Mazo’s library program supports teaching and learning for Grades one (1) through eight (8), in both French and English, and strives to touch on all areas of the curriculum. The library represents, without a doubt, the largest literacy classroom in the school. As a means of ensuring greater impact, the teacher-librarian is actively involved in many aspects of classroom life, working in collaboration with teachers to plan meaningful experiences.
Here are the four (4) key areas of the Mazo library program:
Teaching information skills through research and inquiry
- preparing students for research
- teaching students how to access information
- helping students to process information
- teaching communication and presentation skills
Building and fostering literacy development
- introducing authors and illustrators
- helping students select appropriate texts
- encouraging students to use a variety of resources
- promoting reading for meaning, and for enjoyment/pleasure
Enhancing learning through the integration of technology
- teaching legal and ethical uses of information
- providing links to electronic resources, and tools, as well as the necessary training
- teaching access, management, and communication strategies
- teaching critical evaluation, and use of information
Collaborating with teachers in the design of authentic learning experiences
- developing lessons, units, learning continuums with teachers
- supporting classroom programming
- working with teachers to integrate technology
- assessing student progress
Search the Mazo Library collection using the following link…
https://yrdsb.ent.sirsidynix.net/client/en_US/N147/?
Curious as to when your child exchanges their books?
Feel free to click on the following link for a detailed “book exchange” schedule…
Useful Interactive French Links for Home-Use
Primary French Interactive Websites
Interactive Typing Websites for Kids
Mazo de la Roche’s iPad App Lists
Junior/Intermediate iPad Image
Home Involvement — What Parents can do to Help
- Help with homework routines: organization of time, space, and materials to establish routines for studying (as you feel it is necessary for your own child).
- React to writing your child shares with you. Comment on the ideas first, resisting the temptation to react mainly to the spelling and grammar.
- Do whatever you can to maintain or encourage their love of reading.
- Read to your child – stimulating books you both enjoy. Talk about them. (Use different books from what your child is reading at school).
- Listen to your child read to you (as appropriate to child’s ability).
- Help establish a time and place for daily reading.
- Get your child a reading light for cozy bedtime reading.
- Share the reading occasionally (he/she reads a page, you read a page) if he/she wants that, but not for the whole book.
- Talk about books: theirs, yours, and any you can recommend.
- Provide him/her with books/reading material: book clubs, plan trips to the library or to the bookstore
- Allow them to choose what they read. Encourage, but don’t force. Monitor their reading for appropriate content and level (not too hard or easy).
- Show interest in your child’s school work, what he/she is reading, is interested in.
- Encourage critical thinking: give your child opportunities to explain feelings, thoughts and opinions.
- Talk to them using challenging or new vocabulary to stretch their vocabulary.
- Keep the school informed (please share anything the school might need to know, as it could impact social and/or academic performance). Avoid taking responsibility for work he/she has not done. Children must learn to be independent problem solvers.
- Encourage responsibility/appropriate independence (e.g. chores at home, doing homework without supervision).
Helping Your Child with Homework
Children need to know that their parents and adults close to them think homework is important. If they know their parents care, children have a good reason to complete assignments and turn them in on time. There is a lot that you can do to show that you value education and homework.
- Set a regular time. Finding a regular time for homework helps children finish assignments. The best schedule is one that works for your child and your family. What works well in one household may not work in another. Of course, a good schedule depends in part on your child’s age, as well as individual needs. For instance, one youngster may work best in the afternoon after an hour of play, and another may be more efficient after dinner (although late at night, when children are tired, is seldom a good time).
- Outside activities, such as sports or music lessons, may mean that you need a flexible schedule. Your child may study after school on some days and in the evening on others. If there isn’t enough time to finish homework, your child may need to drop some outside activity. Homework must be a high priority.
- Pick a place. A study area should have lots of light, have supplies close by, and be fairly quiet. A study area doesn’t have to be fancy. A desk in the bedroom is nice, but for many youngsters the kitchen table or a corner of the living room works just fine. Your child may enjoy decorating a special study corner. A plant, a brightly coloured container to hold pencils, and some favourite artwork taped to the walls can make study time more pleasant.
- Remove distractions. Turn off the television and discourage social telephone calls during homework time. (A call to a classmate about an assignment may, however, be helpful). Some youngsters work well with quiet background music, but loud noise from the stereo or radio is not OK.
- If you live in a small or noisy household, try having all family members take part in a quiet activity during homework time. You may need to take a noisy toddler outside or into another room to play.
- Provide supplies and identify resources. For starters, collect pencils, pens, erasers, writing paper, an assignment book, and a dictionary. Other things that might be helpful include glue, a stapler, paper clips, maps, a calculator, a pencil sharpener, tape, scissors, a ruler, index cards, a thesaurus, and an almanac. Keep these items together in one place if possible. If you can’t provide your child with needed supplies, check with the teacher, school resource teacher, or principal about possible sources of assistance.
- Set a good example. Children are more likely to study if they see you reading, writing, and doing things that require thought and effort on your part. Talk with your child about what you’re reading and writing even if it’s something as simple as making the grocery list. Tell them about what you do at work. Encourage activities that support learning – for example, educational games, library visits, walks in the neighbourhood trips to the zoo or museums, and chores that teach a sense of responsibility.
- Show an interest. Make time to take your child to the library to check out materials needed for homework (and for fun, too), and read with your child as often as you can. Talk about school and learning activities in family conversations. Ask your child what was discussed in class that day. If he or she doesn’t have much to say, try another approach. For example, ask your child to read aloud a story he wrote or discuss the results of a science experiment. Another good way to show your interest is to attend school activities, such as parent-teacher meetings, shows, and sports events. If you, volunteer to help in the classroom or at special events. Getting to know some classmates and other parents not only shows you’re interested but helps build a network of support for you and your child.
Source: Helping Your Child with Homework
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
U.S. Dept. of Education
Helpful Homework Links
Family Literacy ABCs
Here are some tips and activities to help encourage family literacy in your home and community:
Act as a reading role model for your kids by reading in your spare time. Remember that children learn by example.
Babies benefit from listening to you read – it boosts their brain development.
Coordinate a children’s book club with your neighbours.
Develop a consistent homework routine by setting up a regular study time for your children every day.
Engage in sing-along sessions with your children.
Follow a recipe with your child – it’s a great way to exercise both reading and math skills.
Give the gift of words – make a donation to a literacy program in your community.
Have your child count out the change required to make a purchase. Reinforce the importance of math in everyday life.
Introduce a family board game night, where children are encouraged to read instructions and keep score.
January 27th is Family Literacy Day!
Keep books, magazines and other reading material on-hand for long car, train or plane rides.
Look up the meaning of funny words, like “onomatopoeia” and “Chinook,” to test your family’s word power.
Make everyday tasks learning experiences. Ask your children to write out your shopping list, address an envelope, or help them make a calendar of their weekly activities.
Navigate the Internet with your child to find fun and educational Web sites.
Offer your time. Family literacy groups in your community could use your help with tutoring adults, reading to children and administrative tasks.
Purchase gently used children’s books at garage sales or second hand stores. This is a cost-effective way of adding to your child’s book collection.
Question your children about the story you are reading with them, to ensure comprehension.
Read stories out loud together. This will help develop your child’s oral communication skills.
Set up a quiet and cozy reading corner in your home, with your child’s favourite books within easy reach.
Turn off the television and put away the video games – pick up a book instead.
Use it or lose it! Reading is like a muscle, if you don’t exercise it often you will not maintain the same level of reading ability as you get older.
Visit your public library every week.
While travelling, read billboards, street signs or license plates together, and show your children the proper way to read a map.
X-ercise your mind by doing crossword puzzles, word jumbles and word searches.
You can encourage your teens to keep reading by providing them with books, newspaper articles and magazines about the things that interest them – such as music, movies, TV and computers.
Zoo outings and visits to the local museum can be fun and educational too! Read books on animals or artefacts with your children before or after your outing.
*For more family literacy tips, activities and event information, visit www.fld-jaf.ca.
Contact Information
Mme Gillian Madeley (Teacher-Librarian & Technology Lead)
gillian.madeley@yrdsb.ca
Mazo de la Roche Public School
(905) 836-1032, Extension 210
Biblio-blog 