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Initiatives at Bairdmore School
Report on Curriculum Initiatives for Bairdmore School
The Pembina Trails School Division has invited Bairdmore School along with a number of other schools in our school division to be part of the three initiatives mentioned below.
Little Free Library Movement
I’m sure some of you have heard about the Little Free Library Movement. If not, here is part of the description from the Winnipeg Public Library webpage:
“The Little Free Library movement seeks to build community and promote the love of reading by encouraging free book exchanges. The premise of "take a book, return a book" with small book shelters has grown to well over 10,000 book exchanges worldwide - including several in Winnipeg”.
It all started when Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin built a model schoolhouse and filled it with books as a tribute to his mother back in 2009. When Rick Brooks from the University of Wisconsin Madison saw his project he contacted Todd and together they saw it as an opportunity to work together and create the Little Free Library movement.
The Mission of the program is to:
1. To promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide.
2. To build a sense of community as we share skills, creativity, and wisdom across the generations.
I’m very excited to share that PTSD applied and received a grant for The Little Free Library Program and a number of PTSD schools have been chosen to be the part of this project. We’ve only had one meeting BUT very excited to be part of the Little Free Library movement.
This is a community based project so it’s VITAL to get staff and community input with it. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about this.
Here are some links to information about the Little Free Library Movement:
http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/littlefreelibraries.asp
Pinterest Board:
https://www.pinterest.com/bairdtl/little-free-library-movement/
Makerspace Movement
What is the Makerspace Movement?
The definition from the Winnipeg Public Library webpage is this:
The basic definition of a Makerspace (also known as a Hackerspace, Hack Lab, or Fab Lab) is a community-operated workspace where people with common interests, often in computers, technology, science, digital art or electronic art, can meet, socialise and/or collaborate. In simpler terms, a makerspace is a place for ANYONE to come and learn how to use new types of technology, or old types of technology in new ways!
However, I must point out that it doesn’t necessarily need to involve technology and many highly creative and engaging makerspace activities can be can be low tech activities. As Gemma pointed out in our April newsletter “Our 21st century skills of creativity and innovation and our work around creating a Maker Space as part of our school library/Learning Commons come together in many ways at Bairdmore including lunch time clubs. Lunch time activities engage students in creating, collaborating and problem solving with knitting, Lego building, chess playing, team games and problem solving in information technology. In all these opportunities teachers involve student leaders who share their skills and knowledge with participants to challenge and engage students. We are proud of our students who get involved and develop their talents in this way and thank our teachers for offering these creative opportunities”.
We are extremely fortunate to be part of a group of schools that have received funding from our PTSD so that me may provide our students with additional opportunities to promote their creativity, collaboration, and increasing their engagement in a makerspace environment.
Quality Education Categorical Grant – Makerspace Development
Funds have been approved to support the development of Makerspace Program in your school.
This year Bairdmore will have access to $3,000 for equipment, materials, supplies and books to create your Makerspace.
Here are some links to information about Makerspaces:
Wpg. Public Library – What is a Makerspace?
http://wpl-teens.winnipeg.ca/views/blog.cfm?tag=%20Makerspace
Slideshare about Makerspaces (Heather Eby suggested this resource)
http://www.slideshare.net/DianaRendina/makerspaces-and-libraries-how-to-bring-some-steam-into-your-program
Makerkids:
Make Magazine: https://makezine.com/make-44/
Pinterest Board:
https://www.pinterest.com/bairdtl/makerspace-ideas/
Quality Education Categorical Grant – Mother Tongue/Dual Language Library Development
Funds have been approved to support the development of your Mother Tongue/Dual Language collection within our library. This year Bairdmore will have access to $2,000 for books to support your EAL learners.
We need to consider your Bairdmore’s EAL population when ordering these books. It is an expectation that these books will be available for inter-library loans (ILL) as various schools receive new EAL students on an ongoing basis and our needs continue to change.
We hope this will support our EAL students and create a welcoming collection of books that meet their needs.