Where does the time ago? It is remarkable how one day you are only just a week or two back into a new session, then before you know it it is the end of the first term and the October break beckons.
Looking at my planning for National Poetry Day last week, I realised I was two weeks behind schedule in the advertising of our annual poetry picnic in the library. What has happened to the time?
None the least, it has been taken up with S1 and S2 classes doing their library induction and information literacy skills lessons during library periods keeping me busy with teaching the required skills and marking their workbooks as well as promoting reading. Other year groups also come to the library for a library period so they can pursue their personal reading interests. S2 History classes have all been introduced to our local studies collection in preparation for doing their Fereday Project research on a local history topic. A couple of S5 RMEclasses have been in for a personal reading period, to extend theirbackground reading for the subject. S2 Geography have also been in for a few weeks whilst pupils carry out book, internet and newspaper file research for their Earth Forces Project. At the height of all this project work and activity, there were classes in the library for 25 out of the 31 periods available in the school week.
As well as being involved with supporting classes in the library, I have also had to carry on with the day-to-day admin of the library, dealing with enquireis, book issues and the mundanities of shelving and shelf tidying (which is always backlogged), to which is added the management of the small team of pupil librarians and the Dynamic Youth and Youth Achievement Award Group. Ongoing development of library courses continues, with thoughts soon to be turning towards the S1 Ancient Civilisations project and the urgency of putting together a web evaluation lesson for the library’s first involvement in and IDL (interdisciplinary learing) day based on the theme of Technology for our S3 pupils.
Now, back to the aforementioned National Poetry Day! The annual poetry picnic will take place this Thursday (4th October) – yep, this Thursday in the library at lunchtime. Four weeks of planning has been condensed into two weeks with the help of the Senior Pupil Librarians producing posters and invites and searching out poems for the readings. Snacks will be available to participants.
S1 and S2 classes are being introduced to iambic pentameter during their English Library period and are being asked to have a go at writing poetry on the theme of ‘stars’. They are producing 5 lines of poetry, 10 syllables and 5 beats to the line. The idea is that the final product will be written on a star to be displayed in the library and English department. This is being opened out into a school wide competition for book, stationery and sweety prizes. Closing date – Monday 29th Octoberl
