JS Library in Review 2015

In the busyness of a school year, it is important to reflect on the achievements, identifying progress and reflecting on areas for possible improvement and growth. The following resources have been identified as some highlights from the year.

2015 Lights - Camera -Action

Each year, we have an overarching vision and concept for the year. In 2015 it was about making connections to the Units of Inquiry through literature, information literacy and the development of the Makerspace.

A Makerspace has been designed to develop understandings around STEM, Design Thinking and to support the teaching with Digital Technologies.

2015 was also the International Year of Light and the Book Week theme was Books Light Up Our World.

After reflection about the impact of the JS Library in 2014 and a consideration of new areas of focus for 2015 (see JS Library Annual Report) the following were identified.

1. LITERACY 2015 SALC STRATEGIC FOCUS: Literature celebrations LITERACY 2015
2. AUTHENTIC AUTHORS Students writing for a purpose and wider, global audience
3. LITERACY PICKINGS (Advocacy and Information Sharing - see Junior School bulletins)
   
4. SHARE A STORY: Literacy across the calendar year (see blog posts for each month)
   
5. JS LIBRARY MAKERSPACE (Create - Collaborate - Communicate)

ACKNOWLEDGING A NEED FOR TEACHER SKILL DEVELOPMENT

iPads and Self Directed Professional Development

1. iPad tutorials
   
2. 21 Things with iPads
   
3. 21 Things @ SALC
   

ICT4ME

Resources for staff and students

TEACHER LIBRARIAN COLLABORATIVE SESSIONS

CONNECTIONS TO UOI

e.g.

• STUDENT RESEARCHING SESSIONS - INFORMATION
• ADVANCED RESEARCHING SESSION
• USING EDMODO AND TASKS FOR HOW THE WORLD WORKS
• WEBSITE BUILDERS – Compare and contrast

e.g.

• How we Express Ourselves UOI (see SMORE Term 2 in review)

- Green screen and Claymation

DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR THE PYP

• HOW TO USE THE LIBRARY (focused on the PYP Concepts)
• PYP & THE JS LIBRARY
• SALC CORE VALUES & THE PYP
• DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

REFINING LITERACY & READING

FOCUS DAYS & LOVE YOUR LIBRARIES MONTH (FEBRUARY)

Examination of prior reading initiatives

1) iRe@d at SALC

Introduction of monthly literature and literacy focus

2) INTRODUCTION OF SHARE A STORY

Calendar concept by 2015 Children's Laureate - Jackie French with the aim to focus on a different aspect each month.

Connection to reading and the development of International Mindedness

3) WORLD READ ALOUD DAY

· Storytelling with Dr Seuss

- March 4th is Dr Seuss' birthday & World Read Aloud Day.

Establishment of Annual Literacy Celebrations focus

TERM 2 LITERACY CELEBRATIONS - Literacy Celebrations Week

The ICT Mentors (and their involvement in the Junior School) was an area that needed clarification in order to improve the opportunities for student personal growth.

Additionally, the call at the beginning of the year was made to younger classes to be trained as ICT Helpers.

OUTCOMES

• Refined ICT Mentors Role Description with clarified expectations at the start of the year.
  
• Students were trained and then supported other students in enrichment sessions and in class.
• Students in younger grades were given opportunity to provide support to other students.

ICT MENTOR LED SESSIONS

Lego Robotics, Programming, Digital Story Telling (i.e. Claymation and animations)

• Lego WeDo
  
• Programming with Apps
  
• Robotics (Cubelets, Bee Bots and Spheros)
  

Additionally, these students were offered the chance to participate and engage with other technology related activities.

• Story writing Competition with Lego Story Starter
• LEGO® Education StoryVisualizer Tutorial
• JS Library blog post Robotics Rule the JS Library Makerspace
  

Website: http://www.standrewslutheran.qld.edu.au/junior/library/
Location: 175 Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tallebudgera, Queensland, Australia
Twitter: @julia_boulton

2016: FURTHER THE VISION

AIM: To continue with the possibilities of the JS Library Makerspace, STE(AM), and Design Thinking through the JS Library.

e.g. TERM 1: GO GO GADGET (construction/systems thinking/real world connections)

TERM 1 2016

MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH THE UOI'S

• UOI and Systems Thinking and The Way Things Work
• YEAR 4 Central Idea: Systems are used to maintain organisations in places of human interaction.

• YEAR 3 Central Idea: Scientific discoveries contribute to our understanding of the world.

MAKERSPACE - STE(A)M & DESIGN THINKING

Design Challenge:

• Improve It! Challenge
• Making Something That Moves (engineering focus)

NEW JS LIBRARY 2016

• Refurbishment of the JS Library ... stay tuned for more information....