Blog Interaction with Hella Rumschlag - Thurs. Nov. 2 to Sat. Nov. 4, 2006

Hella Rumschlag is in her first year as the media specialist and technology coordinator at Mohawk Trails Elementary School in Carmel, IN.

You can learn more about Hella's professional background at http://eduscapes.com/sms/rumschlag.html.

You might ask Hella about her experiences in this first year as teacher librarian in charge of her own program. Knowing that she worked as a library assistant for several years, you also have an opportunity to ask about her insights and recomendations for supervising paraprofessional staff member positions.

Blog Interaction with Robert Cox - Mon. Oct. 30 to Wed. Nov. 1, 2006

Rob Cox is a media specialist who works at two schools in Fortville, IN. Both are elementary schools, one serving grades K-4 and the other grades 5 and 6.

Learn more about Rob at http://eduscapes.com/sms/robcox.html

You can ask Rob for his candid views about his first few years on-the-job, about his experience working at two schools, or anything related to the school library media profession.

Blog Interaction with Robyn Young - Thurs. Oct. 26 to Sat. Oct. 28, 2006

Robyn Young, director of school media at Avon High School, blogged with last year's class November 14-16, 2005.

Learn more about her at http://eduscapes.com/sms/young.html. Robyn's research project on graphic novels was funded by the American Library Association (http://www.slis.iupui.edu/graphicnovels.htm). Robyn also would be an excellent person to e-talk about library media center newsletters, annual reports, and program assessment.

Feel free to expand discussion about any topic for school library media.

Blog Interaction with Carl Harvey II - Mon Oct. 23 to Wed Oct. 25, 2006

Carl Harvey II, library media specialist at North Elementary School (Noblesville, IN) is another 'blue ribbon' guest and return blogger. You can read last year's interactions at this site: Oct. 24-26, 2005

Carl is a prolific figure in School Library Media, active in the profession in leadership roles at the state and national level, a frequent author of professional articles, and presentor at conferences. He's a co-chair for next year's AASL National Conference in Reno, NV. He is also a frequent mentor to others who are just starting to get active in the professional field.

Learn more about Carl's professional activities and accomplishments at http://eduscapes.com/sms/harvey.html.

Blog Interaction with Catherine Trinkle - Thurs. Oct. 19 to Sat. Oct. 21, 2006

Catherine Trinkle is the media specialist at Hickory Elementary in Avon, IN.

Also a returning volunteer participant this year, Catherine is active in the professional field - writing/publishing, presenting, and serving in a number of organizational representative roles. You can find last year's e-converstions with her at this blogsite, October 13-15, 2005.

Learn more about Catherine at http://eduscapes.com/sms/trinkle.html

Catherine has integrated new technologies into her SLMS program, coordinated a variety to reading initiatives and promotions, written and received funding from a number of grants, and orchestrated successful fundraising events. Another busy teacher librarian, she is willing to discuss any issues that relate to her work or her insights into the profession.

Blog Interaction with Nancy McGriff - Mon. Oct. 16 to Wed. Oct. 18, 2006

Nancy McGriff is another school library media specialist with a proven "track record." She has headed up school library media programs at all grade levels. At two different schools and in three different school years (1992, 1999 and 2005) her media programs have garnered outstanding awards. She is a strong mentor and leader in the profession and frequently presents at conferences.

To learn more, be sure to visit http://eduscapes.com/sms/mcgriff.html

Recommend that you first visit her blog interactions with last year's students, Sept. 22-24, 2005. She is willing to share her expertise and insights about any facet of school library media programs and her career.

Blog Interaction with John McDonald – Thurs. Oct. 12 to Sat. Oct. 14, 2006

John McDonald is the latest SLMS from Indiana to receive the prestigious "Frances Henne Award" from the American Library Association (ALA, 2005) as the outstanding new school library media specialist of the year. He is also currently serving as President-Elect of the Association for Indiana Media Educators (AIME, 2006).

Learn more about John McDonald at http://eduscapes.com/sms/mcdonald.html

John is another returning blogger for the class. You will find that he is energetic and innovative, willing to try new ideas and ways in his middle school position. Something seems to be working, and John is willing to share his candid insights. If you're looking for conversation/question starters, then John encourages you to read parts of the annual report at his Media Center website. Most of the major initiatives are outlined in that document.

Blog Interaction with Bonnie Grimble – Mon. Oct. 9 to Wed. Oct. 11, 2006

Bonnie Grimble works as the department chair of the Media Center at Carmel High School. Carmel High, grades 9 through 12, has over 4,000 students, more than 150 classroom teachers, ten administrators, near twenty other professional staff, and over 150 other support and service staff members. In her position, Bonnie works closely with three other media specialists and three media managers. Learn more about Bonnie Grimble at http://eduscapes.com/sms/grimble.html

Bonnie is another return participant for these blog interactions. You will find last year's discussions with her here at this blogsite: Oct. 17-19, 2005. Bonnie has a comprehensive range of expertise and experiences gained at both her large-urban high school workplace and her service in the school library media profession. And as usual, try to extend this year's conversations with Bonnie in ways not covered previously.

Blog Interaction with Elizabeth Winningham – Thurs Oct. 5 to Sat. Oct. 7, 2006

Elizabeth Winningham began her school library career opening the media center at Avon Intermediate School (Now designated as East). More recently, she was centrally involved in the planning, development, and opening of the media center for a new school, Avon Intermediate School West (Her present work location).

Learn more about Elizabeth Winningham at http://eduscapes.com/sms/winningham.html

Elizabeth is a return participant for these blog interactions. You will find last year's discussions with her here at this blogsite: Sept. 29 to Oct. 1, 2005. Elizabeth has unique insights into reading and approaches for helping reluctant readers, collaborative planning, information literacy, and experiences in planning and opening a new school media centers. Don't limit disccussion to these topics; Elizabeth has a wealth of career and professional information, ideas, and experience to share. Try to extend this year's conversations in ways not covered previously.

Blog Interaction about School Library Media Health - Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, 2005

Underwood, A. (Oct. 3, 2005). The Good Heart. Newsweek.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9467735

The above article from Newsweek reports on the mounting evidence suggesting that psychological outlook is just as important to health as are diet and exercise.

Now, how might those factors be interpreted in shaping a healthy school library media program? Yes, I know many school media specialists could lose some weight (especially myself) . . . but that is not what I mean.

Think about the health of a school library media center in terms of diet, exercise, and outlook - - the diet of the library (inputs, what is taken in), exercise (activities, what gets done), and outlook (attitudes, climate, and atmosphere). Reflecting on our discussions and the course content of this semester, provide examples that represent a healthy program approach? Share your ideas and how they fit within the healthy school library framework.

Blog Interaction with Dana Hochstedler & Rob Cox – Thurs. Nov. 17 to Sat. Nov. 19, 2005

Dana Hochstedler and Rob Cox are both elementary media specialists in the same school system. This is Rob’s first year.

Learn more about both Dana and Rob at http://eduscapes.com/sms/hochstedler.html

You might start the discussions with Dana on her insights into maximizing a library center budget, her assignment covering two elementary buildings, and also facilities planning (One of her schools opened this year). You might ask Rob for his candid views on the first year on-the-job; his position is also divided between two schools.

Blog Interaction with Robyn Young – Mon. Nov. 14 to Wed. Nov. 16, 2005

Robyn Young is director of school media at Avon High School.

Learn more about Robyn at http://eduscapes.com/sms/young.html

Robyn Young would be an excellent person to e-talk about library media center newsletters, annual reports, and program assessment. Feel free to expand discussion to any related topics for school library media.

Blog Interaction with Chris Somers – Thurs. Nov. 10 to Sat. Nov. 12, 2005

Chris Somers, a former language arts teacher, is the media specialist at Indian Creek Middle School in Trafalgar, Indiana.

You can learn more about Chris by reading her background information at http://eduscapes.com/sms/somers.html

Her professional interests and expertise includes the integration of technology into the curriculum, assistive technology, and grantwriting and funding opportunities. Use this opportunity to e-discuss with Chris these or other related topics.

Blog Interaction with Linda Mills – Thurs. Oct. 27 to Sat. Oct. 29, 2005

Linda Mills is the library media specialist at Rosenmund Elementary School, Greensburg, IN.

Learn more about Linda Mills at http://eduscapes.com/sms/mills.html

You might begin your e-conversation with a focus on library media program planning, assessment and accountability, or collaboration with teachers. However any topic related to school library media would be fine.

Blog Interaction with Carl Harvey II – Mon. Oct. 24 to Wed. Oct. 26, 2005

Carl Harvey II is the library media specialist at North Elementary School, Noblesville, IN.

Learn more about Carl Harvey at http://eduscapes.com/sms/harvey.html

To begin the conversation, you might blog-talk with Carl about professional leadership and development, collaboration and curriculum development, or technology integration. I am sure that Carl is willing to discuss any idea and issue related to jobs in school library media.

Blog Interaction with Vickie Thomas – Thurs. Oct. 20 to Sat. Oct. 22, 2005

Vickie Thomas is the library media specialist at Anderson High School. Her high school recently underwent extensive renovations that included the library media center.

Learn more about Vickie Thomas at http://eduscapes.com/sms/thomas.html

You might begin discussions with Vickie on information skills, collaborative programs with public library, and facilities planning. But feel free to expand the interaction to any ideas and issues related to her work and career.

Blog Interaction with Bonnie Grimble – Mon. Oct. 17 to Wed. Oct. 19, 2005

Bonnie Grimble works in a large urban high school as the media center department chair working with three other media specialists.

Learn more about Bonnie Grimble at http://eduscapes.com/sms/grimble.html

You might focus discussions with Bonnie on program planning, administration and budgeting, facilities design, or the value of professional involvement. Or you can open up to include any issues and ideas related to her knowledge and experience.

Blog Interaction with Catherine Trinkle – Thurs. Oct. 13 to Sat. Oct. 15, 2005

Catherine Trinkle is the media specialist at Hickory Elementary in Avon, IN.

Learn more about Catherine Trinkle at http://eduscapes.com/sms/trinkle.html

You might start your e-conversation by asking Catherine about fixed versus flexible scheduling (she has worked in both environments), technology integration, or the basis of her opinion of AASL’s Information Literacy Standards. But feel free to bring up any issues that relate to the work of an elementary teacher librarian.

Blog Interaction with Deborah Levitov – Thurs. Oct. 13 to Sat. Oct. 15, 2005

Deborah Levitov has worked at elementary and secondary school libraries and public libraries. She spent several years as the Coordinator for Library Media Services at Lincoln Public Schools (NB). This past summer, she switched to being the Managing Editor of School Library Activities Monthly and Crinkles magazines.

Learn more about Deborah Levitov at http://eduscapes.com/sms/levitov.html

You may want to discuss writing practical articles for the profession or her ideas and experiences with staff development planning and activities. But with her wide background of experiences and expertise, I’m sure Deb would be willing to talk about anything related to school library media programs.

Blog Interaction with Jane Kokotkiewicz - Mon. Oct. 10 to Wed. Oct. 12, 2005

Jane Kokotkiewicz is a school library media specialist in a highly acclaimed private school. She is department chair for the library media services with three library media centers; one serving the Hilbert Early Education Center and Lower School, another serving the Middle School, and a third serving the Upper School.

Learn more about Jane Kokotkiewicz at http://eduscapes.com/sms/kokotkiewicz.html

Discussions with Jane might begin with comparing and contrasting work in private and public schools and involvement in curriculum and program planning. Feel free to move on to other aspects and interests.