Category: Reading

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It’s May, already?!

Wow! Time is flying at South Slope/BCSD.  April was Poetry Month and we had so much fun reading, writing and sharing poems.  We celebrated with a fabulous assembly and Poem in Your Pocket Day.

And now…it’s May! This month in the library we are recognizing and learning about Asian Heritage Month.  There are book displays for students to choose both fiction and non fiction reads about Asian Heritage:

This week several classes also read Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Dung Ho and  My Day with Gong Gong by Sennah Yee and illustrated by Elaine Chen .  Students responded to these books with joy and connection. Watch Joanna Ho read her book by clicking on the cover. And have fun with illustrator Elaine Chen by clicking on My Day with Gong Gong.

Explore our collection of digital resources about Asian Heritage Month including choice boards for primary and intermediate students:

What else is happening in the library this month?

Divisions 15 and 16 are working on their Stop Motion Animation films.  They have been learning how to use the Stop Motion app and creating short films with loose parts from our Story Studio.  This week they presented their final storyboards to the group and received feedback.  Now they will begin to create their films.  Stay tuned for more!

This week we also began our Canadian Picture Book of the Year readings. Each week we will read and respond to a new book.  When we are done, students will vote for their favourite.  Here are the books we will be reading.  Stay tuned for the winner!

Microbits are also in the library.  Grade 6/7 students from South Slope and BCSD have been learning how to write code for these mini computers.  We’ve been having fun learning how to code games like Rock, Paper, Scissors and send messages to each other using the radio.

Stay tuned for updates here and on my Twitter feed @jenparaujo

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So much to be thankful for…

It’s hard to believe it’s Thanksgiving already.  I’m especially thankful that the library, with new safety protocols in place, is now open!  Students are visiting the library with their class once a week for story times, book exchanges and more.  Here is the current book exchange schedule:

Monday: Div 1, 2, 6

Tuesday: Div 3, 4, 5, 9

Wednesday: Div 13- 19

Thursday: Div. 7, 8, 20

During our storytimes we completed Peter Reynolds “creatrilogy” as we read “Ish” and “Sky Color”.  Classes also completed their response to our school wide read of “The Dot” with art and have created a gallery the whole school can enjoy.

Check our our gallery:

We also recognized Orange Shirt Day school wide with Project Heart and in the library:

 

Intermediate students have been learning how to use our Library Catalogue to find books and more.  There are Web Resources that students can access for school research or personal interest projects.  Students have also learned how to place books on hold and soon we will be adding student book reviews to the catalogue database.

As we begin the fall season, students have enjoyed one of my favourite books, “The Little Yellow Leaf“ by Carin Berger.  There are beautiful paper collage illustrations throughout this wonderful book about fall and finding courage with the help of a friend.

 

For Thanskgiving, some classes read “Bear says Thanks” by Karma Wilson.  Students responded by sharing many things they are thankful for including family, friends, food, books and being at school.  During these pandemic times it can often be difficult to feel thankful, but the students reminded me of all the many things we can still be thankful for.  For me, having students in the library again and helping them finding the books they want has made me very thankful.  Their joy, curiousity and enthusiasm fill me up.

I wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Araujo

 

 

 

 

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This week in the library…

This week the library, or rather the librarian (that’s me), will be visiting classrooms and reading “The Dot” by Peter Reynolds.  September 15th”ish”  is International Dot Day and we will be celebrating it by asking everyone to “Make your Mark” and “See where it takes you!” Everyone will create their own dot and we will display them in the hallway outside the gym.

Here are some of the Big Ideas we are exploring:

  • Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy.
  • Everyone has a unique story to share.
  • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world.
  • Texts can be understood from different perspectives.

Core Competencies we are developing:

  • I can show a sense of accomplishment and joy.
  • I get new ideas or build on other people’s ideas.
  • I am kind to others.

Here are some videos of and about the book:

  • Watch “The Dot” on Tumblebooks . Click on the link on at the top right hand side of the blog under “Links”.  In TumbleSearch, type in “The Dot”.
  • Watch author and illustrator, Peter Reynolds the story behind the story and how this book helped launch International Dot Day – a worldwide celebration of creativity.
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Welcome Back!

Welcome back! I missed you and so did the library. I hope you all had a great summer and found some good books to read.  These are a few of the books I read this summer.  I highly recommend them. They can be checked out from our library soon.  There will be some changes in how we use the library this year.  Stay tuned for updates!

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Johnny’s Pheasant

Did you know that June is National Indigenous History Month?  This week at school I shared a new book, Johnny’s Pheasant, with many classes.  It was written by Cheryl Minnema who is a member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and and illustrated by Julie Flett who is a Cree-Metis author, illustrator and artist.  Julie Flett is one of my favourite author/illustrators and we read her book, Birdsong, earlier in the year as part of our Canadian Picture Book of the Year read alouds.

Students we excited to read Johnny’s Pheasant and made lots of connections to our previous read aloud of Birdsong.  They loved the beauty of both the words and illustrations.  I’m sure Johnny’s Pheasant will be on everyone’s wishlist for check out in September.

 

In January 2020, Cheryl Minnema received the Charlotte Zolotow Award for Johnny’s Pheasant.  The award is given annually to the author of the best picture book text published in the United States in the preceding year.

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Read Alouds Epidsode 5

We are still celebrating Poetry Month and I hope you enjoy my new read aloud of a poem from Bug Off! Creepy Crawly Poems by Jane Yolen.  What do you notice about the poem?

Ask your teacher for the password and click here to watch. This video includes ASL interpretation.

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Mrs. Araujo’s Read Alouds Episode 2!

Hello everyone! I can’t believe it’s almost Easter.  In celebration of this special holiday please find my video read aloud of one of my favourite books, The Easter Bunny’s Assistant by Jan Thomas.

This book was read with permission of Harper Collins Children’s Books.

Click here to watch the video.  Happy Easter, everyone!

 

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Mrs. Araujo’s Read Alouds Episode 1!

Hello everyone,

I hope you are well and have enjoyed the sunshine this weekend.  We just came back from a bike ride to Central Park, keeping our physical distance, of course.  It is a beautiful day and I am loving the cherry blossoms.

One of the things I have been missing most is reading aloud books to students in the library.  Two of the “Big Ideas” in our English Language Arts curriculum are:

  • Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy.
  • Through listening and speaking, we connect with others and share our world.

So…I have created my first read aloud video for you to enjoy at home.  Click here to view my read aloud of The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt with pictures by Oliver Jeffers.  Many publishers are relaxing their copyright guidelines during this time and I am grateful to Penguin Random House for providing permission for me to post this video.

I hope this video brings you some joy and helps us connect even though we can’t see other at school.  I will be also posting these videos in the Read Alouds page at the top of the blog.

Mrs. Araujo

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New Destiny Collections

Hello everyone,

Wow! There has been a lot of information about learning from home to sort through lately.  I have created 2 new Collections in our Destiny Catalogue for Online Reading as well as a collection that includes various activities from your favourite Authors and Illustrators.  I hope you enjoy exploring these Collections!

Please also remember to visit Burnaby Schools new website for families: https://learning.burnabyschools.ca/  

As well as the Minitstry of Education’s site https://www.openschool.bc.ca/keeplearning/

 

 

Please leave comments below about the collections.  Did you enjoy using the resources? Is there something you think I should add? What was your favourite?

Thanks and stay tuned for more updates from me and the Library!

Jennifer Araujo