Reading, Learning, Investigating and Presenting in Term Four

 

Book Fair 2024

Every year we look forward to the annual book fair. This year it will take place on Monday October 28^th. This is a great opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping and help the school library at the same time.

The Term Four Library Program

Early Stage One

In this unit the students will study the work of Julia Donaldson.  She is one of England’s most celebrated children’s authors and has sold more than 100 million books worldwide and been translated into around 100 languages. From 2011 until 2013 she was England’s children’s laureate. In her stories, Julia Donaldson has the ability to weave moral lessons and themes of friendship, bravery, and kindness into her stories.

The rhythm and songlike quality of the words make her books a joy to read. The colourful illustrations by Axel Scheffler complement the words perfectly. Importantly, the repetition in many of her stories encourages the development of word recognition and phonological awareness.

Stage One

The Stage One teachers have requested a library unit of study which focuses on visual literacy and persuasive writing.

In weeks one to six a collection of texts has been chosen which enhance the ability to interpret, comprehend, appreciate, use, and create visual media.

In weeks seven to ten a collection of texts has been chosen in which the writer attempts to convince or persuade the audience to adopt a particular point of view. Using fiction and non-fiction texts, the students will be encouraged to identify the main points of view to gain a deeper understanding of what they are reading.

Stage Two

In weeks 1 -3 of term 3 we will complete the literature studies that were planned for term 2.

The library unit in weeks 4-10 is aligned with the Stage Two history unit researching the First Fleet.

Investigations will include:

• The British perspective- life in Britain before 1788.
• The transportation of adults and children.
• Conditions on transport ships and in the colony.
• The Aboriginal perspective.
• The colonisation of Australia.

Stage Three

The library unit is aligned with the Stage Three geography unit investigating the unique characteristics of countries within the Asia region.

In library studies, each student will research one designated Asian country. They will then demonstrate their learning in a presentation for their class.

The Library in Weeks Six to Ten

I will be taking leave from week six until the end of the year. Miss Remmington will be very capably taking my place.

 

We Read, Learn, Investigate and Create in the Lyle Skippen Library

 

Every year, at our book parade, we honour the memory of Lyle Skippen with the arrival of our mascot, Skippen the Library Dog.

Lyle was a navigator with defensive night fighters, flying planes known as Mosquitos over London during World War 2.

During the war he was injured when his plane crashed damaging his ankle and leaving him with a permanent limp.

After the war he taught in many schools both in Sydney and country towns. In 1961 he became the first principal of Cromer Public School which was then called Dee Why West School.

Mr Skippen was a very kind man who was loved by parents, and students. The community was very sad when he was asked to move to another school which needed his guidance.

He died very peacefully at the age of fifty-four sitting up in bed reading a book with his glasses on the end of his nose. When he died the whole of Cromer school cried.

Some Sights at the Book Parade.

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Reading Is Magic in Term 3

 

The Book Week theme, this year is Reading is Magic. During Book week, we celebrate our wonderful Australian authors and illustrators.

The value and advantages of reading are promoted during book week as school and public libraries use the occasion to highlight the importance and joy of reading.

With our 2024 Children's Book Week theme; Reading is Magic, we're celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds. We are encouraging kids to be curious about the wonders in our world. It is a positive and affirming message for our young people. The magic of reading also lies in its power of enticement; a good story provokes conversations. Talking about the stories with others connects the reader with other readers. Wrapped around all of this are the "tricks" and skills of our amazing writers and illustrators, as they use all their powers of language and illustration to engage the reader in this world they are building. (Children’s Book Council of Australia.)

Books to be Studied in Term 3 are taken from the CBCA Notable and Short Lists.

Early Stage One:

Hope is the Thing by Eric Wagner

Easy Peasy by Ky Garvey

Who’s Afraid of the Light? By Anna McGregor

The Swaddledok by josh Szeps

How to Hatch a Dragon by NickBland

Dad, Get Off Your Phone! By

Bowerbird Blues I by Aura Parker

Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep?  By David Metzenthen

Trees! by Victor Steffensen

Stage One

The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham

Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker

Raised by Moths by Charlie Archbold

Etta ns the Shadow Taboo by Jeremy Field

Dad, Get Off Your Phone! By Craig Sheather

Mini and Milo and the Teeny Tiny Voice by Venita Dimos

Trees by Victor Steffensen

The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood

 

Stage Two

Midnight by Peter Cheong

Where History Happened by Mark Greenwood

Timeless by Kelly Carnby

When You’re a Boy by Blake Nuto

Votes for Women by Mark Wilson

Caroline by Mark Wilson

Gargoyle by Zana Fraillon

 

Stage Three

The students will study the shortlisted novel Scar Town by Tristan Bancks.

Tristan Bancks is a very popular Australian author. His books have won and been shortlisted for many awards. His novel Two Wolves is an absolute favourite in our library.

Bancks has a stated mission to re-engage readers and take them away from screens. He trusts his targeted readership to cope with slightly scary plots that do, however, resolve themselves in a positive way. This book does just that. The child characters in the book (who are aged 12 and 13), face dangers and challenges that test them both physically and emotionally as well as testing their loyalty to each other.( CBCA Reading Time 2024.)

 

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The challenge will close on Friday August 23^rd.

Adventures in Term Two

 

National Simultaneous Storytime

 

We are looking forward to participating in National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday the 22^nd of May. This year the chosen text is Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker.

Bowerbird Blues stars a beautiful bowerbird on the search for (you guessed it) BLUE!  It’s a moving story of longing and connection, that unfolds as the bowerbird’s search sends him soaring across the sea, sky and city. He swoops and snatches vibrant treasures for his collection, and soon his bower – a mix of natural and unnatural objects – attracts something greater and more fulfilling than he could ever have imagined (ALIA 2024).

The Australian Library and Information Association reports that, in 2023 more than two million children read the same book on the same day. “NSS throws an international spotlight on the important work that libraries do every day” said ALIA Acting CEO Trish Hepworth

She further states:

“When we read together it helps language development, learning and literacy, all while building community. It’s also a lot of fun.”

As we celebrate National Simultaneous Storytime, we will look back on many of the texts that we have enjoyed in previous years. The whole experience is a true celebration of reading.

The Term Two Library Program

 

Early Stage One

The work of Colin McNaughton is a wonderful vehicle for introducing young readers to visual literacy. Visual images are becoming increasingly more important in the modern world. Most information is presented with a combination of words and images.

It is essential that students develop the ability to decode, interpret, question, challenge and evaluate texts.

In this study the students use visual images to help them read and understand texts. Visual information can support reading and help the reader to make meaning of the text. The humorous and entertaining work of Colin McNaughton is a great place to start such a study.

Stage One

 The library lesson series for Stage One has been designed to support the stage one geography unit that is being covered in class lessons.

The library unit will be  literature-based on the theme of sustainability. Both fiction and non-fiction texts will be studied

The main objective is to investigate the reasons why some places are special to people, and how they can be looked after.

The unit will seamlessly integrate with the library unit in term one which dealt with Indigenous sacred places.

Stage Two

In 2022 the Stage 2 teachers requested that the library program be linked to the Science unit which they were studying. They also requested that the students learn to evaluate websites and use accurate search words when researching information.

 

Again, this year, in the Stage 2 Science program, the students will be making cars and testing their designs.  Therefore, the library research topic is about cars.

All the research questions and necessary links are in a Stile lesson. However, the students will record their answers in individual workbooks.

Stage 3

In the first half of this term, the students will be completing their Information Fluency investigation researching the question, why are the characteristics of materials important when designing and producing?

The students have completed their workbooks and are now busily researching and writing their speeches which will conclude the unit.

A literature study is planned for the rest of the term.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge

The challenge will conclude on Friday August 23^rd and many students are happily reading selections of the many examples of quality literature that is available in our library.

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the Library in 2024!

  

It is exciting to be back in the library this term with all Cromer students enthusiastically borrowing and participating in the library lessons.

I encourage all students to borrow regularly from the library collection which houses over 11,000 fiction and 4,000 non-fiction texts. I am sure there is something to interest everyone!

Premier’s Reading Challenge

I would like to encourage all our Cromer students to participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge. It will open on Monday February 26^th and close on August 21^st. We have an extensive range of PRC books in the library.

Follow the link above to learn all about Sami Bayly, who created the PRC poster.

 

The Library Program Term One

Kindergarten

It is important that our kindergarten students learn to love the library and experience the joy of exploring new worlds in books. We encourage them to explore all areas of the library and make personal discoveries of genres that interest them.

We begin our library studies learning the difference between fiction and non-fiction 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.

 

Stage One (Years One and Two)

In term one the library program will be linked to the history unit that is to be studied in class. It asks the question: How Are People Connected to Places?

In support of this unit of study we will be deeply diving into five texts which illustrate the importance of connection to country for Indigenous people.. The texts are:

Open Your Heart to Country by Jasmine Seymour.

Ceremony by Adam Goodes and Ellie Liang

Baby Business by Jasmine Seymour

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes and Ellie Liang.

Each text contains illustrations which appeal to the very young, while sharing a deeper message for older readers. They invite the reader to reflect on the importance of place to, not only Indigenous people, but everyone.

 

 

Stage Two (Years Three and Four)

The stage two staff has asked me to focus on experiencing and understanding various forms of poetry in our library lessons with a particular emphasis on the skills of inferring, summarising and making connections.

Poetry is a form of expression. Writing it enables us to express our feelings and thoughts on a subject and reading it encourages us to connect and find meaning in our experiences.

 Poetry can have a positive impact on the social and emotional learning of children. It may offer them a new way of thinking about issues and events in their lives.

The aim of this unit is to explore the many devices used in poetry and to provide the students with the opportunity to express themselves in a variety of poetic forms.

 

Stage Three (Years Five and Six)

The library unit is aligned with the Science and Technology Unit which asks the question: Why are the characteristics of materials important when designing and producing?

Investigations will include:

Comprehension tasks, an investigation task entitled Escape the Science Lab which sets the students on an adventure exploring the properties of matter, and a research assignment investigating materials used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as hunter, gatherers.

The unit will culminate with a research task of a particular product and its properties, origins and uses.

 

Author Visit

New author, Fiona Evans, visited Cromer on Monday 27/11 to read her first children’s book to some year one students in the library.

The students loved The Magic Mermaid Shell which Goode Books describes as:

The tale of a young mermaid princess, who can count on her friends to help save the kingdom from a dragon and a mischievous witch. A sweet story about friends helping out in times of need, aimed at preschool and kindergarten children ages 3-6. ... Google Books

The students had many questions to ask Fiona after the reading and launched with gusto into the two activities that she presented in response to the text.

In my experience, children love to meet authors. Their interest in reading is truly spiked when they have the opportunity to interact with an author in the flesh.

 An Inspiring New Author

I am thrilled to announce that three copies of Orlando’s Garden by local author and friend Stephanie Paulson have been added to our library.

This beautifully illustrated picture book demonstrates how Steph has created a magnificent balcony garden with her son Orlando, young baby Leonardo and a new arrival on the way.

The reader embarks on an adventure with Orlando in learning the beauty of nature, the joy of planting and growing and the importance of sustainability.

The final pages of the book provide detailed gardening activities for kids and some questions for research and reflection.

We are reminded that a successful garden can be created in the smallest of spaces and the adventure continues with Steph’s small space gardening inspiration on Instagram.