in the fiction section and a real-life image and decorations in the non-fiction section. Importance of Goal: Moving the stacks and shelves so that there is a more open space provides a dual purpose. The first is there would be more space for independent reading and learning and/or for small and large group discussions during a lesson. The other reason is high stacks in rows becomes a safety concern. Students may think they can hide and do what they want to one another, such as bullying or harass one another. By opening up the space, a breach in safety is drastically minimized. The purpose for the decorations is to encourage school spirit and facilitate learning through the animated version versus the realistic version of the alligator. This will help students understand the differences between fiction and non-fiction genres. Actions: With assistance, the stacks will be moved against the walls, outlining the perimeter of the library. The alligator mascot and theme, Gator, will be painted and decorated throughout the library. Impact: Students are more comfortable entering the library and borrowing books and/or other materials. Students, particularly in kindergarten through second grade, special needs classes, and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, can navigate the library more easily since they can distinguish between fiction and non-fiction sections based on which alligator is on the shelves. Students are excited about discussing and learning or relearning new materials in different contexts. Measurement: Through observation, students searching for and borrowing books will have less incidents with bullying, fighting, and hiding in the stacks. With a more open space, students can work on projects or have discussions with a partner or a small group. Discussions will be monitored and facilitated to ensure that students are gaining new knowledge and recalling previous knowledge. 4. Collection Development / Integration of Resources and Technology Goal: I will remain current with new educational resources and technology in order to develop a collection of books, databases, and digital resources that is relevant to the school community. This additionally includes weeding the collection and ordering necessary materials and resources on a regular basis. Importance of Goal: It is important for me as the librarian to understand what resources and technologies are available so that the collection can grow and school community flourish. This complements with regularly studying the collection and determining what students and faculty use often and what they never touch. Ensuring that the collection remains current

Rachel Lee

IST 661 Personal Growth Plan

and filled with resources relevant to what students are learning and want to learn is an important aspect in developing their intellectual minds. Actions: Before the beginning of the school year, I will look at the collection and record what materials need to be weeded or ordered. This process will take into consideration teachers accounts of what may be needed. For personal development, I will follow various educational blogs and feeds to gain a perspective on recent educational resource, technologies, and databases. This includes being an active part of the districts LISTSERV and local, national, and/or international communities of school, public, and academic librarians. Impact: The school community is aware of new digital resources and technologies. Students and faculty members alike are excited and confident to use these resources for projects and assignments, both at home and at school. A regularly updated and weeded collection will enable students and faculty to browse through with much more ease. Students can confidently use digital resources and technologies to research topics for projects and assignments. Measurement: The quality of projects and assignments completed in the library or classrooms will demonstrate students and facultys understanding of integrating digital resources. The organization of the library and how easy or difficult it is to find books or other materials. 5. Administration / Leadership / Advocacy Goal: In my first year, I will join and actively serve in at least one school committee. Professional development workshops will occur monthly in the library in order to give faculty and administrators opportunities to practice using and testing out new resources and databases before students use them. Importance of Goal: Being involved in various areas of the school, will allow students and faculty to observe how far the library and librarian can reach. Teachers who understand and practice how to use an educational database or other resources are more confident and excited about using the same material in the classroom and /or library. They will also see first-hand how beneficial it would be for students growth. Actions: Prior to the beginning of the school year, I will look into various school committees and select the one or two that are beneficial to students intellectual growth. Selecting a few resources, I will set up an appointment time for teachers and other faculty members to learn more about it, to practice how to use it, and to discover any direct benefits to the students and rest of the school community. Impact: Administrators, faculty, parents, students, and others in the school community find value in the library in terms of how its programs strive to develop the minds of young students, empowering them to expand their knowledge. This also means an increase in support.

Rachel Lee

IST 661 Personal Growth Plan

The confidence faculty members exude from professional development will be noticeable to other faculty members and students, who will want to know how to use certain resources. Measurement: During the professional development sessions, I will have ongoing assessment surveys to determine how teachers are learning about various resources and implementing them in the classroom. An increase or sustained amount of support from the local community will be demonstrated, which includes, for instance, parent volunteers and gift book donations.