Dreaming With Our eyes Open in Terms Three and Four

 

In term three we celebrate Book Week. It is one of the biggest events in our school library calendar.

The Book Week program provides the theme, resources, ideas and texts to motivate students to focus on books and reading. It highlights the value of reading, school libraries, children’s literature and Australian literature. We, at Cromer, celebrate that and more in our term three literature program which is so rich that it will extend into term four so that we can delve deeply into the amazing texts and enjoy responding to them in a variety of ways.

The Children's Book Council of Australia, Book Week, has been celebrated since 1945. The slogan for this year is Dreaming with Eyes Open. This beautiful theme affords us the opportunity to reflect on our indigenous culture and also open our eyes to the world around us and have the bravery to dream.

A Local Author

An exciting edition to our library collection is the work of first time author, local resident and friend Janice Wilson. Below is my review of the book which many of our students in upper primary have borrowed and enjoyed.

This time-slip adventure will lead the teenage reader into a dystopian world where nothing in nature is as it should be. The reader embarks on a rollicking adventure with Lewis and Corky where they encounter terrifying creatures and nail-biting adventures at every turn of the page. Showcased is Mrs Wilson’s passion for the planet which leads us all to question our own environmental behaviour and commitment to preserving our world as we know it. Vortex 184 leaves the reader wanting more and, judging by the revelations of the final chapter, we have not seen the last of Lewis and Corky.

Author Visits

On Tuesday August 2^nd the students in years 3-6 enjoyed a presentation from Oliver Phommavahn.

 Oliver loves to make people laugh, whether it’s on the page writing humour for kids or on stage as a stand-up comedian. He also shares his passion for writing with kids, using his experience as a primary school teacher. Oliver has performed at various comedy and writers festivals around Australia and Asia. (Oliver Phommavahn biography 2022)

 

On Tuesday August 23^rd Lucas Proudfoot presented to the students in Kindergarten, years one and two.

Lucas Proudfoot is a member of the Tweed Coast Aboriginal and Islander community. He has a background in professional surfing, cultural dance and is an award-winning songwriter and musician. Lucas has been an Australian Indigenous Education Ambassador and is currently a role model for Books in Homes Australia. (The Proud Foots 2017)

 

Sights at The Book Parade

Our annual book parade took place on Thursday August 25^th.  A diverse range of characters were represented!

Reading and Learning in the Library in Term Two

 

National Simultaneous Storytime

On May 25^th our school participated in National Simultaneous Storytime. This event is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA).  Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

In promoting this event ALIA aim to:

·        promote the value of reading and literacy,

·        promote the value and fun of books,

·        promote an Australian writer and publisher,

·        promote storytime activities in libraries and communities around the country,

·        provide opportunities to involve parents, grandparents, the media and others to participate in and enjoy the occasion. (ALIA)

This year we all enjoyed the book Family Tree by Josh Pyke and Ronojoy Ghosh.

The Library Program

Kindergarten:

Bruce Whately is an internationally recognised award-winning author/illustrator. He has written and /or illustrated over 80 picture books for children.

His aim is to entertain and surprise the reader with illustration styles that vary considerably depending on the text and the age group of his audience.

The students in Kindergarten have been engaged with and responsive to the texts that they have been studying this term.

Stage One:

The students have been studying the work of John Burningham in library lessons with Mrs Farr.

He was an English multi award winning author and illustrator of picture books for young children. His obituary in 2011 stated that:

The evolution of the art of picture book-making, of composing a graphic sequence of pictures and words in interdependent harmony, owes much to Burningham, who along with Maurice Sendak was one of the greatest masters of the medium.

Information Fluency

Information fluency is the ability to critically think while engaging with, creating and utilising information and technology, regardless of the information platform or medium. 

Texts provide the means for communication. Students need to access, understand, analyse and evaluate information, make meaning, express thoughts and emotions, present ideas and opinions, interact with others and participate in activities at school and in their lives beyond school. Success in any learning endeavour depends on being able to make meaning from information.  (Information Fluency Framework. NSW Det)

The students in stage two and three have been participating in information fluency programs this term.

 

Stage Two

The students have been learning about the importance of the fundamental skill of breaking down a question into key words to research information. They have also learnt to analyse websites using the following framework:

·        Currency: Is the information up to date?

·        Relevance: Does the information relate to your topic or answer your question?

·        Authority: Who is the author and are they qualified to write about the topic?

·        Accuracy: Is the information reliable (trustworthy) and supported by evidence (well researched using scientific methods)?

·        Purpose: Why does the information exist and is there any bias (is it trying to persuade you to believe something)?

Stage Three

The students have been undertaking webquests using World Book Online.

Participating in webquests has the following benefits

1. They pose clear, open-ended questions that require them to apply the skills of skimming and scanning that they have been learning in class.
2. Tasks are explained in a step by step process so that the students understand what is required.
3. The students are responsible for their own learning and construct a deeper understanding of the content.
4. The learning is self-paced and engaging.

The Premier’s Reading Challenge

Many of our students are participating in the challenge which closes on August 19^th.

 

Happy reading!

 

           

 

Welcome to Term One 2022

The Premier’s Reading Challenge

The Premier’s Reading Challenge opened on Monday 28^th February and will close on Friday 19^th August. We have a large number of books in our collection that are listed on the challenge. Students may take out bulk loans if they are participating in the challenge.

 

New Books

 

Our wonderful Australian authors and illustrators are constantly creating new novels and picture books which are a joy to read. Many of the teachers have taken bulk loans to their classes to share and enjoy. We have two stands displaying new novels in the library and there has been great excitement at borrowing time.

 

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.

 

Stage One

This term the students will study eleven books written by Aaron Blabey.

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.

 

Stage Two

The students will undertake a Roald Dahl author study. A different book will be showcased at each lesson and activities in response to the extracts read will be undertaken.

This is not an in-depth study of the texts. It is a journey to discover the influences of childhood that affected Dahl's writing and his journey as an author. We aim to gain inspiration for our own writing from the work of this great author.

Many authors state that the source of inspiration for their writing is the varied content that they read. Roald Dahl is a master of character creation and is known for his dark humour and unexpected endings. His books never fail to capture the imagination and his work and life provide a huge writing inspiration for us all.

Stage Three

Stage 3 students will study the text A Great Escape by Australian author Felice Arena.

A Great Escape is based on real life events that occurred during the erecting of the Berlin Wall in 1961.

It was a harrowing time for families that were separated between East and West. Some never saw each other again as they were old and passed away before the Wall came down.

The children, when reunited with their parents 28 years later, had families of their own.

This well-crafted story displays the ingenuity of children during desperate times. It is demonstrated in the detailed methods and escape plans they designed and executed. Their strength and courage is palpable on the page; their hope and self-belief armour against the odds.

Felice Arena has created a gripping tale with children as heroes and leaders.