Language Arts Spotlights - Term 2

SILENT READING OPTIONS

NEW BOOKS 

On the Pro-D afternoon, Munro's Books offered a special tour of new titles to teacher-librarians.  As a result, the library acquired  $800 of new fiction and non-fiction representing a variety of genres.  These titles will be on display in various areas of the library and in the glass case outside the library until Christmas vacation. It's an ideal time to bring your students to the library to check out their reading options!

New audio books include the following:

• Audible.ca:  Shogun (James Clavell);  Monkey Beach (Eden Robinson)
• Libro.fm:  Birdie (Tracy Lindberg); Daughter of the Samurai (Etsu Sugimoto);  Tilly and the Crazy Eights (Monique Gray Smith)

You and your students can log in to Audible AND Libro on the computer or the phone app as follows:

user name = vichighlibrary@gmail.com

password = vhstudent2021

TOP YA FICTION -- AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ALA  

I recently acquired a copy of this book -- an amazing resource for YA fiction that the American Library Association (ALA) has marked as a "cut above" the numerous publications in YA lit.  The book provides a synopsis and question prompt that can be used a pre-reading prompt and/or as a prompt for personal connection after reading the book.  

Holly Iverson's class was recently introduced to the titles that Vic High Library already has;  the titles we do not have are expected to arrive prior to Christmas break.

This list can be an excellent starting point not only for reading but also for a creative writing project around the inquiry question:  "What qualities make a YA book truly excellent?"

BEST OF 2021

From December 1 to Christmas break, the best books of 2021 will be on display on the triangular wood case across from the circulation desk.  The titles were draws from the following booklists:  Alex Award nominees (best adult books for young adults), Booklist Editors' Choice books for young adults,  American Library Association nominees, Toronto Public Library recommendations, CBC Books and CBC Canada Reads nominees.

You can also find our library's booklist for the Best of 2021 under Quick Links - New Books & Special Collections on the library web site.

OTHER BOOKLISTS

You will find a variety of  additional booklists through the Library Catalog (beneath Quick Links) on the library web site. There are numerous lists including the Best 100 Books for B.C. Students (as nominated by B.C. Teachers),  a grade 12 booklist (many selected by Duane Dunstan), resources for the Persuasive Essay and much more.   I am happy to curate a specific list based on your class' requests and learning needs. To access the booklists, select Library Catalog in the top menu tab, then select Resource Lists in the left hand menu.

IDEAS FOR VIC HIGH READS THIS TERM

Since an assembly is unlikely (and unsuited to our physical plant), I recommend that Vic High Reads 2022, like Vic High Reads 2021, be a gallery style compilation of projects.  This year, the focus is themes related to Emily Carr:  rebellion and resilience, gender identity, cultural appreciation vs. appropriation, Indigenous myths and legends, Indigenous art.  Other themes are possible!  The Emily Carr project was discussed at the fall English Department meeting.

Update on VH Reads 2021 gallery project: quilt-size squares of Book Bento Box creations will be printed during term 2 and assembled later this year.  

Grades 9/10: 

• A simple but skills/competencies-rich reading and writing project could be a biographical research inquiry focused on reading 2-3 articles about an individual who can be considered to be a "resilient rebel" or a "pioneer" in their field of study/expertise.  This projects would have a timeline of 3-4 classes and function a mini-inquiry involving not only reading, but also research skills using a database (ex. our Biography Resource database), transforming information into an original product (note-taking/wording, personal observation and insights) such as an infographic.

Recently, Art 9/10 students researched an abstract artist and produced some proficient infographics to synthesize their findings.  These infographics are on display in the library, alongside an original piece of art students created as a result of their research on abstract artists/art techniques.  These projects will be included in the Emily Carr art sculpture by artist Tanya Bub.

• Another idea is to have students consider the protagonist of their silent reading novel in context of a "resilient rebel" or pioneer -- or to ask Wendy to put together a booklist with these kinds of protagonists.  Again, the idea is to connect literature to a theme related to Emily Carr. 

Grade 11/12:   

An essay  could be developed around the question  "To what extent does rebellion/thinking divergently build resilience or build success in one's chosen field of study/work?"

Students could consider this question in context of a fictional character (class novel or independent study novel)  and/or a real-life individual.

Please book a time with Wendy to discuss project options for December and January;  let's make Vic High Reads 2022 happen!