High School Field Experience Reflections

[Kim Butler]

What in particular did you like?

My field experience at Arvada West was not at all what I expected. I had heard stories about what high school libraries were like. I admit I was nervous about having
nothing to do and sitting around for 80 hours feeling a sense of desperation
and frustration.

Was I ever wrong! I spent my time at AWest working with students and teachers, helping to refine processes, researching tools for lessons, setting up for classes and
attending meetings that will drive the school. I enjoyed every minute of it and
I learned so much from Susie Lackey. We had some great and inspiring
conversations about advocacy. We did some networking and reached out to folks
we knew to help us resolve some problems and answer some questions, and we dove
into the unknown by creating lessons that were new to everyone involved. It was
80 hours filled with broad thinking, problem solving, teaching, researching,
and learning all kinds of amazing tools. I came away from the experience
energized and ready to tackle some of the issues in my own building. I met with
my principal and shared my insights, and we devised a plan to share some of my
ideas with the staff. I also joined the district library leadership team!

What were some successful activities you did?

I was able to teach several lessons during my time at AWest, I began with just helping students with some science research. Later that week I helped prep for an
ancient civilization class and then I taught all but one of the sections of
that class. Finally, I did quite a bit of work and research for a documentary
project, including meeting with the teacher, making suggestions, putting
together the information for the students and then teaching 2 different lessons
about it to the students. All of these were great experiences and I truly
enjoyed them. I was particularly tickled when I would later see the same
students in the library outside of class time doing more research. I was glad I
was able to continue to help the kids.

All together the experience was an excellent one and I am thrilled I had a chance to work with such an energized and dynamic high school librarian. I learned more than I
could even fit in a paper and I will take away not only the skills I learned
but the relationship I developed with an inspiring high school librarian.