CURIOUS MINDS

Ms Tracey Porter Junior Teacher Librarian

In the realm of Ms Tracey Porter, Junior Teacher Librarian, a passion for words and the enchantment of books is found in every corner. Dedicated to making each lesson more captivating than the last, she is the recipient of a Wenona Seeding Grant, and heading to Melbourne to enhance her practice through an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme lens.

In the prevailing narrative, technology looms as a spectre of demise for libraries, yet in my experience, it is actually breathing new life into them. In schools especially, the extraordinary pace of change is making the role of the librarian more important than ever.

Printed words are still at the core of the Wenona School Library, but today’s students are drawn to the exciting process of learning online, experimenting, and creating something new. They are also navigating a sea of information filled with misinformation. Developing critical thinking skills and learning to read with discernment are no longer a luxury but a necessity.

At the same time, each child’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder have to be nurtured and preserved. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) is a powerful approach to preparing children for an uncertain future, focusing on inquiry-based, creative, and collaborative learning. IBPYP librarians play a key role in connecting learner profiles, skills, and concepts to stories and Units of Inquiry. Working with classroom teachers, they enhance learning by integrating new technologies and building relationships with students for deeper, more meaningful research.

I’m fascinated by this approach but still learning its intricacies. Thanks to the Wenona Seeding Grant, I’ll be visiting two established IBPYP schools in Melbourne next month to observe best practices and bring back ideas to share with my colleagues.

Reaching out to peers at top independent schools was nerve-wracking, but I was pleasantly surprised by their warmth and enthusiasm.

My Melbourne trip will also include visits to some of the country’s best libraries and attending the School Library Association of Victoria’s (SLAV) Capacity Building School Libraries conference, focusing on supporting student learning amid rapid technological change.

I’ll be documenting my experiences through short videos on the Wenona School and Wenona Library Instagram accounts, to share my growing knowledge and to inspire more staff to connect with peers as a way to improve their teaching practice. As I’ve discovered, people are often more willing to help than we might think!