Tag Archives: research

Apr. 30 – May 11, 2012 Read-a-Louds

For the next 2 weeks we will be looking at fiction and nonfiction, specifically “Twin Texts”. “Teachers who use fiction and nonfiction trade books together may be rewarded with students who are excited about learning. Twin Texts help teachers encourage the enjoyment of reading while capitalizing on students’ fascination of facts” (Deanne Camp, The Reading Teacher, Feb 2000).We will also be simultaneously looking at “narrative nonfiction”; nonfiction material told in a story format.

The first book we will read is About Hummingbirds by Cathryn Sill, a nonfiction guide to hummingbirds.

The week after, we will read a fiction story about hummingbirds, The Little Hummingbird by Michael Nicoll, for grades 1 – 3, and Little Green by Keith Baker for the Kindergarteners.

February 2012 Library Happenings

So far this month, Ms. Lehnert has collaborated with Mme. Vicari, and Ms. Hull. Division 3 (Gr. 6/7 French Immersion) is continuing work on a Readers’ Theatre unit started at the end of January.

What is Readers’ Theatre?

  • a text that is performed orally and dramatically
  • a reading activity that brings characters to life through voices and gestures
  • can be in the form of a story, a poem, a scene from a play, or even song lyrics
  • uses very few (if any) props, as the main focus is on the oral presentation

What is the value of Readers’ Theatre?

  • it focuses on all of the Language Arts: reading, writing, speaking, and listening
  • it enhances development of communication skills such as: voice projection, intonation, inflection and pronunciation
  • it facilitates the development of critical and creative thinking as readers create different interpretations of the same story
  • it is a participatory event – the characters and the audience are engaged
  • it is informal and relaxed – does not require elaborate props, scenery, or costumes, and does not require students to memorize text
  • it stimulates the imagination and creation of visual images
  • it enhances the development of cooperative learning strategies – students work together in groups to discuss, write, and perform a script
  • it helps to develop a strong sense of self-confidence and self-assurance by working within and presenting within a group structure
  • it is a FUN way to learn the Language Arts curriculum!

Students in Division 3 will be performing scripts that have already been written, and will then move on to adapting a picture book story into a Readers’ Theatre script. The final project will be writing and performing an original script. So far, the students have been enjoying the unit and have had lots of fun performing pre-written scripts!

Ms. Hull’s grade 7 class is continuing genre studies this month. We are currently looking at the features of Historical Fiction. With February being Black History Month, it is the perfect time to look at the different types of Historical Fiction. We have read Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, a powerful true story of a slave who escaped to freedom in the late 1800’s.

Will will be discovering more history in the weeks to come, through picture books and novels.

Coming soon…Division 2 looks at Ancient Greece. Stay tuned!

 

 

April Library Happenings

This month will be quite busy in the Library! Division 1 (gr.7) will be conducting research on famous French-Canadians.

Division 10 (gr.3/4) will be writing Haiku poems in honour of National Poetry Month; Ms. L. and Mr. S. will be collaborating on a project inspired by the book Guyku: a year of haiku for boys by Bob Raczka and Peter H. Reynolds. Of course, we have created “Galku” for our aspiring female haiku writers! Stay tuned for more details…

Division 14 (gr.2) will be learning how to research and take notes about a favourite animal. We’ll be using books and the laptops for conducting research.

Aboriginal Circle will be held in the Library on Monday, April 11th.

Thank you to students Emily, Joanna and Katherine, for decorating the Library for Easter. It looks fantastic!