Earlier this term, the Year 4 students were learning to write narratives. Some of these stories were selected and have been published and on display in the JS Library.
The QR code is a part of our Featured Writer series. This process allow students to write for a purpose is through the creation of stories and the publishing of these stories.
Come and visit the JS Library to find more of these stories written by the students.
The Tornado Survivors by Quinn
When starting a new unit students can use many resources to support their inquiry.
Steps to online researching (student simple guide)
Year level Moodle pages
Researching pages and links
Unit of Inquiry Livebinders
| wHO WE ARE | WHERE WE ARE IN TIME & PLACE | HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES | HOW THE WORLD WORKS | HOW WE ORGANISE OURSELVES | SHARING THE PLANET |
| PREP | PREP | PREP | PREP | PREP | PREP |
| YEAR 1 | YEAR 1 | YEAR 1 | YEAR 1 | YEAR 1 | YEAR 1 |
| YEAR 2 | YEAR 2 | YEAR 2 | YEAR 2 | YEAR | YEAR 2 |
| YEAR 3 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 3 | YEAR 3 |
| WHO WE ARE | WHERE WE ARE IN TIME & PLACE | HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES | HOW THE WORLD WORKS | HOW WE ORGANISE OURSELVES | SHARING THE PLANET |
| YEAR 4 | YEAR 4 | YEAR 4
APPRECIATION OF AESTHETICS |
YEAR 4 | YEAR 4 | YEAR 4 |
| YEAR 5 | YEAR 5 | YEAR 5 | YEAR 5 | YEAR 5 | YEAR 5 |
| YEAR 6
EXHIBITION |
YEAR 6
MIGRATION – REFUGEE |
YEAR 6 | YEAR 6 | YEAR 6 | YEAR 6
RISK & CHALLENGES – CHN |
Each Year 3 class participated in a writing workshop today with Tristan Bancks (recent Children’s Book Council of Australia Shortlisted Books Younger Readers nominee for ‘Two Wolves’). The students learnt new writing skills and were engrossed in the stories Tristan shared.
Some Year 6 & 7 students (a part of the Readers Cup) were also very fortunate to meet with him at lunchtime and sit in on a writing session.
Students shared their thoughts about the day on a padlet. Some of these are below.
“Tristan Bancks used past experiences to write stories.”
“Tristan Bancks was very funny and inspiring. He showed us many ways to develop our ideas for writing.”
“You are awesome and I am really excited about reading some of your books.”
“Mr Bancks is an incredible writer. Clever, funny and appealing to all.”
“I learnt how to be a better writer by practising a lot. Always put the main character in. I liked how he made funny stories and funny jokes. I will share his jokes and made up stories to my brother, Dad, Mum and friend in the street.”
“Tristan gave us tips to write a book. He showed us some of his books. Tristan told us how to plan a book. I liked it when he read us bits of his books.”
“Everyone needs stories read to them: Mum, Grandpa, the dog, and the monster under the bed.” Source
The Share a Story theme for May is perfect for an IB and PYP school. Looking through the lens of Internationalism, PYP and picture books we examine literature that develops the IB Concepts, Learner Profile and Attitudes.
We have many of these books in our library. Which have you read?
A couple of my favourites are Mirror (because of the uniqueness of the layout and the dual story) and The Island (specifically because of the power of the illustrations).
Another two I recommend are If the World were a Village and We Are All Born Free (although we have these in our Non-Fiction collection).
Have a look at these suggestions
We will be surveying and voting for our Top 10 Picture Book Read Alouds.
Another fantastic way to celebrate reading is through the national event of simultaneous storytime where students around Australia read the same book, on the same day (… at the same time).
On May 27th we will be celebrating National Simultaneous Storytime. The book this year is The Brothers Quibble by Aaron Blabey.
Resources to help celebrate NSS
In the JS Library we also be promoting this through the Feature Books.
During the term we will be re-reading (and for some introducing) the picture books that have featured over the years.
List from https://www.alia.org.au/nss
So, What story would you share with someone else? Feel free to share below.
Follow the tweets at #readtheworldastory and #shareastorycalendar
“Calendar concept © Jackie French. Calendar © ACLA”
Thumbnail image reproduced with permission.
See more at
http://www.childrenslaureate.org.au/events/
May 2015 Feature Books – LibraryThing
Explore new worlds through your senses – SEE – HEAR – FEEL
We see stories through movies, theatre and plays; feel the emotions through character development and stories; specialist materials for visually impaired and through audio books.
TAKE THE ‘HEAR A BOOK’ CHALLENGE
We hear stories through patterning, rhymes and rhythm, poetry (often an under used part of the collection) and obviously audio books.
Locate the POETRY section in the JS Library and borrow a book or share a poem from one of these books.
810 Poetry, Plays, Jokes & Riddles
Create your own poetry – try the Lark app.
Poetry app: Lark Lark, by Storybird. Make and share art-inspired poetry. by Storybird, Inc
See The Book Chook blog post related to poetry resources for the classroom
Tips and Resources for Poem in your Pocket Day
When did you last listen to an audio book? Come and locate the audio books in the JS Library.
See other JS Library Blog Posts about use of Audio Books and literacy.
**** WE HAVE A BRAILLE PICTURE BOOK IN THE JS LIBRARY COLLECTION ****
LOCATE THIS BOOK AND BRING IT TO THE CIRCULATION DESK (first ten students to do so receive a prize).
SHARE A STORY “Calendar concept © Jackie French. Calendar © ACLA” http://www.childrenslaureate.org.au/events/
The Australian Children’s Laureate: enriching the lives of young Australians through the power of story.
Download your Share a Story Calendar 2015 from the Laureate website!
#hearastoryseeastory
#shareastorycalendar
Great reading and visuals at Scholastic’s Reading Report
Screenshot sourced from the report above and redesigned using ComicBook app.
@Scholastic: Here’s what kids ages 6-17 told us they want in the #books they read for fun: http://t.co/Gbx2uxUK0f #KFRR http://t.co/Dgg1ejQPNr
A group of Year 3 students have been experimenting with the green screen as a means to share their learning this term. These students have been considering ways to evaluate, reflect and report on reading.
These green screen movie reflections were created using a variety of apps on the iPad (using the video, camera, drawing and green screen apps).
This is what the students have thought about the process so far…
See below for two reviews they have created. When the students create their next review (in Term Two) they will direct this (almost) independently, with the aim to become experts for the other students in the class, teaching how to use the green screen and its associated apps.
These reviews are not polished presentations but have been created in a short time frame as a tool to engage and enhance the learning experience.
Book Reviews
Today the students were introduced to the concept of a book hook to ‘sell’ the book to another reader.
See “How to write a book hook” wiki how with pictures.
The Treasure Island: A Fun Map
The students shared why someone should ‘read’ this map.
As the students become more confident and self reflective, the presentations will become more diverse and ‘professional’.
Finally, students are presenting for an authentic audience.
One way to allow students to write for a purpose is through the creation of stories and the publishing of them. In the Junior School, I am supporting students to become ‘published’ through the use of apps and ICT tools in order to easily distribute their writing, motivating them and allowing for a wider audience to share in their work.
Email me the original story
Production and publishing of the story
Sharing the product – publishing for an audience
The story will then become available in the JS library, accessible via QR codes located on the shelves or through the promotion of Featured Writers.
The stories will be classified as Fiction or Non-Fiction and ‘shelved’ accordingly.
Choose your stories by browsing the shelves and looking for the QR codes.
Use a QR code app on a smart device to scan the code.
1) Load the webpage and ‘read’ the story, ‘hear’ the music and narration, or ‘see’ the illustrations and storytelling.
This year’s stories are HERE.
