General Information Project Overview Goals Curriculum Connections Technology Education Outcomes Resource Connections Evaluation

  General Information

Reading a wide variety of children's literature is an integral part of any whole language classroom. Students are encouraged to read as much as possible. During this reading, students come to develop favorite authors, series, and books. This project would have students create a list of their favorite authors, series, and books. They would request that other schools participate by completing a survey form and e-mailing it to us. The "Top 10" series, authors, & books would then be compiled and copies e-mailed to participating schools. As well, the list would be posted on our home page. An extension would involve students searching the web for sites on these authors, books, & series and creating links to them from the results on the web page.

  Goals

1. Students will read from a wide variety of children's literature.
2. Students will recognize the style of various authors and series.
3. Students will identify favorite books, authors, & series.
4. Students will give reasons for personal preferences.
5. Students will develop computer literacy skills, e.g. keyboarding, e-mailing, search engines

  Curriculum Connections

Language Arts:

Reading a wide variety of children's literature is the focus of the Primary Language Arts Program. This project will encourage children to read widely and analyze books to determine their favorites. It will help the students to see that other students share their favorites and encourage them to read others on the "top ten" list to see if they agree with the recommendations. It will develop their reading and writing skills, as well as introduce them to the Internet as a means of communication and source of information.

  Technology Education Outcomes

The Technology Education learning outcomes that are most applicable to this project are in the primary level communication domain. They are:

 demonstrate knowledge of the basic communications principles of encoding/decoding,
   transmitting/receiving, storing/retrieving
 demonstrate knowledge of the nature and characteristics of a variety of media and
   communications systems
 identify and investigate real life communication problem solutions and opportunities
 identify ways in which information and communications technologies are used
 identify advantages and disadvantages of selected communications technologies
 develop a vocabulary of terminology and language, related to selected
   communications technologies.
 use communications technology as a tool for a variety of purposes
 use communication tools to access, evaluate and select appropriate information, and
   to create, modify and disseminuate information

  Resource Connections

Currently, St. Theresa's has access to the Internet through one computer. Internet access across a network in our resource centre would greatly faciliate this project. Students would make use of the print resources found in our resource centre as well as in the public library. They would also use a scanner to scan in covers and pictures from the "top ten" list.

  Evaluation

 Students would develop an appreciation for various genres of children's literature.
 Students would be able to identify the style of various authors, series, & books.
 Students would be able to explain the characteristics of quality books.
 Students will read a wide variety of children's literature.
 Students will develop computer literacy skills.

This project will allow students to develop a greater appreciation for children's literature. By comparing and contrasting books to decide upon what constitutes a good book, students will become critical readers. They will be able to share their top choices with other students and see that other Grade 2 students are reading and enjoying the same types of books that they are.