New Titles!

Come check out these new titles about art from the OISE Library!

Why Your Five-Year-Old Could Not Have Done That 

Artists by Hans Arp to Andy Warhol are featured in this title. Paintings, sculptures, street art, and installations are just some types of pieces discussed in this book. The simplicity of each piece is explained through their cultural contexts and how they have expressed such complex notions in the history of ideas. 100 specially selected works of modern art can be described as sometimes expressing inner torment or an idea that has come out of social or political events. As noted in this title, the author argues why a five-year-old could not have done any of these modern works of art, regardless of their technical abilities! The author, Susie Hodge, promises and guarantees this book will transform and inform your future gallery experiences!

Hands: Growing up to be an artist 

This colourful and interesting children’s book celebrates the creative spirit within us all. The story is about a child living with her mother and father who love creating things with their hands. This book illustrates the many ways to be an artist, whether it is painting, sewing, building, or even gardening! The pages include colourful photographs of different art supplies, like scissors, rulers, fabric, and other random materials that when used all together can become masterpieces! A perfect read for any young artist!

Reaching and Teaching: Students with Special Needs through Art 

Knowledge and expertise of professionals in the fields of art education and special education are combined in this book. There is a meaningful integration of art instruction and the core understanding of students with special needs. Many chapters are dedicated to a specific special need, such as students with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or students who are blind or visually impaired. Specific tips and knowledge for each demographic are described so teachers can tailor their lessons effectively. An example of a tip from the book is fine motor skills are an essential competency for children who are blind, because they allow them to explore the world. Furthering this, children who are blind tend to taste materials; therefore being aware of this tip will encourage teachers to have non-toxic and non-choking hazards as materials. The information provided in this title is always in the context of instruction and the art classroom!

These and other new titles can be found on the New Acquisitions shelf of the first floor of the OISE library!

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New Titles!

Check out these new titles at the OISE library!

Bully : an action plan for teachers and parents to combat the bullying crisis (CR 371.58 B9386)

Have you seen the critically acclaimed film titled Bully? If you have, this book elaborates on the story behind the documentary! This title acts as a guide and excellent resource for parents, educators, school administrators, or anyone committed to the 13 million children who are bullied each year. Antibullying activists, celebrities, authors, government officials, and educators share their stories, insights, and provide concrete steps to combating the bullying epidemic. To decrease bullying and increase empathy, the book revisits families from the film who have had children that have suffered from bullying. Read this title today and understand the extent of the cruelty that is embedded in schools due to bullying.

I Have the Right to Be a Child (CR 323.352 S488i)

This children’s book describes what it means to be a child with rights, such as the right to food, water and shelter, and the right to go to school. The story is told from the point of view of a child, but is based on the United Nations Convention on the rights of a child. The rights of a child are a special code of human rights for children under the age of 18. This beautifully illustrated book emphasizes that the rights belong to every child regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or wealth. The first step to talking about these rights and what they mean for a child starts with awareness and this book is a great beginning!

Bullying Hurts: Teaching Kindness through Read Alouds and Guided Conversations (CR 371.58 L231B)

Research shows that it is not enough to punish children who bully. Instead in every child’s education experience, relationships skills to build empathy among other students must be established. Bullying Hurts is not the usual antibullying guide! The authors show how the read aloud, a proven and familiar instructional technique, can be used to neutralize bullying behaviours, and create a community within your class! The book offers recommendations of read aloud books that are focused on shared humanity that can be incorporated on day 1 of kindergarten. This title stresses the importance that by working together we can prevent bullying.

These and other new titles can be found on the New Acquisition shelf on the ground floor of the OISE library.

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School Gardens and Agricultural Education in Early 20th Century Ontario Schools

Check out Kathy’s latest display of resources from the Library’s Ontario Historical Education Collection on the Ground Floor of the OISE Library:  School Gardens and Agricultural Education in Early 20th Century Ontario Schools.

The first two decades of the 20th century witnessed a growing interest in nature study and school gardens. Ontario was predominantly rural and even the majority of the urban population lived in smaller towns and villages. One-room schoolhouses predominated in these rural areas. On display are several of a series of circulars promoting school gardens, textbooks on agriculture and teachers’ manuals on nature study, as well as agriculture and horticulture. These materials were all for use in the elementary schools. Many books were also written in both the United States and Canada extolling school gardens and these books are searchable and available online or in print from the Library catalogue.  It is noteworthy that there appeared to be a renewal of interest in urban school grounds and gardens at the beginning of the 21st century.

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Summer Hours

The OISE Library begins its summer hours this week:

Monday – Thursday, 8:30am – 7pm

Friday, 8:30am – 5pm

Saturday, 9am – 5pm

Sunday, CLOSED

We will return to our regular hours September 8, 2013.

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Featured Activity Kit: Earth Book Plus

blog-imageThe OISE Library has a number of resources to support your Earth Day lessons. This week’s Featured Activity Kit is Earth Book Plus (CR 550 E125), a foam model of the earth designed to teach students about the composition of the planet. The atmosphere, crust, mantle, and core are all represented in separate layers. Earth Book Plus can be used to support discussions about how Earth was formed, how volcanoes work, and how our planet supports activities such as farming and mining.

In addition to the foam model, the kit includes a reproducible activity card, extension activities, and background information on each layer. The kit is currently displayed on the small table near the Circulation Desk on the Ground Floor of the library. Check it out today!

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