Welcome Back to the “NEW” Professor Owl’s Book Corner where in addition to supporting those with special needs and learning challenges, we are also committed to being more focused on YA/New Adult reading and literacy. We will be featuring tips from a certified literacy tutor to help make your reading experience the best it can be.
We will also be encouraging young writers and artists with tips, writing exercises and will still be updating our Community News Boards with the latest news from Variety Village and The March of Dimes.
Professor Owl’s Book Corner hopes you enjoy our new format! Please feel free to give us your feedback on our new issue, also send us any ideas you may have to help Professor Owl’s Book Corner be all that it can be. We look forward to hearing from you and to bring you a new, more interesting newsletter.
You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book!” – Dr. Seuss
Literacy skills are often taken for granted by those who have them, it is assumed that everyone has learned to read and write. Adults and young adults who have trouble with reading and writing often want to improve these skills but find it difficult to begin the process. It can be very difficult for some people to admit “I have never learned to read or write.”
I have always been a self-proclaimed book geek and can never have too many
books. I just loved to read whenever I can. Several years ago, a young teen came to stay with my husband and I. He was a bright young man, who only was able to read at grade five level and really wanted to learn more,so he asked me to teach him. He was successful in improving his skills by the time he went home.
It was around this time, I first learned about the volunteer opportunities at our local Learning Centre. I took the Laubach Literacy course and spent several years tutoring there and to be honest, I found it to be the most rewarding volunteer work I have every done.
We will be showing you in our new series how to get these skills or improve the ones you do have by using Laubach Literacy Aids and at the same time have some fun doing it. If you know someone who would like to improve their skills, please show them these and perhaps help them if they need it.
Literacy pioneer and missionary Frank C Laubach discovered that literacy empowers and enriches people’s lives. His work began in the Philippines in 1930 and he continued teaching literacy to impoverished people in one hundred and three countries for over forty years.
If you have a computer or iPad we will list other websites below where you can play games to improve your skills, get help with your homework.
We will also give you information on literacy, learning challenges and recommend the new books being released, and at times some old classics.
When I contacted The Laubach office they really liked our ideas for Professor Owls Book Corner and gave us a lot of encouragement.
Lesson 1.
Some Tricky Consonants
The sound of x is made by putting the /k/ and /s/ sounds together ~ /ks/.
The sound of qu is made by putting the /k/ and /w/ sounds together ~ /kw/.
Sounds Like Correct Spelling Sounds Like Correct Spelling
bo ks box kw ack quack
fo ks fox kw ilt quilt
si ks six kw ick quick
mi ks mix kw iet quite
In each sentence below, circle the misspelled word that contain the /ks/ and /kw/ sounds. Write the words correctly on the lines that follow.
1. The teacher asked for kwite so she could kwickly give the directions.
2. That boks of books is kwite heavy.
3. The foks was so kwick we didn’t see it sneek by.
4. My mom always lets me miks the batter while she fikses the pans.
X Words QU Words
__________________________ __________________________
__________________________ __________________________
__________________________ __________________________
__________________________ __________________________
If you would like to complete these lessons and email them to Professor Owl’s Book Corner ~ send your answers to: professorowl@outlook.com. We will include a lesson every second Thursday along with a newly released book review and if you email in your answers. At the end of every month we will have a draw for everyone who emails there answers~ and one lucky person will win a book.
The Marked
(Knight’s Academy Book 1)
by Emerald Barnes (Author)
Myka Williams has never fit in with her peers, and although her adoptive parents are loving and supportive, she feels most at home alone in the woods.
When she’s offered a full scholarship to Knight’s Academy in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, she takes the opportunity for a fresh start. She soon learns that Knight’s Academy is more than just a school. Within the stone walls of the institution, humans and vampires are mixing, and their offspring are going unnoticed.
As Myka falls prey to the evil plan of the school, she makes a chilling discovery about her own heritage and realizes that she’s at the Academy for more than just an education. Myka must yield to her birthright at the risk of losing everyone she loves or succumb to the fate that Knight’s Academy has in store for her—a fate worse than death.
~
This was a great book, well written with interesting characters and story line. Once I started reading this story, I just could not put it down until it was finished. That left me wanting more so I am looking forward to the new books in this series, soon, I hope.
To learn more about this great book and meet Myka and Mylo the characters in this new book of the month new release.
Scratchling Trinity
by Boyd Brent (Author)
(To be released March 1, 2017)
No one knew the importance of the Scrachling-born, until now. When a desperate orphan called Eric Kettle scratches a desperate cry for help into a wall in 1840, little does he know that it’s about to be answered by luckless Max Hastings in 2016. Both Max and Eric are soon to discover that they’re Scratchling-born, and that along with Ellie Swanson, a no-nonsense Scratchling veteran, they are destined to form the Scratchling Trinity. With an evil headmaster, a flying boat, two vengeful giants and a clutch of ghostly helpers along the way, they are off on an incredible adventure! The Scratchling Trinity is the much-anticipated novel by Boyd Brent, author of The Lost Diary of Snow White trilogy.
Available from: http:// www.amazon.ca and http://www.amazon.com and other fine bookstores.
We would love to hear about your favorite books and your views on the ones we recommend here… send them
To: professorowl@outlook.com
Is it just us, or do your socks mysteriously disappear when you do the laundry? You know two go in the dryer but only one comes out? You search high and low but to no avail… doesn’t that ever make you wonder?
Your mission should you choose to accept it…
Write a story from the point of view of a lost object. Are you actually a lost sock or did you plan a daring escape from the dryer?
✒ Write, be creative and most of all HAVE FUN! ✒
Attention all aspiring authors: Have you heard of NaNoWriMo.org? Every November thousands participate in an online writing event to complete 50,ooo words in just 30 days. Now they’ve made it even better, CampNaNoWriMo.org is a virtual writer’s camp, designed to inspire you and keep you motivated while you work on your masterpiece. Camp NaNoWriMo.org runs twice a year in April and July and unlike NaNoWriMo welcomes word-count goals of 30,000 and up. Writers can tackle any project they’d like, including new novel drafts, revisions, poetry, scripts, and short stories. So sign up today! See you at camp!
Variety Village
SPRING PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS HERE! Persons with a Disability PHONE-IN March 1 @ 8:00am | General Registration IN-PERSON March 4 @ 7:30am
MARCH BREAK: March 13-17, 2017
March Break Camps are available during the week that elementary, middle and high schools are closed for the March break or spring break. These are primarily day camps and offer parents the opportunity for care other than daycare, that keep your kids engaged, active and having fun.
Download the 2017 March Break Camp Registration Form
Camps
Variety Village is pleased to offer several camps to children of all abilities* including March Break Camp, Holiday Camps and Kid Development Day Camps (camps that fall on days that are PA/PD days within the Toronto Board). Variety Village offers a broad range of integrated full-day camps for participants of all abilities*, ages 4 to 20+. Our Variety Village camp experience includes:
- A 76,000-square-foot gym, two indoor pools and a 200 metre indoor track;
- A combination of sports, swimming, games and training activities – all under one roof;
- A fun way to learn new skills, make new friends, and enhance self-esteem;
- An inclusive and barrier-free environment with experienced camp counselors
DRUM ROLL….
Pizza Nova raised $107,101 during the That’s Amore Pizza for Kids day sale on Tuesday, May 10!
Thank you to everyone who supported the sale and our greatest thanks to Domenic Primucci and all the franchise owners and their staff who worked tirelessly all day to make this the best year ever!
If you would like any further information on any of the events shown above
PLEASE CONTACT: Variety Village
Address: 3701 Danforth Ave, Toronto ON M1N 2G2
Phone: 416-699-7167
Open ~ Tue 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
March of Dimes
OpportuniTEA with Kate Linder and Y&R Friends
MainContent
High Tea with Kate Linder & Friends from The Young and the Restless
Sunday, April 2, 2017 The Westin Calgary 320 4th Avenue SW, Calgary
VIP Ticket Holders Meet & Greet 12:15 p.m.
High Tea 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Autographs & Photos for all guests 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
March of Dimes Canada’s fourth annual Calgary OpportuniTea High Tea will take place at The Westin Calgary, 320 4th Avenue SW, Calgary, on April 2, 2017. The event features actors from the top-rated North American soap opera The Young & The Restless, including Kate Linder (Esther Valentine) and Christian LeBlanc (Michael Balwin) who will be co-hosting the event, Bryton James (Devon Hamilton), Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe Mitchell), and Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore).
High Tea & Show tickets $100
Patron preferred seating tickets $125
VIP Circle of Friends tickets $250
Our goal is to raise $40,000 at this event to support Alberta Peer Support Programs.
88% of all funds raised will benefit MODC’s
Conductive Education® and Peer Support Programs in Calgary.
| Co-Host Christian LeBlanc
(Michael Baldwin) |
Bryton James
(Devon Hamilton) |
Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe Mitchell) |
Tracey Bregman (Lauren Fenmore) |
Linda Olsen, Global Calgary News Anchor, will also co-host the event with Kate Linder. The tea will include a Question & Answer session with the cast, an amazing raffle, silent and live auction, autograph signing and photo opportunities! Guests will also go home with a gift bag full of goodies.
Visit OpportuniTea Calgary 2017 website, where you can purchase your tickets online and find out more information about the event.
Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available To sponsor this terrific event, please contact Linda Yielding at 416-425-3463 ext. 7290
1st Annual Celebrity Bowling for Dimes
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017
6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
The Ballroom, 145 John Street, Toronto, Ontario
On Thursday March 23, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. March of Dimes Canada will be hosting our First Annual Celebrity Bowling for Dimes Tournament at the Ballroom, 145 John Street, downtown Toronto. Teams will consist of 4 bowlers and a special celebrity (1/2 lane), or 8 bowlers and 2 celebrities (full lane).
Come meet:
| Co-Host Steve Anthony | Sean Jones |
PLUS MORE CELEBRITIES TO COME!
All proceeds from registrations and pledges will benefit our L.I.F.E. (Learning Independence for Future Empowerment) program at March of Dimes Canada, that supports youth with physical disabilities transition into adulthood responsibilities.
For individual bowlers that raise over $1,000, they will be entered into a draw for a 60″ Sharp Television (retail value over $1,600)! We will also be holding a very select auction – what might a celebrity have to auction off you ask? You will have to come out to see!
Visit Bowling for Dimes at www.marchofdimes.ca/Bowling for more details and to register.
For more information and sponsorship opportunities contact:
Linda Yielding
Manager, Special Events and Fundraising
March of Dimes Canada
10 Overlea Blvd.
Toronto, ON M4H 1A4
Phone: 1-800-263-3463 ext.7290
lyielding@marchofdimes.ca
Opening Doors for Accessibility
MainContent
Don’t Miss Opening Doors for Accessibility
in Windsor on February 24th and in London, Ontario, on March 31st!
If you are an individual living with a disability, health professional, service provider, caregiver /partner or family member, you should attend this free community resource showcase.
Opening Doors for Accessibility Windsor
| Date: | Friday, February 24, 2017 |
| Time: | 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. |
| Location:
|
Riverside Banquet Hall 1286 Lauzon Road, Windsor, Ontario |
| Fee: | Free (Donations to March of Dimes Canada are welcome) |
Sessions include / Au programme:
March of Dimes Canada’s Assistive Devices Program
Home & Vehicle Modification Program
Windsor Accessibility in Action
We Are Able
Stroke Recovery Groups
Aphasia Program at the University of Windsor
Stroke Community Navigation
Employment Services
and much more!
** Event will include lunch and networking opportunities.
Opening Doors for Accessibility London
| Date: | Friday, March 31, 2017 |
| Time: | 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
| Location:
|
Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre 591 Wellington Road, London, Ontario |
| Fee: | Free (Donations to March of Dimes Canada are welcome) |
Sessions include / Au programme :
Home Modifications
Aging in Place
Introduction to Adaptive Driving
Living Beyond a Disability
Connect Care Alarm System
Keynote by Paralympian, Dave Willsie
Presentation by Michelle Allen from Thames Valley Children’s Centre
Inspirational Speaker Kevin Bulmer
and much more!
** Event will include lunch and networking opportunities.
RSVP
Please RSVP at 1-800-263-3463 or by email at events@marchofdimes.ca. / RSVP au 1-800-263-3463 ou par courriel à events@marchofdimes.ca.
** In the subject line, please be sure to identify the city where you wish to attend.
For more information on any of the above events, please contact www.marchofdimes.ca
www.laubachliteracy.ca ~Lauback website, resourses for Tutors and Student.
www.alphca aplus .ca ~ In these pages you will find resources and information to enrich your learning experience.
www.homeworkcentral.com ~ Register with this site and you get information on: Online tutoring, words and vocabulary, homework help and much more.
www.funbrain.com ~ Lots of fun and challenging activities for you and your family.
`
Professor Owl's Book Corner 