Miraculous Day

The Assistant Principal's nephew is helping around the school, and is going to clear out the disassembled pieces of old card catalog, old 50 year old light bulbs to some piece of obsolete equipment, old maps, and heaven knows what else. I didn't think any of this stuff would go away. Every parent work day has enough work assigned to it, before I ever weigh in on what we need here.

Half of my book order came in from the "Reading is the Way Up" grant. Now to see if we can get some of these kids reading together.

When the computers are moved out of here, we might be able to set up some sofas and make a comfortable sitting area for teen readers. It would be so nice to get this place looking a little more modern and inviting.

Busy Week of Tasks

Some weeks just seem to disappear with lots of little pieces of work filling up time. This last week has gone to finishing up book orders for money awarded from a grant, doing another application to submit later, classes coming into the library to do research projects on the computers, and the attempt to create a Google calendar that everyone wanting computer time can view for availability before contacting me. Besides this, a monthly library meeting, cataloging of books, and updating of records. I have signed up for a cataloging class, and am looking forward to learning some new material, and now have an operational computer that I can use.

A book fair is located in one of the schools at which I work, but I haven't been participated in that because I want to finish up the Lexile level project. I have a couple more days' work adding levels to spine labels, and have some books that could be covered, if I get to them. Once the labels come and I have the printer cable, I should be able to do the labels, provided the printer cartridge is operational.

Outside distractions include needing to look for a new rental. I am ready for a change, and just wish it were easier to find something affordable. I want this settled so I can get packed and ready to move and do other projects and do some writing.

Just Another Week

The year is coming to an end very soon, and all the teachers are trying to reserve the computers for class projects.

Monday was spent printing out more information on my research the previous week on textbooks that didn't come back. A bare minimum of $7,000 worth of books from last year's 6th and 7th graders did not come back, and we have no money to buy more.

Tuesday and Wednesday were taken up with STAR testing, which was a paper and pencil matter, until the students were through with it, and then some went on the computers to play games. Skills are incredibly low, and more gang graffiti signs were on the tables than writing on the books.

Today was spent with a class doing research on a tourist site they wanted to visit in a foreign country. Low skills were evident again, with someone not knowing how to begin with an encyclopedia. Some people checked out books on their country of choice, and some people were denied that privilege because of the failure to return textbooks from last year. I hate to do it, but something needs to happen.

Meanwhile, I had a visually-impaired student with some ability to read print asking for special library services that send books to the house. She might qualify but the teacher is reluctant to have her do anything because the parents will probably just put the stuff away and she probably wouldn't be able to use it. She's from a middle eastern country, and there are truly at least fourteen people living in the household. She will probably have to do home schooling after 8th grade because they don't want her going to high school with students from here, as it will make her an undesirable on the marriage market back home. She'll be married before she's 18 years old. She does want to read and learn, but also seems happy with her situation at home from what her teacher says.