Jannali East Links

Do you find it hard to find a book that is “just right” for you? Here are some hints on choosing a “Good Fit” book.

An important part of becoming a successful independent reader is being able to choose “good fit” books. In the library we have started learning how to choose good fit books. Read below to find out more about what a “good fit” book is and how to find one.

I PICK Good Fit Books

1. I choose a book

2. P urpose – Why do I want to read it?

3. I nterest – Does it interest me?

4. C omprehend – Do I understand what I am reading?

5. K now – Do I know most of the words?

Another way to find a “good fit” book is to use the five finger test. Just use this very simple strategy to select a book that is just right for you.

http://primelib.pbworks.com

The final great ways to find a “Good Fit” book are to find an author you enjoy or to read the first book in a series. If you love them you have ready made reading for weeks (or months) to come as you continue on your reading adventure!

To help you here are some popular authors and series from our own school library.

Check them out. I’m sure you’ll find a “Good Fit” book here.

Here are some simple slideshow and video makers that are free to use. They are also not blocked by the NSW DET.

Vuvox

This dynamic media creation suite enables everyone to easily turn their photos, videos, text and audio clips into interactive stories.

EXPRESS is a super FAST, compact version of the STUDIO platform.

A COLLAGE can be published, embedded, and syndicated into any website, blog or social networking site.

STUDIO provides a range of media presentation formats that allow unmatched personalization.

Link to your media, choose a style and modify to your heart’s desire… and, distribute it to COLLAGE, or your personal and public web pages.

Kizoa

Slide

Photopeach

Create – quickly upload photos and make slideshows

Embed – in your blog or website

Share – easily share your shows

Stupeflix

http://blog.stupeflix.com/ Great step by step instructions on the Stupeflix blog.

2012 is the National Year of Reading and there are a huge number of resources being produced. Here are just a few of the sites available.

http://www.love2read.org.au/ There is a link in the left sidebar as well

http://litworld.org/worldreadalouddayactivities/ Resources for World Read Aloud Day on March 7th

http://litworld.org/ LitWorld is a nonprofit organization working to cultivate literacy leaders worldwide through transformational literacy experiences that build connection, understanding, resilience and strength.

http://www.wegivebooks.org A continually growing online library. This is a fabulous resource that you can use on your IWB, for guided reading and individual reading with earphones. All this and the children are helping others all around the world. Please check out this aspect as it makes the reading of the books more meaningful.

We Give Books instantly increases your classroom library and puts high-quality books within reach for children everywhere. We Give Books makes an excellent companion to the interactive whiteboard or projector-connected classroom computer for a class read along. Pull up a story and read the book chorally, ask students to take turns reading, or simply follow along. Everyone can see the pictures and words! This is a great resource for practising reading strategies together as a class.
We Give Books makes a wonderful reading activity on classroom computers. Students can access wonderful stories any time through We Give Books. For those students who struggle with indpendent reading (or are emergent readers) there is a read-along option on some of the stories. Students can follow along with the reading building fluency, flow and vocabulary.

Students (and teachers) can create their own library where they keep the books they have read (or enjoy reading). To add a book to a library, you must be a member of We Give Books- no problem, it is quick and free to become a member!

This site has been added to the ebooks resources on the Literacy page of Jannali East  Links.

Image created by Silvia Tolisano and licensed under Creative Commons and share alike

The DEC has its blogging tool, blogED. It can be accessed in your portal from the Learning Tools tab once your principal has set it up. Many schools around the world have been using classroom blogs. So I have included a list of some of these blogs that I hope will inspire you. They will show you the things that can be included in a classroom blog. There are more examples in the blogroll on the left sidebar. The possibilities are endless! Remember, some of these schools have been doing this for a while so start small and build your own classroom blog throughout the year.

Chorlton Park PS, UK

http://www.chorltonpark.manchester.sch.uk/

Brisbane, AUS

http://2mgems.blogspot.com/

Leopold Primary School, AUS

http://grade2mk.global2.vic.edu.au/

Holmfirth J I and N School UK

http://nabbyear3.wordpress.com/

Heathfield CPS Bolton, UK

http://y62010.heathfieldcps.net/

Blogs from all over the world from Edublogs

http://theedublogger.com/check-out-these-class-blogs/#Primary

There are many Web 2.0 tools that can be used to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom.

It is important to understand that we are using all these tools to practise basic literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and engage and motivate students.

You may need to register to use the tool but it is free and if you use the same email address and password for all registrations it’s simple. Please try them by clicking on the images and let us know how you went by commenting. Your feedback will help us all.

For those of you who are using ipod touches and ipads in the classroom here is a great resource complied by Kelly Tenkely from iLearn Technology. It places the apps into  Bloom’s Taxonomy.