Boys, Blogs and Belonging

Yesterday 35 librarians met for a staff development day at The Children's Bookshop at Beecroft. The event organised by the Teacher Librarians of Parramatta Diocese was entitled Boys, Blogs and Belonging.

The day focused on the sharing of information, knowledge and skills in literacy development of students in the classroom via Web 2.0 tools and deep understanding of the appropriate resources to support learning. Including a refresher on the copyright issues around the use of these digital tools.

There was a review of new books by Paul Macdonald, the owner of The Children's Bookshop. Paul has a Masters in Education and has almost twenty years experience as an English teacher at both Primary and Secondary levels. His working life has extended to writing English texts, lecturing and consultancy. Paul’s particular interest is the fostering of boys’ literacy, enthusing reluctant readers and the development of reading schemes to extend gifted students. Paul’s session discussed a range of books for boys and girls with a particular focus on the need to encourage reading for pleasure as a means to advance literacy. Paul stressed that “Books are not dead – they are just changing their face”. In fact there has been a growth in the teen reading market. Paul also discussed the blurring of boundaries between children’s, teens and adult books.

The day ended with a visit by an author-in-residence, illustrator and writer Nina Rycroft. Nina gave us an insight into the work process of creating illustrations for a picture book. Nina has just completed her own picture book called Ballroom Bonanza and discussed how she developed her ideas for the book and the illustrations.

The day provided an opportunity for teacher-librarians to extend their knowledge of what is new and relevant to supporting learners K-12 in reading and writing. Identifying and selecting appropriate resources to match reading ages is just one area where teacher librarians are able to support literacy learning in schools.

Learning through music

Male Voices: Stories of boys learning through making music
Scott Harrison ,
ACER Press, May 2009

Male Voices is filled with stories of boys and men participating in the creation of music. It brings together leading thinkers and practitioners in the field of music from the conductor of the award-winning, mould-breaking Birralee Blokes, Paul Holley, who comments on the phenomenal success of his choir, through to internationally recognised scholars, Dr Scott Harrison and Dr Bob Smith, who bring research into adolescent participation and indigenous music-making respectively. This book offers a variety of viewpoints. Academics help to position the study of male engagement in music throughout the life cycle, while teachers in private and state schools across the country offer their views alongside those of professional musicians.

The book also focuses on the interface of technology and music, instrumental music, and how music contributes to academic skills, social interaction and life skills. From the banks of the Yarra to remote communities of the Far North, Male Voices presents a diverse range of experiences, with parents, teachers, musicians, men and boys offering perspectives on their experience of music, for the benefit and understanding of others.
(Review from ACER Press)

This book available to borrow by contacting TLRU@parra.catholic.edu.au.

Pedagogy

Blended learning : tools for teaching and training
Barbara Allan.
2007.

Teaching boys : developing classroom practices that work.
Amanda Keddie & Martin Mills.
2007.