LITERACY /

LEARNING & TEACHING 

Book Week

Week 7 ~ Term 3 ~ 2023

Each year across Australia, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) brings children and books together by celebrating Book Week. This year’s event will be celebrated between 19th - 25th Augustat Holy Name.

This year's theme of "READ, GROW, INSPIRE", signifies all the wonderful experiences and delicious language books bring to us, to help us do exactly that, read, grow, inspire and be inspired.

The Book Week committee is currently finalising a list of some fun things to be on offer that week. Watch this space as more information will be provided in the coming weeks. 

We can of course expect the usual amazing costume parade, staring our gorgeous learners as they parade around as their favourite books, or characters.

In the meantime, if you want to take a look at the shortlisted books for this year please click this link https://cbca.org.au/shortlist-2023

You might like to start looking into some of these books. Just choose the most appropriate category for your child/ren or perhaps start by looking at the judges reviews. 

I have already selected my favourite. I wonder what yours might be?

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

Yes, we are just wild about reading!

Congratulations to these wonderful readers who have completed the Premiers’ Reading Challenge! 

Just a reminder that the Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 8 September 2023.

Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’  30 books with their parents and teachers. 

Children from Year 3 to Year 6 are challenged to read 15 books.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.

To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge 

Fun with Literacy @Home

Everyone loves a birthday party!

This fortnight we are encouraging you to explore books that are having a birthday this year, or those that have recently had a birthday. 

Maybe you know of some books that might be celebrating their birthday next year. 

You might like to design and plan a birthday celebration for one of these, or one of your own books. 

Here is another one of my favourite books, by one my favourite authors, Mem Fox. Last newsletter we celebrated Possum Magic, by Mem Fox.  This time we are celebrating Koala Lou, because it is her 35th Birthday this year. 

Do you know this book?

That means 35 years ago this year, (in 1988) author Mem Fox and illustrator Pamela Lofts created a picture book that continues to create wonderment from start to end.

In this story, there was once a baby koala, so soft and round that all who saw her loved her. Her name was Koala Lou. Koala Lou is the first born in a large family. She feels sad because her mother seems too busy to pay her any attention. Perhaps if she wins the tree-climbing at the Bush Olympics her mother might notice her again . . ..

I wonder if her plan will work? Why do you have read, find out and let me know!

I would love to hear what you think about these cherished stories.

Super Literacy Challenge

I have some very nice little prizes that I am giving to the first 3 children each fortnight, who come to me with their responses to these "Super Literacy Challenges". But you have to be one of the first 3 to she me your responses...and you have to be correct of course!

Are you going to give it a go? You will also have your name published in the newsletter as a "Super Literacy Winner"

Super Literacy Challenge Number 1

Words from Words

This fortnight's word is "hippopotamus"

H  I  P  P  O  P  O  T  A  M  U  S 

Your challenge is to make as many smaller words as you can from this one word. 

• You can only use the each letter once in each word.
• You can mix and match the letters to make your words.

HINT: There are over 50 words you can make!

...well, actually there are really 407 words that can be made, but I will settle for 50.

Good Luck - don't forget to see me first to claim your place and to have your name recorded in the newsletter as a Super Literacy Winner and collect your prize.