Summer PD

We were fortunate this year that our upper admin granted us time to hold some summer professional development days---two days paid, two days comp days, which was awesome.  I have never had a district admin team show as much support for libraries and librarians as my current team and it is much appreciated.

Y'all, we had a blast.

We have 2 new members of our team and another who just joined us in the spring, so not only did we do a lot of learning, we did a lot of bonding this week.  I sent out a Google form in the spring so everyone could give their input on what they wanted to learn/work on and what book they wanted for our book study this year. Everything we did was designed & taught by our very own team. Flexibility was intentionally built into our schedule so we could run with those teachable moments and move along quickly when everyone already "got it."

We went over our proposed new state standards, Future-Ready Librarian information, and maker-spaces for all levels. We worked through the process of creating a new Mission and Vision statement.

 

We played with an Epic Instagram Challenge I used Canva.com (my fave!) to create this challenge as a way to help us think beyond our usual go-to's with photos and social media updates of library happenings. We didn't all actually post our pics on Insta, but this was practice for the upcoming year. (feel free to use it if you like it)

#booksonashelf

We had time to play with Canva.com, Google, and our Texquest resources and brainstorm ideas about how to get the word out to our stakeholders about all things in library land.

We discussed Gary Hartzell's work about building influence and specifically referenced Doug Johnson's blog post about making the principal your ally.

We got our new book-study books and I AM SO PUMPED.

We broke into elementary/secondary specific sessions, too, for a bit.  Author visits and Bluebonnet Battles were planned. We came out of this week with a new shared Google Drive folder and are looking forward to building content together.

We discussed the power of Twitter chats for awesome continued growth, and are planning to do one as a team to get the newbies used to them. You just can't understand the amazingness of them until you live it.

On the next-to-last day our Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction stopped by.  We were energized as a team to see their genuine excitement and support of our library programs.  Without a shadow of a doubt, we know that they recognize that strong school libraries support student achievement---and that is super-affirming.

I want to thank my new partner-in-crime for stepping up to take the lead elementary librarian role.(She blogs over at MrsTaylorsTales, so go check her out!) We have a shared vision and are working towards excellence!

I am so energized for this coming year, guys.  What are you doing to get inspired?  I'd love to hear all about it.

June 29th....Really?

The summer is going by fast and furiously.  Let me back up...most of the time, actually, my days are REALLY long.  Some moments last an eternity.  But looking back I wonder where exactly did the month of June go.

Here's a recap:
*I actually got to read a ton of great YA books---and a couple of good grownup books, too--including my annual taste of Stephanie Plum in Janet Evanovich's newest release.  Yippee!
*I have worked a bit on my genealogy.  Not as much as I would like, but still...
* My last grandparent passed away and my brothers and I chose to honor her by conducting the ceremony ourselves.  Very proud of all of us, actually.
*the big clean-out that happens every summer is in progress.  This is where I rummage through all my crap and decide what stays and what goes and attempt to reorganize my world before the manic pace of the school year descends once again.
*Natalie has attended art academy, vacation bible school, played with friends, gone swimming, ridden her bike, worked on her summer reading through the public library, and magically gotten out of most of her big clean assignments.  ;)  that is one talented girl.
* I'm still sane after spending 24-7 with my children with rare breaks of adult conversation as my hubby finishes up grad school.
*took my darling Girl Scouts to the oh-so-fabulous Children's Museum of Houston.  What a blast!
*have made a few new recipes including some scrumptious Pig Cake from The Pioneer Woman's blog.  Words do not do it justice.  It is just that good.
*Did I mention no real adult interaction to speak of?
*worked on my incessant drive for perfection from myself and the need to strive, strive, strive moving along on the hamster wheel that life can so easily become.  I'm a work in progress---but am relaxing a bit.

Okay, so I'm feeling better about life.  Maybe I've done more than I thought.

Summer Days drifting away...

It's only the beginning and yet I'm already having to work on being really in the moment rather than seeing my summer slip away.

Yep, that's the kinda gal I am, I suppose.  A planner.  A do-er.  A more-interests-than-I-possibly-have-time-to-complete kinda gal.

I really, really wish I was a spontaneous, totally live in the moment girl sometimes.  I kept thinking I might turn into one, but at 41 I'm beginning to come to grips with who I am vs. who I sometimes want to be.  Sort of.

Lately I've read a book or two that have really spoken to this element of my personality.

One of them, The Gift of an Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison, felt like a series of conversations with a long-distance, but long-time friend.  Now, I've owned this book for a while but have been so caught up reading YA lit for my work (okay, my pleasure, too) that it has remained in my to-be-read stack for quite some time.  I finally allowed myself some grown up reading time---feeling a little like I was cheating  on my YA loves----and I loved it.


After re-reading Eat,Pray, Love followed by The Gift of an Ordinary Day, I have these questions floating in my head:

• What does it really mean to accept yourself and love yourself where you are? Not any trite answers...I mean, how does one really get to that place and stay there?  Is that even possible?
• How do you improve yourself while at the same time carving out time to meditate, think, and be? 
• How do these two ideas fit together? I mean...accept yourself AND improve yourself?  Really?

'Cause here's the thing...I'm a striver by nature.  I'm from solid Puritan stock from way back.  Seriously.

 I  believe in the American Dream and my parents instilled an incredible work ethic.  For all of these things I am grateful.  And yet..

I feel in my soul a need for quiet meditative/reflective time.  I know in my heart that my life is filled with many blessings: a great family of origin, a wonderful husband, two adorable kiddos, a job that makes my heart sing, an awesome church and friends and activities that are fulfilling. 

I also know that I have master's degree debt to be worked off, Girl Scout activities to plan, a perpetually messy house and more than a few pounds I'd like to lose. 

But, I did leave work on time yesterday and got a pedicure before picking up my youngest.  I didn't have an appointment.  I just walked on in.  

*a side note here to mention that it has been over 2 years since my last real pedi--I was preggo with baby girl when I got it, and the fella at the nail salon was cussing me in Vietnamese for my horrid heels...but honey, my feet do look gooooood today!  ;) *

Let's call that a start.

visit http://www.katrinakenison.com/ for more info on The Gift of an Ordinary Day.

Read on, gentle readers.  Read on.

Mrs. S