Foreword by Gail K. Dickinson

Your library is your classroom, and you are responsible for it no matter what’s happening there. Ineffective classroom management can hamper or completely negate your efforts at creating a strong library program, and that’s true whether you’re a new school librarian just starting out or one with many years under your belt. This powerful resource from Hilda K. Weisburg, drawing from her decades of mentorship and hard-won wisdom, will show you how to prevent, deal with, and overcome discipline problems you may face when communicating with and teaching K-12 students. You’ll also learn ways to make the library a welcoming environment and incorporate trauma-informed learning into your practice. As you read, you’ll gain crucial insights on issues such as

• how to stay centered and focused by drawing up plans, guidelines, and policies that will give you a formal basis for your decisions and actions;
• the differences between management and control;
• cooperation, collaboration, and co-teaching—and where curriculum fits in;
• techniques for handling distractions, disruptions, and defiance;
• practical steps for creating a safe and welcoming space through guidance on equity, diversity, and inclusion;
• time management as a tool for juggling extra responsibilities such as book clubs and extra-curricular activities;
• strategies for coping with stress when you feel overwhelmed; and
• ending the year right by creating your own checklist of “closing” tasks, including assessment and reflection.

Complete with Key Ideas at the end of each chapter that will assist you in real-world implementation, Weisburg’s go-to reference will guide you through the special challenges that come with managing the school library classroom.