subject Planning sheets for teacher/librarian planning

[cara delia]

Does anyone have a good planning sheet that they use to give to their teachers to have them write what they are teaching for the week/month/ or 9 weeks?   I need a better planning sheet and I'd like to have them include any important field trips, or subject areas they are teacahing so that I can coordinate a supporting lesson.  It's hard to get feedback from all of the teachers because their planning is when I have their classes....Any ideas?

[Trish Ambrosio]

I would be extremely interested in this as well.  Right now most of the coordination is done in passing through the work room or faculty lounge.  I would love to have something in writing -  in advance - so I could plan ahead.

[Allison Williams]

Having tried many different ways to pin down classroom teachers I find the most successful strategy is get on their class or grade level newsletter mailing list. It may be a website, a pdf sent via email or the old-fashioned printed variety but almost always there is something sent home to keep the families informed.

This does not take the place of actual planning with the teacher for collaborative lessons but it will help you know what the kids will be requesting when they come to the library that week.

[cara delia]

Thanks, much like Trish said most of my collborating is hearing about it "through the grapevine", only once it's been passed in the grapevine usualy the fieldtrip is next week, or the big science project is due tomorrow.  I like the idea of getting on a "miling list" unfortunately our teachers (as good as they are) don't all communitcate with parents in the form a of a newsletter.  I am thinking of designing a requested plan for the month and putting it in their boxes.  I think it should be mandatory, but ya know some will and some won't.  I'll post what I create or if I find something interesting.  I as just wondering if many schools do this, or am I asking too much?

[Allison Williams]

I wonder if your teachers are required to turn in anything to your school head-- lesson plans, curriculum map etc. Maybe you could access this; just a thought.

[cara delia]

I don't think they were, but we have a new principal this year, so maybe that will change.  When I was  aclassroom teacher (at a different school) we were required to give a plan to our parents/principal every week, and we were expected to givev a copy to exceptional children, and all of the connect classes too (library included).  I want something more on a longer term basis though...meaning I want to plan my lesson for the next week on a Wed., not the Monday of that week....lol which is when they will all be turned in!  Something like the month of Aug. in Science we....SS. we...... etc.  Think I'm gonna make up my own for, I did some surfing and the forms I found were extremely complex.....and I know they'll be hassel for  the teachers, which is not what I want.

[Kelly Farrow]

In my experience, it's definitely near impossible to get teachers to get back to you on things like this, even if you make it super easy w/ a quick fill-in paper or even an e-mail. Since I've been in my school 5 years now, I've come to know when most of their field trips are since those happen right around the same time every year. I've also learned when certain curricular things come up the same way--by hearing of it year after year. In my school, almost all our teachers have web sites, where they also keep parents and kids up to date on things, so that's another option. You could check sites weekly and see what's coming up. Not ideal, I know, but better than nothing!

[cara delia]

thanks, seems like I'm hearing (and knew in my heart) that collaboration cn be a one way street.  I wish sometimes they would realize that we don't just "know" we have to be informed.