Universal Design In the Library

Access:

While considering access in my library, what I currently do for recruiting interest is: book talks, and high interest books displays. However, I have been working on some new ideas for next school year that include: recommendations from the librarian, teachers, staff and fun guess this quote activities.

In perception of my library, I created a very visually appealing place for students and staff. This includes monthly or bimonthly displays, places for learning, collaborating and relaxing while everything is always neat, tidy and organized. All who enter feel welcome.

Physical action in the library can be difficult to manage. However, being a teacher previously taught me that this is extremely important when working with kids of any age. In order to add physical action into the library environment I created a maker space section. This included large building blocks that are extremely popular with all age kids K-5th grade at my school, pipe builders, snowflake building items, snap together building items and more. In the coming school year I intend to expand this area so that the items can be rotated. I also include board games and puzzles when we have our “Read and Relax” days.

Building:

In sustaining effort and persistence, I am constantly learning about student needs and wants. I have surveys that staff and students fill out periodically, I keep a suggestion box available at all times, I also pay attention to what students are checking out and what interests them. All of these things go into my persistence to create an amazing library program.

Language and Symbols in my library are limited. We currently have a dual language program and many books in Spanish for this reason. While all of the books are marked Spanish, the need to have these materials in their own section is apparent and something I plan on doing. The signage on the shelves is adequate but I am planning on improving it. This is also true for general signage, a work in progress.

Expression and communication are very important in the library. Rules and expectations are a constant process and it works well. The students are taught that while we aren’t a whisper-only library, inside voices have their place, while outside voices are not permitted. Then there is the way that they are allowed to express themselves. I always try to have creative activities available, sometimes with the use of technology and sometimes without.

Empowering Learners



Empowering learners has been a passion of mine since I began teaching. I find that if you help to empower a learner they become more independent, better learners. Self-Regulation can be a large challenge for some students. However, keeping consistent expectations in the library lends more to the self-regulation of students.

Comprehension can be tricky as a librarian because I, for example see 1 class of every grade level, k-5, every day. Therefore, my teaching changes with each group and even different classes based on their abilities and needs. After that it goes so far as to be somewhat individualized with some lessons. With varying levels of ability in a school of roughly 700, I provide access to multiple levels of materials and knowledge so that when the above grade level student needs something, they have access to it. Just as much when an at grade level or below grade level student needs access to something, they also have it.

Executive functions should come in multiple formats. Hand on learning, visual learning and instructional learning are all wrapped up in what I do with my students. I am definitely a visual and hand on teacher more than anything and I think this works for most students. I can be up at the Clary board teaching them something but also have them accessing it on their end from a Chromebook for hybrid learning that ultimately works well and helps their learning.

Creating Expert Learners


The ultimate goal is always to create expert learners. There are so many different aspects to doing that. The term well rounded is quite accurate and goal setting to me. Trying to help students to become: purposeful and motivated, resourceful and knowledgeable, strategic and goal-directed is every teacher’s dream. I, as a library teacher delve into certain areas to try and give them skills for long term use and not just how to work through an assignment from a teacher or what to read next. Skills are what it takes to get through life and education with any hope of success. I instill as many skills as I can, whether they take those skills and use them is up to the individual.