New Resources

Stolen Girl – Trina Saffioti & Norma MacDonald

Click here for stolen generation  education kit

From the early 1900s through to the late 1960s it was Government policy in Australia to remove Aboriginal Children from their families.  These children are known today as the stolen generation.  The children were taken to government, religious or welfare institutions all over Australia – sadly many children never saw their families again. Over 100,000 aboriginal children were separated from their families.  In 2008 in the spirit of reconciliation, Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, apologised on behalf of the Australian Government to the people of the stolen generation and their families.  A beautiful and thought provoking book that has to be read.

 

Rethinking Play & Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education

 Click here for a fantastic Early Childhood Play Site

Bringing together a collection of chapters from international experts in the field of early childhood education, this book seeks to explore how play in the early years is valued as a means of learning.  With international appeal and relevance, this book will be of interest to students taking undergraduate, masters and doctoral courses in early childhood education, childhood and education studies as well as academic teachers and researchers, policy makers and international agencies working with young children.  A great resource for our Early Childhood students.

 

 

Matariki

 

Matariki – Maori New Year   

In a physical sense, Matariki is a cluster of seven stars within the constellation Taurus (in fact  Matariki is actually made up of several hundred stars but only seven of them can be seen with the naked eye).  The word Matariki means ‘little eyes’ or ‘eyes of gold’.Towards the end of May, the seven stars sink below the horizon and disappear from New Zealand's night sky – but not for long.  Keep a close eye on the sky in June, you may be lucky enough to see Matariki return.

New Resources

The Very Bad Book – Andy Griffiths

Click here to see Andy Griffiths fantastic website

The inside cover of this book says it all…

This book contains nothing but very bad stories, very bad drawings, very bad poems, very bad cartoons, and very bad riddles about very bad characters doing very bad things. 

It is a very bad book!

(But an hilarious one)! Kids will love it!

 

Sticks and Stones – Jack Zipes

Click here to see New Zealand's Literature Website

This book will not only make you think about Children’s Literature, it may also offer an alternative view point for you to ponder.

From Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter, Jack Zipes raises the stakes for everyone who cares about children's literature and culture

An intelligent and thought-provoking must read

NEW RESOURCES

All my friends are dead – By Avery Monsen & Jory John

Click here to have a look

 

All my friends are dead is probably one of the funniest and saddest books you will read this year….for those of you with a sense of humour that is.  A simple book with amusing illustrations, it will make you smile at the turn of each page.  Definitely worth a read today!

 

 

 

Inside Stories – A History of the New Zealand Housewife 1890-1975     By Frances Walsh

Click here for The ever reliable Edmonds site

A beautifully written and illustrated book that will be perfect on the coffee table or in your own kitchen.  A wonderful look back at the cooking, cleaning, decorating, sewing, mothering and of course playing the ‘perfect wife’, the tales of being a New Zealand housewife from 1890 thru 1975.  Inside Stories delves into the lives of housewives and will bring back memories of watching our mothers and grandmothers in their kitchens.

Anzac Day Display & Resources

Excerpt from ’In Flanders Fields’  By Norman Jorgensen & Brian Harrison-Lever
From his shell hole a sniper lines the cross on his sights with the middle of the soldiers chest.  He takes the slack from the trigger, but waits.  The young soldier walks on, the white scarf hanging limply from the bayonet.  Another sniper brings his sights onto the young mans face.  The eyes and nose are red from the cold and the lingering gas of a recent attack.  A machine-gunner pulls back the bolt from the side of his gun.  But still the young soldier walks slowly forward, his boots crunching in the iced black mud of the frozen battlefield.  Finally he reaches the wire.  He puts down his rifle, and gently frees the bird.  Raising the bird above his head, he lets it go.  It flies towards the enemy lines, but crashes to the ground after a few meters, its wings beating feebly.  The soldier walks forward and gently picks up the bird.  He stands holding it tenderly in both hands, warming it against the chill.  He is a solitary figure in the huge, desolate battle ground.  More rifles are aimed at him.  After a long time he again lifts up the bird and lets it go.  This time it flies up and away.  He whispers softly, ‘Merry Christmas, little bird’.  A sniper whispers to himself, ‘Gluckliche Weihnact, Digger!’ and lowers his rifle.  The young soldier turns back to his own lines and, forgetting his rifle and scarf, walks towards his trench.
And as he walks away, from the trenches behind him he can hear hoarse, lonely voices beginning to sing: Stille nacht, heilige nacht….Then, as he gets closer to his own trench, he hears the carol continue: all is calm, all is bright,  Round yon virgin, mother and child, Holy Infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep….

NEW RESOURCES

Quaky Cat – By Diana Noonan & Gavin Bishop

Click here to see Gavin's fantastic website

Excerpt from ‘Quaky Cat’

Walking in the morning – it is almost half-past four – the windows rattle wildly! Yes! The wolf is at the door! My gliding and colliding books leap freely into space, and all the things that seemed secure are quickly changing place. As our foundations tremble and the city starts to groan, we feel the flick of board and brick……the importance of stone.  The earth reminds us what we are – mere fleas that crawl its hide …It battles – rattles chattels as our noble buildings slide.  We went to bed as masters, but we feel the city sprawl and leap awake, remembering how far we have to fall – Margaret Mahy

 

Teaching Primary School Mathematics and Statistics: Evidence-based practice – By Robin Averill & Roger Harvey

Click here to visit the NZCER website

A great reference book you will ever need for teaching primary school mathematics and statistics. Full of excellent classroom practices relevant to The New Zealand Curriculum and national standards for Maths.  Excellent examples of investigative learning experiences, key research and practice-based ideas about teaching learning and assessment.  The writers are among New Zealand's leading researchers and teacher educators.  An excellent resource for teachers and up and coming teachers.

DONOVAN PRIMARY VISIT WITH KYLE MEWBURN AT THE CAMPUS

Kyle entertains the kids with his knowledge