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First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Association of Ontario (FNMIEAO) is offering ready to use digital resources to support our students working from home. Their latest resource, “Truth and Reconciliation in the Classroom” can be found on FNMIEAO’s website under the Student Resources tab. Here you will find videos that can be uploaded to an online classroom with accompanying activities, student guides and teacher guides in both English and French. “Indigenous languages will also be embedded to enhance learning and provide authentic, accurate information from direct sources (e.g., language speakers such as Oneida, Anishinaabe, Oji-Cree and Cree)” –FNMIEAO. 

To access the full extent of the resources offered by FNMIEAO, please use HCDSB’s login information, which can be found on the Staff Digital Tools – Passwords and Links page of our website. Resources are for HCDSB staff and students only. To maintain our agreements with our vendor partners, we must ensure we are not posting passwords in any public forum. If you have any questions about accessing FNMIEAO or the Staff Digital Tools – Passwords and Links page, please contact your school library professional or email us at LRC@hcdsb.org. 

**Featured image copyright © FNMEAO 2020

As we saw the end of 2020, we also saw the end to the outdated program Flash Player. With this change, there has been a transition to new eTexts for items that required Flash Player, including eTexts for Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ and Fully Alive. You can currently find the following texts as web-based PDFs in the Growing in Faith Growing in Christ / Fully Alive Bookshelf: 

Growing in Faith, Growing in Christ 

Grade 1, Student Book, Big Book 1, Big Book 2 and Posters 

Grade 2, Student Book, Big Book 1, Big Book 2 and Posters 

Grade 3, Student Book and Posters 

Fully Alive 

Grades 3-8 Fully Alive Student Book 

The Growing in Faith Growing in Christ / Fully Alive Bookshelf is available on our Library Services website under Staff Digital Tools – Passwords and Links. This page is password protected and teachers are reminded that these pages can only be used in password protected spaces. Please do not share via other public multimedia platforms. 

If you have any questions about accessing these links or the Staff Digital Tools – Passwords and Links page, please contact your School Library Technician or email us at LRC@hcdsb.org. 

Things will look different this Christmas and you may be looking for things to do, especially on those chilly days with nowhere to go. Snuggle up with a blanket, grab some hot chocolate and read or listen to one of the many e-books available to you through Library Services!

Tumble Book Library has many e-books that students of all ages can enjoy, including picture books, graphic novels, non-fiction titles and more. Some of the popular titles you can read or listen to include: 

For our older readers, check out Teen Book Cloud for e-Novels, graphic novels, non-fiction titles and more. 

For even more fun, visit Storyline Online to hear picture books read aloud by a variety of celebrated actors. 

If you have questions about accessing Tumble Book Library, Teen Book Cloud or any of the digital resources offered through Library Services, please email us at LRC@hcdsb.org. 

We wish you a safe and relaxing break, and a very Merry Christmas! 

Advent is the special time leading up to Christmas. In Latin, Advent means “coming”. This is a peaceful time that allows us to reflect and pray as we wait for the coming of Jesus. On the Advent wreath there are four candles, three purple and one pink, symbolizing hope, love, joy and peace. Below are a variety of Advent resources for use in the classroom and at home.  

Busted Halo has released its 2020 Virtual Advent Calendar, filled with activities, reflections and the brilliant and concise Advent in 2 Minutes video.  

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has created a weekly video series called Journey Through Advent that is available through the Diocese of Hamilton website.  These videos help Catholics to prepare for Christmas, the birth of Jesus and to remember the true meaning of the season.  

The Catholic Association of Religious and Family Life Educators of Ontario (CARFLEO) has collected various Advent resources including videos, pamphlets and infographics for use in each week of this Holy season.  

Check out Christmas and Advent from Pearson Education. There are some great resources including reference sheets for teachers and families. 

Loyola Press also provides many great Advent resources, including activities for classrooms and families, prayers, Advent calendars and more. 

For more information visit your school library or the LRC.   

Be patient, and be ready; the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-10
 

*Featured image taken from Loyola Press 

TVO has been a source of educational resources in Ontario for almost 50 years. They have a variety of resources to support student learning from grades K-12 through digital technology. Now, you can find TVO’s resources from tvo.org, tvokids, mPower, and Mathify all in one convenient place… TVOLearn! 

Here you will find resources including videos, articles, activities, podcasts and games that are curated by TVO’s Ontario certified teachers and are aligned with the Ontario curriculum. These resources are separated by grade and subject for ease in finding the best supports for student learning in the classroom and virtually. 

Links to TVO resources, along with many other resources to support teachers and student learning can be found on the Library Services website under Staff Resources. 

On December 3^rd, we recognize International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPWD), with the 2020 theme “Not all Disabilities are Visible.” IDPWD is meant for celebration, learning, optimism and action. One of its many objectives includes education around barriers to inclusion.  Some disabilities are not visible or apparent and many individuals do not seek the medical help they need in order to avoid stigma.  So, education and understanding are crucial! To learn more about the impact this organization and day has, visit International Day of People with Disabilities. 

HCDSB and Library Services have numerous resources to support awareness, education, and inclusivity. On Learn 360, you can find videos like Real Life Teens: Teens and Disabilities.  The video explores the different ways that disabilities can impact a teen’s life and how the general student population can support people with disabilities. This resource comes with a Teacher’s Guide. Curio also has a great series for Secondary students called You Can’t Ask That with episodes focusing on specific disabilities, individual stories, and challenging assumptions about life with a disability or difference. 

Books have the power to promote empathy, awareness, understanding, and allow us to see things through new perspectives. Check out these fictional books featuring differently abled characters and non-fiction books for a deeper understanding of differing abilities. These titles are all available through the LRC and Library Services. #LRCCheckItOut 

“To ask why we need libraries at all, when there is so much information available elsewhere, is about as sensible as asking if roadmaps are necessary now that there are so very many roads.” Jon Bing (Norwegian Research Center for Computers and Law)  

As Library professionals, we have always advocated against the spread of “fake news”. Check out Mediasmarts as they tackle this important initiative, focusing on why verifying sources matters! 

During this time of COVID-19, this becomes especially important. We can stop the spread of misinformation. When you read an article on social media, follow these simple rules before you share it.

Remember – Check First.  Share After. 

1. CHECK where the information originally came from. 
2. CHECK that the source is a trusted source. 
3. CHECK what the government and public health officials are saying. 
4. Once you are satisfied that the information is ACCURATE 
5. Then SHARE. 

The same holds true when conducting research. This is especially important for students as more of our information sources become digital. A great starting point for finding accurate and relevant information is checking out the databases through the Library Services website or your school’s OPAC. From EBSCO to Gale, PebbleGo to Infobase, there are so many options and databases to use based on the grade and subject you are looking for. If you need assistance with passwords, please reach out to your library staff or LRC@hcdsb.org. 

HCDSB recently purchased a fully licensed bookshelf of digital texts to support literacy and media literacy development along with various themes in Social Studies, History & Geography and Canadian & World Studies. These digital resources also support cross-curricular connections with Religion, Indigenous Studies, Health and the Arts. 4Canoes is a Canadian publication, formerly known as Canoe Kids, that is focused on empowering and authentic Indigenous voices. The publication was created in response to The Truth and Reconciliation Commision’s Calls to Action and “…focus[es] upon: Cultural Rights, Human Rights, Environmental Rights & Equity.” 

The 4Canoes Digital Bookshelf can be accessed through Library Services to support student learning both in school and at home. Some of the titles included in this digital bookshelf are: 

If you have questions about accessing these or any of the digital resources offered through Library Services, please email us at LRC@hcdsb.org. 

Veterans’ Week in Canada is a time to honour the people who have served our country in times of conflict, war and peace. Every year, on November 11^th, Remembrance Day is observed to remember those who have died in the line of duty. This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Veterans Affairs Canada has compiled many activities, articles, and videos to help us remember. 

It is important to note that Indigenous Canadians played a significant role in the Canadian military during both World Wars.  You can explore their history and involvement in the NFB film Forgotten Warriors or articles provided by the department of National Defense and the Canadian Forces.  

Historica Canada has created an online collection of resources that include information on the First and Second World Wars, along with links to other activities. 

The Faces of Freedom podcast can be used in the classroom to share the stories of brave soldiers who served in the Second World War.  

Project ’44 is an online, interactive and immersive map that explores the First Canadian Army as it fought from Normandy to the Netherlands.  Lesson plans for educators are included and can be downloaded in PDF format. 

Also, check out the Second World War Home Learning Corner.  It has a great deal of learning activities for students of all ages that can be completed at home with the support of parents or teachers. 

Many of these resources can be found on the Library Services webpage by following Information databases>Elementary or Secondary>History and Geography > Canada at War.  For additional information on accessing these digital or physical resources, contact your school library professional, or email us at LRC@hcdsb.org. 

The HCDSB Learning Resource Centre is situated within the lands of Treaty #3 ¾, which was entered into agreement on October 24, 1795. 

We acknowledge and thank the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation for being stewards of this traditional territory.   

Since 2016, Ontario has designated the first week of November as Treaties Recognition Week, to honour and educate on the importance and meaning of treaties. Treaties are “legally binding agreements that set out the rights, responsibilities and relationships of First Nations and the federal and provincial governments.” To learn more about the treaties and agreements covered in Ontario, find teaching and learning resources, or sign up for the “We are all Treaty People” virtual living library event on November 6^th, visit www.ontario.ca/page/treaties. 

There are many teaching and learning resources that can be found on the Library Services website under Staff Resources > Indigenous Education Resources. One resource subscribed to by HCDSB Library Services is FNMIEAO (First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario), which contains a wealth of information and resources, including those specific to Treaties Recognition Week.  You can also check out the kit “We are all…treaty people LEGO® Wampum belt kit” from your school library or the LRC. This kit contains many visual displays, including posters, maps and a LEGO wampum belt, along with a teacher’s guide and copy of the book “We are all…treaty people” by Maurice Switzer.”  

For additional information on accessing FNMIEAO or any of our digital or physical resources, contact your school library professional, or email us at LRC@hcdsb.org.