Portfolio Matrix M.Ed.

/Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media

Title Student Name: Jessica Garris

Portfolio Matrix and Reflections
Semester/Year: Fall 2017
Description
Portfolio Matrix to be completed while candidates are taking MEDT 7487 Practicum

Portfolio Matrix

Roles of the SLMS: Leader, Instructional Partner, Information Specialist, Teacher, Program Administrator

Program AASL PSC/NCATE Standards Roles of SLMS and Reflection Connecting Outcomes,
Outcomes Standards Artifacts Standards, and Artifacts
1. Candidates 1.1 Knowledge of PSC Roles: Instructional Pathfinders: In MEDT 7474, I had to
demonstrate Learners and Learning 1.e Knowledge and Skills Partner, Information develop Pathfinders that aligned to 5th
content, 3.1 Efficient and Ethical 3.c Help All Students Learn Specialist, Teacher grade standards for the Civil War. I
pedagogical, and Information-Seeking 7.d Integration of incorporated various databases available
professional Behavior Instructional Technology Artifacts: through Galileo and focused on
knowledge and 3.4 Research and 7.e Georgia P-12 Pathfinders including primary source documents. I
skills Knowledge Creation Curriculum explicitly stated in my overview that
4.4 Advocacy Research Cheatsheets many of the resources in Galileo could
5.1 Collections NCATE be filtered based on Lexile reading level,
5.3 Personnel, Funding, 1.e Knowledge and Skills MackinVIA Screencast allowing for students to locate
and Facilities 3.c Help All Students Learn information on their level.
PR for the Media
Center Research Cheatsheets: I initially
developed a research cheatsheet for one
Media Center Website of Woodlands ESOL classes. Her
students were struggling with
Notes from meeting w/ remembering what database to use when,
principal and asked that I do a lesson with her
small group. She brought her five
Collection students in to the library for a small
Development group lesson. This allowed me to focus
on the databases specific to them and
allowed me to provide them with the
one-on-one support they needed. I
developed the cheatsheet for them to
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media

keep in their binders, and all the students

said it was very helpful. I ended up doing
the same lesson with a group of 4th and
5th grade IRR students.

MackinVIA Screencast: MackinVIA is

the online hub for all of Woodlands
ebooks and digital databases. Many
teachers were struggling with effectively
and efficiently using the database, so for
my MEDT 7468 course, I developed a
screencast for accessing the various
resources in MackinVIA. I shared it in
one of my Smores (online newsletter)
and also posted it to my website.

PR for the Media Center: The school

library media specialist has to advocate
for their position and the importance of
what they do. I made it a point when I
first came into the SLMS position to start
advocating for why the SLMS is so
important. I have developed an online
presence on Twitter by sharing the many
things that take place in the media
center. This year, I have started posting
to Class Dojos storyline, so over 1200
parents can see when I post something
on my website.

Media Center Website: The school

library website is a vital tool for me. I
update it regularly with resources,
Pathfinders, new and featured books
(book talks), and various other resources.
I have a section for teachers, for
students, and for parents.
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media

Notes from meeting w/ principal: I meet

with my principal at the beginning of
every school year to discuss personnel,
funding, and use of the media center
space. Over the past two years, my
principal has increased the funding
allocated specifically to the media center
and has allowed for me to create a
functional library that can be used
simultaneously for various needs.

Collection Development: Developing an

elementary library collection is no small
fete. Many hours are spent researching
new and noteworthy books by reviewing
various book lists. Of course, not every
book is on one of these lists, for I do get
recommendations from students and
teachers. When I purchase eBooks, I
make sure the books align to the content
and that the book is available in a multi-
user perpetual format.
2. Candidates 1.2 Effective and PSC Roles: Leader, 2 Year SLM Program Development: I
develop, Knowledgeable Teacher 1.f Student Learning Program Administrator worked with three team members from
implement, and 1.3 Instructional Partner 3.c Help All Students Learn my MEDT 7478 to develop a 2-year
evaluate learning 2.1 Literature 4.a Curriculum and Artifacts: school wide media program plan for
opportunities for 2.2 Reading Promotion Experiences 2 Year SLM Program middle school. The various programs
all students 3.2 Access to Information 4.d Working with Diverse Development cover a wide range of Common Core
3.3 Information Students in P-12 Schools standards while ultimately promoting a
Technology 7.c Children with Special Co-taught lessons love of literacy. Some of the programs
Needs are sustained throughout the year while
7.d Integration of Partners in Literacy others are promoted for a month. All
Instructional Technology Coordinator programs take into consideration the
diversity of all learners and their unique
NCATE Daily Book Talks needs. Despite the plan being for middle
1.f Student Learning schoolers, some of the programs can be
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media
3.c Help All Students Learn
4.a Curriculum and
Experiences
4.d Working with Diverse
Students in P-12 Schools
Resource Lists for each implemented in my elementary media
grade level center. One such idea program is the
lunch bunch book club. Finding time to
Pathfinders start a book club is hard when I have
morning, lunch, and afternoon duties.
WES Tech Team Because the group would meet only once
a week, this is more manageable then
attempting to meet more than once a
week.
Co-taught lessons: I see every class at
least once a month for a library lesson
that I oversee planning and teaching.
These are typically research focused and
incorporate current content standards. I
also plan and implement lessons with
various teachers where I am acting as a
co-teacher. I go to the teachers
classroom, and we work as one to deliver
the lesson. Before lesson
implementation, we determine what
standard we would like to address, what
we would like the students to be able to
do, and how we will know they have
mastered the content.
Partners in Literacy Coordinator: I am
the lead coordinator for a program called
Partners in Literacy. This program was
developed 15 years ago and connects
volunteers from the community with at-
risk first graders. I oversee sustaining
and promoting the program. I also have
to maintain the budget and purchase high
interest, high readability books for the
program. The first grade teachers,
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media

students, and volunteers love taking part

in this program.

Daily Book Talks: Last year, I began

Book Talks on the morning news show.
This is an opportunity for me to share
new or lesser-known books with the
entire school. Last year, I did the book
talks on the morning news, but this year,
a student has taken over the broadcast. I
work with the student to help me
determine what books should be
highlighted. We typically choose a
theme and then go from there. This has
increased circulation of many lesser
known titles.

Resource Lists for each grade level:

Within MackinVIA and on my website, I
have developed resource lists for each
grade level. I also offer teachers the
opportunity to sign up for a lesson where
I use some of the mentioned resources
and incorporate technology. During these
lessons, I briefly mention ISTE or AASL
standards.

WES Tech Team: I am in charge of the

WES Teach Team, an idea I piloted last
year. I have a group of 20 fifth graders
that I train to troubleshoot various
technology malfunctions. Once they
have learned the basics of
troubleshooting, I send the teams to their
designated grade levels where they turn
on all computers and make sure
everything is in working order. If there is
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media

an issue they cannot fix, they fill out a

tech support request ticket on Google
Forms.
3. Candidates 1.4 Integration of PSC Roles: Leader, Media Center Website: I use my website
demonstrate Twenty-First Century 1.g Professional Instructional Partner, as a resource hub for parents, teachers,
professional Skills and Learning Dispositions Information Specialist students, and other school library media
dispositions and Standards 3.c Help All Students Learn specialists. I post blogs about trainings I
ethics 2.4 Literacy Strategies 7.f Ethical Standards Artifacts: attend or new resources I have found that
3.1 Efficient and Ethical Media Center Website I think other media specialists should
Information-Seeking NCATE know about.
Behavior 1.g Professional Personalized Learning
4.1. Networking with the Dispositions Committee Personalized Learning Committee: I am
Library Community 3.c Help All Students Learn a member on the Personalized Learning
4.2 Professional GaETC Committee and work with four other
Development school leaders to develop and implement
4.3 Leadership Twitter Presentation personalized learning lessons and
5.2 Professional Ethics strategies. This process started three
PD @ Faculty Meeting years ago, and now all third through fifth
grade students have their own device. I
Common Sense Media was in charge of developing and sharing
Digital Citizenship professional development about the one-
to-one initiative.
Pathfinders
GaETC: I attend the annual GaETC and
am expected to redeliver some new or
interesting information I received at the
conference. Often times, there is a meet
up for FCS media specialists at the
GaETC, and we share resources from the
various sessions we attended.

Twitter Presentation: Every year, I

oversee delivering a PD about Twitter to
the FCS media specialists. Many media
specialists are still hesitant in using
Twitter, but a lot have started using
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media

Twitter as a networking tool to connect

with other media specialists.

PD @ Faculty Meeting: Each month, I

deliver a 10 minute PD at the beginning
of a mandatory faculty meeting. The PDs
range from How to use ______
database to What is digital
citizenship.

Common Sense Media Digital

Citizenship: All media specialists in
Fulton are responsible for securing
Common Sense Media Digital
Citizenship certification for their school.
This entails each grade level receiving
nearly four hours of DC lessons, four
face-to-face parent trainings, and two
hours of teacher professional
development. These requirements must
be met and proof provided in order to
receive certification.

4. Candidates 1.1 Knowledge of PSC Roles: Leader, Media Committee: The following
demonstrate Learners and Learning 1.f Student Learning Teacher, Program information is provided each year from
ability to serve 1.2 Effective and 3.c Help All Students Learn Administrator the media services director:
needs of diverse Knowledgeable Teacher 4.a Curriculum and
populations 2.3 Respect for Diversity Experiences Artifacts: FCS Board policy requires each school
including special 3.2 Access to Information 4.d Working with Diverse Media Committee to have an active and functioning media
needs 5.4 Strategic Planning and Students in P-12 Schools committee. Media committees at the
Assessment 7.c Children with Special Personalized Learning school level will be formed for the
Needs Committee purpose of recommending short-range
7.d Integration of and long-range goals; budget priorities;
Technology Media Center Website operation, utilization, and accessibility
procedures; developing a selection
NCATE process for media center materials: and
handling requests for reconsideration of
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media
4.a Curriculum and
Experiences
4.d Working with Diverse
Students in P-12 Schools
Parent Academy: PDs materials. The committee should have
for parents focusing on representation from administrative,
diverse learning needs instructional, and media personnel, along
Lesson Examples with student, community and parent
representatives.
Impact on Learning
My media committee formally meets at
Collection the beginning and end of the year, but I
Development am in constant contact with all members,
including the students. Typically, when I
meet with the students, we meet during
their lunch time to discuss what types of
materials they would like to see in the
media center or how the media center
can better support their learning needs.
Personalized Learning Committee: Being
part of the Personalized Learning
Committee, I have the opportunity share
resources and tools that can help teachers
meet the diverse needs of their students,
including students with special needs.
This has also raised an awareness within
the school as to how important
technology is to this population of
students.
Media Center Website: In my blog posts,
I include resources specific to various
cultures. For example, during Hispanic
Heritage Month, I post websites, videos,
and books that celebrate the Hispanic
heritage. I do not focus only on ethnic
groups, for I also include posts about
religious holidays and gender groups.
Portfolio Matrix M.Ed./Add-On/Initial Certification in School Library Media

Parent Academy: PDs for parents

focusing on diverse learning needs. This
parent training comes directly from
Common Sense Media and highlights
various tools that support various
learning needs.

Collection Development: When I first

took over the media specialist position, I
had to analyze the collection and came to
the stark realization that the collection
did not represent Woodlands diverse
population. We ended up weeding four
thousand books and have since been
building up our collection specifically to
represent our population.

http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/toolkits/bldnglvl/09_NovDec_Ballard.pdf