The Benefits of Collaborating With Your School Librarian

Working with a peer to develop projects for your students can enrich your instruction and support student engagement.

By Jason DeHart

Edutopia

June 30, 2025

Summary for Educators: The Benefits of Collaborating With Your School Librarian By Jason DeHart, Edutopia, June 30, 2025
Original article: https://www.edutopia.org/article/benefits-collaborating-school-libr...

Collaboration between teachers and school librarians can significantly enrich student learning and engagement, particularly in the realm of literacy. In his article, Jason DeHart reflects on a yearlong collaborative project with his school’s media specialist, focusing on integrating graphic novels into the high school American literature curriculum. This partnership not only fostered innovative instruction but also created a multidimensional, student-centered learning environment.

Shared Vision Sparks Innovation

The collaboration stemmed from a shared interest in graphic novels and a mutual goal to build a robust comics-based collection in the school library. DeHart emphasizes that meaningful educational partnerships often start with informal dialogue and common goals. His media specialist had long expressed interest in working with the English department and had already co-led creative library-based activities such as National Poetry Month projects. These early efforts laid the groundwork for deeper curricular integration and a successful grant proposal to fund their graphic novel initiative.

Structured Yet Flexible Project Design

DeHart and the media specialist crafted a structured, multi-phase project that allowed students to interact with comics critically and creatively. The process began with an introduction to comics grammar—familiarizing students with elements like panels, word balloons, and layout strategies. Students then selected a historical period in American history, conducted research using library resources and online tools, and compared their findings with the portrayal of that period in selected graphic novels.

Following the research phase, students presented their historical findings, emphasizing insights gained from both scholarly research and the narrative lens of comics. They were then invited to complete a “free read” of a graphic novel of their choice, fostering student agency and literary curiosity.

From Research to Creation

The culminating phase required students to create their own one-page comic, using either print or digital tools like Google Docs, Canva, or Pixton. Students had full autonomy over the subject matter—ranging from personal spring break stories to wildly imaginative tales—highlighting the accessibility and creative flexibility of the comics medium. This element of creation not only reinforced their understanding of comics grammar but also empowered students to communicate their stories in a visual, engaging format.

DeHart underscores the importance of selecting relevant and age-appropriate materials. For this project, they used Saddleback’s Graphic U.S. History series, as well as resources from Campfire Graphic Novels and Macmillan’s First Second With History Comics. These texts covered a wide range of periods—from the colonial era to contemporary issues—offering students diverse entry points into American history.

Impact on Engagement and Community

The collaboration didn’t end with the project’s completion. The media specialist and DeHart are planning to co-lead a shared homeroom in the following academic year, continuing their partnership to enrich student learning. Throughout the initiative, students regularly visited the library, and the media specialist co-taught lessons, reinforcing the idea that learning isn’t confined to traditional classroom walls.

This collaborative approach demonstrates how co-teaching with librarians can breathe new life into instruction. The integration of graphic novels supported deeper historical understanding, promoted student choice, and provided an avenue for creativity. It also modeled professional collaboration for students, showing that meaningful educational outcomes often stem from teamwork and shared vision.

Ultimately, DeHart’s experience illustrates that the school library is not just a repository of books—it’s a dynamic space for instructional innovation. By partnering with school librarians, educators can craft interdisciplinary, student-driven experiences that elevate learning outcomes and foster a love for literacy in all its forms.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com