Sam's first ever blog!

My first ever blog entry. How truly exciting is this! Does this mean I am a blogger, a blogerologist or just another member of modern day blogology? Whatever term it may be I am pleased to say that I am stepping completely out of my comfort zone and entering modern day. So here I go......out with the old and in with the new......

INTRODUCTION

My name is Samantha ( preferably Sam ) and I come from a beautiful seaside suburb in one of the more northern suburbs of Wollongong. My husband and I made the sea change about 5 years ago and we have never looked back. My family means everything to me. It consists of dedicated and hard working hubby, sporty and clever master 1, confident and hilarious master 2 and a shy miss who displays a worldly withitness. Oh and there is the fluffy mutt who loves each and everyone of us. My hubby and I have these terrific kids who are healthy, joyous, happy and fantastic company. I feel truly blessed.

CAREER BACKGROUND:

I'll keep this brief to spare the details and alleviate any risk of unnecessary boredom. I graduated from the University of Wollongong after a 4 year Bachelor of Education degree and a stint of prac teaching in Malaysia. The next 2 years involved casual teaching in a variety of local schools. The following year I was offered a 12 month block in a school and 13ish years later here I am in the same school. Which leads me to the new adventure of TL!

BECOMING A TL

This year is the beginning of a new and exciting adventure for me. Currently I have been working as a TL for 6 weeks. This is great for me. I have always visualized and perhaps even dreamt of becoming a teacher librarian and now here I am living the dream. Yeah for me!

At this point there is a degree of nervousness in terms of the enormity of the learning required with the new position and with successfully completing the Post Graduate Certificate at CSU. Yes, this will be a busy year and yes, I am already enjoying the challenge.

A requirement of the TL studies is to create a blog. My blog entries are designed to be a record of what I have learnt along the way and will enable me to reflect on thoughts about Teacher Librarians.

REFLECTIONS THUS FAR!
What are the roles of the Teacher Librarian? The following are my first initial thoughts on the roles of the TL:
1. To work collaboratively with teachers to support quality teaching
2. Create an interesting learning environment
3. Promote the love of reading
4. Encourage children to borrow books
5. Teach children effective  research techniques
6. Provide assistance to teachers and children when borrowing books
7. Maintain a library collection pertinent  to the needs of the school and community
8. Organise special days (ie Book Week celebrations).
9. Undertake professional development to attain the knowledge and skills necessary for ongoing professional practice.
My final thoughts on the role of the TL........The TL is a provider of worthwhile library and information programs which enable teachers and children to become life long learners.