LATEST PROJECTS

Teaching Statement

- April 2019

- Created for Library Instruction course at UNC SILS

- Purpose: State teaching and instruction philosophy in the context of libraries

- This project demonstrates my instruction beliefs and the style in which I will implement instruction in an elementary             school library setting. This statement also describes my experience and examples of instruction I plan on using. 

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           For me, libraries have always felt like magical spaces. Endless stories that can transport you to any world or time desired. The allure of books with unknown contents. Corners for hiding and reading, having your own personal adventure. Libraries are changing rapidly, though, and books are not the only focus of these spaces. Luckily, the magic is not just in the books. The magic lies in the wealth of knowledge held by libraries. This knowledge can come in the form of a book, yes, but also can be found through computers, smart boards, and materials of a makerspace that can allow to an idea to become reality. And, it is the school librarian’s job to teach and facilitate the learning of this knowledge.

            I want students to feel free to explore these magical portals of knowledge with no constraints, while also being experts in deciding what information is the most valuable to them. Free inquiry enriches minds and prepares students for life and higher levels of education, where they are bombarded with information constantly, have nearly endless avenues for obtaining information, and must discern how to best utilize that which they find. Allowing students to self-direct at an early age ingrains effective information literacy skills while also teaching them independence in solving problems through information seeking. Students will choose their own topics and methods of learning, such as hands-on, visual, audio, etc. For example, I created an online module for students to learn how to summarize using graphic organizers. For this module, students could choose between reading a short story, watching a video, or listening to a podcast for the material to summarize, allowing them to work with a medium that suits their needs best. Also, while pursuing their own specific interests, students will practice independent problem solving and troubleshooting, also preparing them for life both within and outside the classroom. I will create a safe, inclusive environment that encourages equality and discovery while they learn these skills. 

            In order to fully explore their environments, students need to absorb knowledge through multiple formats. To facilitate such learning, I will develop a makerspace for the students to experiment with their environments and transform knowledge into new products. I will work with teachers and staff to incorporate the makerspace tools into their normal instruction. I attended a charter school for elementary and middle school where the focus was hands-on learning. Most of our assignments included a project component, and I found this method of information delivery very effective for remembering taught concepts—we took the information we were given and created a product from the knowledge learned. The makerspace will be a growing, changing environment, and I will utilize teacher and student input to continuously develop the space. Since libraries are no longer simply repositories for information, but community spaces for everyone to contribute, makerspaces are an ideal way for students to work together towards this goal. 

            Equity also contributes to the ability of students to explore in libraries, as when equity is promoted, all students feel more comfortable and safe in the space. Also, students can learn about their peers, and create a greater sense of community. I will work to promote equity and diversity in my library by maintaining/developing a collection that features diverse characters and own voice authors. Depending on the communities present at my school, I plan on introducing meet-ups, clubs, or class sessions where students of different languages can gather and help each other learn their native languages, encouraging all students to feel like an expert in their own language while also developing bilingual skills. I would host culturally relevant lessons, ideally incorporating studentcontributions, and invite speakers from the local community to help educate the student body about different cultural practices. I will also work to promote equity in the library by teaching for all learning styles and working to maintain inclusion in the classes. 

            I am fascinated by and enjoy children of all ages, but I would ideally like to be working at an elementary school library. At this age, reading and information literacy skills are crucial, as they are forming the foundation to build on for the rest of their lives. The tone for their education is also being set, so fostering an encouraging and healthy learning environment is key. Also, this age group is so enthused about their passions and soak up information whenever possible, which is a great time to create the idea of reading being magical and a portal to one’s own adventure. Kids have passions all over the place—movies, videogames, comic books, science, etc., and tapping into a child’s most intense interests can allow one to spark an additional interest in reading! I want to work with this age group to inspire excitement in both reading and learning new information, as well as how to choose the information that is best—kids are encountering the internet and other avenues of information earlier and earlier, so it is more vital than ever for them to understand how to filter through information. The global media forums, such as YouTube, that children enjoy navigating, can potentially present them with inappropriate content, so arming them with these literacy skills is key. 

            Young children are an excited, enthusiastic, and often mysterious bunch. I look forward to interacting with them on their level and giving them autonomy in their education and pursuit of new knowledge. I hope to inspire them to not just absorb new information, but to mold it and transform it into something of their own creation. I want to share with them a love of reading and storytelling, no matter the medium. Experiential, hands-on learning and students teaching each other will be the foundation of my instruction within the elementary school library setting.