My little space in the world

What do you think?  What implications is this going to have?

How exciting to think that others can see the benefits of using Blogs like this. I want to share with you two schools that have started similar such blogs after seeing what we are doing. Jono Young at St Joseph’s, Timaru has his Year 7 & 8s with the blog http://taniwha.edublogs.org/. Sally Morch from Greytown School has also started one with her Year 4 & 5 students – http://www.room7readinglogblog.blogspot.com. They are sharing their books in text and pictures and will be adding their podcasts in a couple of weeks time. Keep watching the developments with these too!

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!).

On Thursday I presented two workshops at the South Island DP/AP Conference in Timaru.  It was a privelege to be a part of only a small number of workshop presenters, however it was also a privelege to hear John Hattie speak in regards to effective teaching.

He was speaking in regards to the aspects of teaching that ‘make a difference’.  These are the aspects that he has identified from years of meta-analysis of research.  I was particularly taken my the number of boxes that my ‘Bloggers group’ and my e-fellows project were able to tick in regards to Effective teaching practice that makes a difference.  The data in our school recognises that along with class teaching of reading, the bloggers programme has been able to enhance the ability of our readers.  Aspects such as peer tutoring, collaboration and ownership are all present, and according to his data create more effective teaching.

It was then a real privelege to have him appear at my workshop (and stay for the duration!).  While my presentations were on a range of ICTs that enhance teaching and learning in the Senior School, part of it obviously included my e-fellows project.  I was able to acknowledge some of the things John had talked about earlier in the morning, in my presentation!

The mentors have added a new dimension by trying to make contact with some authors – and now we have hit the jackpot!! Aidan’s post on Kate De Goldi’s ‘The 10pm Question’ has had the most inspiring post by the author herself. Click on the link and read for yourself!  I can’t wait to see Aidan’s reaction tomorrow at school!

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
  
   

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.

I am prepared to argue with anyone who could argue likewise – but my personal belief is that the more students understand about the ways that they learn, and prefer to learn then the more beneficial their education will be to them.  There lies our challenge – the balance between the ‘learning’ and the ‘learning to learn’. 

In our development of our own school curriculum we have extensively explored the key competencies, inquiry learning and an integrated approach. They all work together, complement each other and assist to ‘build’ a learner and their learning structures. We have developed school wide ‘Learning Tool Kits’ which are used in both teacher directed and independent learning activities. Our Learning Journals are our vehicle to try and understand how the students are thinking and feeling about their learning. To see a student articulating their learning is powerful – both for them and for the teacher. Recently I came across three questions that I want to bring to the fore:
Where am I going?
How am I going?
Where to next?
Can your students consistently articulate their learning and direction?

2009 – a new challenge on the horizon!!!  An e-fellowship – to further enhance our focus on reading comprehension, I am going to look at using Blogging with reluctant readers to encourage a greater understanding of texts read – watch this space!

MOE Media Release

WOW – Utilise the experts that we have in our country – I have spent the last few days looking over the first week of the Time4Innovation online conference.  You can’t afford NOT to have a look and listen to these people – if you come away with only one idea to implement or explore within your school it must be valuable!