Celebrating Culture and Transformation in Library Learning Commons

Spread the (Spoken) Word Celebrating Culture in the Library Learning Commons Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Whos Here? All about me in 2 minutes or less Your turn! Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Your Passion Matters! What are some of the things you are passionate about? Pick one passion that you could incorporate into the library in a way that would build connection and community. Share out: What passion do you have that might enliven your library? I want everyone to feel that their voice matters and to have a way to express themselves in a safe environment, so I focused on poetry! More on this later Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

The transition to a LLC at KSS: The Space Moved the entire physical collection (except DVDs) Knocked out four shelving units Brought in new comfy furniture Purchased 4 rolling whiteboards with PAC funding Purchased new chairs and tables Purchased a 20 foot projection screen and projector Updated the office meeting and eating area Improved signage Changed the names of the different areas Food and Drink ALLOWED!!! Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

The transition to the LLC: The Philosophy Slow transition with staff re: entirely new library staff Formed a school LLC committee (staff, students and parents) Started with the mandatory English 10 Orientation Revamped the mandatory English 10 Research Project Wynter team taught (and fully co-planned) a Science 10 unit Trina taught 2 day lessons on the Depression, and Aboriginals in Canada, as well as several single day lessons related to Creative Writing Trina started an open mic program We both worked with the ILT / CIA / IR A LOT of observing and asking questions Who is using the space? Why? Who isn t? Why? Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

What was missing? Co-planning / Co-teaching / Co-assessing Inquiry-based learning and student-driven learning Culture ( It just feels like a library. It s not welcoming or cool; just a place to work ) Quiet areas Comfortable and re-arrangeable seating Whiteboards or other vertical teaching space Certain populations were under-represented in both the collection and as patrons: Resource students, Aboriginal students, ELL students, LGBTQ+ Light and space ( it seemed dark and crowded ) Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Open Mics Poetry Club & Open Mics Started with monthly open mic in the library Finished with monthly open mics in a classroom Built a strong community of poets and artists Had several students perform at a coffee house student event 2016 started a weekly poetry club 2016 continuing monthly open mics Hosting an evening of art and poetry Sending students to a local youth poetry competition Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Promoting Poetry Growth through Books Keep a prominent display of great poetry resources Include classics, modern poets, youth poetry Highlight spoken word books: The Spoken Word Work Book Take the Mic: The Art of Performance Poetry, Slam and the Spoken Word Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Poetry Night at the KSS LLC November 4th 6:45-8:30 Admission is $2 or $1 with a donation to the food bank Coffee, tea and treats for $1-3 Proceeds to the food bank Student artwork on display Student musician performing during intermissions Students from KSS and one of its two feeder schools performing Hope to do seasonally! Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Multicultural connections through the LLC Purchased a lot of multicultural books Hosted an International Ed orientation and book sign out Focusing fiction purchases to include diverse perspectives Working with the ELL teachers on mini lessons and doing book talks Moved our International Ed Homeroom to the LLC More ELL students spending time in the library and signing out materials Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Connecting with Resource Students We are part of the Hello, my name is ___ tour once a week or more Last year we realized that this was the only time we saw resource students Connected with the RT and said we d like to do more. Our idea was to do story time. Once a week several students now come up for a story that is connected to a theme that they are working on such as seasons, holidays, animals We are now also known as a safe, quiet space so RS who need a place to work, but want independence, come to the library! Ordered 25 new picture books too Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

LGBTQ+ community Connecting with the Diversity Club to raise awareness of existing resources in our LLC Ordering ALL requested LGBTQ+ books Displaying LGBTQ+ books in all displays (New books, genre sections, themed displays ) Being conscious of our language during book talks, lessons, and cataloguing to make sure that we are using inclusive terminology (ex: book genre dating game has no gender- or sexuality-based language attached) Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Connecting with Aboriginal Students The new curriculum is pushing teachers who haven t addressed Aboriginal content to finally do so, therefore the library resources are more important than ever! Connecting with the Aboriginal Advocates and Tutors is key! Displaying Aboriginal content and making conscious purchases of resources for both staff AND students Hosted an afternoon with David Bouchard and invited the Aboriginal Strategies students, First Nations 12 class, and two English classes it was a huge hit. Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Human Library Hoping to find a way to have a human library Most likely will be feature books that students can sign out during their spare (thinking 1-2 human books a month) Need to connect with career center and clubs to identify best fit human books Hard because it will be a much smaller scale that what I did for 4 years at GMS! Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Teaching Creative Writing Started by offering to read a fun story when the teacher mentioned they were about to start a suspense unit. Cat Got Your Tongue by Sonya Sones Read last block on a Friday yet they were super engaged. On Monday the students were still talking about it and asked when I was coming back Did a full class lesson on why and how we write Did a full class lesson on Hint Fiction and short forms of writing Read a very edgy story, The Seven Items in Jason Reynolds Pockets Bonded with the class many started coming for book recommendations, coming to open mics in and out of school, etc. Trina Zuyderduyn Manca

Resources Smith, Marc Kelly., and Joe Kraynak.Take the Mic: The Art of Performance Poetry, Slam, and the Spoken Word. Naperville, IL: Source MediaFusion, 2009. Print. Wilson, Sheri-D. The Spoken Word Workbook: Inspiration from Poets Who Teach. Banff, Alta.: Banff Centre, 2011. Print. Links on a Word Doc that will be posted soon to BCTLA Trina Zuyderduyn Manca