February Update

It is has been a full-on task with our goal setting interviews in week 3 this term. I was delighted though to hear the kids have such confidence when verbalising their writing goals. This reflected on the class program that I have been trialling using self and peer assessment and next steps. The tally system is working well alongside the use of highlighting the areas of focus. I have had only one pupil who so enjoys using the highlighter that it was featuring through out the writing -not just the aspects he was trying to improve! Great to see such enthusiasm!?
We had our second PD on mimio this week and Mark has shown us some really interesting things to try and use. The free download OE Cake is a load of fun (gimmick also)
I had my class program ready hum with the mimio this week especially in literacy but was dealt a tecky blow and couldn't use my laptop! It was a real shock as I have become so dependent on digitally planning and running my programs.

A New Year . The first week

It has been like the creation of a tornado when I think of beginning the year and getting things underway with my new class.

I started slowly enough during the holidays reading Alison Davis (Building Comprehension Strategies in the Primary Years) as I lay in my hammock which is stretched between two old plum trees, (this gives the benefits of both shade and sustenance) and  started making mental then scribbled notes as I became more interested in her ideas -the first gentle stages of a tornado in the making.

The tornado gained more energy as more notes, ideas and jottings, followed meetings and talking with my colleagues resulted in 'memos to self', gotta and gunna lists etc.

The momentum has now geared up to quite an impressive speed as we throw in getting to know the new class, setting routines, finding starting points, checking in with the R.T.L over last years strategies for this years pupil's, early assessments, getting ready for goal setting interviews, and the class camp! I am probably at an F1 rating - just knocking over a few chimneys and dislodging a few cars of the road at this time.

I am however trying to keep true to my aims of trying to get out of the way of my students -letting go so they can then take on more ownership of their learning. it feels a bit like that Pam Ayers poem when she is holding on to a cliff edge with her fingernails and God says to let go (Is anyone else there?) and also implementing purposeful interaction with learning partners.

I have sorted out my writing groups and have lined the children up with buddies about the same ability -yes they could choose from within that group. I have also devised a sheet for them to refer to when they are giving feedback etc.. I am hoping that it will be well received and understood.  I have tried to write it in 'kidspeak' to make it more user friendly than the 'Hands" system we have used in previous years.

I have been delighted with the enthusiasm the class shows towards writing and sharing their ideas. It all looks very positive! Let's hope this is not the 'eye of the storm'!

Copy of the sheet #1