Norah Colvin

Live Love Laugh Learn … Create the possibilities

Category: Lower Primary education

  • The Glint of Gold  by Kate McGann and Patricia Ward — Review – #readilearn

    The Glint of Gold  by Kate McGann and Patricia Ward — Review – #readilearn

    Today it is my pleasure to review a beautiful new picture book The Glint of Gold, written by Kate McGann, illustrated by Patricia Ward and published by Little Pink Dog Books. This post is part of a Books on Tour promotion.

    About author Kate McGann

    Kate McGann is a writer living in Central Victoria with her partner and two children. She loves to write stories that explore relationships and wellbeing. She is a life-long fossicker of nature’s treasures and is endlessly inspired by the world around her. The Glint of Gold is her first picture book. Visit Kate at her website.

    About illustrator Patricia Ward

    Being an only child, Patricia spent much of her time living in her imagination, bringing it to life through drawing and illustration. She loves exploring colour and playing with positive and negative spaces. Her work is vibrant and whimsical, with an underlying sense of a narrative. Patricia believes every illustration should tell a story whether it is accompanied by text or not.

    You can follow Patricia on instagram and facebook or check out her website.

    About The Glint of Gold

    A picture book for ages 4 – 7 years

    It’s there every day if you look for it. The glint of gold. It’s in the white blossom of our plum tree against a blue sky. Or the sparkles Jack Frost leaves on the drive to school…..A heart-warming story to inspire awareness, gratitude and positive thinking.

    What I like about The Glint of Gold

    I was immediately captivated by the title and the cover image with the sense of wonder so evident on the young girl’s face. The opening page sets the tone for the book, reminding us of the ‘gold’ that exists in the everyday.

    Continue reading: The Glint of Gold  by Kate McGann and Patricia Ward — Review – readilearn

  • Ready-to-teach Christmas-themed Lessons and Activities for P-2 – #readilearn

    Ready-to-teach Christmas-themed Lessons and Activities for P-2 – #readilearn

    While Christmas might be still eight weeks away, for some of you, the school year will finish well before that, and I know many are already planning your Christmas and holiday-themed lessons and activities.

    Here at readilearn, we ensure that learning continues when the Christmas fun begins.

    Who celebrates Christmas?

    Before you begin Christmas-related activities, it is a good idea to conduct a survey to find out which children do and do not celebrate Christmas with their families. While you may already know this, the survey can be an interesting way to begin discussions of different cultural traditions celebrated by children in your class.

    These discussions should always be respectful and inclusive. It is essential for children, and all of us, to see that what we have in common is more important than any differences.

    How many school days until Christmas?

    This calendar helps to count down the last fifteen days of term and provides an opportunity for children to present information about their family’s traditions. The Countdown Calendar can be used to countdown to Christmas or, for inclusivity, to the holidays.

    Inclusive friendship trees

    Continue reading: Ready-to-teach Christmas-themed Lessons and Activities for P-2 – readilearn

  • Grandmas are Greater than Great by James Solheim – #readilearn

    Grandmas are Greater than Great by James Solheim – #readilearn

    How could I resist a picture book titled Grandmas are Greater than Great? I was captivated by Kaitlyn Sanchez’s interview with author James Solheim on her blog Math is Everywhere and knew immediately that I would have to buy this book for my granddaughter’s tenth birthday later in the year.

    When I was turning ten, my grandfather impressed on me how grown up I was becoming now that I had reached double figures. I’d never forgotten how important it had made me feel. When my grandson turned ten, I wrote him a letter telling him about the significant milestone and what my grandfather said to me. With his little sister’s tenth birthday fast approaching, I knew I had to do something similar for her, but not the same. Solheim’s book seemed just the thing, so I ordered it immediately. I wasn’t disappointed. (I wasn’t disappointed either when I received a free copy from the author, simply because I’d commented on Kaitlyn’s blog. How awesome is that!)

    About James Solheim

    James Solheim’s books circle the globe and travel through centuries.  They explore the wackiest foods on earth and tell the stories of history through our grandmas.

    Born in rural North Dakota in the U.S., he grew up mostly in Missouri.  As a child he wrote and illustrated his own books and looked for lost civilizations and dinosaur bones in his backyard.

    He met his eventual wife when he was assigned to sit by her at a spelling bee in eighth grade, with the result that he misspelled “paisley.”  She is now a scientist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  Their two children are imaginative, talented grownups—grown up compared to their dad, that is.

    Invite James to your school or organization to give one of his “Think Big!” presentations. These programs help kids set big goals and see the importance of books in reaching them.

    He’ll even do an online visit with your school or book group!

    About Grandmas are Greater than Great

    Grandmas Are Greater Than Great is a humorous, animated, and informative look at the lasting power of ancestors. Explore families, generations, and kid power in this heartfelt collaboration between James Solheim and bestselling illustrator Derek Desierto.

    Everyone has two grandmas, and every grandma has her own two grandmas. This cycle continues back through time and history.

    Traveling from generation to generation, this dynamic picture book offers young readers a bird’s-eye view of how daily life has changed over time. But despite all the differences, one thing has remained the same: a grandma’s love.

    James Solheim’s lively text and Derek Desierto’s exuberant illustrations capture the delights and challenges each daughter, mother, and grandma encountered through the centuries. This rich multigenerational story explores the idea that we are all the product of those who came before us, and it will be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Grandmas Are Greater Than Great includes basic information on exponential growth and a family tree.  It’s a gift of a book for all ages to read with their families, friends, or on their own.

    My Review

    Continue reading: Grandmas are Greater than Great by James Solheim – Readilearn

  • Once Upon a Whoops! — Teaching Ideas – #readilearn

    Once Upon a Whoops! — Teaching Ideas – #readilearn

    In this post I share some ideas for using Once Upon a Whoops! in the classroom.

    Once Upon a Whoops! is a collection of over 40 fractured fairy tales and ridiculous rhymes written and illustrated by Australian authors and illustrators and published by Share Your Story in 2021.

    The activities suggested in this post support teaching of the literature strand of the Australian Curriculum F-2. The list not comprehensive as there are too many stories to go into detail for each one. Instead, I provide some general ideas and reference just a few stories for each suggestion.

    Of course, in addition to these, the stories can be used as a stimulus in art and technology units if children make props and other objects to support retellings, puppet plays and performances. Many of the stories also provide opportunities for mathematical discussions.

    Once Upon a Whoops! is available from Amazon and other online bookstores.

    Please note: this book is now also available in Dyslexia font.

    Many of the stories have been recorded by the authors. The videos are available on YouTube by following this link.

    My stories Silverlocks and the Three Bears and The Three Alpha Pigs are also available on the readilearn YouTube channel. Click on the titles to follow the links.

    Once Upon a Whoops! — what’s in the book

    Continue reading: Once Upon a Whoops! — Teaching Ideas – readilearn

  • Australia Remembers Len Waters Boundless and Born to Fly by Catherine Bauer – #readilearn

    Australia Remembers Len Waters Boundless and Born to Fly by Catherine Bauer – #readilearn

    Today it is my pleasure to share with you the inspiring story of Kamilaroi man Len Waters Boundless and Born to Fly, the third in the Australia Remembers Series published by Big Sky Publishing. This post is part of a Books on Tour promotion.

    I previously shared information about the first in the Australia Remembers Series, Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and War Memorials written by Allison Paterson in this post.

    The second, Customs and Traditions of the Australian Defence Force was also written by Allison Paterson.

    About Catherine Bauer

    Catherine Bauer is the author of the 2019 Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Dreaming Soldiers, a moving story about the friendship of two boys from different cultures. Her picture book, Colourful Memories, was inspired by her father’s journey from post-World War II Germany to Australia in the 1950s. She has also written three children’s plays, all with Aboriginal themes.

    Catherine has worked as a news and political journalist and features writer for various newspapers and publications and has advised both government and the corporate sector on media management and public relations. She is now working with the State Theatre Company, South Australia.

    Her love of writing and storytelling began as an eight-year-old, when Catherine wrote and illustrated her first book about a mermaid. She aims for her stories to spark all or one of the following three reactions in readers: ‘that’s me’; ‘I wish that was me’ or ‘I’m glad that’s not me’.

    Catherine lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her three sones. She loves art, history, fitness, cats, chocolate and reading.

    About Australia Remembers

    Len Waters may have been born behind the gates of an Aboriginal reserve, but his big imagination and even bigger dreams took him soaring well beyond the reach of those who tried to confine him. Kamilaroi man Len Waters dreamed of taking to the skies. It was an unlikely dream at the time, but during WWII he beat the odds to become Australia’s first known Aboriginal fighter pilot.

    Rules and restrictions controlled much of Len’s early life. Born in the 1920s, Len had a basic education and life was lacking in luxury. But Len had a sharp mind. He had a boundless work ethic. Len also had big dreams and a family who supported them. Australia Remembers 3: Len Waters – Boundless and Born to Fly takes readers on Len Waters’ soaring journey from making his home-made model aeroplanes at his kitchen table, to flying RAAF fighter jets in the south west Pacific in World War II.

    Len was a history maker, a young man who didn’t let society’s prejudice, his culture or skin colour stand in his way. But when WWII was over, Len sadly discovered that his service and courage did not result in equality. Len once said that, out of his RAAF uniform, he simply ‘returned to being a black fellow’. Today, decades later, Len’s determination and achievements are recognised and honoured across Australia.

    Ages: 6 – 12 years

    Subject: RAAF, History

    Sample Pages

    Continue reading: Australia Remembers Len Waters Boundless and Born to Fly by Catherine Bauer – readilearn

  • New Books by Norah Colvin at Library For All – #readilearn

    New Books by Norah Colvin at Library For All – #readilearn

    This week I received a surprise in the post that I just had to share with you. I received printed copies of 8 beginner readers, all written by me, that have recently been added to the Library For All collection. One of them has even been translated into Tetum, an Austronesian language spoken on the island of Timor that is an official language of East Timor.

    While I knew the books were in production, I didn’t realise they were published, so receiving the package was a wonderful surprise. I am absolutely delighted to be able to support the work of Library For All by donating these stories to them. In addition to these eight, two other titles were published in 2019, and there are an additional four titles recently published for which I have not yet received printed copies.

    While the entire collection of digital books is available to download free from Library For All through a free Android app, the purchase of printed books from the collection helps to support the work of Library For All.

    I first introduced you to  the wonderful work of  Library For All in the post Library For All — A Force for Equality through Literacy. You are welcome to find out more by heading back to the post or exploring their website.

    Briefly, Library For All is an Australian not for profit organisation with a mission to “make knowledge accessible to all, equally” through a digital library of books that is available free to anyone anywhere in the world. The focus is on providing high quality, engaging, age appropriate and culturally relevant books to children in developing countries and remote areas.

    Printed copies are also available and catalogues of titles can be browsed in the shop.

    My titles can be found on my Amazon Author page.

    Continue reading: New Books by Norah Colvin at Library For All – readilearn

  • Introducing Belly Button Fluff by Dave Atze – #readilearn

    Introducing Belly Button Fluff by Dave Atze – #readilearn

    Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to Dave Atze and his hilariously delightful new picture book Belly Button Fluff which he both wrote and illustrated.  The book is published by Big Sky Publishing. This post is part of a Books On Tour promotion.

    About Dave Atze

    Dave Atze illustrates amazing books for kids that sell all over the world, including Cat Spies Mouse, the Max Booth series, the Nursery Crimes series and books about a kangaroo from Uluru! During his time as an illustrator, he has worked for some amazing clients. Some of which include Scholastic, Moose Toys, Zuru Toys, Natures Organics, Ford St Publishing, Redgum Book Club, Big Sky Publishing, EB Games and Silver Sun Pictures.

    When he’s not busy drawing up a storm you can find Dave spending time with his wife Ashleigh and daughter Ella, watching movies, running, renovating and taking photos out in the wild.

    About Belly Button Fluff

    A super-cute, icky adventure brimming with curiosity and fun.

    Scarlett Von Scruff is a little girl who loves to collect weird stuff. Now she’s discovered something fluffy, soft and a little bit smelly in Dad’s belly button and she wants to find more.

    No belly is safe as Scarlett goes on a fun-filled fluff gathering adventure.

    So, kick off your shoes and lay on the couch, let’s have a look in your tummy pouch.

    What I like about Belly Button Fluff

    Continue reading: Introducing Belly Button Fluff by Dave Atze – readilearn

  • Linking Science and Literacy with Picture Books – #readilearn

    Linking Science and Literacy with Picture Books – #readilearn

    Last month, I was invited by the Science Teachers Association of Queensland (STAQ) to present a talk about using picture books in science lessons as part of their Growing Science webinars in the lead up to Science Week. What a great opportunity — picture books and science. What’s to not like? Picture books are one of the best ways I know of turning young children onto two of my favourite things — reading and learning.

    You can find out more about the webinar series and access recordings and free resources on the STAQ website here.

    Below is a brief version of the article I wrote as the basis of my presentation.

    You can access the entire article in the zip folder Using Picture Books in Science Lessons, which also includes other handouts I provided to support my talk.

    You can listen to the talk via this link or watch it below.

    Linking science and literacy

    Language is as important to the science curriculum as it is to the English curriculum. Science is another context in which language is used and must be learned.

    In this article I’m going to show you some ways of including picture books in your science lessons.

    Many of the skills required by science are also literacy skills; skills such as:

     

    Continue reading: Linking Science and Literacy with Picture Books – readilearn

  • The Winners! — Environment Award for Children’s Lit, 2021 – #readilearn

    The Winners! — Environment Award for Children’s Lit, 2021 – #readilearn

    The winners of 2021 ENVIRONMENT AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE have been announced!

    Recently, I shared with you the shortlist for the Environment Award for Children’s Literature. Today it is my pleasure to let you know the winners in each of the three categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Picture Fiction.

    Over to the Wilderness Society for their announcement:

    The winners for this year’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature have been announced by the Wilderness Society during Nature Book Week, which runs between 6 – 12 September.

    Now in its 27th year, the Wilderness Society shortlists the best children’s nature books before a panel of judges crowns a winner for three categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Picture Fiction. The award showcases and celebrates some of the best writers and illustrators working in children’s literature.

    Continue reading: The Winners! — Environment Award for Children’s Lit, 2021 – readilearn

  • The Importance of the Early Years – #readilearn

    The Importance of the Early Years – #readilearn

    Note: This article was first written for and published at the Carrot Ranch Literary Community as part of a series supporting parents with children learning at home. The focus of the article is early childhood development and contains information and ideas that teachers and schools may find suitable for sharing with parents.

    The early years are crucial to child development and what happens in those years can be used to predict, to some extent, what will happen in that’s child’s future.

    I had already intended sharing videos about early childhood development in this post, and still will. But when my sister told me about this Ted Talk by Molly Wright, a pretty amazing 7-year-old, I just knew I had to share it first. She does a great job of summing up the importance of the early years. I’m not going to summarise her talk for you as it’s only 7 ½ minutes long and I’m sure you will enjoy it more coming from Molly.

    For me, the only thing she leaves out that I wish she had included is reading stories. Although it’s probably understood, I would like to have heard it mentioned.

    Now back to my original plan of sharing two Ted Talks.

    (Tip: I understand that watching talks can be time consuming. I find I can often follow them just as well, or better, when I watch them at increased speed. In case you don’t know, to do this is easy. Click on the Settings cogwheel, select Playback speed and choose the speed that suits you. I often try 1.75 first and adjust down if necessary.)

    The first talk is Lessons from the longest study on human development by Helen Pearson.

    Continue reading: The Importance of the Early Years – readilearn