Randerson welcomes The Clippers for DEAR

Nanaimo Clippers Drop Everything and Read with Randerson kids :)

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Six members of the Nanaimo Clippers took time out of their busy schedules to Drop Everything and Read with Randerson students and staff. More than 320 students and 25 staff members joined the hockey players for a Read-In celebrating National School Libraries Month and the importance of reading. To add to the fun it was pajama day so everyone was comfy in their warm jammies, slippers and cuddling their stuffies. A big thank you to Trevor Fitzgerald, Josh Bryan, Austin Dick, Jesse Neher, Spencer Turcotte and Jayson Argue for making DEAR an extra special event

Nanaimo Clippers taking part in DEAR 2012

  

 

 





BC Teacher Librarian Conference in Coquitlam

Inquire, Inspire, Innovate

I have just returned from the 2012 BC Teacher-Librarian Conference hosted at Riverside Secondary School in Port Coquitlam.  I would like to thank our hosts Coquitlam School District SD# 43 and the three co-chairs of the conference Joanne Howey, Heather Daly and Leslie Ikeda for putting on a wonderful event with inspiring speakers and a wide variety of workshops to meet all needs.  

Dr. David Loertscher's words on learning commons and how technology increases the efficiency and the learning for students was encouraging. He reiterated that technology is not a playground, its an opportunity to learn using collaborative tools. By learning, exploring and inquiring together, we create a greater result and understanding than any of us working individually.

TL's are able to introduce kids to the look and feel of collaborative learning and to have them really experience collaboration. Our libraries are places where everyone is building, doing and making. (learning commons).  The path to learning is participatory. Thank you Dr. Loertscher for your inspiring and motivating words.

Skyping professional ballerina Jillian Vanstone

West Vancouver CEO/Superintendent Chris Kennedy spoke with us about the big pieces being possible because we have technology.  "Libraries are relevant, connected and unlimited.  Technology is powerful when used to do new things kids couldn't do if they didn't have technology."  Chris' words allowed me to reflect on things we are doing at Randerson that are new because of the technology.  We are skying authors and other prominent figures in our country.  Gr. 4,5,6 students are having opportunities to discuss and ask questions and be asked questions  by people they have chosen to to invite into the conversation. The National Ballet's principal dancer Jillian Vanstone is one of many who took time to be interviewed by our students. 

What else is new? We are seeing our most challenged students become more engaged because they are having success with inquiry, exploring and presenting in a way that wasn't happening before.  

Learning about the stars on a night field trip with Ms Burnham's class

Intermediate students are blogging and collaborating on wikis, which is increasing their writing skills and creating an opportunity for them to publish their work.  As Chris quoted a student from his district "I knew if I wrote better, more people would read it."  That is powerful learning and intrinsic motivation. 

Other things happening at Randerson; Gr. 3 students explored the sky one clear evening, learning first hand about the stars, the solar system and the stories behind the naming of the constellations. Students brought their families to share this experience and learn together.

Thank you to everyone involved in making the BCTLA conference such a success.  Chris' final words were "Be hopeful about the power of possibility."  With the incredible colleagues, fantastic students, supportive and encouraging parents and a strong and supportive administrator I am hopeful about the power of possibility at Randerson and in SD#68. 



 

Incorporating iPods and iPads in the Elementary Classroom and Library

Follow Up From Tammy and Val's Workshop

Coal Tyee teacher-librarian Tammy Reynolds and I had the privilege of hosting a workshop at the BCTLA Conference in Coquitlam.  Our focus was on curriculum based learning through iPads and iPods.  We had 31 wonderful teacher-librarians, classroom teachers and IT teachers join us in the discussion and workshop around uses for the iPads.  As always it was a sharing of learning from all involved. 

Coal Tyee's blog (Tammy's blog)

App Sharing

Here is the list of apps that our colleagues across the province have used successfully. Thanks everyone for sharing.

Apps gone free (advice given - new apps are posted at 9:30 each morning)
Apps for the classroom 
I Can Read (ebooks)
You Tube review of iTalk  * listening to this we may have solved the problem of many not being able to get iTalk on their own devices. It appears it is available 2nd generation iPads/iPods.
iButtons (recommended for movies)
iBrainstorm (electronic post it notes) *one colleague uses this app regularly and asked if there was anyway you could get voice on this app?  Does anyone know?  Please respond.
Comic Life (the iPads at the workshop had strip design which our district uses successfully but another great suggestion for creating comic book style writing was this app)
vBookz Voice Reader (pdf voice reader)
Pic Collage (great for K-1)
Storyboard Composer

Book Review Criteria

I would like to thank the Grade 4's, 5's and 6's for creating a strong criteria for book reviews.  I look forward to our guest bloggers and their book reviews.

Book Review criteria, created collaboratively by Gr. 4,5,6 students

Blogging Book Review Criteria

• Title of the book
• Author and illustrator (if there is an illustrator)
• Reviewed by ___________________ (name, first name only)
• Brief summary of the book without giving too many details away.  Be descriptive and have fun with it.
• What you though of the book - detail helps (e.g. The pictures really stood out as they helped me better understand how the polar bears are being hindered by diminishing ice caps.)
• Avoid words like nice, it was a good book....be creative, be descriptive, share your emotions of what you felt while reading the book
• Tell us who you would recommend this book to (age, grade)
• Can you make any text to text connections or other connections....  If you like this book you may also want to consider reading ________________________
• Illustrations of your favourite scene or include a cover of the book
• Check spelling and grammar
• Send book reviews to vmartineau@sd68.bc.ca

Randerson Readers Rock!!!

Well deserved prizes for our Randerson Readers Rock program

Congratulations to our Randerson Readers Rock participants for their diligence in our summer reading program.  Every student who participated by filling out a reading log and telling us a bit about the great books they read, received a Randerson Readers Rock prize package. 

Book Clubs are back at Randerson
We are about to start our book clubs and are looking for great titles you want to read and discuss.

Here are some of the requests to date:

Gr. 7 book club - Recruit, The first book in the Cherub series by Robert Muchamore. This series is about undercover teenage agents and is full of adventure and thrills.  From the author interview it sounds intriguing yet at times mature.  I have recently purchased the book and look forward to reading it to better understand its maturity level. 

Grade 6/7 - Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - although this was a book club choice last year many of our Grade 5's who are now Grade 6's would like it to be chosen again this year.

Gr. 6/7 We all Fall Down by Eric Walters.  Our grade 7's read it last year and enjoyed it so much they all rushed to the library for the sequel "United we Stand".  This would be an excellent book choice as Eric Walters is visiting Vancouver Island in February and we are working hard to get him booked into our school for an author visit. 

Gr. 4/5 Underneath by Kathi Applett is a critically acclaimed novel about two unlikely friends and how they become a family.  An abandoned cat and a chained up hound become a family Underneath the porch.  Beautifully written this story is of friendship and family.


Keep your suggestions coming in.  We will choose a book this month and begin reading for our first book club meeting in November.  Please stop by the library if you have any book club recommendations. 

Ms. Parsons Gr. 4's teach us about Text Features

Our Grade 4's are using their text feature skills in social studies as they learn about Aboriginal cultures, exploration and contact. What better way to share their knowledge than teaching their peers about how text features help us find information easily.

The boys used their poster (right) and their text books to teach and demonstrate how text features can help us find information quickly and efficiently. 

Aaron and Joey finished early and asked if they could blog to help teach other kids. Here is the conversation they shared.  Thanks for sharing boys.

 

Why do we use text features?

It helps you find things easy in non-fiction books.

How can they help us find information?

Because it different than the other words, it stands out.

What text feature do you like best? Why is it your favourite?

The contents because it helps find things and is at the front.          

We are all learners...we are all teachers

Randerson teachers learn, explore and dive into a great day of professional development

A huge thank you to SD#68's Shelley Beleznay and Kathy Loos for helping us with our morning session at DRC.  Teachers dove into fantastic resources, learned what best fit their curriculum needs, how to order online and how to match resources efficiently and effectively.  Seeing the DRC makeover first hand and how streamlined finding excellent resources has become, gave teachers a better understanding of what is available to them. Our student support teacher Mrs. Pabbies said "It was like Christmas morning, finding so many wonderful presents waiting for us to enjoy."

We welcomed our student teachers from VIU and we look forward to working with these five energetic ladies throughout the year. 

Our afternoon sessions were productive learning opportunities through technology. Thank you to our Pro D Committee for arranging a great day of learning and sharing.