Back to School

The holidays are over, the kids are back to school - and for some, this means beginning year one, taking the first exciting steps into "big school", and wading a bit deeper into the refreshing waters of lifelong reading!

To help your child have the best chance of learning success at school, give them lots of opportunities to read aloud at home. Inspire your young reader to practice every day! Reading Rockets has put together some tips for parents of first-graders that offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader.

Try a new tip each week, and see what works best for your child.

Don’t leave home without it.	-	Bring along a book or magazine any time your child has to wait, such as at a doctor’s office. Always try to fit in reading!
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Once is not enough.	-	Encourage your child to re-read favorite books and poems. Re-reading helps kids read more quickly and accurately.
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Dig deeper into the story.	-	Ask your child questions about the story you've just read. Say something like, “Why do you think Clifford did that?”
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Take control of the television.	-	It’s difficult for reading to compete with TV and video games. Encourage reading as a free-time activity.
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Be patient.	-	When your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word, give him or her time to do so. Remind your child to look closely at the first letter or letters of the word.
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Pick books that are at the right level.	-	Help your child pick books that are not too difficult. The aim is to give your child lots of successful reading experiences.
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Play word games.	-	Have your child sound out the word as you change it from mat to fat to sat; from sat to sag to sap; and from sap to sip.
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I read to you, you read to me.	-	Take turns reading aloud at bedtime. Kids enjoy this special time with their parents.
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Gently correct your young reader.	-	When your child makes a mistake, gently point out the letters he or she overlooked or read incorrectly. Many beginning readers will guess wildly at a word based on its first letter.
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Talk, talk, talk!	-	Talk with your child every day about school and things going on around the house. Sprinkle some interesting words into the conversation, and build on words you’ve talked about in the past.
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Write, write, write!	-	Ask your child to help you write out the grocery list, a thank you note to Grandma, or to keep a journal of special things that happen at home. When writing, encourage your child to use the letter and sound patterns he or she is learning at school.

Visit www.ReadingRockets.org for more information on how you can launch a child into a bright future through reading.

Boredom Busting Ideas for Summer

Looking for ideas to keep the kids occupied these holidays?

Try these fun and simple craft ideas from across the galactic interweb:

"laser beam" obstacle course : streamers/string stuck across a corridor

(from Chicken Babies blog)

bubble wrap painting

(from Intello Kids blog - they also have a great idea for using squares of bubble wrap taped to the floor for hopscotch!)

coiled magazine paper glued to a balloon - when the glue has dried, pop the balloon!

(from Veetje blog)

photo bookmarks - have fun taking the photos before you even start on the bookmarks!

(from creativefamilymoments.com)

balloon and paper plate ping pong

(from Giggleberry Creations blog - they have lots of ideas for paper plate crafts)

paint bobby pins with nail polish - make sure they're completely dry before you wear them!
(from Pinterest)

pompoms - need we say more?
(from kraft croch blog)

Poetry Competiton for Under 12s

Alphabet Soup is a quarterly magazine for children aged 6 to 12, and is giving away a $20 book voucher in their current Summer Writing Competition.

Here's what you need to do:

* Write a poem no longer than 12 lines. Your poem should contain the word 'dragon.'

* Include a competition entry form. This may be printed from the website (see link below), photocopied (hard copies are available from the Busselton Library), or contact Alphabet Soup to have one emailed or posted to you.

* Your entry can be handwritten or typed. Make a copy of your entry as Alphabet Soup cannot return entries.

* Entries close 21 JANUARY 2012.

Visit http://www.alphabetsoup.net.au/ for information on current competitions for kids aged 12 and under.

To download a competition entry form (with T&Cs) click here.

A Midsummer Knight's Read at Busselton Library

The annual Summer Reading Club program will once again be taking place at the Busselton Library throughout the summer holidays.

This year the theme is A Midsummer Knight’s Read, exploring medieval history and classic fairy tales, as well as contemporary stories with familiar characters such as knights, princesses and dragons with a new twist. The program will promote reading as an enjoyable experience and encourage children to seek out new places to read, along with celebrating familiar reading spaces.

The Summer Reading Club is promoted primarily to children from 4 to 12 years of age, offering a variety of engaging creative writing activities, arts and crafts activities and games which encourage a love for books and reading as well as literacy and computer skills.

At the Busselton Library, Summer Reading Club activities run from Thursday 15 December, 2011 until Wednesday 25 January, 2012. Children and young people can register for free at our library and will receive a participation pack with library information and an activity booklet.

Last year the Summer Reading Club was a huge success with over 880 books being read by Busselton kids. This year, with the help of your family, it could be even bigger and better!

Research demonstrates that children who read for pleasure are the best readers and that families that read together provide the strongest model for future readers. The Summer Reading Club is an excellent program to support reading over the holidays across the community.

For more information contact the Busselton Library on the (08) 9754 1588 or email.

School Holiday Activities @ Busselton Library

School Holiday Activities @ The Busselton Public Libraries

School Holiday Fun

TREASURE MAPS
Learn how to make your own authentic treasure map
that would fool even Captain Jack Sparrow
and finish it off by finding some treasure of your own!

Busselton Library	Wednesday 13th July	2.00pm - 3.00pm
Dunsborough Library	Thursday 21st July	2.00pm - 3.00pm

DETECTIVE TRAINING
Ever wanted to solve mysteries and crack cases?
Come along and learn your BBI
(Busselton Bureau of Investigation)
Detective Certificate by completeing our detective training course.

Busselton Library	Wednesday 20th July	2.00pm - 3.00pm
Dunsborough Library	Thursday 14th July	2.00pm - 3.00pm

BOREDOM BUSTERS
Don't forget to come into the library to collect your 'Boredom Buster' activity pack - it's full of cool things to do at home. They're dynamite!

All activities suitable for primary school aged children.
All sessions are free.
Bookings essential as spaces are limited

Please contact:

Busselton Library	(08) 9754 1588	email
Dunsbourough Library	(08) 9756 7111	email