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!