Kindness and Caring for the Holidays

Another year is coming to a close. This week we have been reading the story " How to Heal a Broken Wing" by Bob Graham. While it is not a Holiday story, it does capture that theme of kindness, and thinking of others. Last week we read a winter story called "One Winter's Day" by Christina Butler, it highlights the adventures of a Hedgehog who also spends his time doing kind things for others despite his own troubles. Below are summary's of each book from indigo.


One Winter's Day:

When a fierce windstorm blows away Little Hedgehog''s nest, he puts on his winter clothes and sets off for Badger''s warm house. On his way, Hedgehog meets his friends, all shivering in the wind and snow. One by one, Hedgehog gives away his cozy mittens, hat, and scarf.

But will Little Hedgehog make it through the storm to safety without his warm clothes?

A delightful story about sharing with others, with soft flocking wherever Little Hedgehog''s mittens, hat and scarf appear.

How to Heal a broken Wing:

No one saw the bird fall."

In a city full of hurried people, only young Will notices the bird lying hurt on the ground. With the help of his sympathetic mother, he gently wraps the injured bird and takes it home. In classic Bob Graham style, the beauty is in the details: the careful ministrations with an eyedropper, the bedroom filled with animal memorabilia, the saving of the single feather as a good-luck charm for the bird''s return to the sky. Wistful and uplifting, here is a tale of possibility - and of the souls who never doubt its power.


Below is a resource for parents that highlights Kindness and Caring, and how you can continue the conversation at home.

Finally, students have been given overdue notices to take home today. Please return the form (with the books!) So that we may maintain our collection here at Earl Beatty.

Have a safe and Happy Holiday!

This Past Week: Just Read it Parties and Google Work

Hello Earl Beatty!

As the week begins, we wanted to share with you what has been happening in the Library, and what is to come. This past week we hosted our very first Library parties for the winners of the just read it campaign. Students had a great time working together in cooperative games, and enjoyed each other's company over hot chocolate and cookies.
Keep reading throughout December and tell us about it here on our blog to win a chance to be a part of next month's party.

We have begun to wrap up our work on the google 4 doodle contest. Most of the work we have been doing include investigating inventions, and helping students to generate ideas that are innovative and forward thinking. We have sent home a notice with students on how to follow through with the contest if you would wish to officially enter their ideas. Please see the notice attached to this email for more details on what you can do at home over the holiday break.

Finally, over the course of this week and the next, the Library will be sending home notices for overdue books. Please make sure to look for these missing items over the winter break. Many overdue notices may be showing up from previous year. We are trying to resolve accounts and need your help in either finding missing books, or communicating errors that are showing up in our reports.

Notice Home for Google Doodle Contest

Check out some great ideas from our Kindergarten students!



Have a great week!

Inventing in the Library Continued....

Hello Earl Beatty,

This week and next we have and will continue working on our Google submissions. The Thursday folder will contain a permission slip with information about the contest and information about what we need from parents to enter.

To help students differentiate between good and not so great inventions, we have been looking at some very interesting inventions in the "Klutz Book of Inventions". While all students agree, the inventions in this book may be useful, but they definitely are not desirable or practical. Some examples are a pogo stick toilet plunger, or a to-go orange juicer! 

The focus this coming week in the library will be to allow students an opportunity to plan and create. The library will also be drawing names for the first ever Library games party happening this week! 

Have a great December!

Inventing in the Library

This week our Library is working with students on an opportunity presented through Google Canada.
They are hosting a contest for students across Canada to design a Google Doodle. According to Google, Google Doodles are:

"the fun, surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes that are made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists"

Click HERE to see some examples of Google Doodles

The theme this year is "If I could invent anything,I would invent..."

Students are going to explore the idea of an invention in the Library through fiction and non-fiction texts. Once students have their idea they will create their very own Google Doodle on a template provided. Students are encouraged to explore ideas at home and plan ahead.

Click on the link HERE to see details of the contest, and prizes.

In the Library we will discuss what makes a good invention

- does it solve a problem?
- does it make life easier or fun?
- is it practical?
- is it something that people will want to use?

As an example to these leading questions we will discuss basic inventions (zipper, wheelchair, eyeglasses, television, car, basketball)

To start off discussions we will read 2 stories which have the main characters using their imagination to create:

If you would like to follow up with Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, students will really enjoy, Not a Stick by the same author!

Happy Inventing!

Lost and Found - Looking at Empathy

This week in the Library, primary students are being introduced to the concept of empathy. Below this entry is a letter to parents to help focus and guide discussions on Empathy at home


Last week we read a story called "A Bear in War" in recognition of Remembrance Day.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6136672-a-bear-in-war


This week we are reading "Lost and Found" by Oliver Jeffers. After reading this story we discuss what empathy is and then connect it back to last weeks story to discuss what we think Aileen may have been feeling.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/301141.Lost_and_Found?from_search=true

Oliver Jeffers is a great author and has many other titles that you can read with your child at home. We have a few in our collection at Earl Beatty. The story Lost and Found also is available as a video.

Enjoy the week, and don't forget to Just Read it!

Thank a Soldier

With Remembrance Day fast approaching, our Library will be observing Veteran's Week through media and text. We will also be building class letters showing our appreciation to soldiers currently in active duty. Donations for Veterans are being collected in the Office and in the Library. Please show your support to a very important cause. Check out a helpful link that addresses Remembrance Day: http://tvoparents.tvo.org/blog/tvoparents-blog/thank-soldier

CanLit for LittleCanadians: Do You Know Chameleons?

CanLit for LittleCanadians: Do You Know Chameleons?: by Alain M. Bergeron , Michel Quintin and Sampar Illustrated by Sampar Fitzhenry & Whiteside 978-1-55455-299-3 64 pp. Ag...

Scaredy Squirrel Gives us some tips for Halloween

Scaredy Squirrel is a cautious fellow and shares some tips for Halloween Safety. He's a great character created by Melanie Watt. Her books can be found in our Library.

Scaredy Squirrel's Halloween Safety Public Service Announcement from Kids Can Press on Vimeo.

Just Read It Launch

What better way to launch Just Read It at Earl Beatty than on National Drop Everything and Read Day! This Monday, Earl Beatty is going to Just Read it!

What is Just Read It you ask? It is a way to share the books you read with our school and the TDSB!

Simply read your favourite book and go online to our submissions page:

Primary students go to: http://bit.ly/justreaditbeattyprimary

Junior and Intermediate students go to: http://bit.ly/justreaditbeattyjrint

and tell us about it!

Primary students will also have the option of submitting a hard copy version. 

When you log onto Earl Beatty’s submission page, you enter yourself into a draw to win an invitation to a games Library party!

The party will include Hot Chocolate and Cookies, Wii games, board games, books and More!!!!

We will have a draw twice a month with at least 12 names drawn!

We will then forward your review to the TDSB to enter our school in a draw to win an author visit!

For the first month, to celebrate the startup of Just Read it we will draw a name for the chance to be the first person to loan out Diary of a Wimpy Kid 8 from our Library, coming out November 8!

Just Read it! Just Participate! 

Canadian D.E.A.R. Challenge

Earl Beatty will be participating in the Canadian Drop Everything and Read Challenge on Monday October 28, 2013! Make sure to bring your favourite book to school! We cannot wait to see it all in action!

Our First Post

Hello to our Earl Beatty Community! This is our first official post for the 2013-2014 school year! Our Library is going through some changes and we could not be more thrilled. Our Primary section has been updated and we have new shelving for our growing French collection!

This blog will mainly inform our community about the themes and events taking place in our learning commons. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave a message!