Collaboration between teachers and library media specialists can take two forms: instructional collaboration where they plan, teach, and assess curriculum together, and administrative collaboration where administrators and library media specialists coordinate efforts to improve student learning. While collaboration combines expertise and prevents isolation, obstacles like specialized roles, schedules, and perceptions must be overcome. Achieving full instructional collaboration is ideal and involves jointly planning a curriculum unit from start to finish using tools like a collaborative planning organizer.

1. Making a Case for Collaboration What it is, why it matters, and how to do it

2. What is collaboration? Instructional Collaboration Teachers and library media specialists working together to plan, teach, and assess curriculum standards. Administrative Collaboration Administrators and library media specialists coordinating and cooperating for improved student learning.

3. The Charm and Challenge of Collaboration Benefits Combines areas of expertise and talent Combats isolation Prevents overextension Creates synergy (combined effect greater than the sum of separate effects)

4. The Charm and Challenge of Collaboration Obstacles Specialized roles School infrastructure Time/schedule Perception/fear Good working relationships require conscious care

5. Areas of Administrative Collaboration Scheduling/Usage Budgeting Advocacy

6. Levels of Instructional Collaboration No interaction Full collaboration Partial collaboration Some interaction Beginning collaboration

7. Levels of Instructional Collaboration Full collaboration Partial collaboration Beginning collaboration No interaction Some interaction

8. Achieving Instructional Collaboration What does full collaboration look like? Practical Example: Barbara Jansen, Library Media Specialist, St. Andrew’s HS, Austin Using a Collaborative Planning Organizer to accomplish this work