World Storytelling Day

Once upon a time, a long time ago (well, actually back in 1991 in Sweden), a Storytelling Day was held.  The idea behind this event caught on around the globe, and now we celebrate WORLD STORYTELLING DAY on an international level.

The aim of World Storytelling day is to celebrate the art of oral storytelling, with as many people as possible around the world telling and listening to stories in their own languages on the same day.  

People who are taking part can link up with others around the globe who are also contributing - making it a truly international festival that has the potential to create new friends and helps to promote positive understanding of cultures around the world.

So come on - sit down with your friends,family and loved ones - and join the United Nations of storytellers on this day of celebrating cultural folklore and the art of oral storytelling!  Why not spin a yarn, and pass your stories down to the next generation? 

This year World Storytelling Day starts on Friday 20th March and goes through to Friday 27th March - and the theme for 2020 is Voyages. 

Check out the link below for more information: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Storytelling_Day

World Read Aloud Day

World Read Aloud day is in place to motivate, children, teens and adults to celebrate the POWER OF WORDS.

This global literacy movement is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to ALL PEOPLE! And no-one has the power to take it away from you!

World Read Aloud day asks everyone to celebrate the day by grabbing a book, finding an audience, a buddy, or even your furry friend, and reading out loud. (To be honest, my furry friends prefer me to be reading a can of cat food - but they are good enough to sit still for a while and listen.)

Why is reading aloud important? A 2015 study found that children are exposed to a larger vocabulary from picture books read aloud, than from conversations with adults. This appears to be because we tend to speak with the same 5000 most popular words; while books - even picture books - are more likely to use words outside of that popular 5000. (This also demonstrates my point about how important picture books are, no matter your age) The other point that came through clearly in the study was that children who are read to, are far more likely to become lifelong readers.

Although World Read Aloud Day has previously been celebrated on March the 5th - this year it was moved to February 5th. However, don't let that stop you ... we can celebrate it on March 5th or any other day that appeals.

Resource websites that may be of use

Below are a few weblinks that cover a range of  subjects and ideas and may be of use somewhere along the line.  Check them out and see what you think. 

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/55327/how-hands-on-projects-can-deepen-math-learning-for-teens

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/55393/five-apps-students-can-use-to-make-podcasts

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/ca/books/bkf3/imaps/    (interactive History maps)

https://education.abc.net.au/home#!/home

http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1538       

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/fun-games/     (Printable board games)         

RAKs bring smiles!

I think that maybe the highlight for this week was the small, yummy RAK gift in our pigeonholes when we all came into work Monday morning.  What a lovely thought - and thank you to whoever came up with the idea.

I have sent through an update of all staff to TV4ED (AKA Functional Solutions) so you should be getting a welcome email with information re logging on and using the system. They are also hoping to organise an all curriculum Webinar to help you to use it to your best advantage - so if you would be interested in doing this, please let me know.
However, I can still download requests and put it onto the system for you if this is easier.

Ms Squires is updating the Student reward system - with lots of ideas, comments and input from the students so we'll keep you updated with any changes to that.

So - carry on being AWESOME - and enjoy your weekend!!  Obviously with lots of reading involved. 

Mindshift Weblinks

Below are a few weblinks that may be of interest to you.  There is a huge range of articles on the MindShift site covering a multitude of subjects and/or ideas.  It is an American site, but there could be something to spark ideas for your class.

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/53553/five-best-practices-teachers-can-learn-from-dungeon-masters

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54872/how-dyslexia-is-a-different-brain-not-a-disease

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/50874/what-happens-to-student-behavior-when-schools-prioritize-art

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/55169/what-happens-in-your-brain-when-you-make-art

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54504/three-simple-tech-tools-to-make-math-thinking-visible

Enjoy!

International Day of Maths and other links

 First week done and dusted and we survived.  Just 10 more to go!  Enjoy your weekend and remember - READING lowers the blood pressure!  

Below are a few Weblinks for you to check out. 

https://www.bustle.com/p/7-reasons-libraries-are-essential-now-more-than-ever-43901

Just a quick promotion of Libraries and the benefits they offer.  It is talking mainly about Public Libraries, but a lot of the reasons are just as valid, if not more so, in a school library.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/safer-internet-day

This is celebrated in almost 150 countries around the world and encourages people to think about their safety and their presence online.

https://www.idm314.org/

March 14 is already celebrated in many countries as Pi Day because that date is written as 3/14 in some countries and the mathematical constant Pi is approximately 3.14.

The International Day of Mathematics (IDM) is a worldwide celebration. Each year on March 14 all countries will be invited to participate through activities for both students and the general public in schools, museums, libraries and other spaces.

Welcome to 2020

Well, here we go - the start of 2020 and a whole new year of opportunities for books, and reading.  How awesome is that?  In truth, it's a whole new decade!!

I thought I would start this post off with a quick reminder of some of the services we offer and maybe you could let your students know as well - or better yet, introduce them to this blog so they can find out for themselves.  Maybe you could get them to write a Twitter book review on a book they have enjoyed, or write a report about their class activities .... after all the written word ROCKS, however it is used..

Yes - we do loan books out. We LOVE to loan books out. Loaning books out is our whole rationale. (And not just books, either) Of course, we do want them to come home at some point and can get a little upset if they don't.

• Looking for a particular book? Come and talk to us. We can organise an Inter-library-Loan or help you find where to purchase it.  
• Resources: Books, Magazines, iPad sets, Digital Cameras, Video Recorders, Computer Mice sets, Boxes of Headphones, Data Projectors, Teacher Reference, Web Cams........
• IWB area, and a bank of computers and laptops that are available to be booked for classes. The laptop trolley in B3/B4 is only to be used in the Library area, however.
• Help with research, proofreading of assignments, suggestions for books to read - we are your people.
• Library Skills Activities/Boolean searching
• A place to display your amazing class work.
• Collation of websites for subjects/classes
• Anything else?  If there is something that you think we can help with, just come and have a chat.  We have learned to be fairly good at pulling rabbits out of hats and we also like a challenge, most times anyway.  There are some days .....

Students have a 3 week borrowing period while staff have a month. For most of the resources, we can adjust the loaning period for whatever is needed - at least till the end of term. However, this doesn't include the AV materials - that is a 1 week loan period only. Depending on what it is - Headphones, laptops, etc. are all due back at the end of the lesson. Students can borrow 2 items at a time and staff are pretty unlimited in borrowing.

One of my goals for this year is to attempt to make the library more relevant to the needs of the school. Hard call really, when I'm going up against the ingrained idea that Google can give you EVERYTHING!!  But I'm going to give it a shot anyway!  
So, now... some homework for you all.  Could you email or comment and give me some ideas on what you see as the purpose of the school library and my role in it?  I'd love to be able to make this a one-stop shop type of deal for everyone.

Below are a few quotes that I think sum up, to some degree anyway, my philosophy about libraries.  Enjoy!

"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers - a librarian can bring you back the RIGHT answer".   (Neil Gaiman)

"Libraries are full of ideas - which are perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of weapons".   (from the 'Throne of Glass')

and being a fan of Albert Einstein, how could I pass up this one?

"The only thing you absolutely HAVE to know, is the location of the Library"
(Albert Einstein)

Wishing you all a fantastic school year with lots of READING involved.  Now carry on being awesome.

More ideas on Picture Books

A few further thoughts on Picture Books from authors and readers:

Here are 12 reasons why picture books are important.

Little kids love them
Big kids love them
Adults love them
They make us laugh
They make us cry
They make us think
They help us understand the world
They help us understand each other
They stay with us
They are fun to talk about
They are fun to give as gifts
They smell good

http://inkygirl.com/inkygirl-main/2013/11/7/why-picture-books-are-important.html

http://www.tanglewoodbooks.com/tangled-up/15-reasons-why-we-will-always-love-picture-books/

https://www.writersdigest.com/guest-columns/picture-books-are-not-just-for-children-10-reasons-why

What are your reasons for loving them?

Picture Book Month Display

November is my favourite Library month of the year!!  It's Picture Book Month!  For me, picture books are just magical.  So many stories, with all the beautiful illustrations that make the whole thing come to life - and all the layers within the stories and pictures.  Picture Books are never truly just for kids - they are SO much more than that. 

There is a display up in the Library with book covers from some of our staff and students favourite Picture Books  - and I have made and  attached a QR Code to all the ones I could -which should take you to a YouTube clip of the story being read. 

 Give it a try - it's a good way to get into the magic of QR  Codes - another one of my passions!  They can be used for SO much amazing stuff. 

Never underestimate the power of Picture Books - they are personal as well as universal. And they are very, very important - no matter how grown up you may think you are. You should never get so old that you don't read Picture books - that would just be too sad!

Have a wonderful weekend and take time to read!  And .. if anyone was counting, which I'm sure you're not .. 4 weeks to the end of term!

Life is only travelled once - today's moment becomes tomorrow's memory.

Enjoy every moment! 

Mindshift Blog Articles

Check out these articles when you get a moment - it is interesting to note in the first one concerning reading, that the data shows that American students are having as many problems with reading as ours are, along with the same concerns being made by their teachers.  I guess the highlight from that is: We are NOT alone and it ISN'T just us!  Poor comfort maybe, but possibly a comfort anyway!

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54452/why-deeply-diving-into-content-could-be-the-key-to-reading-comprehension

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54514/how-tech-tools-can-reduce-anxiety-and-strengthen-relationships-with-students

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54389/3-ways-to-shape-math-into-a-positive-experience

Enjoy your weekend - 7 weeks to go to the end of Term!      (If anyone is counting)

8 Opal Science – Visiting Seismologists

 8 Opal Science – Visiting Seismologists (that’s Earthquake scientists)

 Three scientists visited the 8 Opal Science class on Thursday 17 as part of our Term 3 study of Earthquakes and Volcanoes. Dr Michelle Salmon from the Australian National University, Joel Tatpudi and Rajesh Erigela who are based at the Warramunga Seismic Array situated in the Barkly region.  They set up an active seismograph machine in the classroom on the floor and had an old one that the students could look at and touch.

 

Dr Salmon explained about the array and what it was designed to do. We saw a photo of one of the shafts that the equipment is placed in.

Dr Salmon explained about where earthquakes occur and tectonic plates.  She showed us where they occur, and the frequency that they occur. The pattern of the quakes shows where the boundaries of the plates are, and students were able to explain the different types when quizzed.

Dr Salmon also explained how the Richter scale works and how the magnitudes of the earthquakes is measured.

With questions from students, she also talked about the scientific data that came from the 1988 earthquake that rocked Tennant Creek as well as the recent one this year. The students found it all fascinating. They asked many questions and were impressed with the answers.

Dr Salmon showed the class the seismic wave charts from both earthquakes as well, and the students could see the patterns that were registered. She explained and showed us examples of P, S, Love and Raleigh waves, and how they move through the earth.  At this point the class were asked to stand, and on the count of three, we were all asked to jump. We set off the seismograph, and could see on the screen how the machine showed our impact, our own mini quake. We did this a couple times more to see if we could beat our previous one.

Finally we talked about movies and how they aren’t always scientifically accurate, but some do have good science information in them. We also talked about types of buildings that are safer to build, and structural tricks to keep buildings safer as well as safety procedures should we find ourselves in a severe earthquake. 

Dr Salmon showed us what happened in some famous earthquakes from around the world and even some in Australia and New Zealand.

Guest Blogger:    KSQ

Digital Survival Kit Idea

This is a re-post of one I put up about 3 or so years ago.  It's a suggestion for a Digital Survival Kit, designed by a teacher in the US for his class .. mainly to reinforce some of what he teaches.  Sometimes visual props can make a point better than all the words can.  
Any other suggestions to add?

Padlock: to remind you to have strong passwords
Toothbrush:  Would you share your toothbrush?  No? Don't share your passwords either.
Permanent Marker:  EVERYTHING you put on the Internet is there forever
Toothpaste:  You can't get toothpaste back into the tube - nor can you ever take your posts off the Web.
Magnifying Glass:  What shows up when people search you on Google? Is that what you want people to know about you?  Will it get you a job later?
Fake Tattoo:  'Digital Tattoo' instead of 'Digital Footprint'.  Footprints can be washed away - a tattoo is much harder to get rid of.
Sheet of paper:  Screw it up, stomp on it - now smooth it out and try to make it as new as it was.That's what happens with cyber bullying - the marks are always there.
Strainer:  Know how to 'strain the real' from the Internet.  In other words, know how to spot fake stuff and don't get caught out by hoaxes.

Genre's and Weblinks

The latest genre display is up - and it is DIARY this time.  
There's a range of titles from historical to humour, and hopefully will appeal to a range of tastes.  

Below are also some links taken from the 'Conversation' blog, about educational thoughts and ideas.  I have just grabbed a few that could be topical, so maybe log on and have a look for yourselves. 

https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-is-it-ok-to-listen-to-music-while-studying-125222

https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-how-was-maths-discovered-who-made-up-the-numbers-and-rules-121509

https://theconversation.com/keep-your-job-options-open-and-dont-ditch-science-when-choosing-next-years-school-subjects-123012

https://theconversation.com/explainer-whats-the-difference-between-stem-and-steam-95713