Establishing a Functional Library in an Aboriginal School

1978 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-38
Author(s):  
E. Jaunay
Keyword(s):  
Reading Achievement ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Mature Students ◽  
Picture File ◽  
Art Display ◽  
A Charge ◽  
Physical Layout

After spending five terms working in the library at Oodnadatta Special Aboriginal School, I can now say I have achieved something. However, this achievement cannot be measured by an up-to-date catalogue and an extensive picture file, for example. What I have created is a library and library borrowing scheme which works for the children in this school.In the first instance I set about to structure the physical layout of the library so that each section was very clearly separated. Basically,we have an Easy Fiction, Fiction and Non-fiction section. Because reading achievement in this school is limited and reading ages low, I have played up the Easy Fiction section. We have used more shelves than in any other section and each shelf is backed with brightly coloured material. We display, with covers showing, as many books as possible, and only use the very bottom shelves for storing our books. These displays are changed daily by our aides, who are now an integral part of library functioning, as I am the pre-school teacher here and I have accepted the library merely as an area of responsibility.Because our more mature students are unsophisticated, there is little need to buy much material specifically for them, for they will read picture books with enthusiasm provided they are attractively displayed. At this time, we are cashing in on a gimmicky approach to encourage use of the library, rather than just the desire to read. The library is carpeted and curtained. We have removed a blackboard and replaced it with backed hessian, which we use for art display. We manufactured a listening-post from a high jump stand. We have removed tables and chairs and now have only a charge desk and chair and one low table for specific displays. We read on the floor. Because we have a storeroom for large audio-visual equipment, and our film projector and video are on moveable trolleys, (service trolleys) we do not use the library for these activities. This has helped us to channel the emphasis towards reading and books rather than use of the library as a general activities area.

scholarly journals American and Russian children’s literature at the beginning of the 21st century. The diversity of possibilities

Bibliosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 80-88
Author(s):  
O. B. Bukhina
Keyword(s):  
Women Writers ◽  
Children's Literature ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
Children’S Literature ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Sensitive Topics ◽  
Russian Children’S Literature

Comparing changes in publication policies, the influence of translated books, and an important role that women writers play now, author analyzed new tendencies in American and Russian children’s and teens’ literature. The author concludes that American picture books reflect the varieties of contemporary experiences, and the Russian ones thrive with poetry and non-fiction. The comparison of teens’ literature of both countries shows a lot of similarities; both encompass more sensitive topics, such as illness, death, suicide, drugs, psychological trauma, and bulling.

scholarly journals Patterns in Contemporary Canadian Picture Books: Radical Change in Action

in education ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 43-70
Author(s):  
Beverley Brenna ◽  
Shuwen Sun ◽  
Yina Liu
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Children's Literature ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
Children’S Literature ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Realistic Fiction ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Canadian Studies ◽  
Study Support

This comprehensive qualitative examination of two groups of Canadian picture books, 57 titles published in 2005 and 120 titles published in 2015, offers comparative data that demonstrate patterns related to authors, illustrators, characterization, genres, audiences, and particular elements of Radical Change. Following book collection, content analysis was conducted with a consideration of Dresang’s notion that books for children are evolving with respect to forms and formats, perspectives, and boundaries. Our process for analysis was developed from Berg’s framework of systematic content analysis based on predetermined as well as emerging categories. There is much recent research exploring particular content in children’s literature, supporting the central importance of literature in the classroom and community. Comparative Canadian studies across decades, however, are rare, and are increasingly important as a way to track and describe the changes that are taking place with respect to books for young people. It is interesting that in both 2005 and 2015, picture books tended to feature children as protagonists, with the highest number of books from the 2005 set utilizing the fantasy genre (at 34%) or realistic fiction (at 28%) and the highest number of books from the 2015 set occurring in non-fiction (at 34%, up from 16% in 2005) or fantasy (at 31%). Historical fiction in both years presented comparatively low, at 12% and 3%, respectively.Findings of this study support and extend the notion of Radical Change. The research team noted marked innovations within the 2015 group related to forms and formats, boundaries, and perspectives. Of particular note are the increasing numbers of books that present Indigenous content and perspectives. While many of the changes appearing in Canadian picture books between 2005 and 2015 might be predicted through the standard categories of Radical Change (Dresang, 1999), other findings also emerged that suggest new Radical Change considerations. Continuing to examine children’s literature as artifacts of a culture can illuminate particular aspects of that culture and offer opportunities to engage authors, illustrators, and publishers in filling gaps where particular perspectives or topics are missing. Advocacy is important as children’s literature continues to be a source of tension for what it portrays and presents as well as its missing voices. A knowledge of patterns and trends in relation to available content and resources supports classroom practice as well as encourages classroom research and further explorations of the evolving landscape of children's books.

scholarly journals philosophising with young children as a language-promoting principle

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Katrin Saskia Alt
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Language Ability ◽  
Philosophical Discussion ◽  
Language Level ◽  
Philosophical Questions

Children develop language and communication skills through interaction with adults and other children. This study therefore focuses on two interdependent issues: the effect of philosophizing with children on children’s language development and the speech acts of teachers and children in philosophical enquiries. As part of a before-after test with the “Hamburger Verfahren zur Analyse des Sprachstandes Fünfjähriger” (Reich & Roth, 2004, Hamburg Procedure for Analysing the Language Level of Five Year-olds), weekly philosophical discussions were undertaken with a test class over a period of six months. The central findings are that the philosophising children developed significantly higher language ability compared with a non-philosophising control class in two areas, namely general performance in discussion and the use of more sophisticated connectors. A further part of the study compared the speech acts of the children and their pre-school teacher in the context of philosophical discussion with their speech acts in a different dialogic situation (dialogic discussion of picture books). This showed that philosophical questions from the pre-school teacher led to the production of particularly complex language by the children. Complex speech acts involve the use of higher-level verb structures and connectors. These are necessary in order to reason and act as a citizen agent and are supported by philosophising with children, as this study shows.

scholarly journals Improving English Comprehension in Primary School by Picture-books Story-telling and Reading

2021 ◽  
pp. 68-102
Author(s):  
Chen Rongyi
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Primary School Teacher ◽  
Testing System ◽  
College Entrance ◽  
College English ◽  
School Headmaster

So many Chinese students graduated from university after having learned English for 12 years, but they can’t use English well, especially in English listening and speaking. However, all these college students passed Band 4 test of CET (College English Test). There are many reasons for this strange phenomenon but the most important one is Chinese teaching system which is badly influenced by testing system. This year (2013), Chinese education department are under discuss whether the English test will be taken out of National Examinations of College Entrance or the total score should cut down from 150 to 100. It has reflected that our country is in a dilemma whether we should take English into NCEE (National College Entrance Examinations) or not. However, the problem is not exams but how to test and how to teach English in schools. As a primary school teacher for 16 years, the writer has found out that all teachers have to use a textbook to teach and have to finish the textbook and take exams according to the book. If students do better in exams, teachers’ value will improve. Otherwise, they will not be welcomed by school headmaster. These really hold back our English teaching. All our teachers are thinking about how to help students achieve high score not language function, that, understanding and communication. After many years teaching, the writer has found out that English learning goes well with exams. In order to prove this, the writer began an experiment which lasted for 10 weeks during which the writer read picture-books to students at every class for ten minutes. The students really enjoyed the stories. This method really enhances students’ interests and abilities in listening, speaking and understanding. This article focuses on the picture-books reading to improve the comprehension of English reading in primary school. Reading picture-books improve students’ comprehension and teachers’ teaching approaches. It will benefit all the students if this teaching method applies to all students who are learning English. As no one in China has done this research before, the writer thinks this article can apply to many primary schools in China.

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