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How to support early literacy with phonemic awareness
By Judith Barker
Issue 119, Term 4 2021
ic (writing) system and the different spelling patterns – in an enjoyable and meaningful way. This propelled me to further investigate the science of reading by studying the multiplicities involved in supporting phonemic awareness and teaching phonics to young readers and students with special needs
Dystopian literature: more than just the end of the world to teens
By Jessica Finden
Issue 123, Term 4 2022
n ‘the end of the world’ and as such, is a popular genre amongst teenagers. But despite its gloomy subject matter, high school students benefit from reading dystopian texts as this genre provides them the opportunity to face their fears about the future, while offering hope for what is to come. Thi
School Library Spotlight: Forest Hill College
By Helen Farch
Issue 117, Term 2 2021
in the school community? I like to believe that the library is central to the success of the school and its students. A library is a study space, a reading space, a social space and a safe place. But I also see that another important part of the library’s role in the school community is beyond t
Using the Medium blogging platform to teach critical and digital literacies in art
By Tania Sheko
Issue 110, Term 3 2019
list. Students would be able to read and respond to each other’s posts — in the form of ‘clapping’ or comments — resulting in the development of a reading/writing community. Images, videos and other media — particularly important in art teaching — could be easily embedded in the posts. Our bl
SCIS is more
By Anthony Shaw
Issue 126, Term 3 2023
rence. We invite you to delve into Megan's article in this edition of Connections, where she shares invaluable insights on her career and promoting reading and literacy amongst learners. We’re thrilled to announce that Oliver, Accessit and Athenaeum users can now import Authority Files to their
School library spotlight: The King's School Senior Library
By The King's School Library team
Issue 127, Term 4 2023
o is responsible for three libraries across the King’s Schools’ campuses. In the Senior School, the teacher librarians’ role involves teaching wide reading lessons and promoting a healthy school-wide reading culture; readers’ advisory; collaborative lessons covering literature, referencing, resear
Interview with Gabrielle Wang, Australian Children's Laureate
By Gabrielle Wang
Issue 122, Term 3 2022
ren exercising their imaginations. Do you have any advice for teachers who want to extend students’ imaginations in their classrooms? For teachers, reading aloud a class text is a fantastic thing, because even slow readers or children who have reading difficulties can enjoy the book as well. If it
1,000 reasons to support Australian book creators
By Jackie French
Issue 97, Term 2 2016
Dear Jackie French, What I have learned from your book is to be wary of anyone who tries to make you angry. Love James James was 14, and Hitler’s Daughter was the first book he had ever read. Yet he had found the truth behind a question I had been hunting for ever since I was ten years old: h
Supporting Australian book creators
By Aaron Blabey
Issue 108, Term 1 2019
When I began writing books professionally in 2006, I had never heard of the Australian Lending Right Schemes. My publisher just handed me a form, which I blithely filled out and promptly forgot all about. Then, after a hair-raising period filled with newborn children, an elephantine mortgage, and
Leading whole school literacy from the library
By Dr Margaret Merga
Issue 124, Term 1 2023
Literacy is a general capability to be taught across all learning areas in Australian schools. Students use literacy skills to learn and demonstrate their learning across the curriculum, and they need to learn both cross-disciplinary and discipline-specific literacy skills to achieve their academic
21st-century literacy with graphic novels
By Iurgi Urrutia
Issue 115, Term 4 2020
Reading is reading We read books, newspapers, magazines, billboards, signs, notices, bills, websites, blogs, social media posts et cetera. When we read all those things, consciously or unconsciously we’re developing and using multiple literacy skills. Thanks to the internet and social media, we’r
Exploring time and place through children's literature
By Tania McCartney
Issue 97, Term 2 2016
Books can enrich children’s lives beyond measure. Exposure to other people and cultures, whether directly or indirectly, does extraordinary things to children. It opens their heads and crams wonderful things inside. It relaxes their hearts, softens their emotional boundaries, and enriches their m
Digital fluency vs. digital literacy
By Clint Lalonde
Issue 111, Term 4 2019
Recently I’ve been doing a bit of research on digital literacy/digital fluency, to find out whether our post-secondary institutions are currently offering any programs and initiatives that will help instructors to use digital tools effectively. Many organisations have identified a lack of digital
The magic of school libraries
By Belinda Cameron
Issue 115, Term 4 2020
As we seek to establish and maintain vital connections with our students, staff, teachers and families, special events within our library spaces are central to the work of connected communities. Stories are central to the work of teacher librarians. The story of Harry Potter is so engaging that a
EAL/D in school libraries
By Nicki Moore, Martin Gray
Issue 121, Term 2 2022
At Singleton High School in New South Wales, Nikki Moore is an EAL/D teacher who is based in the school library. Situating Nikki in the school library has led to collaboration between the library staff and the EAL/D teacher, as well as the non-native English-speaking students who often use the libr
Language, literature and literacy during COVID-19 and beyond
By Annette Wagner
Issue 114, Term 3 2020
Over the last few months, learning has moved to the digital space, changing the perception of online learning tools. Annette Wagner, Creative Director of Story Box Library, discusses how teachers have embraced digital learning practices and online tools, including storytelling tools. During iso
TikTok and libraries: a powerful partnership
By Kelsey Bogan
Issue 115, Term 4 2020
‘Miss Bogan, you’re TikTok famous!’ These words greeted me early one morning shortly after I had finally caved in and created a TikTok account for our high school library. I had posted a TikTok video the previous night, you see, and in less than a day, it had more than 300,000 views! Within a wee
Genrefication 3.5 years later: Reflections
By Susan Davenport
Issue 117, Term 2 2021
Radford College Secondary Library (SL) for years 5–12 students began our genrefication journey in 2017. This article reflects upon those first steps and what changes have been implemented since. What have we learnt? Genrefication works! Yes, it really does. Our years 5–12 students find the
The Information Fluency Framework
By Carmel Grimmett
Issue 123, Term 4 2022
The Information Fluency Framework (IFF) is a new tool for teacher librarians in primary and secondary settings. The IFF is the primary source of information outcomes and processes for teacher librarians in the NSW Department of Education to use together with Information skills in the school as a
How an old book created a commitment to better represent First Nations Australians
By Kerry Klimm, Dale Robertson
Issue 117, Term 2 2021
A mother’s anger: Kerry Klimm When my 8-year-old showed me his library book, I knew immediately from the cover it wasn’t going to be positive. I flicked through the pages and was disturbed at what I saw. It took me back to my childhood – growing up in the ‘80s learning about ‘The Aborigines’, def