Today’s teachers fulfill so many roles. They motivate, inspire, and lead. They can open doors and provide experiences that many students may not have otherwise. I want to be an educator so that I can change lives, build connections with students, and help them see the importance and value of education, particularly reading, research, and technology. I hope that all students leave my classroom with a love and appreciation of these subjects. One of my main goals as a School Library Media Specialist is to show them that learning can be both fun and educational.

I believe that there is a book for every student, even one who doesn’t think that reading is fun. Through appropriate collection development and readers’ advisory, a School Library Media Specialist can help every student find something to read and enjoy.

I believe that students must be taught to appropriately use technology. Technology, media, and Web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis are (presumably) going to continue to be used in the future for business and education, and students should know how to interact with these programs and applications.

I also believe that students should understand how to think critically about information and not just accept it as fact. Students should learn to check for accuracy and possible biases. Whether the information is available in a book, website, or movie, students should be active consumers of media and give thought to the origin of the information.

As an SLMS, I plan to teach literature appreciation, multimedia, information literacy, and research in a collaborative and fun way. Technology can be easily incorporated into many types of lessons to help the students relate to their work. For example, a simple lesson about fairy tales can turn into a fun and engaging project by having students create digital stories that combine text, images, sound, and technology. Literature appreciation can connect with technology through blogged book reviews or video booktalks.

According to John Dewey, students learn what they do. Consequently, I plan to make my media center as hands-on and interactive as possible. I believe that students will gain more knowledge by completing activities themselves rather than just listening to me. I also plan to incorporate Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory and try to engage all students, no matter how they learn. Many of my lessons will incorporate reading, discussion, technology, and visuals to cater to multiple types of learners.

My lessons will be primarily inspired by the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner. AASL Common Beliefs such as “Reading is a window to the world” and “Technology skills are crucial for future employment needs” align perfectly with two of my main teaching beliefs. Specific standards such as 1.2.4 (Maintain a critical stance by questioning the validity and accuracy of all information) can help me to create focused lesson plans that accomplish necessary educational goals. I will also align my lessons to fit with the NJ CCCS standards, such as Technology standard 8.1.12.A.3: “Participate in online courses, learning communities, social networks, or virtual worlds and recognize them as resources for lifelong learning.”

A media center can be and should be a central location in a school for the education and entertainment of both students and faculty. Media Specialists can create this environment.