Summer Time is Back To School Time

Summer is nearly here and the professional development continues. I’m really excited about returning to the Teacher Librarian Distance Learning diploma program through the University of Alberta. This summer’s selection: Children and Young Adult Literature. The course is exciting with a heavy pre-load of reading–including Sylvia Vardell’s text–(it is only five weeks long!); I’m excited to expand my knowledge of young adult literature and other related media. The course requires reading at least fifty children and young adult items, create a book trailer, and complete a profile on a selected illustrator. Young adult literate and reading advisory is definitely a recognized personal ‘weakness’–one that I have yet to develop since becoming a TL two and half years ago–and yet one of the most critical of the teacher-librarian. Admittedly, this part of the job has taken a back seat to other duties such as curricular-based selection of resources, and days filled with technology education learning with teachers and students. I’m really looking forward to this class and the collegiality that develops among classmates via WebCT. So, what are you doing for professional development this summer?