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. 

Text Features and Note Taking Gr 4 and Up

Our focus week 2 has been on text features and note taking. September 17-21st

How can text features help us?

• They help us zoom in on the information we are looking for (Titles, subtitles)
• They help us efficiently find what we need (Contents, Index)
• They help explain the story (Pictures)
• They help us better understand the text (Glossary)
• They give us extra information (text box)
• They help us navigate a non-fiction text with ease (all)

Note taking - Why do we need to learn that?????

So we can write in our own words, avoid plagiarism and make your work more interesting by bringing out your writing and personality within your work. 

Students were asked to choose a non-fiction book on a topic they were interested in but didn't know a whole lot about.  They then had 3 min. to use text features and hone in on one main idea, story, fact that was new to them.  They then had to close the book and share this information with their A-B partner.  Students found the facts that were most interesting were those told in the students' own words. Gr.5 and 6's also took key point notes to help them bring out the facts. 

Gr. 4-7 students can you name some text features and how they help us enjoy a non-fiction book? 

First week of library classes

Wrapping up the first full week of classes, getting to meet each and every student and discussing great books read over the summer have all been highlights of my week.  It's been fun seeing the grade 7's in their new classes, looking so much older than when we broke for vacation in June. These fine students are already taking on leadership roles on the playground and throughout the school. 

Summer Reading Rocks @ Randerson sheets are due in the library by Thursday September 20th. 

Keep your Get Caught Reading photos coming in.  Our wall is looking fantastic with all your creative poses and gorgeous locations for reading. Let's fill the entire bulletin board. 

Mr Sutton Got Caught Reading on his deck

Guest bloggers - Students in Grade 4-7 will be guest blogging throughout the year as part of our library research, technology and information studies.  We look forward to your posts. 

Any student is welcome to guest blog, just come and see me and I can get you set up.

Randerson kids and staff are really getting in the swing of .....

Get Caught Reading.....

I've been so impressed with how many pictures are coming in and how creative everyone is with their pictures.  Here are a few sent to me today.  Be sure to come in and check out the pictures in the foyer.  Look for rock climbing reading, handstand reading and reading at beautiful beaches and other great summer destinations.  Remember you can bring your photos in through September.  Students that have Reading Logs from the summer please return them to me by the end of next week. Wow am I impressed with all the summer reading, many students read for 30 min or more a day! What great books you have all been reading.  Please share your reviews with us as guest bloggers.  My favourite read this summer "Al Capone Does my Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko.

 Nothing says summer like reading an Archie

Have you been Caught Reading this summer?

Look who we caught reading? 

Constable Wilson got caught reading a great book :)
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

 

 





Nothing says Canadian Summer like time at the rink :)

Peaceful reading

Our District Literacy Coordinator Shelley Beleznay was caught reading on a sunny afternoon.



 

Fort reading :)  What a cool place to read!

 

 

                                   
   
   Mr. Mac is the Big Bad Wolf while reading to his Grandkids.  Love it!!!