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Teaching in action – examples to share

Mind your Gramma!

October15


While I haven’t had the opportunity to read this book – the Literacy List Serv has recommended it as a great book. I ‘googled’ it (as you do) and found the National Library’s Storytime Treasure Chest had shared it in September. The book itself is aimed at 4-7 years, however I see value in this being shared up to our Yr 8 classes (and even beyond in other schools!). At a time when social media language is dominating the written AND spoken word of our children – and many of their parents – I think that this cleverly shares the implications of language development (or should I say detriment??)
‘Gramma’ is a stickler for correct grammar, and spends the day correcting her granddaughter/grandson – who just doesn’t get it!!!
Have a listen to the book being read – a must for ALL school libraries!

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Book Reviews

September5

Here is a little bit of self promotion . . . !!!  . . .  I am excited to find today that my Technology books have been reviewed by a member of the Techlink team (Techlink is the professional support site for Tech Teachers in NZ – and beyone). The review is very positive and it is a great feeling to think that people might purchase these books in order to support the quality of teaching in their classroom – whether it be a regular classroom or a specialist technology classroom.  These books are targeted at Levels 2-4 NZC and also work to support lower secondary too!

Check out the review at : http://www.techlink.org.nz/teaching-snapshot/Resource-Reviews/Technology-in-Action-books.htm

 

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Interface Online

July18

Interface online

I have the Interface online RSS feed on the right menu of my blog – but I don’t know if I have ever highlighted this site on my blog.  I can’t rave enough about this magazine – both the hard copy (which I just love!!!) and the online site.  There is just a plethora of information for teachers, managers, decision makers, students (if they get hold of it!!)  . . . and so much material to guide and inspire you.  I have kept EVERY copy of this magazine since it arrived in my letterbox in 2007 (I was an ICT facilitator at the time) and haven’t missed reading each one from cover to cover (and some I read for a second, third time . . ).  I frequently refer to them before making purchasing decisions and was really interested to read the latest Facebook article, in the same week that I pitched to our BOT the need for us to be out there on FB!!  It is topical, informative and inspiring!    I’ve even had the privelege to trial some hardware and write a review for the magazine as well as article that was published back at the beginning of 2010 – Article here

Check out the Interface Online website – and it you don’t already get it – make sure you order your one now!  (We now order them for EVERY teacher in our school it is in such high demand!!)

. . . back in the land of ????

May19

It has been months since my last post – it isn’t because there hasn’t been anything going on – quite the opposite in fact.  I have just had two books published through Essential Resources to support the teaching of technology in Levels 2-4 of NZC – Check them out on the Essential Resources website

Technology in ActionBook 1 will support the teaching of Technological Practice.  Book 2 provides Effective Teaching Strategies for use in Technology rooms and also Classrooms where technology is taking place.

Technology in Action Book 2

The interest heightens even more!

September1

Limelight10pm question
The mentors have taken the idea of contacting authors and run with it. As a result they are taking more care to add detail and thought to their posts. In the last week Aidan has made contact with Kate de Goldi’s agent, Lucy has e-mailed Tania Roxborogh, Tyler has e-mailed Joanne Harris and others are waiting in the wings to make contact with Vince Ford. It would be great for them to make a post on the kid’s reviews and to get author’s perspectives of their writing. We wait in anticipation . . .

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We have taken off!!

May7

BubbleShare: Share photosEasy Photo Sharing

We are well and truly on our way! The mentors are doing a great job of working with the buddies -the only thing is that we have come to a standstill – our blog has used up our quota of 20MB!!!! I am in the process of upgrading our blog which gave everyone the opportunity today to get everything ready to upload in our next session next week.

Comments are coming in thick and fast. I have two extra ‘mentors’ who aren’t assigned to a buddy. I have been using them as technical assistants if the mentors aren’t clear on anything ‘techie’ wise. I am also now intending on using them to give feedback to the comments that we have received, as some of the comments are written in this regard. The students are buzzing and the ‘reluctant’ readers are tuned in the entire time in the classroom. Not once have I had any difficulty with management or ensuring someone is staying on task.

In a quick ’round the table’ summary at the end of today’s session, I asked the ‘buddies’ to share what they had learnt so far. All were able to state something, along with an enjoyment factor. This is how learning should be for all students!

The comments begin . . .

May5

While we didn’t meet as a group of ‘Bloggers’ today it has been exciting to have had a raft of nine comments roll into the blog. THANKS ROOM 13! The comments that have been posted are from students who have read some of the books and are agreeing with the comments eg:
At this link
“I really enjoyed this book. The tension and action was great and the characters were developed well. Some of it was a bit cofusing but after a while I began to realise what was going on and I found it a really good book to read.
I agree with Aidan that it is a book you wouldn’t want to put down and you should really read it.”

or from students who have been enticed into reading the book by the review – at this link
Hey! Love your book review! It sounds like an awesome book and (I) want to read it! Good Job!!!!

I look forward to sharing these with the Bloggers tomorrow and seeing their reactions to these comments. If you are reading this post – I welcome you to enter the school reading blog and make a comment too!

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Current Reads

September4

Two books I am enjoying picking up are ‘It’s About Learning (and it’s about Time)’ by Stoll, Fink and Earl –  focussing on Learning and the effectiveness of teaching as the important aspects of a school.  Sensible really isn’t it? – however how often as teachers do we hear/see ourselves and others focussed on the ‘what’ because it is a curriculum necessity, rather than the learner as the centre of the planning.  I believe that we are moving more towards learner It’s About Learningcentred in many curriculum areas, however ‘traditional’ approaches can still tend to come to the fore.  What I saw of the new Curriculum document in Queenstown last week, is that the new document will have more to guide us as communities of learners, and give us more opportunities for authentic tasks.

The other book is Kath Murdoch’s ‘Classroom Connections’.  In this book Kath outlines a huge vClassroom Connectionsariety of activities that can be implemented at each stage of the Inquiry process.  A wee gem really, in that it can give you a fresh approach in a new stage of your inquiry teaching and focus.  Great to add variety to your personal teaching.

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