MONDAY 29 April 2024
Apologies, we have had a change of mind!
This term we are going to read An Unexpected Hero by L.P. Hansen. We have used this book before because it is a great story with loads of themes and potential for student inquiry.
Keep an eye on the Facebook group for further communication and start dates.
SUNDAY 15 JANUARY 2024
We are doing something different this term! We are using a book from global author K.A Holt. Use the link to find out about her and the books she writes.
The book is ‘BenBee and the Teacher Griefer’. The book is a poetic novel – a book written in verse. I have always wanted to use one and show our kids that writing comes in all sorts of forms. This book is an amazing example of this.
I am not saying anything about what the book is about – you can go and investigate! Just know, the books we select are always done after much thought and knowing there is potential for great learning, discussion and inquiry opportunities for your kids.
I ordered the book through Paper Plus and it arrived 4 days later! So if you are keen, order now so you can read it before we start.
I will put out the start date and chapter breakdown later!
Here is the Google Form to register
SUNDAY 1 OCTOBER 2023
The book for Term 4 2023 is ‘Draw Some Awesome’ by Donovan Bixley.
The plan is to keep it light and fun – not so much critical literacy but great information, things to research, things to draw and some provocations to think about!
Join us for 6 weeks (or so) of fun, experimenting, doodling and connecting.
You never know, this might inspire some of your students to become an illustrator or artist or maybe find a new previously undiscovered talent!
The registration form is HERE
SUNDAY 9 JULY 2023
The book for Year 5-8 Term 3 2023 is ‘Below’ by David Hill.
Published in February 2023, this is the story of two adolescents, Imogen and Liam, who get trapped in a tunnel and learn they’re better to join forces rather than be foes in this situation.
There is a thorough review HERE if you would like to read more.
The Google Form to register is HERE.
THURSDAY 20 APRIL 2023
The Year 5-8 book for Term 2 is Charlie Tangaroa and The Creature From The Sea by Tania. Roxborogh.
SUPREME WINNER, The Margaret Mahy Book of the Year, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adult, 2021
WINNER, Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Junior Fiction Award, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adult, 2021.
Read a great review about the book HERE and see if this will fit your themes and ideas for Term 2. The same link has the first chapter to read if you are keen!
We will start pre-reading Monday 8th May which is week 3 of term.
I will put out the chapter breakdown in the next couple of days.
The Google Form to register is HERE
THURSDAY 5 JANUARY 2023
For Year. 5-8 teachers in Term 1 2023, we have selected Children of the Rush by James Russell. This is an historical fiction set in 1861 in Otago.
This is what The Children’s Bookshop have to say about this book:
“Otherwise sensible adults have gone mad and will do anything to get their hands on the precious metal. But two children have been caught up in the rush. Michael and Atarangi couldn’t be more different, but they share one thing: each has a remarkable and magical talent.
Circumstances conspire to bring the children together in the remote and inhospitable goldfields, and they’re thrust into a world where lawlessness, greed, and cruelty reign. When the children find out that a cut-throat gang stalks the goldfields, preying upon the innocent, they have a choice to make: turn a blind eye, or fight back?
The Google Registration Form is HERE if you are ready to put your name down and get involved in this connected literacy experience.
SATURDAY 23 JULY 2022
For Term 3 2022, the Year 5-8 book will be Dawn Raid by Pauline Vaeluaga Smith. This will be the second time we have used Pauline’s book and that is because it was SO good!
We encourage you to use the text as the catalyst for your literacy learning as well as student inquiry and other cross-curricula opportunities.
We will be connecting with the author, Pauline, as she loves to support the learning around this part of Aotearoa history.
We start pre-reading on Monday 25th July with reading starting the week after. So you need to get in fast if you want to participate. The Google Form is here and will be open for a couple of days.
THURSDAY 28 APRIL 2022
The book we have chosen for #NZreadaloud Term 2 2022 is ‘Spark Hunter’ by Sonya Wilson.
We will start some pre-reading activities on Monday 9th May with reading beginning Monday 16th. You will love this Kiwi adventure fantasy story set in Fiordland with relateable characters! Loads of opportunity for students to inquire into wonderings. Not giving too much away here!
The Google Form to register is HERE.
SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2022
The registrations have closed now for Year 5-8 #NZreadaloud Term 1 2022.
We have 56 teachers from across the motu participating this Term. Big numbers of new participants which warms my heart as it means teachers are out there wanting something more for their literacy and prepared to be learners themselves, step out of their comfort zones, do something different than they have always done, and engage and motivate their kids by learning alongside others outside the walls of their classrooms.
Here is the link to our official #NZraTomo Blog which I hope will be a platform alive with student voice.
You can follow our discussions on Twitter also – find the hashtag #NZraTomo and all tweets will be here!
MONDAY 10 JANUARY 2022
Hey team! Back into it!
The book I have selected for Term 1 2022 is The Tomo by Mary-Anne Scott which was released in October 2021.
Here is a lovely review to read as you start to make your decision if this is right for you.
I will create the reading schedule/chapter breakdown a little closer to the end of January. A heads-up though, we will start reading in Week 5 as there are a few short weeks at the start of term.
SUNDAY 11 APRIL 2021
With Term 1 very quickly coming to a close, I thought I would share the book we will be using in Term 2 now so teachers have time to purchase and prepare!
Term 2 will be different from anything we have done before.
We love that! We are all about pushing the norm!
We will be using Annual 2 by Kate De Goldi and Susan Paris.
We have selected 6 text which we will study for a week each.
So the 6 week time frame stays the same but we are using 6 different text types rather than a novel. It has been exciting to start the planning for this and I think you will all enjoy this change-up.
If you go to THIS PDF you can read where we would like you to purchase the book from, get the start dates, and most importantly register on the Google Form which is linked on the page.
FRIDAY 29 JANUARY
WOW!
64 teachers signed up for #NZreadaloud Term 1 2021.
I have closed the Google Form now so the teams can be organised.
TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2021
Hey teachers!
The book I have selected for Term 1 is SS Penguin SOS by Adrienne Frater.
SUNDAY 19 JULY 2020
The Google Form for participation in Term 3 #NZreadaloud Year 5-8 is now closed.
MONDAY 6 JULY 2020
Selection made!
Tumeke by Michael Petherick
Something different for us to get into this term. Don’t be afraid! Take a risk and dive into this connected, collaborative literacy experience (which will be a whole lot more than we all imagine!!)
Join me on a 7 week journey into a slice of New Zealand told through this incredible epistolary narrative (I didn’t know what this was and had to look it up!). We will culminate with our very own #NZreadaloud ‘virtual festival’!
Here is the doc with all the necessary information for you to to check out in order for you to make a decision.
THURSDAY 30 APRIL 2020
What strange times we are in!
Despite it all, #NZreadaloud was designed for the online learning which we are doing at present; so let’s continue to connect our kids through one book!
The book I have selected is Sticking with Pigs by Mary-Anne Scott. We have used this book before (back in Term 3 of 2018) but it is a nice short adventure story which I know will appeal to all our students from Year 5 – 8.
We are starting our Term 2 book with pre-reading activities during the week of 18 – 22 May and the reading beginning on the following Monday 25 May.
HERE is the PDF with all the information to get you organised.
Registration has closed – thanks.
WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2020
Registrations have closed for Term 1 2020.
Looking forward to connecting close to 70 teachers across Aotearoa.
TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER 2019
Having come across this book completely by accident, it struck a chord with me immediately. Being involved with #storyhui over the last 3 years, the connection in this book to ‘The Hero’s Journey’ had me thinking about how this book could act as a lead-in to using #storyhui in our classes to celebrate student voice and personal successes. You can read about #storyhui HERE and please contact me if you would like to know more!
The book for Term 1 Year 5-8 is ‘Tui Street Heroes’ by Anne Kayes. I am combining the Yr 5/6 and Yr 7/8 sections as this book is suitable for all these age levels. Anne’s website is HERE. While this book is a sequel to ‘Tui Street Tales’, it can be read as a stand-alone book.
I just love the references to fairytales, myths, and legends, the relateable characters, the cultural influences, the use of Te Reo, the fantasy aspect, the potential for cross curricular inquiries (native birds, Tongan Language, and extinct native creatures to name a few ideas), and of course the adventures the characters have over the course of the three stories. There is also some lovely messages about friendship and being accepting of others differences. The references to a Hero’s Journey gives the readers an insight into how challenge, risk-taking, and the support and encouragement of others is all part of the pathway to a successful outcome. The teacher notes HERE have some writing ideas as well as some art ideas too.
Loads of potential for our kids to pick up on interests they have which are sparked from this book (I was totally stoked that a creature called the taniwhasaurus was actually a real thing!) – an opportunity to let them drive some of their learning.
I have been in contact with the author, Anne Kayes, and she is keen to be involved. Watch this space!
Her Twitter handle is @KayesAnne.
We will start reading in Week 4 giving us the first three weeks of the Term to settle in, maybe introduce the kids to sketchnoting if you haven’t already, and complete a pre-reading activity. You could use Week 3 to read The Very Beginning which sets the scene for the stories that follow.
The Chapter breakdown is more a story breakdown! There are three separate stories in the book; each one broken into three parts – Adventure Calls, The Challenge, and The Return. We will read each story over a two week period.
Sky Country pg. 17 – 76 (Week 4 & 5)
The Mountain’s Secret pg. 78 – 161 (Week 6 & 7)
Standing Stone pg. 163 – 234 (Week 8 & 9)
There is a short chapter at the end titled The Very End that completes the book.
SUNDAY 28th JULY
Registrations have closed now for #NZra15CUZ
If you registered, your team leader will be in touch with you over the next week.
Kia ora.
SUNDAY 14th JULY
The Year 7/8 book for Term 3 is ‘Cuz’ by Liz Van der Laarse.
“Bushcraft, suspense, coming of age … Cuz is like a New Zealand version of Hatchet (Gary Paulson). Readers will really connect with the characters River and Huia, with the way they talk and think about life; and with the challenges they face in the story”.
David Riley.
Some teacher notes HERE.
The Chapter breakdown will be:
*please note the ‘weeks’ relate to the weeks we read the book NOT the weeks of the term*
Week 1 of reading: 12th August – 16th August
Chapters 1 – 3 (27 pages)
Week 2 of reading: 19th August – 23rd August
Chapters 4 – 6 (20 pages)
Week 3 of reading: 26th August – 30th August
Chapters 7 – 10 (28 pages)
Week 4 of reading: 2nd September – 6th September
Chapters 11 – 15 (31 pages)
Week 5 of reading: 9th September – 13th September
Chapters 16 – 19 (30 pages)
Week 6 of reading: 16th September – 20th September
Chapters 20 – Epilogue (21 pages)
SATURDAY 4 MAY
The registration has closed – so thank to everyone who has signed up!
You will be contacted by a team leader soon ready for kick-off in Week 3:)
TUESDAY 23 APRIL
Hey #NZreadalouders!
The book we are reading for Term 2 is ‘Finding’ by David Hill.
We have decided to use this book across Year 5 – 8 this term.
There are eight sections to the novel, each written from the perspective of a family member of each generation. The author builds an honest, thought-provoking and credible picture of life in New Zealand. I love the way “the importance of the land on which the families live, and the river which runs through it, comes through strongly; the shared experiences – happy, sad, dangerous, amusing – help in developing a real sense of knowing the families and understanding the need for and importance of trusted friends and neighbours.”
You can read more HERE and HERE
There is a teaching resource HERE if you want to add it to your kete for this #NZreadaloud.
Here is the chapter breakdown for you (I have broken the story into chapters covering 7 weeks rather than the usual 6 as each generation derserves its own focus):
Week 3: 13 – 17 May: 1886 Aggie & 1897 Niall (30 pages)
Week 4: 20 – 24 May: 1918 Duncan (21 pages)
Week 5: 27 – 31 May: 1938 Florence (29 pages)
Week 6: 3 – 7 June: 1957 Alan (40 pages)
Week 7: 10 – 14 June: 1981 Ailsa (41 pages)
Week 8: 17 – 21 June: 1999 Maggie (30 pages)
Week 9: 24 – 28 June: 2018 Callum (36 pages)
TUESDAY 22 JANUARY
Here is the chapter breakdown with the dates.
Please note Week 1 of #NZreadaloud13 is Week 4 of Term. I have added the dates so you can plan around this collaborative connected experience.
Chapter Breakdown
Week 1 (18 – 22 Feb): Chapters 1 & 2 (32 pages)
Week 2 (25 – 1 March): Chapters 3 & 4 (21 pages)
Week 3 (4 – 8 March): Chapters 5 & 6 (20 pages)
Week 4 (11 – 15 March): Chapters 7 & 8 (29 pages)
Week 5 (18 – 22 March): Chapters 9, 10 & 11 (25 pages)
Week 6 (25 – 29 March): Chapter 12 (12 pages) and end of book collaborative activities
MONDAY 14 JANUARY 2019
Here is some of the learning our students did in 2017 when we read ‘An Unexpected Hero’
https://spark.adobe.com/page-embed.js
FRIDAY 11 JANUARY 2019
After reading a number of books over the holidays, I have decided on starting 2019 with ‘Unexpected Hero’ by Linda Hansen. This was the book we used in Term 1 2017 and the feedback on this book was so good I thought we could do it again!
There are a few reasons for this; obviously it is a great little story, it is a nice length for the beginning of the year when we all are setting up our classroom culture, it has some valuable themes which would fit in with beginning year ideas, it provides some opportunities for learners to find out more about NZ heroes which they may not have come across before, and lastly the kaupapa of solving problems peacefully will lend itself to great classroom culture building.
I have been in contact with the author, Linda Hansen, and she is really keen to be involved once again. If your school is not a member of the NZ Book Council ($90 per year) it would be beneficial to do this as they will fund the author to come to your school or pay for a Skype session (regardless of whether Linda is registered with the Writers in Schools programme).
Thanks to the NZ Book Council for their support of #NZreadaloud.
TUESDAY 10 JULY
I was contacted by author Mary-anne Scott last term with the suggestion to read her book – I am super happy I did!
Here is the book for Term 3
THESE REVIEWS TELL IT ALL REALLY
‘There is no doubt there is a fair bit of adrenaline involved in hunting (for females who hunt as well), but Mary-Anne has given us a spot-on portrayal of a teenager who is still learning his space in the world, making this more than just another yarn.’ –thesapling.co.nz – Sarah Forster ‘This story had no ‘boring bits’ as Wolf came across one challenge after another. Great kiwi lingo and reluctant reader heaven.’ –whatbooknext.com – Adele Broadbent ‘It’s a graphic, high-tension, sometimes shocking story that will appeal to boys aged about 12 to 14 who are interested in the idea of testing themselves by going pig-hunting in the wilderness.’ –kidsbooksnz.blogspot.co.nz – Lorraine Orman
You can read a FULL review on the Sapling Website HERE
The Google Form for registration is below:
SATURDAY 12 MAY
Registrations have closed for #NZreadaloud Year 7 / 8 for Term 2.
TUESDAY 8 MAY
#NZra11RainFall will be our Twitter hashtag for this Read Aloud.
Chapter Breakdown
Week 1 (May 21 – 25): Chapter 1 – 5 (40 pages)
Week 2 (May 28 – June 1): Chapter 6 – 9 (30 pages) * Monday = Queen’s Birthday
Week 3 (June 4 – 8): Chapter 10 – 13 (33 pages)
Week 4 (June 11 – 15): Chapter 14 – 17 (34 pages)
Week 5 (June 18 – 22): Chapter 18 – 21 (35 pages)
Week 6 (June 25 – 29): Chapter 22 – end (35 pages)
THURSDAY 19 APRIL
The Year 7/8 novel for Term 2 is ‘Rain Fall’ by Ella West.
A tense, engaging read that will have you racing through the pages.
I’m not running late like I usually am. Maybe that’s why I look in the river, maybe that’s why I stop when I see it. A dark-coloured raincoat, the arms spread wide, floating, hood-first down the river.
And then it starts to rain.
Fifteen-year-old Annie needs to get to her basketball match, but the police have cordoned off her road. Is her neighbour, who she grew up with, still alive? What has he done to have the police after him?
A murder investigation brings new people to Annie’s wild West Coast town, including a dark-haired boy riding the most amazing horse she has ever seen. But Annie is wary of strangers, especially as her world is beginning to crumble around her. In setting out to discover the truth Annie uncovers secrets that could rip the small community apart.
This will be the second book #NZreadaloud will do from Ella West; the first being ‘Night Vision’ which we did back in Term 3 of 2015. ‘Night Vision was a Global Read Aloud contender the following year due to its success with our Year 7/8 readers during #NZreadaloud.
You can read more about our author here.
FRIDAY 6 APRIL 2018
So the Term is nearing its end and so is #NZra10Aotearoa.
It was a risk attempting an across level text and also a risk selecting a non-fiction. Definitely some success along with some frustrations. But that is what keeps us fresh and excited because we can look for ways to solve the problems and reflect on the incredible learning which happened as well.
The book is GRAND (as one of my students described it on the very first day I held it in my hands ready to read). We used this word every time we sat down with it after this! The book has provided my learners with all their own inquiry topics this term – and that has been amazing. The learning which has come from this text has been mind-blowing.
To my connected classes – I apologise that we didn’t connect very often. Term 1 is always a struggle and especially if you are having to teach digital citizenship before you dive into platforms like Edmodo and Twitter. This has been my saddest regret from this term – we didn’t connect as I had hoped. No ones fault – it was just tricky (failures in technology was the cause of one attempt).
I am not going to dwell on that though as the immense learning which came from this text outweighs this. We have all learnt SO much.
I am adding here two #booksnaps that have been completed so far. A cool little ‘summary’ activity that my kids love. I also have a learner putting together a Kahoot of questions – one from each student in the class. I have added an example of a learner’s connection (posted in Edmodo) with a part of the book, a screenshot of the beginning of a piece of argument writing which one of my boys is in the process of completing, and a Seesaw post done by another sharing his connection to the particular page we did that day.
This is the learning which has all come from this GRAND book.
The kids are also completing personal inquiries as well. I will post some in the Facebook Group once completed.
FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2018
Registrations have closed for ‘The House That Jack Built’.
THURSDAY 24 JANUARY 2018
I apologise for the delay in getting the Google Form up on the blog for the Year 7 / 8 Picture we are studying for Term 1.
As lots of you will know already, I decided to try something new this Term. After 3 years of novels I felt the need to see how a non-fiction text would go down – then on top of that decision – decided to make it ‘across year group’ as well. To let you know, we have classes from Year 1 through to Year 10 who have registered to study ‘Aotearoa’ by Gavin Bishop. Pretty cool!
The book I have selected to study for #NZreadaloud10 for Year 7 / 8 only is ‘The House That Jack Built’ by Gavin Bishop.
Attempting a picture book for Year 7 / 8 is also a gamble but for those of us connecting for the other one, it fits in nicely. If you are signing up for the picture book only – that is all good too. It might mean that #NZreadaloud may not stretch for the ‘normal’ 6 weeks which we usually connect for; although there is so much which can be studied from the book.
Here is a link to a wonderful resource of cross-curricula activities which I am sure will provide some inspiration for topics of study as you read the picture book or after.
This article, which was an easy find when googling the book title, is interesting also. It analyses 6 ‘visual narratives’ – Gavin’s book being one of them.
I think plenty of scope for a 6 week study if you are choosing to participate in only this book – and those of us studying ‘Aotearoa’ as well might have to have some discussions with your team leaders as to where it fits best for you.
Here is the Google Form to sign up … looking forward to connecting as many teachers and kids across Aotearoa (and the world – our staunch American connection Laura Krenicki is signing up once again to expose her students in Connecticut to the early days of New Zealand) for this important kaupapa.
WEDNESDAY 10 JANUARY 2018
Mid-January and with many queries coming in about #NZreadaloud for this year I decided to get thinking early! Having read a few books over the holiday period I was still no closer to finding that book which would suit Term 1.
So … knowing I was keen to start my year investigating Aotearoa, its history, and my students place in this country I came up with the idea to use ‘Aotearoa’ by Gavin Bishop. The idea was thrown around with some teachers on Twitter who agreed it would be good to change it up a bit and use a non-fiction. I have been thinking about using a non-fiction book for a while and think that the potential this book provides for all our learners to go on their own discoveries is exciting. Not to mention all the learning which can come from sharing/discussion about non-fiction text conventions AND the superb illustrations.
The book is sumptuous.
It will not be difficult to source.
Here is a wonderful article on The Sapling where Donovan Bixley interviews Gavin Bishop.
If you are in the higher Year levels and are keen to integrate curriculum, I also found this maths learning which could sit alongside the literacy aspect.
THEN I started thinking further. What if we make this book an ‘across Year group’ read aloud. After some korero with a couple of teachers, it seemed something which could be worth giving a go.
Time to innovate #NZreadaloud!
What this will look like?
I am really not too sure! But sometimes you just have to go with an idea and sort out the logistics later. I am all for taking some risks!
So jump on board and take a risk with me!
My initial thoughts include buddying classes up in teams of 3 or 4. Within these across year level teams teachers and their classes can collaborate using whatever platforms would suit. I am thinking Flipgrid would be ideal as it can be used easily by children of all ages (if you would like a code for a 45 day free trial of classroom version to investigate in your own class email me:) Of course Padlet is another wonderful collaborative learning space. Edmodo is always there if needed as is Twitter if you have a class account. Many of us have found real time platforms are valuable too – such as Google Hangout, Skype, and Talky. Something I know the Year 1 / 2 teachers have done previously is to start a blog. This part of it will be left up to the teachers in each team – make it work for you!
NOTE: I am still planning on doing a book specifically for Year 7 / 8. There is no obligation to do BOTH – you can choose to do the ‘across level’ book OR the picture book I have selected to do alongside ‘Aotearoa’ (which is another Gavin Bishop book titled The House that Jack Built). By the way here is a post with a whole bunch of curriculum related ideas. You can purchase from Gecko Press.
TUESDAY 25 July 2017
Registration has closed now for #NZreadaloud9SoL.
Thanks to all the teachers who are joining us in Term 3. Your team leader will be in contact with you by the end of this week or early next week.
Hope you enjoy your connected literacy experience.
Chapter Breakdown
Week 1 (7 – 11 August) Chapters 1 & 2 (41 pages)
Week 2 (14 – 18 August) Chapters 3 & 4 (35 pages)
Week 3 (21 – 25 August) Chapters 5 & 6 (28 pages)
Week 4 (28 – 1 September) Chapters 7 & 8 (32 pages)
Week 5 (4 – 8 September) Chapter 9 ( 24 pages)
Week 6 (11 – 15 September) Chapters 10 & 11 (25 pages)
The book choice for Term 3 is ‘Speed of Light’ by Joy Cowley.THURSDAY 13 JULY 2017
I will add the chapter breakdown over the next few days:)
Gecko Press have produced some book notes you can access here.
You can read a review here.
You can order this book from Gecko Press here.
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY 2017
Thank you for registering for #NZreadaloud8. Registration is now closed.
SATURDAY 15 APRIL 2017
Here is the book choice for Term 2:
Too Many Secrets by Adele Broadbent.
“Becs is a sassy 12-year-old drama queen who strikes a bargain with her mother. She’ll spend a few months away from home while her new step-family renovates an elegant old house in the country. When it’s sold, some of the money will pay her fees at the same private school that all her friends will be attending. But as usual, she hasn’t listened properly. they aren’t going to live in the old mansion – they’ll be in a shack in the bush, with long drops and eight-legged wildlife. Becs is not impressed and makes sure everyone knows it, that is until she discovers a secret that will change her life. What follows is an intriguing, funny, sad and utterly believable story about friendship, while uncovering a tragic secret that’s been hidden for far too long.”
#NZreadaloud8TMS will start in Week 3 of Term 2 and will run for 6 weeks.
These dates are: Monday 15th May – Friday 23rd June.
Here is the Chapter breakdown:
Week 1 (15 – 19 May): Chapter 1 – 10 (33 pages)
Week 2 (22 – 26 May): Chapter 11 – 25 (30 pages)
Week 3 (29 – 2 June): Chapter 26 – 43 (34 pages)
Week 4 (5 – 9 June): Chapter 44 – 63 (31 pages)
Week 5 (12 – 16 June): Chapter 64 – 78 (30 pages)
Week 6 (19 – 23 June): Chapter 79 – end ( 30 pages)
TUESDAY 31 JANUARY 2017
Google Form is closed folks!
Thankyou to EVERYONE who has registered for #NZreadaloud7 – there are 90 classes at the final check!
BRING IT ON!
You will be contacted by your team leader over the next week. Your job till then is to get on Edmodo with your class so you are ready to rock ‘n’ roll:)
TUESDAY 10th JANUARY 2017
Welcome to #NZreadaloud7
I have selected “An Unexpected Hero” by L.P.Hansen for our first read aloud of 2017.
An easy to read story which I think is perfect for the beginning of the year. It has themes of city / country, friendship, family, bullying, standing up for what you believe in, determination … loads of great stuff for discussion especially at the beginning of the year. It also has potential for student inquiry into heroes, war time, pacifism, bullying, ‘conscientious objection’ (International Conscientious Objection Day 15th may every year), making speeches and more.
HERE IS THE CHAPTER BREAKDOWN:
#NZreadaloud7 will run from Week 4 (20-24 February) through to Week 9 27-31 March) of Term 1.
Week 1 – Chapters 1 and 2 (32 pages)
Week 2 – Chapters 3 and 4 (21 pages)
Week 3 – Chapters 5 and 6 (20 pages)
Week 4 – Chapters 7 and 8 (29 pages)
Week 5 – Chapters 9, 10 and 11 (25 pages)
Week 6 – Chapter 12 (12 pages) and final collaborative activities
WEDNESDAY 27th July 2016
Time is up!
I am now in the process of putting the teams together for a Week 3 start.
Thank you to all the teachers who have registered.
I will be in touch SOON!
FRIDAY 15th July 2016
The book for #NZreadaloud6 is
The Ghosts of Tarawera bu Sue Copsey.
You can go here to read about Sue and her work as an author.
If you would like to connect with Sue via Twitter, her handle is @suecopsey
We will start Week 3 of Term – Monday 8th August – and run through to Week 8 – Friday 16th September.
CHAPTER BREAKDOWN will go like this:
Week 1: Chapters 1 – 3 (46 pages)
Week 2: Chapters 4 – 7 (38 pages)
Week 3: Chapters 8 – 11 (42 pages)
Week 4: Chapters 12 – 14 (33 pages)
Week 5: Chapters 15 – 17 (36 pages)
Week 6: Chapters 18 – end (41 pages)
SUNDAY 8th May 2016
Registrations have closed now for #NZreadaloud5.
Thanks to teachers who are returning for more and welcome to all the teachers who are giving this a go for the first time:)
We hope you enjoy ‘connected literacy’ as much as we do!
TUESDAY 19th April 2016
The book which has been selected for Term 2 which will be #NZreadaloud5 is
Phantom of Terawhiti by Des Hunt.
“An action-packed adventure story from master storyteller Des Hunt. It’s the school holidays and Zac thinks he might go crazy with boredom. He’s living in exile with his disgraced father on the remote Terawhiti Station on Wellington’s wild southwest coast. Then Zac and his dad witness a boat sink during a storm….”
Our Twitter hashtag will be #NZreadaloud5PoT
Chapter breakdown will be up by Friday 29th April.
#NZreadaloud5 will run from Monday 16th May for 6 weeks finishing Friday 24th June. This is Week 3 – Week 8 of Term.
The Chapter breakdown goes like this:
Week 1 (Monday 16th May) Chapters 1 – 4 (38 pages)
Week 2 (Monday 23rd May) Chapters 5 – 9 (39 pages)
Week 3 (Monday 30th May) Chapters 10 – 15 (49 pages)
Week 4 (Monday 6th June) Chapters 16 – 21 (42 pages)
Week 5 (Monday 13th June) Chapters 22 – 26 (44 pages)
Week 6 (20th June) Chapters 27 – 33 (39 pages)
FRIDAY 5th February
WOW… thank you to everyone who have signed up for #NZreadaloud4. There are 90 of us altogether!
Good on you for giving something new a go! Like I have said on this blog, I agree with Pernille Ripp when she says “this is the future of literacy”.
If you have missed out this time – please check back at the end of Term 1 to see the selection for Term 2 and get the Google Form filled in early:)
I will contact team leaders shortly and share the teams for Term 1.
Kerri
MONDAY 11th January
Okay… I have read quite a few novels over the first 3 weeks of the holidays!
There are many wonderful authors out there writing great kiwi novels for our kiwi kids!
After much deliberation I have selected
JUGGLING WITH MANDARINS by V.M. Jones
Although Juggling with Mandarins was first published in 2003, this ‘coming of age’ novel has MANY valuable themes worthy of deeper discussion. I would like to thank Zaana Cooper from St. Peter’s School in Cambridge for the recommendation. Having read 6 novels over the first 3 weeks of the holidays, this one resonated with me as perfect for ‘beginning of the year’ with its themes of difference, Growth Mindset, being true to yourself, self-belief, family issues, and relationships.
If you are keen to participate in #NZreadaloud4JWM please complete the Google Form below and I will be in touch with you all. Depending on the numbers, we will connect our classes via Edmodo groups.
Deadlines to register your class is Friday 5th of February (end of Week 1) and we will start on 29th of February (Week 5, Term 1) for 6 weeks.
The break down of Chapters is as follows:
Week 1 (29 Feb. – 4 March) Pages 1 – 47 (47 pages)
Week 2 (7 – 11 March) Pages 48 – 90 (42 pages)
Week 3 (14 – 18 March) Pages 91 – 128 (39 pages)
Week 4 (21 – 25 March) Pages 129 – 167 (39 pages)
Week 5 (28 March – 1 April) Pages 168 – 212 (44 pages)
Week 6 (4 – 8 April) Pages 213 – 255 (42 pages)
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Kia ora koutou
Ko Kerri Thompson tōku ingoa
Nō Ahitereiria ahau
Kei Heretaunga tōku kāinga
WELCOME to the page for Year 7 & 8 teachers participating in #NZreadaloud.
After 3 #NZreadalouds this year I am even more convinced this IS the future of literacy. As Pernille Ripp puts forward in this blog post, I agree that the future of literacy will center around these 5 themes:
- (Global) collaboration
- Meaningful integration of technology
- Student voice and choice
- Authentic purpose and audience
- Personalising learning for the kids in front of us
During the 3 #NZreadalouds this year – we saw first-hand these things happening in our classroom AND we saw the engagement and involvement of our learners in, not only reading tasks, but other authentic learning experiences which were a direct result of student led inquiry coming from themes / topics in the books which THEY wanted to know more about. It has been REALLY exciting.
The feedback from teachers and students is also wonderful to read – you can check out what they are saying on the tabs on the blog.
2016 sees #NZreadaloud expand to all other Year groups in the Primary sector AND more recently Year 9 / 10. This is thanks to three fellow #NZreadaloud enthusiasts who have put their hands up to ‘take it on’ AND after a meeting with Karen Wilson (AKA @kaiakowilson) #NZreadaloud is now open to teachers of Year 9 / 10 kids. This is a REALLY exciting addition.
I am on the look out for a ‘special’ book written by a New Zealand author for our Year 7 / 8 students. Read aloud’s are a specific type of book I feel – they need to be of a reasonable length (too long and it could drag), it needs to have protagonists who our kids can relate to (similar age), it MUST have some action, suspense, twists and turns, AND it ideally will have some themes and topics which could provide opportunity for further research / inquiry!
NZreadaloud 