CMIS Evaluation

• Indigenous Literacy Day and
• National Reading Day

Schools and libraries are important organisations that provide support for our students to participate in all of these events and achieve positive literacy outcomes.  If you still have some energy after Book Week, they are both worthy of the attention of your students.

And – if you have some time after all that – September 8 is:

• International Literacy Day

For resources to support any of your literacy projects, visit our CMIS website to subscribe to our Blogs and CMIS Resource Bank.

Image used with permission

Pete the Sheep is this year’s story.

It’s time now for your school to register this year’s storytime event.

Put the date in your diary – May 27th @ 11am. At the ALIA website you will find ideas for fun activities in the lead up to the day.

Written by popular childrens’ author,  Jackie French, Pete the sheep was first published in 2004. Bruce Whatley’s expressive illustrations give the book a larrikin flavour which appeals to younger readers.

The book tells the story of Sean the shearer who instead of a sheepdog to help him, he has a ’sheep sheep’ called Pete. After being rejected by the other shearers and their dogs, Sean and Pete set up a sheep salon in town and sheep from everywhere arrive to have their wool shorn in the latest style.

Teachers can utilise this book as part of a farming topic. The CMIS database has other books to add to the topic.

The book was a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Picture Book in 2005.

It’s not too late to register your school for National Reading Day on September 3rd. This is just one of the Literacy & Numeracy Week activities. National Literacy & Numeracy Week runs from 1 -7 Sept and information and suitable activities can be accessed from the official website.

Reach for the Stars covers the numeracy angle for the week.  ‘Reach for the Stars’ activities allow students to practice ‘real-life’ mathematics.   Both the Reading and Mathematics websites have lots of practical ideas for classroom activities across all phases of development.

Along with the government initiated  week of activities,  teachers and students can also be involved with Indigenous Literacy Day which also takes place on 3rd Sept . Information about school registration, participation and activities can be found on the website.  On ILD, part of the Indigenous Literacy Project all Australians are invited to join together to raise funds to address literacy needs in remote Indigenous communities.

As part of the ILD in WA there is a morning of storytelling to be held at the State Library of Western Australia at 10.30 am on Wednesday Sep 3rd. Participants include author Sally Morgan and former Fremantle Football Club player Troy Cook.

The CMIS Evaluation Aboriginal Literacy Strategy page gives more ideas on books to use in the classroom.

All of these events are precursors to the United Nations International Literacy Day on September 8th. This year marks the middle of the UN Literacy Decade which aims to extend the use of literacy to those who do not currently have access to it.  Universal Eucation and literacy is a key aspect of the millenium Development Goals.

Staff members can become involved in a “Staff Reading” –  Perhaps a whole school assembly with different people reading a favourite book or using the school PA system.

_{Image used with permission Era Publications}

Library and Information Week (19 – 25 May) is a great time for your school to participate in the National Simultaneous Storytime. This year NSS is on May 21.  The book EVERYONE will be reading is Arthur by Amanda Graham & illustrated by Donna Gynell. Published by Era Publications. 
Although the original was published quite a few years ago – there’s bound to be a copy in your library. 
However in the event you can’t get a copy there’s a  list of great doggy books and other inspirations on the ALIA NSS 2008 website

Activites for schools are available from the website and there is  a special publisher’s website which will be available from May 14 – 21 and contains extra items for use during the event.

Your school will need to register at this link:-http://www.alia.org.au/advocacy/storytime/2008/form.2008.html - register by May 12th to be in the running for some great prizes.