This is the hard part. I grew up in libraries. When I am surrounded by books, I’m in a library. But when I substitute for the elementary school Librarian–I mean Media Specialist–I need to answer the phone, “Media Center.” When the students come to library, the class, I need to instruct them on how to find books in the “Media Center.”
I love being surrounded by books. Whenever I have a moment, I browse the shelves looking for classics and authors I know. But students need to find books quickly. In one class period, they don’t have time to explore the library, and they shouldn’t just pull out books searching for something interesting because invariably they will shove the books back in the wrong spaces.
Remember how I said I learn so much substitute teaching? Well, after reminding the classes all day long that non-fiction is divided by subjects in the Dewey Decimal System and then giving each class the numerical breakdown provided on the cheat sheet prepared by the Librarian [drat! Media Specialist], one of the fourth grade classes asked me if I wanted the class to sing the Dewey Decimal System song.
“A song!” I exclaimed. “Absolutely.” What a wonderful way to help students learn, making knowledge into music, the information into a song. It works. I still remember, from sixth grade, the preposition list song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.
This class of experienced singers knew every word to the Dewey Decimal Song, and soon I found myself swaying to the tune of I’ve Been Working on the Railroad. Unfortunately, I can’t find the specific words online to the Dewey Decimal System song, or the song sung to the tune of I’ve Been Working on the Railroad. However, I did find teachers singing the Dewey Decimal System song to the tune of Louie Louie by the Kingsmen.
What do you think? Doesn’t knowledge through song make it easier to remember? What songs do you remember from school?
The video is hilarious, Victoria! It's hard to hear all the words they're saying, but very entertaining!
Yes, definitely. Song or rhyme helps me to remember stuff I wouldn't normally remember.
Thank you Ellen and Lynda. I found the Dewey, Dewey video funny too. It's a shame we can't understand the words, though. My fourth graders knew their words!
It is amazing how music, or song, and rhyme can help people remember facts, words, definitions, anything. I think that the song or tune needs to be familiar to children so that they only have to remember the content.
Thank you both for reading my blog.
~Victoria Marie
Oh, I loved visiting libraries as a kid. I never saw librarian up to substitute. I think when the sub isn't there, they close the library for the day.
I remember a Dewey Decimal song from when I was in 3rd grade. Li and Berry in the libraries nooks.
Media specialist makes sense now that the card catalog is on-line and students often come in just to use computers.
This is true, Theresa. The libraries of today encompass much more media than in the past. It truly IS a center for "Media." However, I don't feel that the term "Librarian" is old school, for Librarians are highly knowledgeable.
Isn't music a great way to remember information? I wish I knew the Dewey Decimal song to help ME in the Media Center.
Thank you so much for reading my blog. I know you are soooo busy.
~Victoria Marie
Stopping by to say hi, Victoria. Hope you're doing well.
Thank you, Theresa, for stopping by. I am well and hope you are too. I know you are so busy with all your writing, substituting, and graduate classes.
Good luck with everything!
~Victoria Marie