Storytelling is an important part of First Nations culture. Stories that tell of legends are passed down to show human characteristics or to show why things are the way they are.
ILS has acquired a new DVD series called Raven Tales. Raven, the most powerful and trickiest troublemaker of Native American folklore, is featured in the award-winning, animated television programs. In these stories, Raven is responsible for the creation of the world, finding the first people, and providing food for the inhabitants of the newly created world. Check the OPAC for detailed program information.
Stories From the Seventh Fire is a popular video series acquired in 2003. Each of the four season — Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer — is represented by two traditional legends. Tales of Wesakechak, a 13 episode video resource, was updated in 2004. More detailed informaton is provided in the OPAC.
Check out the Aboriginal Canada Portal (Resources Online–Canadian, Eh) for information suitable for kids and youth.
O Canada– home of the beaver, Rider Nation, and bunnyhugs! Help your students appreciate our great land with the following new resources:
Canadian Holidays, Traditions and Celebrations[25 min.; Gr. 4-8]: Students learn about Canada Day, Victoria Day, National Aboriginal Day, Louis Riel Day, and many other Canadian holidays!
Symbols of Canada [21 min.; Gr. 4 - 8]: This program examines symbols that are representative of Canada, its provinces and territories including the Canadian flag, the maple leaf, the coat of arms, our national colours, the beaver, our national sports, the RCMP, and much, much more!
Provincial and Territorial Symbols [25 min.; Gr. 4 & 5]: Five minute segments introduce students to the official symbols and emblems for each of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada
Carnavalde Quebec [17 min.; Gr. 4 to 8]: This program explores the Quebec’s annual winter festival.
Additional gently used resources are also available through ILS. Check the OPAC for a complete listing.
Canada, the Provinces and Territories[78 min.; Gr. 3-6]: This program shows the beauty and variety our country, depicts its heritage and history, and presents some of the industries that contribute to the economy.
The Greatest Canadian [5 DVDs; Gr. 6-12]: The program charts the nation’s collective efforts to name the one Canadian who is the greatest of them all — Tommy Douglas from Saskatchewan!
Canada for Children series [3 DVDs; Gr. K-4]: The History of Canada; The Geography of Canada; The Culture of Canada
Growing Up Canadian series [6 DVDs; Gr. 6-12]: Growing Up Canadian Play; Growing Up Canadian School; Growing Up Canadian Family; Growing Up Canadian Health; Growing Up Canadian Media; Growing Up Canadian Work
Passport to Canada : Passeport pour le Canada [2 DVDs; Gr. 5-12]: 3 English and 3 French programs that explore all aspects of Canada.
Canada, People, History & Government [18 min.; Gr. 5-12]: This program deals with cultural diversity, living patterns, and the colourful history of Canada.
Canada: a People’s History[English & French videos; Gr. 5-12]: A 17 episode video series spanning Canadian history. Search the OPAC for a complete listing of the titles. Enter < canada a people’s history > in the < Title > search field. Do not use the < Anywhere > search option.
Need a go-to resource to level the prior-knowledge playing field? Want students to “triangulate” what they find on the World Wide Web and not just take it as the gospel truth? Looking for resources that support struggling readers as well as advanced learners?
World Book is a standard resource used for supporting student learning. Regina Catholic Schools has an online subscription to the following products: World Book Student; World Book Kids; Enciclopedia Estudiantial Hallazgos; and, L’Encyclopedia Decouverte.
Until the end of February, Information and Library Services is trialing 5 additional World Book products. Go to Resources Online–Encyclopedias and check out these new products. Feedback may be submitted to Joanne Beltramini at j.beltramini@rcs.sk.ca.
World Book Discover:This resource offers engaging reference resources for students reading below grade level. Key features include: text-to speech (if this product is acquired, the text-to speech feature extends to all WB products excluding the French & Spanish encycopedias); WB Explains, a video series that features World Book editors and experts answering students questions on a variety of topics; automated translations into 14 languages; Visual Dictionary with multilingual capabilities (this feature is fantastic!); reading comprehension questions, and much, much more!
World Book Advanced: Designed for high school students, this resource is a powerful reference tool that includes encyclopedic, multimedia, e-book, and primary source databases, fully integrated in a single search.
World Book Living Green: Students explore environmental issues and current efforts to reduce human impact on the environment.
World Book Early Peoples: Explore the history of ancient cultures in this expansive online reference collection.
World Book Inventions and Discoveries: An exploration of the transformative impact of the inventions and discoveries that continue to shape our world today.
I know that you’ve heard of the Ministry of Magic. After all, who hasn’t read the Harry Potter series! But do you know that our own Saskatchewan Ministry of Education has created a near magical website for one-stop curriculum information?
Check out the links (English and French) located in Resources Onlineunder the Teacher Professional section OR click on the direct links below.
This is a site that warrents frequent checking because the Ministry is adding new content almost daily. The intent is to add model units/lessons, assessments, website links corralated to outcomes & indicators, video links, etc.
“Mirror, mirror ,on the wall, am I the prettiest of them all?” The renewed grade 6 and 8 Health curricula explores body image and feelings of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In grade 6 students are to analyze cultural and social influences on perceptions of and personal standards related to body image and the resulting impact on identities. In grade 8, students assess how body image satisfaction/dissatisfaction and over-reliance on appearance as a source of identity and self-esteem affects the quality of life and self and family.
ILS has added three new DVD resources to support these outcomes:
Coping with the Body Image Blues [22 min.; Gr. 6 to 9]: Everyday teenagers are bombarded with images in the media that make them feel insecure about their own bodies. Using a mix of dramatic vignettes, humorous animations, and real student interviews, the DVD analyzes how a bad self-image can damage self-esteem and also why it’s important to accept one’s body the way it is.
Do You Have an Eating Disorder[19 min.; Gr. 8 to 10]: Teens and young adults describe their struggles with eating disorders. A teenage boy dispels the myth that eating disorders affect only girls.
Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Body Image[23 min.; Gr. 8 to 12]: This DVD captures real people discussing how celebrities, media, sports and peers influence one’s body image and may lead to dangerous habits. Three compelling stories reveal how peer and media influences drove these teens to engage in life-threatening behaviours.
Check the OPAC for information about these additional ILS resources:
Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising’s Image of Women [c2000; 34 min; Gr. 8 and up]
Preventing Eating Disorders, Promoting Positive Body Image [c2003; 12 min; gr. 8 and up]
Shredded [c2005; 22 min.; Gr. 8 and up] — teenage boys, media & body image
The Zit: A Small Tale About a Giant Pimple [c2006; 5 min.; Gr. 5 to 9]
If you are looking for a great book to share with your grade 8 students, you might suggest Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.
If we care about the sustainability of planet Earth, we need to take an active role in protecting that which is precious. ILS has purchased a number of new science DVD series that challenge students to think globally and become responsible stewards of the environment.
Environmental Science for Students[Gr. 6 to 12; 6 DVD's; 23 min. each]: This 6-part series provides a fascinating look at Earth’s environment and some of the most important environmental issues of our time. Accurate explanations, global examples and balanced viewpoints guide students in a exploration of topics that range from global climate change to the degradation of soil. Environmental experts speak about topics of interest and noteworthy case studies showcase real-world examples. The environment’s link to human health, the economy and society is also examined. The series will help students understand the science behind their changing world while considering multiple perspectives. Check out the individual titles in the OPAC for specific information about each DVD. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: Air Quality; Global Climate; Green Energy; Soil Quality; Sustainability in the 21st Century; and Water Quality.
Eco=Kids Elementary School Series [Gr. 3 to 5; 3 DVD's; 14 to 16 min. each]: This 3-part series is designed to help young students take steps towards making the Earth a better, and more environmentally friendly place to live. The series reports of the state of our planet today. Students learn how to conserve energy, preserve water, and learn about renewable resources while monitoring the use of our natural resources. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: Part 1–The Earth Needs Your Help; Part 2–How “Eco” Are You?; and Part 3–Things You Can Do.
Eco=Kids Middle School Series [Gr. 6 to 9; 3 DVD's; 14 to 16 min. each]: This 3-part series is identical to the Eco=Kids Elementary School Series. The only difference is that it has been retooled for an older audience. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: The Earth Needs Your Help; How “Eco” Are You?; and Things You Can Do.
Eco Kids Explore Series [Gr. 6 to 8; 5 DVD's; 11 to 17 minutes]: This 5-part series helps students learn about the problems facing Earth today, and also how to help solve them. As our world grows, so does the demand for energy. The series explores five different types of “green power” which are becoming increasingly popular. Titles must be booked individually. Titles include: Solar Power; Wind Power; Geothermal Energy; Ethanol; and Hybrid Cars.
Are your students on Facebook? Do they like to chat online? Do they know when they have found reliable information? Have they been seduced by advergames? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to check out Passport to the Internet, a bilingual, web-based program created by Media Awareness Network and licensed by ILS for the current school year.
Passport to the Internet is an Internet literacy tutorial for students in grades 4 to 8. It includes 5 modules that help students to develop critical thinking skills in order to use the Internet safely and ethically both for personal use and for research. Students begin by selecting an avatar. As they work through the modules with your guidance, they receive a passport stamp for each completed activity.
MODULES:
MyFace: A social networking site that challenges students to create an interesting profile while still protecting their privacy.
Co-Co-s Choco Match: An advergame that teaches tricks used by online advertisers to hook young consumers.
Study Space: A research assignment that teaches students how to select reliable websites and how to use Boolean operators.
Web Cafe: An introduction to web surfing that shows students how to judge what is behind a link, e-mail, banner ad, or search result before clicking on it.
Instant Pigeon:An IM program which engages students in four conversations teaching them to make ethical choices. It explores managing online relationships and dealing with cyberbullying.
Located in Desk Tools, the programand is meant to be used with teacher guidance including pre and post discussions. An extensive teacher’s guide is provided. Each module takes approximately 1 to 2 hours to complete. Your elementary teacher-librarian has been introduced to the program and will have ideas to help you incorporate the modules into your instructional plan for the year!
You’ve heard the debate about the chicken and the egg. That same debate is often applied to teaching. Which comes first, and is the lucky winner more important than the runner-up? In my opinion, there is no debate — teaching is both an art and a science. In the hands of a master teacher, teaching is an art. The teacher is attuned to student needs and intuitively provides for them. I am not one of those fortunate few; I tend to lean on the side of science and technique.
Two new professional resources have been added to the ILS collection to help you develop and refine your teaching repertoire.
The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction by Robert Marazano: This 3-part resource includes a book and 2 DVD’s. The first DVD discusses: establishing and communicating learning goals; tracking student progress; celebrating success; and and helping students interact with new knowledge, practice and deepen their understanding. The second DVD discusses: engaging students; establishing and maintaining rules and procedures; and creating and maintaining effective relationships.
Moving Forward with Understanding by Designby Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe: This 2-part resource will help you understand the difference between teaching for understanding and teaching for simple knowledge acquisition. A backwards design framework is used to identify major understandings/outcomes and the planning sequence for designing learning opportunities that will help students achieve the outcomes.
Response to Intervention is a new educational strategy for managing student behavioural problems. RTI uses a 3-tiered organizational structure to help those students who are struggling in order to ensure that they receive just the right instruction or intervention in order to be successful. With RTI, schools identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes, monitor student progress, provide planned interventions, and adjust the interventions as required.
To learn more about RTI, check out the three new resources:
Pyramid Response to Intervention: RTI, Professional Learning Communities and How to Respond When Kids Don’t Learn by Buffum, Mattos & Weber [Solution Tree, C2009]
Understanding Response to Intervention: A Practical Guide to Systemic Implementationby Howell, Patton & Deiotte [Solution Tree, c2008]
The Power of RTI: Classroom Management Strategies (K-6) [DVD; 68 min.; c2008]: This DVD focuses primarily on Tier 1 techniques which addresses: classroom rules, routines & schedules; positive behavioral expectations; simple strategies to manage defiant and non-compliant students; targeted use of rewards & feedback; structured lessons to incorporate meaningful student choices; management of daily classroom transitions.
Planning for assessment is a critical component of instruction. A balanced assessment program includes a variety of assessment strategies that are matched with specific student outcomes. Diagnostic assessments are used to determine where students are at before the learning process begins. Formative or on-going assessments are used to inform/adjust classroom instruction and to provide useful feedback to students. Summative assessment occurs at the end of learning and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know, understand, and can do.
Check out the two new DVD resources to learn more about diagnostic and formative assessment.
The Power of Formative Assessment to Advance Learning (ASCD, c2008): Contains 3 DVD programs and a user’s guide. Topics include: what formative assessment is, when it can be used, and how it differs from summative assessment; a 6-step process for implementing formative assessment in the classroom; and strategies to use to discern that students have learned and understood the content and outcomes.
Failure is Not an Option 3 — Effective Assessment for Effective Learning (Hope Foundation, c2008): In the 3-DVD program, leading experts present the underlying concepts for “assessment for learning” and teachers illustrate “theory into practice” in their classrooms. Experts include Carol Tomlinson, Michael Fullan, Jay McTighe, Ken O’Connor, and others.
ILS has acquired a new DVD series called Raven Tales. Raven, the most powerful and trickiest troublemaker of Native American folklore, is featured in the award-winning, animated television programs. In these stories, Raven is responsible for the creation of the world, finding the first people, and providing food for the inhabitants of the newly created world. Check the OPAC for detailed program information.
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