Get ready for 2018!

Planning for next year? Thinking about becoming a KOALA Friend? Here's a snapshot...

"Challenge to Change" ASLA Conference 2017

Thank you to the wonderful ASLA (Australian School Library Association) team for an inspirational, challenging and diverse program over the past two days. The focus on reading was powerful and reassuring. The Children's Choice Literature Awards are well placed as an appealing and effective way to get students reading and critically thinking about the texts they read. The KOALA team caught up with some familiar faces and connected with some new ones too.

We were also thrilled to meet and listen to two of our 2017 shortlisted authors, Tim Harris and Will Kostakis, who spoke about creative influences and representation in their writing. Hopefully we will see them again at Awards Day in November.

Book your tickets to Awards Day 2017

Click here for details

Artwork by Isabella, North Rocks Public School

It's time to think about voting

There are a number of ways to engage your students with the voting stage of the KOALA year. Kids love this stage and the options make it fun and exciting for all age groups.

• Online Survey - ideal for Years 3-6 who read across the categories; add the link to your website, blog, ipad shortcut; no tallying numbers
• Paper and Postbox - create a point of interest in the Library; develops familiarity with both author and illustrators' names; great job for library monitors to sort and tally
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• Cups and Counters - heighten excitement with K-2; anonymous-secret vote! (see image)
• Sticky Notes - display based voting; students place a post-it note on the cover of their favourite book; great for younger years; saves writing time; quick tally count

The Tally Sheet for non-online votes is due by the end of Term 3.

Happy voting!

Bring your sticky notes to life with these post-it designs. Go to Learning in Hand for instructions on how to print. 

pearltrees

We all know koalas have their favourite trees and yours is now http://www.pearltrees.com/koalansw. The Pearltrees will give you access to all the links and resources you could possibly need to add further value and fun to the shortlisted titles. Subscribe to the collection as resources are added.

Photo from our 2017 Awards Day Hosts - North Rocks Public School

"Waiting for the KOALAwards"