Conference – it seems so long ago but only 9 weeks
2 key things from conference 1. The reinforcement of feeling that I am part of a profession – not just a nice convenient job to suit mums who still have kids at school – which is where I have been at for the last 10 years. It was the calibre of the keynote speakers that really reinforced this for me. · Tara Brabzon – what a personality and so challenging in her thinking. Statements such as : o Too many decisions about teaching and learning have been automated. By talking about kids and tech we have avoid talking about learning and teaching. o Balance between tech and education. If we stay where we are comfortable we don’t learn – need to be challenged. Tech should move use from our personal experience to the wider world. Aim of tech is not just speed and efficiency – to learn more, expand boundaries. o Learning is hard. Liking, tweeting is easy – move beyond it! o Don’t be limited by the platform (FB, twitter…). We need to be able to use all platforms. Be audience appropriate. Have ability to change platforms and/ or audiences with consciousness! Vocabulary to do so! · Erica McWilliam – The era of big data! The future isn’t what it used to be. It is not as we imagined in the 80s all about robots and big machines but about data and data transformation. It’s about knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do! From her came my favourite quote of the conference – in education we are no longer a sage on the stage or a guide on the side – we are a meddler in the middle!! · Cathy Wylie – her presentation of statistical evidence that reading matters – that it is not just about having the skills, it is about the habit and enjoyment of reading – young people reading because they want to not because they have to! She talked of collecting data on cognitive skills and attitudinal skills with a large group of children at different points in their life from 4 through to 20. Results showed that rich learning opportunities matter, that the strength of maternal qualifications and family income do influence outcomes. She spoke of print saturated environments being linked with children’s reading performance. · Andrew Fiu – An interesting man and I would well recommend reading his book Purple Heart which made me laugh but also stop and think. · Susan Sandretto – She spoke of changing literacy and the challenges involved. Of the information literacy skills needed to find, retrieve, analyse and use information. About making connections with multi-literacies and questioned ‘what counts as text?’ That we need information literate people who can critically evaluate information and its sources, who are willing to innovate and take risks. She talked about shifts in practise and the physical layout of libraries. The need to develop awareness of how texts affect how we think – not just the texts we read but also the texts we write! 2. The second key thing from conference was the workshop Creating Kids Lit experts. Run by 2 wonderful ladies from Southwell School – Gerri Judkins and Julie Huggins. They have been involved with teams competing at national and international level and have hosted an international final. Their knowledge and willingness to share was wonderful. And when I say share I don’t just mean telling us about their experiences but also sharing the resources and ideas that they use with their Kids Lit teams. Without a doubt it is the ideas and resources from this workshop that I have taken back to school this term and used the most. I have used some of their ideas with my Kids Lit team – a shared google doc collecting books read and details of them e.g. illustrators, characters, settings….. Other ideas I have used with more than just the Kids Lit team such as literary Pictionary. A wonderful workshop with such generous people and from what I heard many other workshops were the same. And the difference this term? – I have been inspired and enthused both in working with students and in interacting with staff and management. I have a clearer view of the library’s role and the librarian’s role in the school and have more tools and am better equipped to achieve these things and promote them among staff and management.
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'Bringing the Boys in'
Come along to Scots College to hear about Sue Esterman's experience in 'Bringing the boys in'. Sue collaborated with Will Struthers, Head of Middle School English, on ways to encourage middle school students to read more. Sue and Will held a summer reading competition, linked to the website. Students posted the books they read, with or without a short review and at the start of the year the winning students received rewards. As well as this very interesting session two first time delegates will speak about their experiences of the conference. Date: Wednesday 18th September 2013 Time: 3.45 for 4.00pm - 5.30pm Place: Scots College Library, Monorgan Road, Strathmore, Wellington. RSVP: mailto:estermans@scotscollege.school.nz See you there!! Slanza and non-Slanza members welcome Thanks to the team at Lower Hutt War Memorial Library for hosting our first Wellington Region SLANZA meeting for 2013. Guest Speaker Mary McCallum, National Festival Co-ordinator of the 2013 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards talked about what her role involves and how school libraries can help promote this annual event. Librarians Susan Marshall (Chilton St James) and Jane Shallcrass (Wellington High School) followed by sharing library based activities they use to motivate and inspire reading, both in a primary and secondary school setting. Wellington region SLANZA Treasurer, Lynn Walker, was farewelled and presented with flowers and a gift, in appreciation for all the work she has done in the 7 years years she has been involved with SLANZA, 6 of those as Treasurer. Lynn’s enthusiasm and experience will be missed and we wish Lynn and her husband all the best for their new adventure in Auckland. The meeting concluded with a group of us going out for dinner and experiencing the theatre and drama of classic Teppanyaki-style cooking at a local Japanese restaurant – great food and dramatics! SLANZA Wellington Region Meeting Wednesday 27 February 2013 War Memorial Library, Lower Hutt Guest Speaker: Mary McCallum Mary will talk about her role as National Festival Co-ordinator of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards. Learn how school libraries can help promote this annual event which rewards excellence in children’s literature by recognising the best books for children and teenagers published annually in New Zealand Need some practical ideas for planning a successful event to inspire reading? Find out how other librarians use library based activities to motivate and inspire reading, both in a primary and secondary school setting. Jane Shallcrass (Wellington High School) and Susan Marshall (Chilton St James) will share some ways they promote events such as NZ Post Book Awards, Library Week and Poetry Week. Discussion groups will follow for sharing of ideas amongst your colleagues. Worked up an appetite? Join us at Ichiban Teppanyaki and experience the theatre of classic Teppanyaki-style cooking. http://www.finda.co.nz/business/listing/qm51/ichiban-teppanyaki/ For large groups a set menu is recommended (please reply by RSVP date as needed for restaurant booking) Time : 3.45pm for 4.00pm – 5.00pm (followed by dinner if you wish) Place: Hutt City War Memorial Library- Mezzanine Floor, cnr Queens Drive & Woburn Road Parking –customer car park or free 2 Hour parking on Woburn Rd or Market Grove. RSVP: by Friday 22nd February to Judith.McGhie@huttcity.govt.nz Proudly support by Book Protection Products. Congratulations to three Wellington members for being awarded SLANZA Study Awards. Out of four awards three went to the Wellington region. Well done Pamela McKirdy of Wellington Girls College, Helen Muxlow of Karori West Normal School and Judy Waenga of Naenae College. Look forward to reading your reports regarding your successful study.
At the final SLANZA event for the Wellington region, Clare Gleeson (librarian at Queen Margaret College) gave a fascinating talk about the book she had written entitled 'Meet me at Beggs'. The book is the history of Beggs Music shops that I am sure all of us have some knowledge of. Charles Begg & Co Ltd, or Begg’s as it was better known, has an important place in New Zealand’s social and business history. From 1861 until 1970, Begg’s expanded until its network of branches and agencies covered the country from Whangarei to Invercargill. Synonymous with music, Begg’s was not only a retailer but also a manufacturer of instruments, publisher of sheet music, promoter of overseas artists and supporter of music in all its facets. Coupled with this was the company’s major role in bringing overseas innovations and technology to New Zealand by way of gramophones, radios, televisions and a myriad of other electrical appliances. Meet Me at Begg’s looks at the history of the firm from its beginnings in Dunedin to its demise in 1970. Clare undertook the writing of the book because being the great-great-great-grand daughter of Charles Begg she was interested in the social history of her family. Clare entertained us with her witty ancedotes and after the talk we had a song-a-long from a selection of songs that Begg's made famous. On Wednesday we said Thank you and Good bye to Adaire Hannah who has been instrumental in school libraries for many years. She is a Teacher/Librarian and has worked at many different school including Heretaunga College and lastly at Wellington High School. Listening to all the speeches about Adaire everyone talked about passion and energy of Adaire. She has been a tireless worker for literacy and information literacy in schools. As well as fighting to retain access to the National Library for school libraries she has organised and run two SLANZA conferences. We all know that we will still need to contact Adaire from time to time to dip into her huge well of informational knowledge around school libraries. End of Year Event and Adair Hannah's Farewell, 28th November, 3.45pm, Wellington Girls College
Come along to the final event of the year for the Wellington region. We will be farewelling the iconic Adair Hannah, of Wellington High. Adair has been a huge influence on school libraires in Wellington and due to her role on SLANZA around New Zealand as well. Clare Gleeson will be discussing her book 'Meet me at Beggs', which is family history of Beggs Music stores. Which I am sure you will all remember. There will be family stories and singing from the audience. as well as food and refreshments. See you there, Posted by Karen Clarke on behalf of Wellington Regional Committee Kia ora,
I hope those who attended the Ross Todd seminar (21st July at PSA house) on Evidence-based Practice found it to be useful and you were able to start planning the self review process for your school libraries. Advocating for your library has to start with sound evidence that it is essential in teaching and learning in your school. Check out this website for ideas on how to proceed. Wellington SLANZA is planning another Saturday morning workshop (sponsored by Book Protection Products) on September 15th at Wellington Girls College 9.00-12.30. This year our speakers include Fiona Mackie, SLANZA president, Senga White who will speak on curation methods, Michele Whiting & Katrina Young-Drew who will speak on the links between Evaluation and Advocacy as well as a practical workshop on book covering/strengthening. Depending on your interests the morning should be of value to all library staff-librarians, support staff and teachers with library responsibility. The cost for the workshop is $20 and this includes a delicious morning tea and opportunities for networking. Hope you can make it. SLANZA Conference 2013 Watch this space for more updates on Conference 2013 to be held at Wellington Girls College. Keep the dates July 15th to the 17th (the first three days of the holidays) free. We have confirmed Cathy Wylie from NZCER and Tara Brabazon. More information will follow after the committee has met on August the 15th. |
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