Specials rotation. The very words strike fear in the heart of elementary librarians. If you're a secondary librarian, a new elementary librarian, or a really fortunate experienced elementary librarian, let me explain.
Specials rotation is the infamous fixed scheduling you heard about in library school. Specials are the classes where the kids go while their teachers are having conference periods. Generally the specials schedule rotates between art, music, P.E., and sometimes computers. In a large elementary or if numbers at certain grade levels are high, the library may be placed in the specials rotation.
What does this mean? It means that every single day one or more classrooms of students will be dropped off at the library for a 45 minute block while their teacher has planning time with the team. It means that the librarian will not be able to plan collaboratively with these teams. It means that the library schedule will be driven by these fixed blocks of time. And it also means that the quality of the entire library program suffers because the librarian is not able to serve students and staff at the point of need.
If you are attempting to fend off being in the specials rotation, I would suggest that you read the following:
AASL Position on Flexible Scheduling
School Libraries Work
AASL Resource Guides for School Library Program Development
If you have already lost the battle and are in specials rotation, I would encourage you to document instances when the fixed schedule bumps research projects and spontaneous opportunities to meet needs. Talk with administrators, teachers, and parents about why a flexible schedule is best. Be sure to frame your reasons in terms of student needs or it may sound self serving.
In the meantime, what should you do during specials rotation?
Be positive and professional. Don't make the kids pay for a scheduling issue.
Resist the temptation to kill time with arts and crafts or worksheeets.
Ditto (double ditto) for library lessons such as learning about Dewey, how to use the almanac, etc. ICK!!
Ok, so that was what NOT to do. How about some things TO do...
If it were me, I would implement Reader's Workshop. The goal of reader's workshop is to foster a love of reading, and tons of research supports the fact that the more kids read, the better readers they are. Reader's Workshop is something meaningful that students can do during specials rotation, and it has the added benefit of requiring little planning from you. DEFINITELY prefererable to busy work.
Set the tone for reading each day by reading aloud. Read a chapter a day from a novel that will hold the attention of your students. If you need suggestions, try Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook. Alternate the types of books you read but make sure they are ones that your students will enjoy. Have fun with the reading and avoid the temptation of "making a lesson" out of everything. Just have fun with the book and your kids.
After reading aloud, each student should settle down with a good book(s) to read. Kindergarteners and other students with limited reading skills can enjoy all types of books with illustrations and photographs. You should always model reading. The importance of this can't be overstated. If you're up doing something else, it tells the kids that reading isn't important.
You can find all kinds of information about Reader's Workshop online. You won't need to take grades, of course, but tips on managing RW may be helpful.
If you'd like an occasional change of pace, you could intersperse I-Search research projects. Again, even the youngest of students can choose and research a simple topic with assistance.
Although specials rotation isn't what's best for kids, you can make the best of the situation with meaningful learning in a positive environment.
