Reading Adventures In Term Four

 

This term we plan to explore the wonderful shortlisted and notable texts that were earmarked for term three before we were plunged into lock down.

The book week theme this year is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. In our library in Term 4 we will be exploring many worlds as we study the books that have been placed on the Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable List and Shortlist.

 The books on the Notable list this year showcase the huge talent of our authors and illustrators and contain a wide range of themes, characters and stories. It is stated on the CBCA website that the awards aim to:

·        promote quality literature for young Australians.

·        support and encourage a wide range of Australian writers and illustrators of children’s books.

·        celebrate contributions to Australian children’s literature.

We have a large collection from this year’s notable list in our library and term four will see all of the students at Cromer embarking on some exciting reading adventures.

The titles to be studied are as follows:

Kindergarten

Norton and the Bear by Gabriel Evans

Anemone Is Not the Enemy by Anna McGregor

Evie Is All Ears by Kellie Byrnes and Lesley McGee

Sing Me a Summer by Jane Godwin and Alison Lester

There's No Such Thing by Heidie McKinnon

Bear in Space by Deborah Abela and Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Busy Beaks by Sarah Allen

What Do You Call Your Grandpa? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczak

No! Never! by Libby Hathorn and Lisa Hathorn-Jarman

I'll Always Be Older then You by Jane Godwin and Sara Acton

Soon by Libby Gleeson

 

Stage One

Good Question - A Tale Told Backwards by Sue Whiting and Annie White

Wolfred by Nick Bland

The Small Blue Dot by Zeno Swarder

Bin Chicken by Kate and Jol Temple

Pink by Margaret Wild and Judith Rossell

I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me by Maggie Hutchings and Evie Barrow

Welcome Home to Country by Bronwyn Bancroft

Ellie's Dragon by Bob Graham

The Fire Wombat by Jackie French

Hello Jimmy by Anna Walker

 

Stage two

How to Make a Bird by Meg McKinlay and Matt Ottley

Anisa's Alphabet by Mike Dumbleton and Hannah Summerville

The Biscuit Maker by Sue Lawson and Liz Anelli

Girl from the Sea by Margaret Wild and Jane Tanner

Wolfred by Nick Bland

Jelly -Boy by Nicole Godwin and Christopher Nelson

The Unwilling Twin by Freya Blackwood

LittleLight by Kelly Canby

 

Stage Three

The students will study the book We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad. This book has been shortlisted in the category of Book of the Year for Younger Readers. I consider it to be the best of those selected.

At the end of each session the students will be asked to write a reflection on what has been read. They will be asked to:

Consider their reactions to the events and the actions of the main characters.

Make predictions about what will happen next.

Place themselves in the shoes of the main characters and consider how they would act in the same situation.

Reflect on their understanding and enjoyment of the story.

Finish with an illustration of their favourite event.

We also have a range of books from the Notable and Short List which will be available for borrowing.

 

 

 

 

Unexpected Outcomes In Term Three

 We had great plans for our program in term three but Covid managed to change it all.

I have been on leave during term three and the online learning has been handled by Miss Remmington and Mrs Farr. They have done an outstanding job and I am very grateful for their hard work and dedication in difficult times.

The term four program will incorporate the units of work that we had planned before lockdown. There are wonderful new texts to study and I am sure that the students will enjoy the latest releases from outstandiang Australian authors and illustrators.

Reading Fun in Term Two

 

National Simultaneous Storytime

 

On Wednesday May 19^th our school will participate in National Simultaneous Storytime. Over one million children across Australia and New Zealand will read together the book Give Me Some Space by Philip Bunting. This year we have been excited to learn that the book will be read to us by astronauts from the International Space Station. We are really looking forward to this event.

 

The Term Two Program

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.

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.

 

Stage One

Nick Bland is one of our foremost Australian authors for children. His work which is loaded with engaging rhythm and rhyme and colourful illustrations which support the texts results in a sense of adventure and enjoyment for all readers. This term the students in stage one will undertake a study of ten books by Nick Bland. It is expected that, as the students are exposed to such language features as rhyme, repetition alliteration and personification supported by high quality illustrations they will be entertained and inspired to write creatively.

 

Stage Two

The library studies unit of work has been designed to support the Geography studies being undertaken in the classroom. We are addressing the question:

How do people's perceptions about places influence their views about the protection of places?

The question will be answered by investigating landmarks, national parks and sacred sites in Australia. We will research such places as Uluru, Kakadu and the Great Barrier Reef as well as such landmarks as the Sydney Opera House and Luna Park.

 

Stage Three

The purpose of the unit of study is to introduce the students to examples of quality literature. The books selected have either been short listed in previous years or have been popular choices for stage three students in the past. Multiple copies of the texts have been purchased to meet the borrowing demand. It is, therefore, advantageous to introduce these texts to the new wave of stage three students for their interest and enjoyment.

Differentiation: Texts at various levels are included in the study to meet the reading needs and tastes of the diverse range of students.

Welcome to Term One 2021

Welcome to the library in term one. We welcome Mrs Farr who will be teaching in the library on Thursdays and Fridays. 

The Premier's Reading Challenge

 The Premier’s Reading Challenge opened on March 1st and must be completed by Friday August 20th. The students can access the PRC student page from their student portal. Instructions are given to the students in library lessons on how to manage their reading log. 

Kindergarten

 The students will study the difference between fiction and nonfiction books. The pictures, words and elements of both genres and the reason for reading them will be examined. 

Visual Literacy

 The students in grades one to six will develop their understanding of how stories can be communicated using images- both still images and moving images. Through an in-depth study of  wordless picture books and picture books with text, at their own level, they will explore how visual narratives are constructed. They will engage in interpretation of the settings, events, characters and themes expressed in these texts. They will also learn some of the visual codes and conventions used by illustrators to communicate their stories and engage with their audience. We have a very wide range of books in the library at all reading levels which enable the students to gain a greater understanding of the elements of visual literacy. They will also be encouraged to use these elements in their own experiences as illustrators.

We are off to a great start in the library and look forward to many reading adventures.