Did you know...

* Our committee is a great team, made up of a diverse range of experience in all different walks of literacy? From parents, grandparents, male, females, teachers, senior management, specialist teachers, Librarians, University Lecturers, RTLits and even a Sales Rep! And we are all keen to continue to promote Literacy throughout the region.

* Everyone has a Story? Join us for an after school workshop with Tanya Batt (more information below)

* You could apply for one of the `Marie Clay Literacy Awards' to help get you to this years NZLA conference in Christchurch? More information below.

* On the 22nd May libraries, schools, book shops, early childhood centres will all be joining in to read Alpacas with Maracas. #1millionkidsreading #NSS2019 (more information below).

I look forward to meeting some of you at the next WLA event. Do come and say hi, I love getting to know your story...

Sandie Haddock
President - Waikato Literacy Association

Sandie Haddock - (Scholastic) President

Todd Burton - (Matangi School) NZLA Delegate, Incoming President 2020

Judith Woodham - (Paeroa Cluster) Secretary, NZLA Executive (June 2019 - 2021)

Mel Sargent- (Manawaru School)Treasurer

Kerry Horan - (St Joseph's Morrinsville) Membership Secretary

Sandra Neil - (Hillcrest Normal School) Noteworthy Editor

Wendy Carss - (Waikato University) Honour Council, ILA Board of Directors

Kylie Te Arihi - (Knighton Normal School) Forum Distributor

Jocelyn Broom - (Knighton Normal School) Forum Distributor

Vicki Stephens - (National Library )Social Media

Therese Cargo - (Kelston Deaf Education Centre) Committee Member

Alison Stockton - (Whitiora School) Committee Member

A number of our regions more 'far flung' schools joined us to learn more about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics)

We had arranged for different 'stations' to be set up in the library and our participants leaped at the opportunity to try out new activities. Most activities had both a fiction and non fiction title linking them to the theme of their challenge.

From using I Pads to control robots, to balancing challenges the students and their teacher librarians made the most of the opportunity to meet with other librarians to talk about library spaces.

A set of notes has been produced and shared with participating schools so that the journey that they began here can continue to grow and develop in their own library space.

Here is a link so that you too can join the journey.

Regards from the WLA organising team.

Watch this space for the 2020 event!!!

Dr Irwin challenged us to look at the way we engage with our boys and think about how our class environment and programmes could be adapted to be more ‘boy friendly.’ He acknowledged that some boys take up a large ‘space’ in the classroom with their noise, movement and energy. He gave a number of strategies to ‘hook’ in our reluctant writers. Many of the ideas were not new but hearing them delivered by someone with over 30 years experience in primary education, and 16 years researching how to best educate boys, gave them more clout. The importance of allowing boys to draw first before writing was mentioned, as was providing opportunities for boys to create their own cartoons or to provide graphics to go with their written work. Michael also promotes the use of buddy writing and ‘talk’ during writing time. He looked at how our young writers become story-tellers when they are given frequent opportunities to stand and read their writing out loud to their peers. He reminded us how important feedback is to our writers especially when a student uses the ‘million dollar’ vocabulary or phrasing. It was refreshing hear that we need to give boys permission to write about stuff boys are interested in: blood and gore; guns and war; toilet humour; monsters and goblins; cars and crashes; the list goes on… if it’s what adults call ‘inappropriate’ then chances are it’s what our reluctant writers want to be writing about. Dr Irwin isn’t a fan of teaching writing genre. He believes the more choice the better. Get the children writing first, and then worry about the other stuff- and I have to agree!

Todd

This application is selected by the WLA Committee and closes on the 20th April. To apply complete the Google form below.

This application is selected by the NZLA - applications need to be sent directly to the NZLA - A downloadable application form is below.