ISLA Professional Development Day Report– 10th November 2009

The Planning Committee is happy to report that we have received very positive feedback about our recent Professional Development Day. We always endeavour to provide what you ask for, and we are continually being asked for ideas that people can use in their teaching and library management.
One of the problems with teacher-librarianship is that there is no definitive guide on how you should do your job. Every school is a unique place and one size does not fit all. In her welcoming address, Margaret Cooper pointed out that research has shown that a large number of principals and administrators do not value the role of the teacher librarian despite research showing the positive effects that role can have in a school.
With this in mind, we started the Primary session with a panel of four teacher librarians who told “their stories”. We selected four people with different school situations – ranging from 5 day per weeks to shared-school situations and from some RFF to full RFF commitments. Each of the four panellists gave an extensive overview of their own school and the way that they operate in their library. AS far as we know no-one else has ever run a session like this before.
The panel members were Margaret Cooper (Shellharbour), Maxine Morphett (Scarborough & Keiraville), Sharon McGuinness (Thirroul) and Phillipa Mierendorff (Shellharbour Anglican College). The strong impression that came out of this is that each library had restrictions and that the panel members had to work around these to perform their job in the best possible way. There were many notes being made as panellists spoke and there was an opportunity to ask questions at the end.
Secondary teacher librarians listened to a presentation from Lynda Cooper from the University of Wollongong focussing on Information Literacy requirements for undergraduate students and the implications they present for high schools. This was followed by a technology session led by Di Ridley from Dapto High looking at Digital Literacy tools, such as interactive white boards, Moodle and databases for high school students.
Library Assistants had an opportunity to learn from book repair expert, Michelle Macdonald who demonstrated the correct way to repair damaged books. Those who attended thought the session was far more informative than general repair talks given by other providers.
Paul Macdonald’s What’s New and What’s Hot session was very informative and brought us up to date with the latest books and trends in fiction for all age ranges. Of particular interest was the trend towards “crossover” fiction that blurs the boundaries between age groups. Paul has also developed book lists for particular school needs which can be found at the Children’s Bookshop website.
Our concluding session was presented by local author, Sandy Fussell. Sandy told her story of how she came to be a writer but also outlined how she could be involved in assisting children to write. She has an excellent web site and has taken part in video-conferences with selected schools as part of writing workshop sessions. Sandy is happy to be invited to schools to do workshops or author talks.

See the previous post for a selection of photos from the day.
Thanks to the organising committee for another wonderful day.

Photos from the November 2009 Professional Development day

November 2009 Professional Development Day

Our next PD day will be held on Tuesday 10th November at Shellharbour Public School, Mary St Shellharbour (map).

The Presenters

Paul Macdonald is the current owner of the well-known Children’s Bookshop, in Beecroft. He has a Master of Education, working almost 20 years as a teacher of Upper Primary and Secondary. He has won numerous awards in teaching such as a Quality Teacher Award in 2002, The Premier’s English Scholarship in 2004 and awards for his co-ordination of Regional Shakespearean Festivals. His interests include the development of literacy with a particular interest in reading for gifted children and boys literacy and books for adolescents. http://www.thechildrensbookshop.com.au/about_us.html

Sandy Fussell is a local author with a very credible portfolio of works. The first book in Sandy’s Samurai Kids series, White Crane was released in 2008. Three more in the series, Owl Ninja, Shaolin Tiger, and Monkey Fist, have now been published. 2008 also saw the release of Polar Boy, which was shortlisted for the 2009 CBCA Awards in the Younger Reader category. 2010 will see another historical fiction title set at the end of the Aztec Empire.

To download the full program click here

To download the registration form click here

SHOALHAVEN TEACHER LIBRARIANS’ COMMUNITY OF SCHOOLS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY

Shoalhaven Teacher Librarains’ Community of Schools Professional Development Day

with internationally renowned

Professor James Henri

Specialising in quality teaching and connected learning in the 21st century

“The school inside the library, not the library inside the school”

Tuesday 17th November 2009 @ St John’s High School Nowra

For information sheet click here

For a registration from click here

Upcoming events

Our next ISLA network meeting will be held at Wollongong PS on Wednesday, 23rd September at 4pm.

Also, we are currently planning our next PDD which will be held at Shellharbour PS on Tuesday, 10th November. Paul Macdonald from the Children’s Bookshop in Beecroft will be coming and we plan to have a version of Q & A with a panel of our own local TLs to talk about their libraries and you will have an opportunity to ask questions.

More details to follow.

Term 2 Professional Development Day 2009

Our next professional development day will be held on Wednesday 10th June at Dapto High School, Cleveland Rd, Dapto.
Teacher Librarian Program and Presenters

Joy Lawn: Joy is an inspirational speaker with an in-depth knowledge of children’s and young adult literature. She has an MA in Children’s Literature & Literacy and has been a specialist children’s literature consultant for more than a decade. This year Joy has a new role as the Queensland judge for the CBC. Joy will present an overview and teaching ideas for all of this year’s shortlisted titles. Joy’s book, “Inside the shortlist” will not be available through ISLA this year, it is available through the Queensland branch of the CBC at:   qld.cbca.org.au

Ralph Pirozzo:  Ralph Pirozzo believes schools need to create engaging and challenging thinking classrooms so that children’s learning will flourish. He believes that the teacher librarian’s role in this process is vital and will show us how to develop planning matrices for COGS and other units of work. These matrices combine Bloom’s Taxonomy and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory to provide planning tools that cater for all learning styles and abilities. Much of his work reinforces the Quality Teaching model and Gifted and Talented education. He will provide us with a number of graphic organisers and samples of units that have already been created. Bring along a thumb drive if you would like a digital copy.

Sharing Session
In addition there will be a sharing session for both Primary and Secondary teacher-librarians. Primary people are asked to bring along details of useful websites or links for research activities as well as ideas for promoting literature in your school.
Library Assistants Program and Presenters
Joy Lattin – Life member of SASSPA
PSA representative to talk about working conditions – bring along any questions you would like to ask.
Linda Croft – Dapto HS Library Assistant – Sharing session on the topic of Stocktake. Be ready to share your stocktake stories – the successes as well as the nightmares!!!

Term 2 Professional Development Day 2009 Flyer (Word version)

Term 2 Professional Development day 2009  Flyer (PDF version)

Term 2 Professional development day 2009 Registration form (Word version)

Term 2 Professional development day 2009 Registration form (PDF version)

2009 Membership and Calendar

ISLA provides Networking and Professional Development opportunities as well as general support and social networking opportunities for Teacher Librarians, Library Technicians and Library Assistants in the Illawarra Region.
We have been able to offer the quality and diversity of speakers at our Professional Development Days, due to our broad membership base. We therefore encourage you to become a financial member of the Association.
The membership fees will be $25 for the year. If you pay before the 1st May 2009 the fee will only be $20. (Membership of a Professional Association is tax deductible.) Applications after the 1st May will revert to the full cost of $25.

Membership Application Form 2009 (Word version)
Membership Application form 2009 (PDF version)

2009 Calendar
All dates and events are listed in our ISLA calendar in the sidebar of this page

Term 1:

Wednesday 1st April: 6.30pm. Dinner at Samaras in Wollongong (opposite the Harp Hotel).

Term 2:

Thursday, 21st / Friday, 22nd May: Catholic Primary Teacher Librarian Conference – Bowral
Week 6 or 7: ISLA Professional Development Day at Dapto High School – date to be confirmed
Friday, 5th June: Joint DET/ASLA Conference in Armidale.

Thursday, 2nd July: Networking afternoon tea – 4pm Wollongong PS Library to be followed by casual dinner.

July: Shoalhaven Teacher Librarians will be hosting a Professional Development Day for teacher librarians and their Principals run by James Henri. Date to be confirmed.

Term 3:

Wednesday, 23rd September: ISLA Networking afternoon tea – 4pm at Wollongong PS Library to be followed by casual dinner.

Term 4:

Week 4 : ISLA Professional Development Day: date and venue to be advised.
Wednesday, 18th November. Illawarra CBC Christmas Dinner.
Wednesday, 25th November : ISLA Christmas Dinner

ISLA AGM 2009

The ISLA Annual General Meeting will be held at Bellambi Public School, Owen Park Road, Bellambi (Phone 4284 8666) on Wednesday, 4th March, 2009 from 4.00-5.00pm.

All positions will be declared vacant and elections will be held for a new committee for 2009. A new committee will also need to be formed to plan our Professional Development Days for the year. If you have any suggestions for topics for the days please bring them along to the meeting.

Agenda Items for discussion
Review of 2008
Social and professional activities for the year
General Business

If you are unable to attend the meeting, but would like to have a say in any of these matters or nominate yourself for a position, then contact me before the meeting by phone or email.

Margaret Cooper
President ISLA 2008

Illawarra-South Coast Children’s Book Council Christmas dinner

Bookings are now being taken for the Illawarra-South Coast Children’s Book Council of Australia Christmas Dinner with Guest speaker Mark Macleod, former national CBCA President, children’s book publisher, editor, industry lobbyist, TV personality, book reviewer and author with a great knowledge of children’s books.

Bookings close 19 November.

When: 7pm Wednesday 3 December, 2008

Where: Villa D’Oro Function Centre, 39-41 Flinders Street, Wollongong

Cost: $40 per person for two course meal plus tea and coffee. Cash bar.

Tickets: Please send a cheque payable to Illawarra-South Coast CBCA to Sandi Wooton, Treasurer. Also include your email address, please. Receipts can be picked up on the night

Photos of the October PD Day at Shellharbour P.S.

Congratulations to the ISLA Executive on another fantastic professional development Day.

Please see the post below for links to sites related to our guest speakers.

Many Illawarra teacher librarians are now busy planning and creating wikis thanks to the inspirational Ian McLean.

Our Pink Ribbon Day raffle raised $220. Great work everyone.

Photos of the day are available on the PD page