Welcome to the Bream Bay Cluster

Hi to the teachers at the Bream Bay Cluster National Library workshop last Thursday... If you are reading this, then good on you for visiting the JuLS blog!

I've followed up by email to you with all the various bits and pieces, including the powerpoint, articles and links, but just to say that the wonderful collection of picture books we shared is available to browse online at the BBCJuls LibraryThing account.
Just go to http://www.librarything.com and log in with the details which I've emailed to you.

Don't forget that all the books are from National Library and can be borrowed from Curriculum Services - free phone 0800 356 000.

What good readers do...

Have a look at these classroom activities to help children learn to think about their thinking and the strategies they use to solve problems :

making animal creations from playdoh
http://www.wested.org/stratlit/ideas/animalcreations.shtml

and identifying what good readers do...
http://www.wested.org/stratlit/ideas/readingprocess.shtml

ICT Games

Mandy shared this resource ICT games - good for junior school, for numeracy and literacy, computer games and online activities...
http://www.ictgames.com/

Carl's Corner

Lynne shared this great resource - great for literacy conventions, alphabet etc
http://www.carlscorner.us.com/
Watch out for American-isms !

Sparklebox

Here is a resource shared by Raewyn at Juls Kaitaia today
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/
Great resources for literacy and maths for new entrants...

Tumble Books - A Fantastic Online Resource

Hi guys, this was mentioned at an ICT course I went on a while ago and I felt it worth sharing. Tumble Books is a great website where you can find a range of books (with activities to accompany them online) at different levels. You can select a book and it will read it aloud while showing some animations/pictures to go with the story and some of the texts even highlight the words that are being read aloud. Worth a look . .

Here's what to do (this is how to get into the site the 'free' way)

1) Google Tumble Books

2) Scroll down until you get to the site that says 'Login to Tumble Books' - click

3) Click on 'click here' (this will take you to the Tumble Books site)

4) Use the search up the top to find what you are looking for

5) Select a book and click 'view online'

A fantastic resource - Good luck hope you find some use for it.

Michelle :-)

Just checking to see if I can do it. What a great day!

Book introductions

Chris just did a great book introduction for Rainstorm by Barbara Lehman - a wonderful wordless picture book about adventure and friendship, available from National Library (here is the online request form page).


Here is the link to it on LibraryThing

Book introductions - they are so effective in helping a child make some connection to a book and to excite interest, support understanding, engage...

Here is a link to a book "Catching readers before they fall" by Pat Johnson and Katie Keier which is available to read online.
Page 92 has a section on quality book introductions.

What makes a good Year 1 - 4 teacher ?

What makes a good Year 1 – 4 teacher ?
Supple joints High literacy Multi tasker Rich vocabulary Multi-listener Talking talking talking Organisation Child involvement Busy Mess Approachable to parents Flexible Focussed Clear idea of where at / where to Specific Belief in literacy Knowledge of techniques Open minded Sense of humour Different voices Aware Sensitive Creative Know your resources Able to access information Reflective Highly motivated Know your limits Affirmative with parents Empathetic not pathetic Focussed on strengths and needs Targeted teaching to strengths and needs Patient Organised Caring Intuitive Resourceful Flexible Healthy High expectations Enthusiastic Good professional knowledge Open minded Persistent Established excellent relationships with child and caregivers Knowledge of school community Knowledge of wider educational community Firm Consistent Sensitive Multi-tasker Anticipate possible problems Pro-active Creative thinker and do-er Patience Perseverance Problem solving Positive reinforcement Praise Consistency Encouragement Fun Calm Role model Passionate Child-speak Empathy Expectations Modelling Creativity Open-minded Realistic Self-reflective Approachable Knowing the learner Prepared Constant feedback

Ideas for what to do with weeded books

Some fun activities are suggested in this article available from the SCIS Connections newsletter :
eg making bookmarks and place mats, dioramas, book art, etc...

http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/a_new_life_for_weeded_books.html