No, I do not need a cootie shot. I need a BLACK
Sharpie marker, six symbols and a lot of volunteer help drawing symbols.
Let me give you a bit of background information here. My
first year in an elementary library has brought a lot of joy. Walking in for
the first time with my mama, I stood in the middle of the library and dropped
everything I had in my arms, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Ahhhhhh,
this was it! My library! I started laughing and turning circles while looking
at all of the shelves full of books. WOW, I’m a Librarian! Then it caught my attention...dots!
Not just single colored dots on a few books, but SEVEN different color dots on
practically every book on the shelves. OH NO!
I could see one of my professors cringing as I stood there. Evidently
the decision maker here previously did not know the color blind child would
struggle with this.
Having taught for twenty-six years, and many of those
collaboration classes where a percentage of students had special needs, I knew
multiple ways to differentiate the curriculum to help them learn. We webbed,
drew pictures, sang songs, made note cards, visualized, and color coded. Yes, I color coded too, but when I found out
that colors can be a deficit for students who are color blind, hindering their success within a place of learning, I quickly changed my ways. Now, I too cringe when I see color-coded anything. So the next time you go to label your library or classroom, think, will this benefit all of my students? Don't you want your library to be an inviting comforting place where all students can explore and expand their knowledge with ease? I do.
If you are further interested in this, visit the Colour Blind Awareness site and they will give you some visuals and further explain color blindness.
Elisabeth,
ReplyDeleteYour opening is very catchy. You immediately had me hooked. Congratulations on your OWN library! I can visualize you in there laughing. :)
I absolutely LOVED how you described walking in YOUR library for the first time. You described it perfectly. There is nothing like it. And the more you change things to fit how you see your community, the more it becomes YOUR library. Sounds like we need to have a marker/shape-making party! It would be a lot more fun with a group of friends rather than by yourself...kinda like raking leaves. Karla should be very proud of you!
ReplyDeleteMy volunteers have helped a lot, but a great idea and sounds like a plan for a party!
ReplyDeleteso what's your plan to fix the color-codes? What are the symbols going to be? I love artsy crafts stuff, so I hope you get to have fun with labeling all your books (know that in spirit I am there with you enjoying the heck out it)!
ReplyDeleteSuch a good point too. I team-teach English so I know the importance of differentiation in the lessons and ensuring the assignments are easily understood by all, but I never thought about the library needing that too--great point!
My color code was to leave the dark blue dot alone, but the others would get a solid black circle, square or triangle in the center or a hollow black circle square or triangle. I have volunteers who are doing a fabulous job of it!
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