AASL Shared Foundation: INCLUDE

 

INCLUDE: Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to inclusiveness and respect for diversity in the learning community.

https://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/180206-AASL-framework-for-learners-2.pdf

            For the Shared Foundation of Include, I interviewed Blacksburg Primary School librarian, Paula Parker.  Mrs. Parker teaches around 355 4K, 5K, 1^st, and 2^nd graders and is a part of the special area rotation.  She sees each student in the school once a week.  Here are the questions that guided our conversation:

a.             What are some examples of the ways in which you are implementing an understanding of and commitment to inclusiveness and respect for diversity in your library program?

Mrs. Parker teaches a lesson on diverse cultures to 2^nd grade as it’s one of their standards.  They discuss native language, clothing, shelter, holidays celebrated, etc.  The students become aware of other cultures and their contributions to society.  She has also done a lesson on diverse culture where students did research on certain diverse cultures, took notes, rewrote and illustrated a folktale from a different culture’s perspective.  Students of diverse cultures were able to contribute from their own experiences.  Students shared their folktales orally to an audience.  As a result of this unit of study students have a better understanding and more interest in diverse cultures.

 

b.             What are some of the resources in your library program that you are using to implement these competencies?

Over the years, Mrs. Parker has built up her collection in the areas of multi-cultures based on what the teachers ask for to supplement their resources in the classroom.  She also has videos on this subject that are used.

 

c.             Do any of the competencies that you are implementing include collaboration with classroom teachers?  If so, please provide examples.

The diverse culture lesson was a collaborative effort where the classroom teacher did the background teaching of the importance and respect for diversity.  Then the technology coach and she had the students come to the library for research on their chosen culture.  She provided books and the technology coach provided online resource links for the kids to use to help with their research.

 

d.             What are some of the challenges that you face when trying to implement these competencies?

Mrs. Parker says collaboration is always a challenge.  The classroom teacher has so much that he/she has to cover every single day which makes very little time to stray from their normal tasks to work with her and she understands that.

 

            After our interview and taking some time to reflect on our conversation, I will definitely take some of Mrs. Parker’s ideas to incorporate into my library setting.  When I sit down to place a new order for books, I am cognizant and carefully select books with diverse backgrounds to include and respect the culture of our patrons.  I would like to collaborate more with teachers going forward to plan lessons around diversity and different cultures to tie into the curriculum demands already listed as a part of their standards.