Polar Worlds

Just saw a gorgeous new book today, Polar Worlds by naturalist and artist, Robert Bateman. As you know I have been spending a bit of time with books about penguins lately so this book caught my eye. It's perfect. I was at Once Upon a Huckleberry (Main on the west side just below 28th, around the corner from Solly's Bagels) for an event with author, Ashley Spires, who wrote Penguin and the Cupcake. And yes, thanks to Portia, the owner, I now possess finger puppets made by Ashley of the main characters in the book, Penguin, Walrus, and Polar Bear. I have to say this later literacy consultant's adventures into primary, have their advantages. Mind you I would have no hesitation discussing many of these books with older students. Just discovered that Once Upon a Huckleberry has book clubs for students, the newest will be for high school students. For coming events, download their newsletter from the website. Oh, and they have a writing contest going on as well.
For the few people who may actually read the blog, you may remember that I have a project with Aaron's class at Cavell going on Yeny and the Children for Peace (see Peace and Penguins blog). How serendipitous (new word perhaps) that Irma who goes to my fitness class is from Columbia so that now she is reading the book and will be visiting the class who are getting ready for an in depth interview with her.

Assessment web series and professional resources

Well, it's been a busy week and it's only Tuesday night. Yesterday I was at Begbie talking about Assessment for Learning. Today I was at Magee discussing reading strategies in the content areas and this afternoon was our High School Literacy Coordinators meeting at the board. At all sites, I made reference to BCELC's webcast series on assessment. Here is the link where they are all archived so with the aid of your trusty computer (perhaps not yet at your worksite) you can watch at your leisure. You can see one of the speakers in person, Linda Kaser, at our upcoming Literacy Day as well. Also if you want my list of annotatated professional resources for high school teachers (that we bookwalked at Magee), just hit the link at the sidebar of this blog for my pbwiki. Many of the books I was giving away at the high school meeting have been annotated in this blog and you will find other book lists on the wiki. Well it's late, more later. Thanks all! And yes, it did snow once again. The fog has ended but I thought you would like this picture of Vancouver taken from the north shore mountains.

Penguins and Peace

Hmm... I resisted commenting on the inauguration but it was definitely a moment in time but on to other matters, books.
When I taught grade six there were occasions where I would think to myself,"They pay me to do this?" and of course, that wasn't when I was writing report cards. But there are times with this position, where I think that as well. For instance, how fun is it comparing a factual book on penguins to Penguin and The Cupcake with second graders at Van Horne?
As you know although my domaine for the last three years has been as Later Literacy Consultant grades 4-12, this year we changed our project somewhat so I focus particularly on six elementary schools k-7 so that I have been spending time with primary students (yes, I once was a primary teacher) and it is very fun.
I also have been meaning to comment on a wonderful book I have been doing with Aaron's grade four-five class at Cavell, Yenny and the Children for Peace by Michelle Muldar. This book is fictional but focuses on real life events in Columbia where children organized a Day of Peace, where no bombs, shootings, or kidnappings would occur.
I spent a period in Raza's grade eight science class at Gladstone and I must say they were quite a fun group as well.
Now for a bit of a promotion! On January 31 from 1:00 to 3:00 Ashley Spires, the author of Penguin and The Cupcake (I love this book and yes, it touches on global warming) will be doing an event at Once Upon a Huckleberry.   (I adore Kidsbooks, but it is kind of wonderful having a children's book store in my neighbourbood, on Main near 27th.
On February 21st at Once Upon a Huckleberry, there will be a Peace Carnival(a celebration like the one Yenny's friends and she organize in the book)with author, Michelle Muldar, there. Michelle  will also be doing a session at our Literacy Day on February 20th as well. I promise the unit on her book as well there. And we know that a certain world leader says we should all do our bit to change the world so I think I have brought us back to the beginning of this blog. Peace cupcakes, anyone?