Tag: Literacy

Let’s get ready to read

If you’re looking for a great reading resource for your Pre-primary child – look no further than the Reading Ready mini packs. This little bundle is perfect for Pre-primary students to build their skills and confidence as they learn to read independently.

Each kit has a selection of books for reading practice, as well as specially designed games which will build on the reading skills your children are learning at school. There is a handy guide for parents as well.

Look for the Reading Ready mini packs in the red tubs at all four Joondalup Libraries.

This project has been supported by funding provided by the State Government of Western Australia through the State Library’s Better Beginnings program.

Thank you also to the Dyslexia SPELD Foundation of WA for their assistance in developing the packs.

Let’s Get Reading Ready!

Joondalup Libraries is pleased to announce a brand-new literacy initiative, developed to help our youngest readers on their reading journey.

Reading Ready is a borrowable resource developed to help parents of Kindy and Pre-Primary children support their child as they learn to read independently. The packs were developed in consultation with literacy experts from the Dyslexia-SPELD foundation and contain a mix of resources for parents to use to supplement their child’s learning at home, with an element of fun. The packs contain:

  • An information booklet on how children learn and how to support them as they learn
  • Four decodable books
  • A rhyming picture book
  • A phonics-based game
  • A sound matching game
  • A deck of rhyming playing cards

Ahead of launching the packs, two free parent information sessions will be held at Whitford Library to give parents and carers insight into what children need to know in order to read a word, and how to use the Reading Ready packs to support their home reading.

Wednesday 16 October, 10am
Whitford Library

Book online

This project has been supported by funding provided by the State Government of Western Australia, through the State Library’s Better Beginnings program.

Summer Reading Quest – last days!

Congratulations to all those who participated in the Summer Reading Quest. The last day is Thursday 29 February 2024.

To go into the statewide draw to win some awesome prizes, submit your reading details to Summer Reading Quest website or just drop your Booklet or Summer Steps into your local Library by Sunday 31 March 2024.

Prizes include: writing workshops, art prints, a place in the Young Writers Program at the Literature Centre, books, puppets, Better Beginnings kits, gift vouchers and much more.

 

 

 

Quick Reads are here

Libraries are introducing popular new release books available immediately as a grab-and-go option for walk-in customers.

The latest and most popular titles normally have long queues and are not available for off-the-shelf selection immediately after publication. Our solution is to provide the best of new and trending titles for super-fast 7-day loans, available to pick off the shelf at each of our library locations.

From Monday 14 November, a Quick Reads display will be available at each library allowing customers to grab-and-go.

  • No reservations
  • Borrow instantly
  • Quick Read 7-day loans

To ensure we make the most of these Quick Read titles, there will be no renewals; so cancel dinner, forget the vacuuming and get reading.

Literacy for beginner readers

Joondalup Libraries’ Beginner Reader collection supports your child while they’re learning to read with books that are age and ability appropriate, as well as entertaining. Each level is designed to gradually increase your child’s reading ability and confidence. Being at ease with letters, sounds, and words is an important foundation for learning throughout life and reading with your child each day will help them to become great readers.

This specially chosen collection is found in your library’s junior reading area. Each reading level is given a coloured star, making it easy to browse and choose books to meet your child’s reading abilities.

Red Star

Starting to read – Simple repetitive words with lots of colourful illustrations.

Blue Star

Reading with help – Simple sentences with more complex words to increase your child’s vocabulary and confidence.

Yellow Star

Reading independently – Chapter books with small paragraphs and less illustrations.

Green Star

Reading proficiently – More challenging stories with longer chapters and engaging characters and plots to challenge your child’s growing interests.

Once your child has developed their reading abilities and confidence, there are thousands of fiction and nonfiction books, eBooks, audiobooks, comics and magazines for them to choose from in the dedicated junior area of their library or online through the kid friendly website for Overdrive and Borrowbox.

If you need help finding books suitable for your beginner reader or reluctant reader, don’t hesitate to ask the library staff for recommendations.

Computer clubs for kids

Minecraft Engineers

Minecraft Engineers is a fun weekly club where children use creative mode to build in Minecraft. Come along and build amazing things whilst developing STEM skills.

Get involved

  • Sessions run 4pm-5pm
  • Sessions held during school term
  • Sessions are free, but registration is required for the whole term. Register for Term 4, 2024 at Whitford Library or Woodvale Library from Monday 16 September, 9.30am.
  • Suitable for ages 7-12 years
  • Bookings for Term 1 2025 will open online on Monday 13 January, 9.30am.
Day Library
Monday Whitford
Tuesday Woodvale

CoderDojo

CoderDojo is a volunteer led, worldwide movement running free coding clubs (Dojos) for young people. Come along to learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and much more. CoderDojo makes development and learning to code a fun and sociable experience.

  • Learn from others and provide peer support
  • Develop 21st century computer skills
  • HTML, Scratch, Python programming
  • Improve your skills in the language of code

Get involved

  • Sessions run 4pm – 5pm
  • Sessions held during school term
  • No bookings are required and sessions are free.
  • Suitable for ages 7-17 years
Day Library
Wednesday Joondalup

 

Check out the Social Story that the Autism Association of Western Australia have created to help children increase preparedness and have the best possible experience at CoderDojo.

 

To keep up to date with CoderDojo and other Library events and programs:

Toddler Time

Come along for stories, songs and rhymes with lots of action for your energetic toddler. Toddler Time is designed for children 18 to 30 months and their parents.

Benefits

  • Encourage the love of books and language
  • Allows your child to move about
  • Develop your child’s pre-literacy, communication and social skills
  • Learn to value the enjoyment of reading together
  • Develop creativity and dexterity through play.

Where and when

Sessions commence at 10.00am. No bookings required.

Toddler Time runs during school terms at Joondalup, Duncraig and Whitford Libraries. At Woodvale Library sessions run throughout the year.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Whitford Duncraig Woodvale Joondalup Woodvale
(Family Time)

A parent or guardian must accompany the child and participate in the Toddler Time session.

Family Time

Family Time is an action-packed program full of stories, songs, rhymes and making noise in the library. Aimed at children from 18 months to four years, the songs and actions will grab the attention of younger children, while the older children will be entertained by the fun-filled stories.

STEAMing into Stories

Saturday STEAMing into Story Time program combines encouraging a love of reading with STEAM activities. Sessions are suitable for children from two to seven years old.

Please check the events calendar.

Younger children aged 0-18 months may prefer Baby Rhyme Time, or Story Time for preschool kids aged two to four years.

To keep up to date with Library events:

Story Time

Story Time sessions are designed for children aged two to four years. Come and enjoy the stories, songs, and creative play.

Benefits

  • Encourages a love of reading
  • Stimulates the imagination
  • Develops literacy and social skills
  • Relaxed and fun environment
  • Develop creativity and dexterity through play.

Where and when

  • No bookings required
  • Free library activity
  • A parent or guardian must accompany the child and participate in the Story Time session.

Current sessions

All sessions are at 10am

 Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Duncraig Joondalup Duncraig
Joondalup		 Woodvale Whitford Whitford
(STEAMing into Stories)

Check the Events Calendar for up-to-date information.

Check out the Social Story for Story Time that the Autism Association of Western Australia have created to help children increase preparedness and have the best possible experience at Story Time.

Stories in the Park

Stories in the Park occur on Tuesdays at 10am in March and November. Join City of Joondalup Libraries staff in one of your favourite parks.

STEAMing into Stories

STEAMing into Story Time program combines encouraging a love of reading with STEAM activities. Sessions are suitable for children from two to seven years old.

Family Time

Family Time is an action-packed program full of stories, songs, rhymes and making noise in the library. Aimed at children from 18 months to four years old, the songs and actions will grab the attention of younger children, while the older children will be entertained by the fun-filled stories.

Sensory Story Time

Sensory Story Time is aimed at children aged between two and four years old who may find regular Story Time too noisy or overwhelming.

National Simultaneous Storytime

ALIA National Simultaneous Storytime takes place on 22 May each year. Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker was this year’s selection.

Other options

Younger children aged up to 18 months old may prefer Baby Rhyme Time, or Toddler Time which is for 18-30 months old.

To keep up to date with Library events:

English conversation group

City of Joondalup Libraries have free, regular sessions to help you improve your English conversation skills in a relaxed and supportive group.

Sessions are held weekly at the Whitford Library on Tuesdays, 1pm – 2.30pm and the Joondalup Library on Wednesdays, 1pm – 2.30pm.

  • Sessions are held during school term only
  • You can come to as many sessions as you need
  • No bookings required, just turn up
  • Sessions are very relaxed with no written work, just conversation.

Learn English online

City of Joondalup Libraries also provides free access to Transparent Language Online, an online language learning program with English tuition available in 35 different languages, including Bahasa Indonesian, Bahasa Melayu, Farsi, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Mandarin, Somali, Tagalog and Ukrainian.

To keep up to date with library events and programs:

Baby Rhyme Time

City of Joondalup libraries, in association with Better Beginnings, are pleased to offer Baby Rhyme Time for babies 0-18 months and their parents.

Connect with your baby while singing your favourite rhymes and songs.

Benefits of joining in Baby Rhyme Time

  • Learn new rhymes and songs
  • Develop your baby’s pre-literacy and social skills
  • Relaxed and fun environment
  • Learn the value of reading to your baby from birth
  • Supports parents as their child’s first teacher
  • Free library activity.

Sessions commence at 10am and run during school term. No bookings required.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Joondalup Duncraig Woodvale Whitford

Check the Events Calendar for up-to-date information.

Children aged 18-30 months may prefer Toddler Time or Story Time for preschool kids aged two to four years.

To keep up to date with Library events:

Children’s Book Week

Children’s Book Week is the annual celebration of children’s books and reading. Established in 1946, it is the longest running national literacy initiative in the country.

Each year, students and libraries from all over Australia spend a week celebrating Australian books, authors and illustrators. In addition, events hosted by the Libraries give children the opportunity to meet with their favourite authors and illustrators.

City of Joondalup Libraries will host Children’s Book Week events over two and a half weeks, from Thursday 8 August – Friday 23 August 2024. The theme for 2024 is: Reading is Magic.

If you attend library programs regularly, please check the events calendar for this period as some of our standard sessions may be cancelled due to Children’s Book Week events.

Public event

  • Each year City of Joondalup Libraries host an event for the public to celebrate Children’s Book Week.
  • This event is designed to expand literacy knowledge and entertain.
  • The City is pleased to host Cameron the Magician this year who will delight with his award-winning Abra-Da-Cameron show for kids of all ages. Join us at Joondalup Library on Saturday 10 August 2024, 10.00am – 11.00am. Book your free tickets via Ticketbooth.

Schools

  • Sessions are made available to local school students.
  • Students will develop their literacy knowledge and be inspired to read, write and draw.
  • Expressions of interest for any of these sessions can be made online.
  • Further information is available in the Children’s Book Week 2024 Program.

The City of Joondalup Libraries host a range of authors, illustrators and storytellers, to entertain and educate. This year we welcome the following talented presenters:

Isobel Bevis Josh Langley Kristy Nita Brown Tracey Dembo
Amy Dunjey Sharon Giltrow HM Waugh Gabriel Evans *
Aśka Renée Treml Perform Education Cameron the Magician

Home-schoolers

  • Home-schooling students are encouraged to attend any of the City’s Children’s Book Week sessions.
  • Contact City of Joondalup Libraries to book.

Award Winners

Find out more information about Children’s Book Week from the Children’s Book Council of Australia. The Children’s Book of the Year Award Notables List can be viewed on YouTube. The Shortlist announcement included some amazing Western Australian talent. The award winners will be announced on Friday 16 August 2024. For more details, visit The Children’s Book Council of Australia website.

Photos from Children’s Book Week 2023