As our society becomes more and more dependent on media for information, entertainment and communication, it is important that we teach students how to think critically about the messages- overt and hidden- that are presented all around us. Teaching students to be media literate is helping them to   think critically about the world, thus helping them to make better and informed decisions, especially when the media can potentially have a great influence over our choices.

Interpreting media texts and creating media works are ways to help students think critically about the messages that are being presented. Students at Finch are actively engaged in Media Literacy learning experiences including creating commercials, posters, pamphlets, presentations and slideshows that portray messages (i.e. healthy food poster). In addtion, they are looking at various forms of media with a critical angle. For instance, what is the message of the commercial or advertisement? Who is the target audience? How does this message affect me? The following websites have excellent information for teachers and parents on this topic. There are valuable resources and cool links that teach students to be media savvy. Enjoy!

Media Awareness Network www.media=awareness.ca
Center for Media Literacy www.medialit.org
PBS Kids: Don’t Buy It! http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit

Finch Library Website: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/libraries/links.asp?schoolNo=3122 All Finch students, teachers and parents can have access to the TDSB Elementary School Library Web Site for Finch Public School. This site is created and maintained by the Instructional Leaders and Technical Support staff of the Library Learning and Resources department, with the help of teacher-librarians in Toronto schools.

This site supports the mission and goals of a strong school library program. It is designed to
improve learning and teaching by helping students and teachers:
• navigate to sites quickly within a user-friendly design;
• find quality online databases and Internet sites from dependable and safe sources;
• explore sites that are rich in content for Ontario schools;
• learn ways that Internet information is organized;
• use web-based information independently and responsibly.