Jockvale Elementary School shared its love of reading and celebrated Canadian literature by participating in I Read Canadian Day. French Immersion Teacher Diana McDonald led a dedicated committee to plan engaging activities that delighted students and staff alike. Recently, this successful initiative was featured in The Teaching Librarian magazine!
The school’s Library Technician, Sue Matthews, asked the City of Ottawa to declare November 8th I Read Canadian Day. Mayor Sutcliffe made the proclamation, and the school planned a week packed with collaborative learning activities to mark the day.
The festivities began with flashlight reading in classrooms, adding a fun twist to silent reading time. On day two, classes paired up in the library for reading buddy sessions, choosing from a variety of Canadian books and sharing the experience across different grade levels. Coloured bookmarks, prepared by each class, were handed out, adding a personal touch.
Day three featured a visit from Miss Amanda, a children's librarian from the Ottawa Public Library, who shared Canadian book recommendations. Students also joined in a lively BINGO game, competing to find I Read Canadian words on their cards. On the fourth day, students participated in a school-wide scavenger hunt, following clues around the school to discover information about a mystery book.
The grand finale on November 8th included a school-wide read-aloud of "I Am Canada" by Heather Patterson, led by the library technician. Students enjoyed comparing different illustration styles in the book. The day concluded with a Kahoot game focused on Canadian books, testing students’ knowledge and celebrating their learning.
Throughout the week, the school also ran a “Bucks for Books” fundraiser, collecting over $800. The funds were used to purchase this year's Forest of Reading books and some titles recommended by Miss Amanda.
Jockvale students loved the activities and felt inspired by the work of Canadian authors and illustrators. The Jockvale Jaguars hope to make this a cherished annual tradition, as they continue to celebrate school libraries and grow their love of reading!
