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Mrs. Maxwell, Teacher Librarian
Mrs. Maxwell, Teacher Librarian
My job is to SUPPORT literacy throughout the school and to help make connections across curriculum subjects. I AM HERE FOR YOU! Click here for more about me, to see how to book the library AND how to book me to work with you!
NEW!! School Community Virtual Library I will be sharing & posting library news for students and caregivers regularly. A quick link is bit.ly/foxcommunity -Feel free to check it out!
May News!
May News!
It's May...and you know what? June is comming!
It's May...and you know what? June is comming!
There's lots happening in the library this month including:
There's lots happening in the library this month including:
Forest of Reading Celebrations (Primary May 17, Jr/Int May18th) The format will be different for each division...more info to follow
In Person Bookfair (May 24th-30th). The library will be closed that week. Class walk-throughs and opening hours will be posted the week before.
A Celebration of Sports presentation from Olympian and Author Andre Degrasse and Co-Author Lucky Budd on May 12th at 2pm (virtual) for grades 4-8, classroom activities below!!
Special Observances and Resource Links for May Include:
Special Observances and Resource Links for May Include:
Asian and South Asian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month, May 2nd Eid-ul-Fitr (Islam), Children's Mental Health and Wellness Week May 2-6 (click link for activities), May 15th International Day of Families
** Don't forget to come to the library to visit book displays!
April Showers Us With Lots of Activity!
April Showers Us With Lots of Activity!
There's many significant events in April including Sikh Heritage Month, Genocide Awareness Month, Ramadan, Passover and Easter. Daily events include World Autism Day (April 2nd), International Day of Pink (April 13th), International Earth Day (April 22nd) and International Day of Silence (April 23rd). I have gathered a number of resources to assist you with this month's observances. Please remember to check out library book displays - and here's an additional Epic bookist for Ramadan!
In other News...
In other News...
Our Library Bookfair has been rescheduled to May (pending approval) which will work nicely with our School BBQ during the evening of May 26th.
It's National Poetry Month! Check out these resources! League of Canadian Poets has a "Poem in Your Pocket Day" and New York Times has posted "4 Poems You Can Create From Your Newspaper" activities. Shel Silverstein has a website created by Harper Collins which has some cool teaching resources AND there's a cool Poetry Tree Resource . Consider having some funn with a rhyming dictionary to do some creative writing - smaples included. I will be working on with those who are interested. Come check out our library display in Non-Fiction section!
Please check out TVO Learn Teacher Resources for K-12 (for all curriculum subjects) if you haven't already - consider this your first stop shopping before using or buying other resources to assist your teaching (they're free AND many resources are written by seconded DDSB teachers!!). Also, I wanted to remind you of Indigenous Perdpectives Educator's Guide and using our DDSB Indigenous Education Department's website for resources as well! which is linked in the Navbar in D2L for quick reference.
Coding Quest.pdfCoding Quest is for Grades 4-8 which is a free workshop for both teachers and students! Coding Quest will be available soon for grades 1-3 soon!
We have been doing some cool things with STEAM lately including building robots in the library and creating some cool coding challenge centers as well as having Ontario Tech visiting classes to do virtual workshops. Here's an exciting opportunity to check out...Coding Quest provides a teacher workshop AND class workshop for interested teachers. It's a great way to get coding started in your classroom.
Ask me for more information about this program or booking me to work with you! Please check out the STEAM Resources Tab at the top of the page for more!
Earth Day is on April 22nd
Earth Day is on April 22nd
A few more resources can be found on Earth Day Canada site and on Earth Day International site
Please don't forget to check out our library display of Earth Day and environmental books to take out and bring to your class! More resources to come!
Primary Teachers can refer to No More Plastic Forest of Reading Activities for planning!
EarthDay_Social.jpgMore April Resources at a Glance (by date)
More April Resources at a Glance (by date)
MEND Ramadan Best Practices for Schools 2022.pdfEducator resources have been developed for best practices during Ramadan!
An inspiring video made by DDSB students to share!
SikhHeritageMonth_Social.jpgGenocideAwarenessMonth_Social.jpgPlease visit Facing History and Ourselves for more teacher resources, especially for older grades.
International Day of Pink is April 13th
DayofSilence_Social.jpgInternational Day of Silence is April 23rd which is about atrocities committed toward the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
YomHaShoah_Social.jpgApril 28th is Holocaust Memorial Day
April 28th is Holocaust Memorial Day
Please come and check out the books in the library regarding this very sensitive subject for students. I would like to offer to partner with you to bring together an artistic response to a picture book - more to follow on this topic.
Feel free to ask me about partnering with you!
March Madness is Here!
March Madness is Here!
Two VERY important things to know before you read the rest...
1) Our Library Scholastic VIRTUAL Bookfair is running from March 28th to April 4th .
**Please copy and send this link to parents along with your usual communications. Your help to promote the bookfair asap is appreciated!!! Proceeds will support you and our Fox STEM initiatives!!**
2) Please visit my STEM page (see headings at the top) for VEX Teacher Resources
March brings spring and vacation excitement! March brings Bangladesh, Hellenic History Month (I'm working on this) and Shivrati (Hinduism) which have book displays in the library for classes. Check out the hyperlinks to resources as you read and there's more posted after this section.
March also brings a number of important dates to note including:
March 1st - Black Mental Health Day
March 7- Lent begins
March 8 - International Women's Day (UN) Click here for activities
March 21 - UN International Day for the Elimination of Racism (a great day to read about Nelson Mandela), World Down Syndrome Day (check out the "Take Action" page) AND Nowruz (First day of Spring in the Persian Calendar)
March 31 - International Transgender Day of Visibility
Transgender Day of Visibility
Transgender Day of Visibility
2020-trans-ally-guide-final.pdfA comprehensive guide to being a transgender ally.
Genderbread-Person-v4-WORKSHEET.pdfA great lesson for everyone to learn. Check out the site where it all began -for your own interest!
Bangladesh Heritage Month
Bangladesh Heritage Month
Bangladeshi Heritage Month 2021.pdfTeaching Deck to refer to and use with classes!
Promoting multi-lingual education - Mother Language Day explained. A news report about preserving languages.
It's February!
It's February!
February marks Black History Month, Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day and Family Day AND Pink Shirt Day on Feb 23rd.! It's a big month and I will continue to add resources for these celebrations. Also....(dramatic pause).....I'm pleased to announce that Forest of Reading is well under way, so please check out the resources under the Forest of Reading Tab above. As we are finishing up reports, how can I support you? A few ideas are: Lit Circles, We Video (provided students can bring in tech) and of course VEX robotics and STEAM programming!! More resources to follow this month :) Stay tuned!
Noteworthy Videos for Black History Month - please share and check back for more!
Noteworthy Videos for Black History Month - please share and check back for more!
Black history in Canada is an important topic for thought and discussion. Ask me about CBC resources for teachers on Curio!
YRDSB has created a series for Black History Month. Click to subscribe.
Proctor and Gamble has a series of topics on Bias and Stereotype. Click to subscribe.
Choice Boards, Activities and Virtual Tours for Black History Month
Choice Boards, Activities and Virtual Tours for Black History Month
Interractive Slide Deck
Interractive Slide Deck
This is a resource I created last year which includes a virtual library. Each book has text to world connections to the picture books and audio files to click on. This deck works well for Kindergarten to Intermediate students. Some resources are listed at the back of the slide deck.
OnThisSPot takes you on several virtual Black Hitory Settlement Tours. Click to open the website and then the tour offered around Southwestern Ontario.
Websites and Lessons to Pay Attention to...
Websites and Lessons to Pay Attention to...
I love this interactive site and I also encourage you to remember and refer to the resource developed by ETFO regarding 365 Ways to Celebrate Remarkable Black Canadians all year! It's also in CRRP topic in content of our staff D2L.
I love this interactive site and I also encourage you to remember and refer to the resource developed by ETFO regarding 365 Ways to Celebrate Remarkable Black Canadians all year! It's also in CRRP topic in content of our staff D2L.
Black Settlement in Canada, a resource for Social Studies. Click the top right hand corner to open the site.
Happy New Year! January News
Happy New Year! January News
As we step into a somewhat uncertain new year, here are a few learning supports to help you navigate our new staff D2L platform and with planning for online AND in person learning. I can help anywhere from being a helping hand in the classroom, to modelling something new and, of course..... sharing a good book (or two or three or four)! January not only marks Tamil Heritage Month (see resources in Culture & Heritage above), it also marks the beginning of our Forest of Reading program, a literacy initiative that supports the love of reading and Canadian authors - lot's more information to follow!! Let the new year begin!
Additionally, not sure how to reset student passwords? Instructions for teachers here and you must be at the school to do this! Remember that the default password is as follows (DOB is date of birth YYYYMMDD): K-3 DOBddsb and 4+ is Student#@Ddsb
There is also an independent student password reset here! Step by step instructions for students and caregivers and instructions for registering for password recovery.
A quick 6 minute tutorial on how to use our new Staff D2L site. I know you'll love it!
Copy of Week 1 Grade 3 For StaffA hyperdoc schedule can put everything - all in one place. Scheduling "Flex" Time and small group/breakout time is important and can easily be added to any schedule. Ask me for ideas!
Get your own copy Google Meet Random Link Generator to create Breakout Room Links for your class - it generates multiple links at once for your use. Want to know about the Breakout Group Chrome App? Check out this Tech In 2 tutorial!
TVO Learn Teaching Resources
TVO Learn Teaching Resources
TVO mPower
TVO mPower
Is a way to gamify math curriculum for students K-6. Students can have fun while learning. TVO also has a Digital Learning Outreach YouTube channel dedicated to supporting online learning. Check it out here!
View the website above for content from Educator's Resources, which has new content with a focus on Intermediates. View here for breakdown by grades 1-8. for Language, Science, Math and Social Studies. There is a direct link to TVO Learn in D2L, for convenience.
December is Hanukkah,Christmas and, YES...Winter Break!
December is Hanukkah,Christmas and, YES...Winter Break!
Facing History and Ourselves
Facing History and Ourselves
This month is considered #shinealight Week of Action from November 28 - December 6th which focusses on Antisemitism. Facing History and Ourselves has created two lessons which ask students to think critically about antisemetic ideas and messages. These lessons will help students learn how to confront hatred. These are activities for our older students.
Check these two lessons out:
Acts of Hate in Schools: Addressing Contemporary Antisemitism with your students
Contemporaty Antisemitism and Youth
This site also has professional development oportunities for teachers. Here is one about Facing Hate: Antisemitism and Ideas of Race
Thinking about including Inquiry into your day? Want to partner? Here is a great place to start!
Thinking about including Inquiry into your day? Want to partner? Here is a great place to start!
Using the Gale Database makes inquiry easy for all students, since there is a platform for early students, middle grade to older students. This video highlights a few accessibility tools, including how to search.
The Gale Database is an incredible tool for so many reasons....
The Gale Database is an incredible tool for so many reasons....
Use it to engage students and develop skills related to....
1) Non-Fiction self-selected reading
2) Inquiry and Research for social studies and science
3) To spark and facilitate questionning skills
4) Using apropriate and authentic resources
5) Citation, paraphrasing and using own words to commuicate their understanding
Some of you may be familiar to Kids Infobits? Gale is the same, but I am finding it much more user friendly with greater accessiblility. Ask me for more information and please feel free to invite me to help with your class Inquiry and Research! The best days to book me are in the afternoons on Day 3 and 4! See you soon!
November is Diwali and Remembrance Day
November is Diwali and Remembrance Day
Happy Diwali - November 4th! Picture Books are in the library as well as the many resources found in Epic and on Sora in the DDSB My Library.
Google Earth Stories are a wonderful tool to explore the world with. Click on the picture link and fly to destinations around the globe celebrating Diwali. Read stories of people and places with Google Earth!
Veterans Affairs Canada has put together multiple resources for teachers with lesson plans. These resource are suitable for grades K-8 which will provide learning experiences about Remembrance Day and why we remember.
For older students, the Facing History and Ourselves site is a great resource with many lesson plan ideas and conversation starters. This site has a very good way of dealing with the Holocaust, which is especially helpful for teaching and learning.
Indigenous Remembrance Day
Indigenous Remembrance Day
Consider using this Sway (link in picture) to discuss Indigenous Remembrance Day on November 8th. Created by DDSB Indigenous Education, this presentation will provoke discussion in your classroom. A very valuable and timely resource.
Observing a diversified and equitable Remembrance Day is important for our students. Feel free to use this slide deck to help you with your planning. This slide deck includes a number of videos and links which include Japanese, Chinese, Sikh, Black Canadian Veterans as well as Indigenous Veterans. Links include their stories, virtual trips to the National War Memorial and Museum as well as CBC Kids links. Feel free to ask for help with this from the LLC!
October is Islamic & Hispanic Heritage Month
October is Islamic & Hispanic Heritage Month
1001 Inventions is a super site that is filled with high interest reading about Muslim Civilization and it's enduring legacy. A wonderful site that makes deep connections to STEAM education.
Muslim Heroes and Inventors is a youtube channel dedicated to showcasing the innovative and courageous people who are Muslim. Many quick and educational videos are at the tips of your fingertips. Students will enjoy learning about these awesome people!
Muslim Educator's Network of Durham has provided educators many resources through their website. This is a valuable resource for equity teachers as PD and for student activities.
Explore the world using Google Earth. Visit Mecca using this google earth link. This is one of many sites which can be visited virtually for Islamic Heritage Month.
Building an inclusive and caring community through Critical Literacy
Building an inclusive and caring community through Critical Literacy
Critical Literacy Flow Chart in the Library
Critical Literacy Flow Chart in the Library
Come check it out! The flow chart prompts students to deconstruct and create meaning when reading. It's magnetized, so it's certainly sharable. Check out the Teacher QR codes or ask me to find out more, especially the "Critical Thinking Cheat Sheet," a colour coded pdf of student prompts sorted into the 5Ws!
Terry Fox Run Teacher Resources!
Terry Fox Run Teacher Resources!
Click on the picture to access the interactive library in presentation mode!
Terry Fox Run Virtual Library
Terry Fox Run Virtual Library
A great classroom resource to support teachers during the Terry Fox Run! Check out the Cube for Teachers Site for amazing resources - a very cool community, especially for virtual learners! Also here is a shared deck used last year with staff that has lessons and activities and more!
Click here (or on the picture) to access Kid's Corner activities for teaching and learning about Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope.
Don't forget to come and Check out books about Terry Fox to read aloud and some with guided groups!
Indigenous Resources - see links in posts, especially for Treaty Week/Orange Shirt Day!
Indigenous Resources - see links in posts, especially for Treaty Week/Orange Shirt Day!
Orange Shirt Day is September 30th. We are registered for NCTR's (National Center for Truth and Reconciliation) that has wonderful teaching resources AND a Virtual Event for that day as well as every day for Treaties Week Sept 27th - Oct 1st. There are some very good lesson plans from BCTF here that connect to picture books. Another wonderful resource to use throughout the year is Facing History and Ourselves who has put out a great resource with lesson plans here.
Truth and Reconciliation Discussion Guide provided by Scholastic is a board approved guide for parents and teachers. It has lessons, discussions and links that are a wonderful support for Reconciliation Teachings.
Truth and Reconciliation Discussion Guide provided by Scholastic is a board approved guide for parents and teachers. It has lessons, discussions and links that are a wonderful support for Reconciliation Teachings.
The Indigenous Perspectives Guide supports teachers K-12. It is literally a guide to support Social Studies and History that includes easy to use teacher resources and student blackline masters. Feel free to ask me about using this!
The Anishinabek Nation has wonderful resources for our younger students regarding Treaties Week. Click here to get videos and discussion questions around Wampum Belts and more. Pairs with the book "Alex and his Wampum Belt" found in the library.
CBC Kids has wonderful resources for Orange Shirt Day for our younger students! Check out this link here.
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
Resources, especially for younger students.
Phyllis's Story
Phyllis's Story
Hear from Phylis herself. Resources and videos.
Ask Me About... Book Carousels
Ask Me About... Book Carousels
Book Talks and carousels get students motivated to read, and interested to read more when they have choice. This is a sample of an Intermediate carousel. Book talks and carousels can be tailored to any grade on multiple formats, including just coming into the library!
Virtual Field Trips - Learning just a click away!
Virtual Field Trips - Learning just a click away!
Take a walk around from your couch! Click on the images. No logins required!
Visit museums from around the world without the crowds.
Visit Yellowstone Park, a natural wonder of hotsprings and geysers!
Walk around the San Diego Zoo and see the animals.
Visit Mars and other space places. Learn direct from Nasa!
Visit a farm! Learn about where your food comes from. Sorry you can't pet the cows...
Tour the National Aquarium! ! If you look carefully, you can find live exhibits. Have fun exploring!
Watch the video to preview Google Earth. Travel around the world in just seconds.
Google Earth Voyager is an extension of Google Earth. Let he learning stories and quizzes guide you.
Reading, games and fun facts about the world.
Read about the world and learn at your reading level.
Got questions? Get them answered here!
Go Noodle
Go Noodle
Get up, move and sing with the Go Noodle cast. Have fun with the whole family!
Do Yoga
Do Yoga
Yoga classes with Cosmic Yoga, a youtube sensation. There are lots of yoga classes online besides this channel.
Move Your Fingers
Move Your Fingers
Great for students who want to up their keyboarding game & access other learning resources from BBC Learning.
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