What’s Happening

During this time of being at home, there are many authors and illustrators who are connecting with readers online. They are reading their stories in videos, posting copies of their books to read, and even giving drawing lessons.

You can take drawing lessons from Mo Willems, Jarrett Lerner, and Jarrett J. Krosoczka!  Mo Willems is the author and illustrator of Elephant and Piggie and the Pigeon books, while Jarret Lerner writes and illustrates the EngiNerds series.  Jarrett J. Krosoczka is best known for his Lunch Lady and Stars Wars Jedi Academy graphic novels.

Click on the links below to get doodling!  You will also find a copy of Jarrett Lerner’s ebook Knights of the Kids Table.  Please feel free to share your drawings in the comment section or by emailing me.  Have fun!

 

Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems

Jarrett Lerner’s Activities page

Draw Every Day with JJK

Knight of the Kids’ Table by Jarrett Lerner – Read online!

Books can do so many things for us, including helping us to understand and handle a difficult situation.  There are many questions for all of us about coronavirus, and it is comforting to see that there are authors and illustrators who want to help people understand the virus and how to stay safe and healthy.  Here are two books from Candlewick Press that you can read by clicking on the pictures.  For all of you Princess in Black fans, join our superhero as she faces a coronavirus challenge!

Did you know that April is Poetry Month?  You can learn about and explore poetry with my choice board.  Click on the image to see it and to play with poetry!  I would love to hear from you with the poetry you have created.  You can share in the comment section or email me at stephanie.good@burnabyschools.ca.

Now I leave you with a little poem of my own:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Read every day and
I’m thinking of you!

During my time as a classroom teacher, it was extremely important to offer my students breaks during our activities.  For example, after sitting and listening to a story, during a writing activity, or when changing from one activity to another.  As adults we recognize our own need to take breaks from a task, especially if we have been sitting for a long time.

As we continue to adapt to our new learning environment, children may need frequent breaks to reset and re-energize.  They may need calm or to rest their brain from a difficult task.  Sometimes they may need a few breaks during one activity.  Whatever the case may be, we can support them by providing a variety of activities and strategies to allow their brains and bodies to feel more settled.

This choice board offers several brain break options for children (and adults!) to try.  As adults, we can first help children identify why they may need a break, as described at the top of the board.  Following the choice board is a read aloud by author, Susan Verde.  Her book, I Am Peace, can be a way for children to take a break and learn strategies for relaxation.  It is my hope that these choices will support your child when learning at home, and when we are together again at school.

Please click on the image to access the choice board and the website links for brain break suggestions.

I hope this post finds you all well during what is an unprecedented and oftentimes, an uncertain and challenging time.  For me personally, I have found reading to be an incredibly helpful way to spend my time over Spring Break and beyond.  I have embraced the opportunity to read a variety of books.

And now, as we all navigate our current circumstances and continue learning in different ways, reading remains a constant and dependable activity in our lives.  As we see our daily activities limited and changed, reading is something that we continue to be able to do anywhere and at anytime.  Reading, in whatever form it takes, weathers any storm we may face.

With this in mind, and as we navigate our new learning environment, I hope the following resources will help support your child(ren) and your family with reading beyond our school walls.  Click on the image to visit the site.

Please contact me at stephanie.good@burnabyschools.ca if you need help.  Wishing you good health and Happy Reading!

 

 

 

 

Many families have now reached 50 days of at-home reading!  If you are participating, please return your form this week or after the break, and receive a calendar to read towards 100 days.  While the holidays are a busy time, enjoy the chance to read together over the break.

Last week our first home reading club calendar of the year went home–50 Days of Reading.  If you choose to participate, please mark every day that you and/or your child read(s).  Please return the calendar, signed by a parent/caregiver, to me in the library when you have finished 50 days.

  

Even if you do not choose to mark the calendar, it is still very important to be reading every day.  For more information about the benefits of reading, please check out the following article: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/09/30/5-benefits-of-reading-for-kids_n_4018741.html

On Wednesday, October 23rd, we welcomed three of the four authors of the Almost Epic Squad series to the library.  Kevin Sylvester, Ted Staunton, and Richard Scrimger visited with our Grade 2/3 to Grade 6/7 classes to discuss their 4-book series about kid superheroes who develop, at first glance, quirky superpowers that aren’t very super at all!  Their presentation was wonderfully engaging, funny, and inspiring.

They also talked about how they write as a group to develop their stories and gave students tips about their writing process.  Number one rule?  Don’t use an eraser!  Keep, change, leave out, and develop those ideas, but don’t erase them.  Our students are eager to start reading this series! 

   

Welcome to the Stoney Creek Library’s new blog. 
Check back for new happenings!