On behalf of the library team we’d like to say a huge thank you to GCC families for encouraging students to keep reading during COVID-19. It’s been a challenging time and we appreciate all of your efforts. This week we are focusing on ways to support you in this endeavour.
Webinar – Helping with reading at home
Cengage is offering a free one-hour webinar which will provide parents/caregivers with:
• The things I need to know about helping my child to read
• Helpful ‘tips’ for reading at home
• What to do in getting ready to listen to reading
• What to do before, during and after listening to reading
This session is suitable for parents of all primary-age children, from Prep to Year 6. Click here to register. At GCC we use a wide range of the Cengage PM print home readers, however, many of the tips shared can be used with other fiction or non-fiction titles.
Helping with reading at home – Webinar Sessions
Friday 15 May
2:00pm – 3:00pm (AEST)
Monday 18 May
6:00pm – 7:00pm (AEST)
Tuesday 19 May
6:00pm – 7:00pm (AEST)
Wednesday 20 May
10:00am – 11:00am (AEST)
Reading Aloud
Reading aloud plays an important role in learning to read across all phases of learning and is highly encouraged at home and school. The process of reading aloud involves spoken language and printed text, providing the opportunity to model both oral and written language to children. Never underestimate the importance of this habit explored in the following links:
- Learn more about the benefits of reading aloud here.
- The Reading Centre provides guides and fact sheets to support children’s reading at home across Prep – Year 6.
- Here’s a great TED Talk on Why you should be reading aloud to your children and why reading aloud helps students ‘get inside a book’.
- The State Library of Queensland provides links on early learning and the importance of reading to children to prepare them for school.
During the COVID-19 crisis, various authors and illustrators have been offering videos of themselves reading their books which is a great alternative to reading aloud. Below is a short list of some of these. Please note that parents/caregivers are encouraged to use their discretion when selecting the titles.
Mem Fox
Students are able to listen to Mem Fox reading all of her books via her website. Click on each book and the audio is at the bottom of the page.
Mo Willems
Author/illustrator Mo Willems is offering free online drawing activities.
Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers has added many of his stories online for children.
Other Links
Storytime from Space
Pre-recorded storytime sessions (reading space related books) from the International Space Station.
Stay Home with Walker Books (Scroll down for author/illustrator links)
Scholastic Learn at Home Day by day projects to keep kids reading, thinking and growing.
NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) author and illustrator videos
The NSW PRC has a library of videos featuring interviews with authors and illustrators from 2017/2018/2019 that would appeal to both primary and secondary students. Here you will find interviews with authors such as Morris Gleitzman as well as a virtual tour of Aaron Blabey’s studio, an interactive drawing activity with illustrator Aura Parker and an indigenous storytelling activity in which students compose their own poem about their favourite object.
For as long as schools are closed, Audible is offering free stories for kids of all ages to stream on a desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.
Coronavirus – A Book for Children
This is a free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, written by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and Nia Roberts, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler. See this link for details.
Enjoy reading together!
Vanessa McKellar, Head of Library Services