Evelyn Mann’s keynote to open the conference was interesting.  She discussed the ‘literacy’ of drama and how drama reinforces many literacy skills.  The fact that you can ‘think, feel and represent messages through drama’ enables it to be a literacy.  This is interesting – as an e-fellows group, the discussions on ‘what is literacy?’ have been evident at all our sessions together.  We have discussed this exact concept – the literacies that are prevalent in so many contexts. 

She also discussed how drama is a motivational and inspirational approach to literacy.  This is exactly how I feel about my Reading Logs as Reading Logs project.  The online concept, the interaction with ICTs, the online conversations about reading have all been motivational and inspirational for the group, particularly the ‘Buddies’ (reluctant/at risk readers). 

Robyne Selbie also made an interesting comment in her welcome speech.  She commented on how the technology of today is actually creating more opportunities for writing and reading than previously.  How true.  When last did parents, brothers, sisters, classmates, teachers, strangers . . . give a reader public feedback that promoted further thought, discussion and ‘conversation’, as it does on our blog?

My presentation isn’t until Tuesday afternoon (feels a bit like the ‘graveyard’ shift!), however I am looking forward to my workshops and the authors dinner tomorrow night (I am having dinner with Kate De Goldi – and about another 30 teachers!).

Here is a little video file that I have recently shared with people both within and beyond our school. Already though it is out of date as our blog approaches its 300th comment (only 2 to go!!)

Bloggers in Action

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 . . .

Well where do I start?

• 7 of the 10 ‘Buddies’ have had running records taken that show 5 of them have made significant progress in the term on the programme. One of them has shown 2 years improvement since February and another 1.5yrs since February. This is significant.

  When I chatted with them about why they thought that they had made such a jump they both told me that they felt better about reading since Bloggers, and that they know that they can read. One of them also told me that he liked it that others were interested in what he was reading.

• The Mentors have asked for more sessions – as they feel that while they enjoy working with the Buddies, they would like to have more time for themselves to post to the blog!
• One of my mentors is moving to Oman in a week. She has asked if she can still contribute to the blog from there!! – Of course she can!!!
• And then today – one of the mentors is in Samoa with his family on a holiday (wedding I think!). We has made this fabulous post about visiting the home of Robert L Stevenson, and sharing some of the information about his life in Samoa – I never knew Robert L Stevenson spent the last five years of his life in Samoa!!! How neat is that? Josef’s Post
  

I didn’t realise how long it has been since I made a post on my blog!! I have been keeping a thorough journal of what has been going on – but unfortunately this has been of a very old fashioned nature – pen and paper!!! I have so much to share with you that I will make each of my ‘points’ in a separate post so as to give it the emphasis it deserves!

I have taken the time to chat with one of the classroom teachers (remember that I bring students from classes throughout the school together).  This teacher has 1 student involved as a mentor and three as buddies. 

HER RESPONSE HAS BEEN SO AFFIRMING . . .

She made note of the following:

• That all of the buddies (who had been identified as reluctant readers) are finding any opportunity that they can to read – and to have a text available to read.
• That the one student who stated that he loves Bloggers because he hates reading in the class – is feeling positive about reading  in general – which is a big step from where he had been.
• She believes that she has seen considerable gains in their ability to write reports (the writing focus of the term) – more so than students in her class not involved in the bloggers.  She sees that while the focus is on reading, they have been thinking carefully about the writing process and writing for an audience.

My discussion with her was incidental, however developed into quite an indepth talk about the programme.  My initial reason for initiating the discussion was in planning for what the bloggers might look like next term – will I keep on the same mentors and buddies?  Will I bring on more buddies?  Can the buddies operate like this, but back in their classrooms?  My concern being that while the students are engaged twice a week in ‘Reading Conversations’ they are also being pulled from directed and focused classroom teaching sessions that delve much deeper than this programme does.  This teacher sees the programme as complementary to classroom reading sessions and as a great incentive for those who are on it.  In summary she would see it as beneficial for her students to continue on a programme similar to that running.  I need to make the time to have similar conversations with other teachers of students in the group.

It has been too long since I have made a post regarding my E-Fellowship project. With being away in Week 5 it has taken me a while to get back into the swing of things!

The blog looks like it is ticking along nicely:
*it is taking shape with reports, photos and podcasts
*it has a number of ‘conversations’ happening involving people from outside of our group
*it is encouraging the reluctant readers to read
*it is developing some leadership and co-operative skills of the mentors

BUT . . . the quality of the reviews could be improved and just how many posts are individuals making?

The kids have done a really good job of keeping this ticking over while I was away – the blog has continued to grow and contined to get feedback on it. It almost doesn’t need me!! There are some ‘avoiders’ though who have been happy enough to have their mentors ‘model’ reviews for them, with very little effort from them required. Today I set up something that I wish I had organised from the beginning – a log of what they are working on and noting when they complete an entry. I am sure that this will direct them even more and show them their productivity. I have also allowed a space for self evaluation for them to reflect on their posting – was it OK? what could I do better type of comment. I’ll see how this goes.

I’ve interviewed some kids today and it is interesting to get their personal responses. Jessica was clear that she is really enjoying having a place where she can write about what she is reading and share this with others. She has students from her old school ringing her up and letting her know what they think of her reviews. Joel believes he is reading more books as he wants to get more posts up, and Lucy (in her mentor role) has acknowledged how much she has learnt in the leadership role.

Things continue to buzz. This is great considering half of the group are reluctant readers, who are often hesitant contributors to classroom lessons. All of the ‘buddy’ bloggers, have either made a post (or two) or have posts ready to go. Now that we have all of these posts on I would really like to ‘refine’ or improve the quality of the postings – asking the kids questions such as
* How can we make these as inviting to others as possible?
* What am I looking for in a passage to read aloud?
* In what ways can I share a variety of types of books, but ones that still appeal to me?
* How can I make the text as appealing to readers as possible?

There is still a lot of room for improvement here – but I do feel that we are making good progress in improving the enjoyment factor of reading for reluctant readers.

On the other hand the rest of the school are really getting involved in the site too. This afternoon I approved something like 18 comments – all of these from students in our school. Their comments continue to be of a varying nature – agreeing with reviews of books that they have read, or acknowledging that the review has enticed them to read this book.

Another item to note is that many of the books that the students are reviewing aren’t on the shelves in the library anymore – students are reading the reviews and then going and getting the books out!

BubbleShare: Share photos – Easy 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!

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!