April+2010


 * April 2010**

Connecting with Units of Inquiry

This month I worked with the Grade 1 team of Zoe, Bridget and Genvieve exploring systems in the library. Many types of systems were explored from the physical system of bringing your library bag to school the day prior to library period, the system for choosing books, the system for checking out books and the system of organizing books on the shelves. This unit was a great opportunity for me to co-plan and co-teach with my colleagues. I have suggested as an action and an extention of their work that students from Grade 1 go share their new understanding of library systems with the Grade 5 students to help Grade 5 students plan research strategies for their Exhibition projects.

This month I have had the opportunity during Parent/Teacher Conferences to speak with a few parents about their childrens' roles in the the primary library and their skills at choosing reading material for themselves which is just a little challenging but not too challenging. The students are my patrons and I enjoy discussing and purchasing new books based upon students' suggestions for reading material. Reading for pleasure is what I consider the library bag borrowing books to represent. Please help your children to bring their library bags the day before their library period as that gives them the tools to use their library time wisely. You too are my patrons and if you have any questions or comments about the reading material your children are bringing home in their library bags do not hesitate to come speak with me.

The most notable events of this month will be the substitution by Silvia Miles, while I am privileged to go on the Grade 4 Adventure Challenge Camp week this next week. Silvia has kindly been volunteering on Monday afternoons since January 2010 and has both an Early Childhood Education and is currently an Assistant Librarian at Ridley College, a prepratory school in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. I am very fortunate she is here on sabatical for a year and a half.

I wish everyone a relaxing April Spring Break!

Carol Whitehouse

Primary Librarian