Tag Archives: character-building

Nov. 12 – 16, 2012 Read-a-Louds

Bullying…everyone is talking about it. The recent tragic suicide of a Lower Mainland high school student has put the issue back in the news. This week, grades 1 and up will be reading Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship by Edward Hemingway. Mac, an apple, wakes up after a rain shower to find that he has a new friend, Will. Will is a worm. The two friends are inseparable (literally and figuratively!), until Mac is bullied by his apple friends at the orchard, and is called a “rotten” and “bad” apple because of his worm friend. How does Mac deal with the bullying? Find out this week. This story is an accessible but powerful narrative dealing with friendship and the repercussions of bullying.

Oct. 1 – 5, 2012 Read-a-Louds

This week we have 2 brand new books to read.

      Olivia and the Fairy Princesses

The Kindergarteners and Grade 1’s will be reading the new Llama Llama book, Llama Llama Time To Share, by Anna Dewdney. The beginning of the school year, when new friends are made, is a good time to review sharing. Llama Llama meets his new neighbour, Nelly Gnu, and she comes over for a visit. At first Llama Llama doesn’t want to share, but both characters learn a valuable lesson. Visit Llama Llama’s website for fun educational games and activities.

Grade 2’s and grade 3’s will be reading the latest installment of Olivia the Pig, in Olivia and the Fairy Princesses, by Ian Falconer. Olivia is a different pig, and she likes to stand out amongst the crowd. All the other girls want to be fairy princesses when they grow up, but not Olivia. This is a story about individuality. Visit Olivia’s website for more fun.

Apr. 2 – 6, 2012 Read-a-Louds

HAPPY EASTER!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break! This week, the Primary grades will be reading Piggy Bunny by Rachel Vail. This is both an Easter story, and a story about individuality and self-confidence. Liam the piglet dreams of being the Easter Bunny, and he practices hopping, eating salad and delivering eggs. Will he succeed?

The Kindergarteners will be reading One More Egg by Sarah Emmanuelle Burg. This is a story about a Bunny who needs one more egg, and he asks Chicken, and they go on a wild “goose-chase”. But, why does Bunny need an egg? Could Bunny be the Easter Bunny?

 

Feb. 27 – Mar. 2, 2012 Read-a-Louds

This week is all about friendship and preventing bullying. Wednesday, Feb. 29th is Pink Shirt Day, when people will be wearing pink to support the message of “Bullying Stops Here!” To go along with anti-bullying week, all classes will be reading a story about friendship. The Kindergarteners will be reading The Crayon Box That Talked by Shane DeRolf, a story about working together and accepting differences.

The primary classes will be reading One of Us by Peggy Moss. Roberta goes to her first day at a new school and tries to fit in with many different groups of children. 

 

 

Finally, the intermediate classes will be reading Bird Child by Nan Forler. This is a story about being a bystander and watching someone get bullied.

Apr 18 – Apr 22 Read-a-Louds

This week the grade 7’s will be reading Making the Moose Out of Life by Nicholas Oldland. Moose, who is usually mild-mannered, is stranded on a deserted island and must overcome his fears about trying new things. Students will then draft a speech to present the Moose with an award for bravery.

Also this week, several classes will be reading Willow’s Whispers by Lana Button. Both Lana Button and illustrator Tania Howells are Canadian. Willow is a shy and quiet girl and needs to gain the confidence to have her voice heard.

Both stories this week deal with gaining confidence and becoming a stronger person.