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.

Term Four

 

 

The Library Program

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.

Teaching the difference between fiction and nonfiction requires students to understand the difference between real and make-believe. Large-group and small-group activities will give the students practice in identifying the different types of books.

Each week examples of both genres will be presented dealing with a particular theme. Interactive digital activities related to the theme will also be included in the program.

 

Stage One

In this course of study, the students will learn the value of reading nonfiction texts.  The aim is to enable the students to learn about the features of nonfiction texts and gather, discuss and reflect upon new information.

Quality nonfiction helps students to build their vocabulary. It also fosters critical thinking and information-gathering skills.

A wide variety of texts have been chosen to inform the students of the range of quality nonfiction texts that are available in our library.

 

Stage Two

Visual knowledge is understanding how visual elements such as line, colour, shape, texture, space, symbols, pattern and composition create meaning.

The students will study visual literacy in line with an author study of the work of Colin Thompson.

They will identify the following elements which are features of the work of the author:

 

·      Happy endings

·      Everyone winning

·      Nonviolent resolution

·      Imaginative and creative

·      Challenging stereotypes

·      Faith and hope

·      Peace with the environment

 

 

Stage Three

The students in stage three will study the text Good Selfie by Turia Pitt. The following Booktopia review states:

Good Selfie contains simple strategies to help kids and teens build self-confidence, get through hard times and go after massive goals. It’s real, straight-talking and funny and it's garnering incredible reviews the world over.

Inside this beautifully illustrated and psychologist-reviewed book, Turia explores how to:

·      build self-confidence and self-belief

·      get through hard times

·      re-frame the way you see your life and your challenges

·      set and get big goals

·      create a high-quality support crew

·      It’s basically a teen’s guide to a resilient mindset and leading their best life.

Term One 2020

Welcome to Cromer Public School library in 2020. This year the library will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday mornings before school. It will open at second half lunch time on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. We have lots of wonderful new books in the library and are excited to see so many students borrowing and enjoying their reading.




Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge opens on March 2^nd and we look forward to seeing an even larger number of Cromer students taking the challenge this year.

The Library Program for Term One

Kindergarten

The students in kindergarten will undertake an author study of the work of Bruce Whatley. Since 1992 Bruce has written and/or illustrated over 80 children’s picture books. Though based in Australia his work is published internationally. His biography states that he aims to entertain and surprise the reader with illustration styles that vary considerably depending on the text and the age group of his audience. The kindergarten students are really enjoying reading and responding to his picture books.

 Year One and Years K/1J and 1/2T

Visual Literacy involves the skill of interpreting still and moving images, graphs, tables, maps and other graphic representations. It incorporates the understanding and evaluation of the manner in which images and language work together to present ideas.

The library program, this term, will focus on the development of the skills of visual literacy focusing on the work of Colin McNaughton.

 

Years 2L, 2S and 2T

The year two classes will also undertake a study of visual literacy with a focus on the work of Stephen Michael King. He has written and illustrated over fifty books for children and is an award winning author and illustrator often shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. His work is unique, entertaining and inspiring.

Stage 2

The students in stage 2 will embark on a study of persuasive writing with a focus on television advertising and billboards. The unit is designed to be undertaken over the next two terms. Central to the study is the following design task:

In groups of three design and create an edible product which includes insects.

Make clay models of the products.

Create a TV advertisement.

Using A3 paper, create a storyboard for your product.

Storyboard must include:

• target audience
• characters
• message of the product (sweet or savoury)
• setting
• music
• dialogue
• slogans and logos
• hyperbole

Once the advertisements have been written and rehearsed and the billboards made, the students will be filmed in front of a green screen and the billboards imported into the background.

Stage Three

In this unit of work the students will learn research skills using a number of approaches and using multiple sources of information. The activities are designed to be engaging whilst developing the skills of questioning, locating, evaluating, selecting, curating, note taking and presenting. A range of digital and print media will be used in the course of this study. The students will be encouraged to synthesise and present their research findings in a variety of ways eg reports, posters, timelines, mind maps, illustrated diagrams and crossword puzzles.

 

We are looking forward to many learning adventures in the library this term.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The News In Term Four

 

The students and staff celebrated book week with an outstanding book parade in the COLA. The Cromer family always enjoy book week and the costumes reflect a great love of reading.

The visit from the Co Theatre Physical group informed our junior students about the need for sustainability and the importance of bees. The play mesmerised the students for well over an hour and the teachers were delighted with a show that supported their studies of Science in the classroom.

We were honoured to meet Boori Monty Pryor who is an Indigenous Australian writer best known as a storyteller and as the inaugural Australian Children's Laureate (2012–2013). He is descended from the Birri-gubba nation of the Bowen region and the Kunggandji people from Yarrabah, near Cairns. His performance gave our students the opportunity to participate in dancing and singing in order to understand aspects of Aboriginal culture.

Book Fair 2019

The annual book fair will take place at our school from Wednesday October 23^rd until Friday October 25^th. It will be open before and after school on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and all day on Grandparents Day October 24^th. Please support our school library by buying a book for your child.

MS Readthon

At last count the students of Cromer have raised $632.88. Thank you so much for reading for such a great cause.

 

The Library Program

Kindergarten

The students will study a range of high quality texts which have been shortlisted in previous years. They will be given the opportunity to respond to a variety of imaginative and informative texts which will be read for enjoyment and pleasure. They will have the opportunity to join in with chants and rhymes, research information and share their own opinions about various topics encountered in the texts.

 

Stage One

Aaron Blabey is one of Australia's most loved authors for children. He has nearly four million books in print, many of which are multiple award winners. He was the 2012 National Literacy Ambassador and, in 2015, The Brothers Quibble was featured in National Simultaneous Storytime.

Blabey's books are extremely popular in our school library and in 29 other countries. He often uses the poetic genre and his stories are humorous, often with a moral. The text is always supported by his engaging illustrations.

The students in stage one will study eleven books in this unit.

Stage Two

The students in stage two will participate in a series of visual literacy lessons exploring the conversion of story to film. They will analyse the main elements of a story and explore the manner in which they are redesigned to suit the production of a film. They will then study the nature of subplots, the use of background music, montages, the use of satire, irony and the role of the villain. The importance of conflict and resolution will also be examined.

 

Stage Three

The novel His Name Was Walter by Emily Rodda won book of the year for younger readers in the Children’s Book Council awards this year. It is a powerful story within a story brilliantly crafted by this gifted author. Reviewer Danny Solomon States:

The story within the story at first seems like nonsense - a boy raised by bees, who works for mice, meets a witch who turns into a cat, lives with a landlord who’s a chicken and falls in love with a young woman who turns into a sparrow - but as both stories move on fantasy and history blend and reveal themselves for what they are.

In the hands of a less skilled writer the ‘reveal’ could have been almost jarring - the way reality suddenly appears on top of this story about talking animals and ogres - but instead - the shift from an English-style folk story to Australian history was a thrill. Another magnificent book from Emily Rodda.

The students in stage three will undertake a literacy contract using this outstanding text.

 

Stocktake

The annual stocktake will begin in week eight. We ask that all books are returned to the library by week six when all borrowing will cease.