We have had
an exciting start to term one in the library.
A large number of students have volunteered to be library monitors and
it is wonderful to see such interest in keeping the library running smoothly. I
am thrilled to be working with this new group of dedicated monitors.
The library
program is well underway and is outlined as follows:
K/6J
The students
will read together each week using the digital books in World Book Online Early
World of Learning and will follow links to the related film clips, pictures and
activities incorporated in the program
Each reading
task will be supported with a related fiction or non-fiction text which will be
jointly read using the interactive whiteboard.
The students
will then complete each lesson with a worksheet related to the theme studied in
the lesson.
Author
Studies:
Author
studies enable teachers to share quality literature with their students. As the
students share the excitement of exposure to engaging literature the skills of
comprehension and communication emerge. The students gain a deeper attachment
to books and critical thinking skills, reading skills and writing skills
develop and improve.
Kindergarten
The students
will undertake an author study of the work of Pamela Allen. She is an award
winning author who has enchanted children for over thirty years. Her books are
full of the music of language and are designed to be read aloud and shared.
Year One
The students
will undertake an author study of the work of Eric Carle.
Eric Carle
is an international bestselling and award-winning author and illustrator of
more than seventy books for very young children including his most well-known
title The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Year Two
A unit of
work has been designed to introduce the students to junior chapter books with a
view to encouraging them to borrow from the vast and varied assortment in the
library collection.
Developing a love of reading as a recreational activity would be the most important goal of this program.
Making time for exposure to high quality literature enables students to become enthusiastic readers. They are given the opportunity to travel to interesting places, understand other cultures, explore a range emotions and new experiences and broaden their horizons.
Stage Two
(Years 3 and 4)
The students
will undertake a study of the narrative structure. Narrative structure is the
structural framework that underlies the order and manner in which a story is
presented to readers, listeners and viewers. The two elements of the narrative
structure are the plot and the setting.
The students
will read the original Grimm brothers’ version of the story of Hansel and
Gretel. They will then read the Anthony Browne version noting similarities and
differences in the retelling. Particular attention will be paid to character,
setting, plot, point of view and illustrations.
The students
will then undertake a study of a digital retelling and analyse such elements as
music, sound effects, characterisation, intended audience, salience and
cinematic techniques.
Stage Three
(Years 5 and 6)
Poetry is an
important branch of literature. Poetry provides a gateway to becoming literate
as students are given the opportunity to delight and engage while increasing
their skills of critical analysis.
Poems use a variety of techniques -- metaphor,
imagery, rhyme and meter -- to convey meaning. As students identify these
techniques and analyse the manner in which they function in a poem their
analytical and critical skills improve.
Providing
students wth the opportunity to write poetry gives them the opportunity to
express themselves creatively.
This unit of
study is designed in two formats. There is a digital lesson which can be undertaken
in pairs and a formal class lesson. This series of
lessons will be undertaken in rotating groups.
