KAHOOT!!

I recently downloaded a programme called Kahoot! onto the library tablets. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn any subject. The teacher chooses a quiz on the main PC and then the tablets sync with the quiz chosen. The children have to choose the correct multiple choice answer corresponding with the question asked. On Thursday I divided the Grade 4's into 4 teams, each team had a tablet and they gave themselves a team name. We had some very interesting names! See pics below, the pics speak volumes.
At the moment I am just introducing the game to the children, once the classes have grasped how it works then I will be putting together quizzes that support their studies for exam purposes.

The Travelling Book Shop came to visit

On Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th of October the Travelling Book shop came to visit. They had new books on sale which the children were very excited about. The fantastic thing about having the Travelling Book shop here is that the library benefits in a positive way by getting commission on the total books sold. Last year we were allowed to choose over five hundred rands worth of books and this year we could choose three hundred and sixty rands worth of books. This amount does not sound like much however since the books are priced very reasonably we get quite a decent amount of books in return. The library is in need of new reference/resource books for project purposes so I took the opportunity to choose reference/resource books for this exact purpose as opposed to choosing fiction books which the children usually request.

Here are photos of the Grade 3's visiting the Travelling Book Shop.

Roald Dahl Day 100 years

To mark 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl the Grade 4's, 6's and 7's celebrated this colossal author by dressing up as their favourite Roald Dahl character and acting out his revolting rhymes just before the end of term 3. The Grade 7's were divided into groups and were given a rhyme to act out. This was a fun filled day with many smiles, laughs and creativity. See pics below:

Grade 4's

Grade 4's

Grade 4's

Grade 4's

Grade 7's (Goldilocks and the Three Bears)

Grade 7's (Goldilocks and the Three Bears)

Grade 7's (Little Red Riding Hood)

Grade 7's (Little Red Riding Hood)

Grade 7's (The Three Little Pigs)

Grade 7's (Cinderella)

Enid Blyton day for the Foundation Phase

On Thursday the 11th August the Library celebrated Enid Blyton day.

The foundation phase children were allowed to come to school dressed up as their favourite Enid Blyton character.

Thank you to those children who made the effort and took the time to participate, the children looked fantastic. The characters ranged from Moonface, to Frannie, to Joe, to Mr Saucepanman and to Dane Washalaot, along with many other characters. The idea was that there would be a best dressed boy and a best dressed girl per class, however it did not quite work out like that as I could not decide so everyone who dressed up received an Enid Blyton badge. The activity that the children participated in during their library lesson was to create their own Magic Faraway Tree. Some children came up with the most beautiful trees filled with loads of imagination. They will be laminated and put up in the library so come and have a look.

A picture attached below, more to come.

Grade R's

Grade R's

Grade 1's

Grade 1's

Grade 1's

Grade 1's

Grade 2's

Grade 2's

Grade 2's

Grade 3's

2016 Term 2 has started with a BANG!

2016 Term 2 has started with a BANG!

The grade 6's and 7's went to Bonamanzi Adventure camp for 2 nights and had a fantastic time. They have come back tired and elated. The stories they have told will be remembered for a very long time.
While they were on camp the rest of the school carried on as normal however there was a very quite presence on the playground.

This week the focus in the library was Poems based on the book "Can it be about me?" by Cheryl Moskowitz. The book has a variety of poems that are about friendship, personal issues, quarrels, secrets, bullying etc. Basically anything that younger children experience in life. It is quite a profound book that touches the hearts of many children as they can relate to the situations. Hooked on Books will be performing a play on one of the poems in the 3rd term... We loved Hooked on Books and cannot wait to see which poem they choose.

The Grade 4's, 5's, 6's and 7's all had the opportunity to write poems in a group dynamic based on the book. Some groups wrote outstanding poetry that brought tears to our eyes and other children wrote hysterical poetry that left our sides in stitches!

Michaela, Caelan, Rayne and Sarah from Grade 7 wrote a fantastic poem about books which has been laminated and put up in the library for all to read and see. Come pop in! The library is looking great and we have many new books on our shelves. There are other poems up in the library too which are brilliant.

By Mrs Vink the Library teacher, Rayne Brink, Gina Strydom and Cameron Cleenverk the Library Monitors.    

An afternoon dedicated to mending books

6 May 2016

An afternoon dedicated to mending books

Over time I have slowly been collecting library books that were in need of repair under my desk, before I realised it the box was over flowing and I knew that Lorraine was in need. Not only for book repairs but to also teach the Library Monitors how it is done. 

Lorraine is a very helpful lady from Red Circle who teaches librarians how to repair damaged books. I booked an appointment with her so she could come and teach the library monitors from Grade 7 how to fix and mend books. She arrived with her little red “first aid kit” box filled with anything and everything imaginable and unimaginable that can be used to fix books. Lorraine immediately connected with Cameron, Rayne and Gina and they were put to work at once. The library monitors found Lorraine quite entertaining and enthusiastic as she has quite a jovial personality. We spent a good amount of time being taught how to repair different types of damages i.e. spine damage, torn pages, loose pages and even how to clean books. 

Did you know that you can fix torn pages with a bit of cold glue and grease proof paper? Genius! 

After an hour of chatting and repairing, Lorraine then introduced an effective book covering skill which the girls found very helpful. I have taught the girls how to cover books but at the same time it is always lovely having someone new come in with an exciting energy to keep them interested. Now that Rayne, Gina and Cameron have learnt a new skill, the books will be repaired sooner and will be put back on the shelf for children to read where they belong.

PENGUIN by Polly Dunbar

PENGUIN by Polly Dunbar

We often come across a story book in the library which can create a bit of excitement, which I love. I love it when the children want to hear new stories or even good old favourites. The story, “Penguin” is definitely one of the absolute favourites in the library for the younger children. The book is filled with whimsical and mischievous illustrations and simple text that grasps the childrens attention right from the start.

The story starts with a boy named Ben who rips open his present and finds a penguin inside. Ben says hello to the Penguin but the Penguin says nothing. Ben then asks the Penguin what shall they play. Penguin goes on to say nothing. Ben asks the Penguin if he can talk but again the Penguin says nothing. Ben goes about doing a dizzy dance, he pulls funny faces, he even sings silly songs and many other things to try get Penguin to say something but Penguin just says nothing. Our favourite is when Ben fires Penguin into out space but Penguin comes back to earth without a word. Ben even goes on to try feed Penguin to a lion. What will it take for Penguin to speak? Eventually Lions eats Ben for being too noisy, now this is when the entire group of children burst out laughing as Penguin bites Lion very hard on the nose and Ben shoots out of Lions mouth. Penguin then speaks in Penguin talk and Ben is overly delighted with joy and receives his heart’s desire. This is such a sweet story that makes you laugh from beginning to end.

Some of the questions that come up during the story are,” Why does the Penguin take so long to speak?”

“Why is the Lion blue?”

“Was it Bens Birthday or was it Christmas?”

“How did Ben survive being inside a Lions tummy?”

“Why did he get a Penguin? That is such a strange present to get Mrs Vink.”

“Why did Ben send him to outer space? There is no one out there to talk to.”

My favourite question is, “But how did the Penguin breathe in the box? And how would he have eaten or gone to the toilet? It must have been rather messy in that box…”

There are many other books in this series that the children love i.e. The Hairy Toe and I don’t like Gloria. However, Penguin is still the favourite.