The 4th Annual Human Library
Wow. The Human Library was a huge success this year; it's hard to believe, but it grew in size again. In it's first year we had a handful of living books and less than 100 sign outs; this year we had 32 living books and over 1,600 appointments! Last year I spent over 40 hours just on the scheduling, but I had it down this year so that even though I was working from 8pm-1am over Spring Break, I managed to complete the scheduling in about 28 hours!
It's so neat to walk around during the event and see just how engaged the students are. Are there a few who "drift off"? Of course, but the overwhelming majority of students were actively listening, even leaning in toward their living books. One thing our students could improve upon is asking questions--some books felt that it was too one-sided. I'm not quite sure how to address this issue, especially since it was raised last year too. Grade 9's were supposed to have 1 question ready, but either that wasn't enough, or not enough actually asked their question :-) Asking questions is actually really important during job interviews, so perhaps that is how we can work on it in advance of the Human Library and help make the connection between it and job interview day more clear.
Books this year included 2 women who survived very difficult childhoods, 2 cancer survivors, social activists, lots of career books (firefighter, RCMP, doctor, piercer, dance instructors, business women, radio DJ, meteorologists, former literature professor, former actor, stunt woman, business owners, hairstylist,etc.). I am very proud that I put in the extra time so that students are only signing out living books that interest them, and I knew that it was paying off when students were sticking around at breaks and after-school to continue their conversations with the living books! I certainly hope that the Human Library will continue at GMS and spread to more schools so that more students can have the opportunity to meet potential mentors.
It's so neat to walk around during the event and see just how engaged the students are. Are there a few who "drift off"? Of course, but the overwhelming majority of students were actively listening, even leaning in toward their living books. One thing our students could improve upon is asking questions--some books felt that it was too one-sided. I'm not quite sure how to address this issue, especially since it was raised last year too. Grade 9's were supposed to have 1 question ready, but either that wasn't enough, or not enough actually asked their question :-) Asking questions is actually really important during job interviews, so perhaps that is how we can work on it in advance of the Human Library and help make the connection between it and job interview day more clear.
Books this year included 2 women who survived very difficult childhoods, 2 cancer survivors, social activists, lots of career books (firefighter, RCMP, doctor, piercer, dance instructors, business women, radio DJ, meteorologists, former literature professor, former actor, stunt woman, business owners, hairstylist,etc.). I am very proud that I put in the extra time so that students are only signing out living books that interest them, and I knew that it was paying off when students were sticking around at breaks and after-school to continue their conversations with the living books! I certainly hope that the Human Library will continue at GMS and spread to more schools so that more students can have the opportunity to meet potential mentors.