Reading Recommendations

As we lead into the summer break we ask ourselves that big daunting question... 

What should I read next!?

In Māhutonga Matariki we are here to help you out! We have put together our recommendations from books that we've read and enjoyed. 

Whole Literacy & Reading Comprehension

Our rich and varied literacy programme is humming along. We want to be a community of readers, authors and critical thinkers. We are.

We are having some great conversations about reading comprehension. We know there are a range of strategies we can call upon before, during and after reading.

We have been working in small groups to unpack and practice using these strategies.

In their independent time, one group have been completing role cards that encourage deeper thinking around their personal reading.

Another group have been expanding their minds with wonderings about the strange and mysterious story The Watertower by Gary Crew. Our library has some fantastic, thought-provoking picture books. But, you know that already because John regularly shouts it from the rooftops!

Once a Panther by Victor Rodger, from the School Journal Story Library has been the subject of analysis by another group. The story of the Polynesian Panthers has students growing more curious about New Zealand's history and the lessons we might learn from it.

Our explanation writing muscle has been getting a work out explaining, among other things, the wonders of our Arts Celebration. Now we're aggressively sharpening up our pencils in preparation for persuasive writing - get ready to hear an argument or two!

Andy Griffiths' talk

This morning we walked down to Seatoun School to listen to Andy Griffiths talk to us about writing. There were students from other schools there too: Kahurangi School, Scots College, Holy Cross and Seatoun School.

He was really funny!

"I liked where he told how he writes the books and gets ideas. Like when he was talking about the treehouse and the 13th floor and he just wondered about making it bigger and keep going up" - Steph.
He really knew what kids liked and he told us really funny stories about his books" - Nick.
I like how he usually used the opposite of things to make it more interesting for the reader so he does what you least expect"  - Rico.
"I liked that's he really funny and has lots of jokes and has lots of humour, like that joke about the mother throwing the fridge at the kid, and he actually signed all our books" - Raiha.
"He was really silly and hilarious" - Josie.
"I liked the brown blob story... "- Lucas.
"I really liked the spy cow and what could happen to you when you were in the shower. I also liked when he was talking about Terry and Andyland" - Hana.

At the end Andy took the time to sign one book each for anyone who wanted his autograph. Thanks Andy!

When we got back we drew our own treehouses. There were some really creative drawings and ideas of what we would have in our treehouses if we could have anything at all... Later we wrote about what one level of our treehouse would look like.

If you learned here- Favourite books

We have been collaborating with schools across the world in a project called, "if you learned here". Find out about what we love to read... 

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Created with Padlet

Created with Padlet

Created with Padlet

Created with Padlet