Ontario Library Association Superconference 2005
Thursday February 3, 2005
Session: 126
9:00 am - 10:15 am
Collections and Resources
HOW TO UNDERSTAND MANGA AND ANIME
Christopher Butcher, Sales Associate, The Beguiling.
Increase your cultural awareness while listening to experts discuss the history of "Manga and Anime", Japanese comic books and cartoons, in order to provide a cultural context for the work. Gain helpful ordering advice and information on how to help you shelf these types of materials in your library.
My $0.02: This was very educational. Chris knows his stuff. The Beguiling is the vendor we buy most of our school’s graphic novels / mangas.
Session: 222
10:35 am to 11:50 am
Advocacy and Marketing
SHARING SUCCESS STORIES: FROM ADVOCACY TO ACTION VIA EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (EBP)
Deborah Braithwaite, Teacher-Librarian, Oakridge Junior P.S.; Diana Maliszewski, Teacher-Librarian, Agnes Macphail P.S., Toronto DSB; Sandi Zwaan, School Library Consultant.
What is EBP? Find out in this session! Teacher-Librarians will be empowered with strategies for documenting and sharing their success stories through Evidence Based Practice. Join us to learn how EBP can transform advocacy efforts into action. Discover how to provide the school community with irrefutable evidence that your school library program improves student achievement.
Convenor: Roberta Henley, OSLA President, Grand Erie District School Board.
My $0.02: I can’t comment without bias on this one, as it was my session. There seemed to be a positive buzz following the session and Deborah and I got invited to participate in a “think tank” in Pittsburg!
Session: 420
3:45 pm - 5:00 pm
Reading and Literacy
COMBINING LITERATURE CIRCLES WITH BLUE SPRUCE AND GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
Cynthia Sneath, Teacher-Librarian, Westminster P.S.; Jennifer Wright, Grade 3 Teacher, York Region DSB.
Want a 'how-to' guide for organizing Literature Circles for the primary grades? Come to this workshop. Participants will be provided with detailed information about literature circles and how to adapt them in a primary setting. The integration of graphic organizers and the thematic groupings of Blue Spruce titles will also be explored.
Convenor: Barb Ross, Halton District School Board
My $0.02: This was okay, but the least satisfying of the sessions I attended, partly because they read everything that was on their Powerpoint and were thrown by the size of their audience.
5:15 p.m.
THE ONTARIO SCHOOL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
SCHOOL LIBRARY AWARDS PRESENTATION
the Teacher-Librarian of the Year Award
the Distinguished Administrator of the Year Award
the Award for Exceptional Achievement
Generously sponsored by Saunders Book Company
My $0.02: Wayne’s speech (and mine) were the best of the lot. The audience was a little rowdy (the late hour and alcohol may have had something to do with it). Summaries will appear in an upcoming magazine.
Friday February 4, 2005
8:00 am
OLA's FOREST OF READING™
Sponsored by National Book Service
BLUE SPRUCE AWARD™ 2004
Stanley's Party
by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Bill Slavin
SILVER BIRCH AWARDS™ 2004
Fiction:
Newton and the Giant by Michael McGowan
Non-Fiction:
Survivors! True Death-Defying Escapes by Larry Verstraete
RED MAPLE AWARD™ 2004
Hit and Run by Norah McClintock
WHITE PINE AWARD™ 2004
The First Stone by Don Aker
GOLDEN OAK AWARD™ 2004
Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis
See Session 921 on THE EVERGREEN AWARD™, coming in 2005 to the Forest.
My $0.02: It was nice to hear the authors talk about their experiences writing and being part of the OLA Forest of Reading. They are all quite well-spoken.
Session: 511
9:00 am - 10:15 am
Curriculum and Learning
Highlight
BOOSTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT: ELEMENTARY
Dr. David Loertscher, Professor, School Library and Information Science, San Jose State University.
The books are shelved; the computers work; the discipline is effective - but there is no impact on achievement from this library. Hardly a surprise. But what does make a difference? Models, activities, measuring techniques, ideas, and program focuses will be explored to bring libraries into the center of learning. This session will concentrate on ideas in elementary school libraries.
Convenor: Sandi Zwaan, School Library Consultant.
My $0.02: This speaker is incredible; his work was the basis for the EVP session Deborah and I did. He inspires people to develop higher level thinking and “ban the bird unit” and merely regurgitation of information. I will be submitting some of our Partners units for his project.
10:35
All-Conference Plenary Session
Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis was recently named Maclean's Canadian of the Year and awarded the Pearson Peace Medal for his outstanding achievements in the field of international service and understanding. He holds 20 honourary degrees from Canadian universities and in 2003, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada's highest honour for lifetime achievement.
From 1984 through 1988, Stephen Lewis was Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, where he chaired such ground breaking committees as the first International Conference on Climate Change. From 1995 to 1999, Mr. Lewis was Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and in 1997, he was appointed by the Organization of African Unity to a panel to investigate the genocide in Rwanda. His recent work at UNICEF is merely an extension of a life-long dedication to social causes and improving the human condition. In 2001, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Stephen Lewis as his Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.
In the light of the recent tsunami disaster, his observations on the role of Canadians and libraries in world issues could not be more timely.
My $0.02: Stephen Lewis is funny but also very passionate in his politics and in his position on helping Africa with the AIDS crisis.
Session: 709
2:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Curriculum and Learning
DIVERSITY AS A CURRICULUM RESOURCE
Patricia Chow, Teacher, Thornwood P.S., Padma Sastri, Teacher-Librarian, Joseph Pileggi, Teacher, Floradale P.S.; Peel DSB.
Peel elementary teachers collaborated on a project with York University (Sandra Schecter and Jim Cummins - OISE/UT) to develop multilingual and multicultural approaches to promoting reading and writing with pupils of ESL backgrounds. Find out how reading and writing dual language books build on language and cultural knowledge that students bring to school, and support all students' development of global awareness and appreciation for each other. Enjoy dual language book-talks highlighting curriculum connections and student created dual language books.
My $0.02: This was very well presented and gave huge, copious amounts of handouts and ideas for benefiting all students, especially ESL students. You should see the list of books to get!
Saturday, February 5, 2005
Session: 902
9:00 am - 10:15 am
Technology ; The Internet
SPECIAL SOFTWARE FOR SPECIAL STUDENTS: IMPROVING INFORMATION LITERACY THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Marilyn Legault, Information Technology Consultant, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB.
Learn how this Ministry-licensed software can be a tool for special needs (and mainstream) students as they access, process and communicate information. Find out how it can assist students with the writing process, as well. Software titles demonstrated include: Clicker4, Co:Writer, Write:Outloud, Smart Ideas and Dragon Naturally Speaking. Participants will take away various print resources and may borrow a CD-ROM containing the software discussed.
Convenor: Lisa Radha Weaver, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.
My $0.02: This fits so well with our upcoming Language Lab that Renee will be working with. Lots of great handouts and software shared.
Session: 1019
10:35 am - 11:50 am
Curriculum and Learning
ROLE PLAYING GAMES IN THE LIBRARY
James Maliszewski, Freelance writer; Diana Maliszewski, Teacher-Librarian, Toronto DSB.
RPGs, otherwise known as role-playing games, made headlines in the 1970's and 1980's. James Maliszewski, a freelance writer working in the RPG industry, discovered this literacy-rich hobby through his public library many years ago. He will explore the history and evolution of role-playing games from its "D&D" origins. His wife, Diana Maliszewski, a teacher-librarian, will explain how carrying these books can encourage boys and reluctant readers. Finally, the Maliszewski's will present the latest and greatest the RPG publishing industry has to offer potential "games" of today.
My $0.02: Once again, I can’t comment too much on this as it was my own session. My husband did an excellent job! ;-)
12:15
ALL-CONFERENCE GALA CLOSING LUNCHEON
Cathy Jones
Gemini award-winning actor and writer and founding member of the award-winning comedy troupe CODCO, Cathy Jones is Canada's leading lady in character-driven comedy. Starring in the 12th season of the hit comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes Cathy reveals her remarkable ability to portray complex and difficult characters including the sassy suffragette Babe Bennett and the wise Mrs. Enid with remarkable ease. Over the years, Cathy has had several successful ventures; including her much admired one-woman shows, Wedding in Texas and most recently Me, Dad and The Hundred Boyfriends. In addition to winning numerous Gemini Awards, Cathy Jones has earned three Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Writing in a Comedy Series for her work on This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
My $0.02: To be honest, I didn’t stay for the speaker. The lunch was a fabulous, wedding-style buffet!
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