Partnering in the Learning Commons

I am so excited to begin Partnering sessions with teachers and classes.  This year, as the teacher-librarian, I am able to collaborate with teachers in co-planning, teaching and assessing project-based learning, with a focus on integrating technology with curriculum.  Depending on the needs to the assignment, classes come to work in the computer lab and/or the collaborative work space with the Smart Board for up to 8 periods or 4 double periods. Teachers come with a project idea in mind and we brainstorm ways we can use different types of technology to enhance student creativity or enrich knowledge with multimedia or use the space for collaborative learning.  It is an amazing opportunity for teachers and students to work in a different learning environment with access to information within arms reach.  Most classes are set up with passwords and usernames to access computers at school and are learning to use the rich resources available to them on the JRR elementary virtual library.

Here are some amazing upcoming partnerships happening in the Learning Commons:

Grade 1 media literacy:  analyzing book covers and re-designing a book cover of a familiar fairytale for a particular audience (using the Internet, drawing software such as Paint)

Grade 3 writing:  creating poetry to explore word choices and descriptive writing (Photostory for Windows)

Grade 4 writing:  word processing a finished piece of writing, while learning to use MS Word (formatting text, text alignment, inserting clipart etc.)

Grade 4/5 health:  learning about netiquette and cyber bullying by creating a media piece to inform their peers about how to keep safe on the Internet (Bitstrips or Comic Life)

Grade 5 FI writing:  using Webbing software to create a story plan for a narrative and word processing the finished piece (Smart Ideas and MS Word)

Grade 6 science:  renewable energy presentation to a mock Toronto council to win a bid to become Toronto's alternative energy source inorder to meet the growing energy needs of our community (using Google Docs, the research process, MS Word for word processing)



We are looking forward to showcasing samples of work online and celebrating the learning that is happening at JRR!

Our 1st Library Leaders Meeting

It was so nice to meet our Library Leader team and make plans for the year.  Here are some things we discussed:

- our meeting day in the week is undecided due to students' commitments to other clubs and teams.  We not need to meet every week, and some weeks we will need to meet more frequently, especially if there is an event happening.  I am thinking of Tuesday's or Thursday's.  

- possible author visit ideas for Kindergarten and Grade 2, Grades 3-4, and Grades 5-6. Check out the following websites for available authors in the Toronto area:  www.canscaip.org and www.bookcentre.ca.

- signing up to subscribe to JRRlearningcommons.blogspot.com so you can receive updates and news OR checking the website regularly to get information.

Asa Library Leader, please reply with a comment as to when which day you are available for our meetings at lunch - Tuesday's or Thursday's.

Library Leaders

Library Leaders at JRR

Thank you to all the grade 5 and 6 students who submitted application letters to become Library Leaders.  This is an amazing leadership opportunity for our junior students, to help promote literacy in the school and provide a positive leadership experience under the guidance of Ms. Tong.

Library Leaders will help out with organizing and promoting events such as the Scholastic Book Fair, the Ontario Library Association Reading Clubs and author visits in the school. This year, our student team will be participating in our Blue Spruce reading club by reading stories, creating activities and helping out with the voting process with classes in Kindergarten to Grade 2.  Library Leaders will help with creating Need to Read book lists and book reviews for students.  Their input will be important to expanding the library collection with book purchasing suggestions and a book buying trip at the end of the year.

Our new Library Leader team will be posted on Monday at the Learning Commons. Our first meeting will be Wednesday October 7th at lunch time in the Learning Commons.