Introduce Yourselves!

[Kristin Fontichiaro]

Hi, y'all -- Some of us know each other face-to-face, others through Twitter, blogs, or Facebook. Tell us a little bit about who you are.

And then hop over here and add yourself to the connectivity chart. Let's see how information traveled and connected you to this book club!

[Beth Friese]

Hi Carl. I was happy to get to meet you briefly at AASL after reading your work for a while now - looking forward to getting to know you better here!

Beth

[Wendy]

Hi everyone. I'm lucky enough to know some of you, which makes this all the more exciting.

My name is Wendy Stephens, I'm a high school librarian in north Alabama. I wasn't introduced to the concept of inquiry in my education certification coursework, and I wonder how much it is integrated into teacher preparation now. I did attend a week-long IMLS research seminar with Marilyn Irwin and Danny Callison at Indiana University in 2006 that focused on inquiry in the library media program, and it was a powerful introduction to the idea that students can really determine their own research agendas.

I'm about four chapters into the Daniels & Harvey book, and have found it to be interesting reading so far.

[Mary J. Johnson]

Hi, Wendy. Small world. Danny Callison was my professor in 1991 in the Emporia State/Colorado Distance Education MLS program, but I actually took my only school library course from him in Emporia, Kansas. It was during the summer, and I left my family for two weeks to immerse myself in school library thinking. Prof. Callison also came to Emporia to deliver that two-week intensive course...and I do mean intensive! Then I met you this year at the AASL convention in Charlotte at the blogger's cafe. I follow you on Twitter. Now I get to spend even more time with you in the inquiry group. What fun!

[Susan E]

Hello all,

My name is Susan Landis Eley and I am a 4th year media specialist at Hillside Elementary School in Mt. Laurel, NJ. I love my job! I used to be a music teacher and I am a professional classically trained opera singer. But I love being a librarian even more. Technology is my thing, I really love children's literature but I often find myself pulled more toward the techy workshops / professional development side of my field. A lot of what I know is self-taught as far as technology. I like to "play" and learn that way. I am NOT on twitter, I'm also very quick to decide which tech I will use or won't use and what will work in my elementary school!

If you're interested here is our school library website (which I made): http://mtlaurelschools.org/hillside/library/hslibrary.html
You can click on "student projects" to see some of the kids' work.

I met you, Karen Kliegmann, at NECC in June 2009 - I sat at your table at the SIGMS discussion and I was the "wiki typer" at the table. :)

And I *heard* of you, Carl Harvey, a lot during my grad classes at Indiana University in 2005-2006. You're a "legend" around those parts! :) And of course a lot of your articles have been helpful to me personally.

I am really looking forward to this book discussion! There are always sacrifices I have to make when I only see each K-4 class once a week for about 45 minutes, but I am always looking for ways to excite kids about learning and lean towards inquiry.

No kids yet for me! My hubby and I have 2 kitties, so far.
-- Susan E.

P.S. I've only heard about Wolf Trap because of the great opera program there!

[Beth Friese]

Welcome, Susan! One of my good friends who researches librarians noticed that so many of us come from artistic backgrounds - seems many of us fit that pattern in the group, too! I like the way you phrased it: "leaning toward inquiry" - between the nudges and the leans, we can get there.

Beth

[Ginna Schonwald]

I joined the TL Ning last night and just found this group. I think I'll just be a fly on the wall for this discussion, since I don't have the book, but I look forward to joining in more fully for the next book!
I am Library Media Specialist at a PreK-8 school in Deerfield, NH. I am trying to develop more inquiry based lessons with my students. With a fixed weekly schedule for PreK-4 and a flexible schedule for 5-8, I feel like I never have enough time to dedicate to working with individual classes. What this means is too many isolated lessons and not enough connection with what's going on in the classroom.

[Beth Friese]

Hi Ginna. I'm glad you found the Ning and this group - I hope you will jump in if something seems interesting or worth asking about. I think the problems you describe about not enough connection are fairly common. I have a feeling we will discuss this at some point too - hope you'll read the next one along with us!

Welcome! Beth

[Annie Davis]

Hi, everyone-
My name is Annie, and I am in the middle of my fourth year as the 3-5 elementary librarian at Dover Elementary School in (sort-of) upstate NY. I went to grad school at SUNY Albany, and received my Masters' in 2004. I have been attempting to nudge my teachers toward inquiry, although with many it has been an uphill battle. I have been working hard just to change the school's perception of what a librarian can do. Luckily, my administrator is very supportive and willing to learn.
Personally, I love reading (shock!), travel, music, college basketball, and sewing. As with most of you, I'm sure, continuing to learn and become a better librarian and teacher is also very important to me. I am a bit isolated in my current position, so connecting with all of you through this group is very exciting! I really look forward to getting to know you!

[Kristin Fontichiaro]

Hi, Annie! Your use of "nudge" in terms of inquiry tickled me, as I coordinate the "Nudging Toward Inquiry" column for School Library Monthly. I mentioned it to Deb Levitov, SLM's editor, and she would love to hear from you about what you've done with teachers.

Hope you (and others) will consider submitting something. Details here:
http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/get-your-lesson-plans-...

(Sorry for the shameless SLM promotion - but did I mention that you can get PAID??)

Kristin

[Annie Davis]

I used "nudge" purposefully!! SLM is the one (!) professional publication my school allows me to receive (budget). It's the perfect term to describe how to think about working with some over-stressed, time-crunched classroom teachers. I just think that we have to take baby steps, and even a little change - maybe just one different question - is a success in my mind.
I did not know that one could get paid for submitting ideas/lesson plans... I will have to spend a little time investigating this! Thank you! You are doing a great job with this column - I find it extremely helpful.

[Kristin Fontichiaro]

Glad it's useful to you! Some other folks in this book club (Leslie Maniotes, Carl Harvey, Beth Friese, Raya Samet, some "Nudging" contributors, and probably others I am overlooking!) are SLM contributors, too!

Think seriously about submitting. It shifts one's perspective to share with others.

[Beth Friese]

I agree with Kristin. You should submit - share! It's a great way to contribute to the profession. We all need to share the ways we nudge. :)