Library News
Graphic Novels
As graphic novels grow in popularity, we are steadily increasing our own collection. If your child enjoys reading particular graphic novels please don’t hesitate to email any suggestions you may have. Below is an article written by another school on the benefits of graphic novels. It is well worth a read.
How can Graphic novels be used in the curriculum?
Attitudes towards graphic novels are changing in education. In the past they were somehow seen as undermining literacy. Today they are viewed as an excellent way to engage students in a medium that can promote the goals of traditional literacy.
The exciting visual medium of graphic novels appeals to a diverse range of students including reluctant readers and those who struggle with large sections of text. This medium can also pull in those capable readers who are simply not interested in reading. Graphic novels can help promote healthy reading habits in these students and, most importantly, help them identify as capable and enthusiastic readers.
Increasingly, scholars and teachers realise that in a media dominated society traditional literacy is no longer enough. Engagement with graphic novels can address not only traditional literacy but also information, visual, and media literacies. Likewise, the use of graphic novels is an appealing way for students to develop critical thinking skills through analysis of literary conventions, character development, dialogue and language structures.
Further Reading:
Carter, J. B. (2007). Building literacy connections with graphic novels: Page by page, panel by panel. NCTE, Urbana, IL.
Gorman, M. (2003). Getting graphic! : Using graphic novels to promote literacy with preteens and teens. Linworth Pubishing.
Schwarz, G. E. (2002). Graphic novels for multiple literacies. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 46(3), 262.
Reference:
Costello, C. (2016b). How can graphic novels be used in the curriculum?, Campbelltown Performing Arts High School Newsletter, 2 September 2016. Retrieved from http://cpahs.schoolzineplus.com/newsletter/15495
Premier’s Reading Challenge
The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.
The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is available for all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9.
The 2019 Challenge kicked off Monday 4th March and closes Friday 30th August (midnight) for students.
For further information please go to https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html where you should be able to find the answers to any questions you may have.
The Challenge involves over 300,000 students from Kindergarten to Year 9 and more than 2100 government, non-government and home schools. The NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge book lists open doors to a rich collection of children’s literature representing a range of books including fiction, non-fiction, picture books, poetry and drama, and include a wide variety of Australian authors.
K-2 students only need to read 30 books while Years 3-9 only need to read 20 between the 4th March and 30th August. It is a wonderful initiative that I encourage all students to be a part of. Kindergarten students will complete the challenge with their classroom teacher through the books that are read to them on a daily basis. All other students who would like to participate will need to see Miss Bremner for their login in details.
