Internal Reading Challenges

I am trying to create an internal reading challenge at school. Over the past few weeks, I have managed through the OZTL_Net forum and within the Association of Independent Schools to find out how schools have coordinated their own reading challenges.

Thank you to those who have lent me a hand in sharing their ideas

Some schools will also offer the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge if in NSW alongside or equivalent if in other states.

Each school that I have come across so far has adopted different approaches whether it may be:

• Students must read from a set list.
• Students can read any book and earn points according to the format or genre of the book read.
• One school has a book bingo system which students must read books that reflect a statement or description of the book e.g. "A book that was published in 2019".

At Dapto High School several years ago, my jobshare partner and I created a challenge that was similar to book bingo, but it was a collaborative effort with students in their English classes deciding which student was going to meet each challenge e.g. read a book with a red cover. We also had the students complete short book reviews, which were published in their newsletter. There was a pizza lunch at the end for the first class to complete the challenge. 

It was only open at the time to Year 7 and 8 English classes. 

In addition, Barbara Braxton provided me with a link with ideas that any Teacher Librarian can use and can be adapted to any age.

https://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/dr-bookloves-reading-challenges/ 

I am hoping to reflect on this further in time.

Premiers Reading Challenge

I'm working at Waverley College this term reliving a Teacher Librarian who has taken long service leave. This is my second block at the school.

This term, I will continue to log my thoughts and experiences as any journal or blog and what I have learn't from it. Even in full time work, this is a learning journey and a place for me to reflect.

One task that I've been doing this term has been the cataloguing of the items featuring in the Premiers Reading Challenge. I've been a supporter of it because it gives kids an incentive to read and the titles on the list cater to all reading abilities and all reading interests.

I wish it had been around when I was at school because reading was treated as chore. We had to read because our teachers made us do it with designated periods to do so in the library. I loved to read and as a adult love to read, but I was not allowed to read non fiction books for instance. It had to be fiction. There were no reading lists and if you didn't read a certain amount, there was the possibility of detention. Some items were also studied in English and you had to read the book whether you liked it or not. I think it turned me off from reading until I was at University, when I rediscovered the marvels of reading a book.

The Premiers Reading Challenge actually gives incentive for kids to read. A challenge is set for them to read a certain number of books of their choice (from a list) within a specified time frame. Even magazine articles and newspaper articles can be counted if they come across an item that interests them. I was  amazed to see them listed (under various). People love to work towards a goal, and the Premiers Reading Challenge does that.

Anaphylaxis NSW schools 4.0 Online Course

Just a few thoughts from the online course that I did last week:

Generally I enjoyed it because its a handy life skill. This situation can happen with anyone, anywhere at anytime. It will help me not just at school but in the wider community.

It was interesting to learn the difference between an allergic reaction and a Anaphylaxis attack and being reminded that when in doubt, just inject the Adrenalin into the patient because it can make the difference between life and death.

I was taught last year by my mother in how to inject the needle with Adrenalin last year and impressed with how easy it was to do, yet it shocked me how the teacher at Ashfield Boys High would end up stabbing himself with the needle while trying to treat the boy who later died.

The only downside is that being an online course, practical training was quite limited. I think there needs to be some hands on training attached to the course and actually be assessed on it as well to make sure that the person knows what to do in such a situation.

Graduation Time & Year in Review

I want to congratulate those who are graduating with me this week from my Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) Degree.

I decided to graduate in absentia so I will not attend the graduation ceremony in Wagga Wagga tomorrow.

Looking back at 2012, I'm thrilled that I finished my masters especially when you hear of the stories of those who have struggled to complete the course; the fact that some pull out because of time committments and not complete the course. Some have to scale back their studies to the one unit per semester and the talk of people failing units.

Just finishing a course is a big achievement in itself.

I got there because I was focused and committed. I wouldn't let any challenges outside of my studies intrude on it. In fact I let the challenges encourage me to work harder because the rewards that await will be far greater than anything.

If I look back, I am glad I undertook certain actions like volunteering at All Saints Grammar. It boosted my self esteem and it helped me develop as a professional in a more relaxed setting where I did not have to be as scrutinised as in the classroom. I was amazed by the professional relationships that I actually created there. I hope to continue that committment next year.

I was also glad that I did my professional experience there too. Small schools have helped me thrive as a teacher and the fact that everyone knows and helps each other makes the work alot easier.

The volunteer work also helped in the classroom as well as a casual teacher as well. I noticed that I was alot more relaxed and confident and prepared to face up to the challenges of teaching even better than ever. I was eager to help kids in the classroom as well as much as I could even outside my subject areas. It might be helping students to locate information and seek clarification about something that they do not understand. Some might need help writing and presenting information. I found myself in that situation many times of helping and guiding students in their learning. I could go home with my head up knowing that I did something other than "babysitting".  I am not a casual teacher that likes to sit at the front of the room and reads a book like other casuals. I like to interact and support the learning process as much as possible.

I did not predict at the start of 2012 that I would do a paid casual block as a teacher librarian either and that gave me a full immersion into what I will face as a full time teacher librarian. I was lucky too I managed to learn alot more about my professional role, which sadly was overlooked in my actual studies. There was alot that had to be learnt but it was done and done well. I'm grateful that Waverley College gave me such an opportunity and the students liked my presence there.

I still felt that my knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies was lacking and I decided to take advantage of the offer by the Catholic Education Office Sydney to do a Web 2.0 course for teachers. Immersing myself in some new web tools has stimulated my interest in using them for teaching but even for leisure too. Students don't even know that some of the tools even exist. I cannot wait to teach them how to use them and they will surely love using them in their learning. I'll admit to having a lot of fun myself playing around with the tools. 

It was encouraging that so many teachers in the schools that I have been involved with have been supportive in my studies and endeavours this year. I've also enjoyed sharing my experiences and knowledge with them as well. I hope to continue this next year


I can hold my head up high at the end of the year with these achievements. I may not have a full time job for 2013 but if I can keep the good work up, the full time job will come. I'm ready to face up to the challenges of being a teacher librarian. Even if I have to work in a classroom, I will be able to undertake that role even better than when I completed my post graduate studies. I am better informed about pedagogy and practice. I want to apply it and help the kids aspire to their full potential.

Cyberbullying is "overrated"

I have viewed some interesting emails relating to this article.

I feel I have to throw my two cents into this matter.

To me cyber bullying is a problem not matter how often it occurs in comparison to bullying that occurs offline.

If we look at NSW, the vast majority of school students in Year 9-12 now have a laptop due to the Federal Government's laptop rollout program.

Virtually every school student that I have come into contact with as a teacher owns a mobile phone or smartphone. Simply technology is around us.

We are proliferated with it. With this rise in technology, this provides the perfect setting for cyberbullying to occur.

The internet is a public place like the town square. Views can be said or heard by the entire world. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying, like physical or verbal bullying.

Unlike the physical world, it can be done anonymously and the offender can get away with it without penalty unless their identity is published. in the physical world, the perpetrator is often known to the victim and is more likely to get caught.

In the classroom as teachers, we have a challenging job controlling a group of up to thirty students in a room. I find that I have to move around the room quite frequently if students are using computers to ensure that they are on task that they are not using communication tools (facebook, phones etc). Even then Its extremely easy for a student to put their phone in their lap or under the desk and text or message away. I have caught students doing this. Its akin to passing notes in the old days from student to student, except it is now done electronically.

But for the article to say that cyberbullying is not as prevalent as it seems because 16 % have reported being bullied electronically as opposed to 39 % who might be bullied offline bemuses me.

16 % of students being cyberbullied is still a very high number.

There is no way that cyberbullying is overrated at all.

The article does not mention what percentage of students have been bullied either physically or verbally. There is also silent bullying (excluded from peer groups, not invited to social outings, being delibrately ignored by peers etc). And I will also add that a small percentage of students are bullied by their teachers. I was actually subject to bullying by a teacher when I was in Year 10. As one of my peers said it was done because in that teachers view that I "needed to be a man". If you were to break the offline bullying into the categories that I have mentioned, I think you will be amazed at how common cyberbullying is compared to other forms of bullying.