Learning at WVS 2016

Sean (at school) has recently shared this with me – SumDog – a site where students can select a level to test themselves either against others or against a computer. As well as multiplication (up to large numbers too), addition and subtraction there students can practise with integers.  A great site for having kids strategise.

What a receptive group of teachers I presented to yesterday! It was wonderful to have such a responsive group who so openly saw the possibilities for using blogging to enhance their reading programme. There was a real ‘buzz’ at the end of the session and many of them talked of of their intentions of going back to school and exploring the possibilities with groups or classes.

If any of you are reading this post – I would love for you to let me know when you do set one up and let me know your URL (e-mail me or comment on this post) as I would really like to see how other people develop them. I was interested to hear one teacher’s idea of how kids could create comprehension activities too – that would encourage further interest and understanding of the books read. I’d really like to watch how others do develop this idea as I do believe I have only just scratched the surface! Keep in touch all of those of you out there!

To view the work that these teachers did in the session visit http://teacherreadingblog.edublogs.org.

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 Already though it is out of date as our blog approaches its 300th comment (only 2 to go!!)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

It has now been 2 weeks since our visit from Michael (CORE Education). Michael’s visits have provided a great sense of pride in our project by the kids, have enabled me to gather information (through him) from the kids, and have also provided me with a lot of reflection as a result. It is really affirming to have him come in and see what I ‘believe’ to be happening in the class. I think so often teachers think programmes are running in the way that they planned, but in standing back this can be quite different. He had some in depth conversations with the kids, and was able to take a lot from these. One really interesting one is one of my ‘buddies’ who has all of a sudden become a writing genius!! She explained to Michael that she felt that the bloggers group had helped her to see that she could read and that she was a good reader and as a result she felt better about all of her learning at school! (How great is that?). This same child has also made 1.5 years progress in reading since Feb!! Isn’t attitude and a belief in yourself so important?

The day Michael came we sat down and reflected on the quality of our work. This was really valuable in looking at the posts and looking at what we could be doing to improve what it is that we are doing and considering out audience too (which is ever growing!!). This was a valuable exercise and one that we have gone back to revisit over the last two weeks.

We do still need to consider and continue to work towards improving our quality – quality control can be the focus of next term – now that we are well and truly up and running (or is that sprinting!!)

Here is my trusty ‘sidekick’ trying out the dance mania mat at the Manzana site.  She certainly was impressed and I wouldn’t mind betting that she finds a budget at school to get one of these from! Enjoy the video! (Sorry – you will have to look at it lying on your side and I can’t work out how to move it!)

WOW – what a privilege to be here – so many innovative teachers and I am one of 12 who have been selected to present a board and share my ideas.  I’ve attached a photo of my board – titled ‘I’m a Teachie – not a Techie’.  I have 15 minutes to fill in prior to my judging – so here is my board – and I’ll post a bit more re this and other boards soon!

I have left a few schools Scratching!!!  Don’t worry- not a nit infestation but a number of people exploring the use of the Scratch programme.  The Lead teachers had a great play on Tuesday, and other schools such as Ardgowan and Glenavy have groups of ‘explorers’ looking into the uses of it.  What a great way to make a TV commercial, to catch attention of the audience, to retell a story, to share visual language, visual arts, explore the role of an animator as a career . . . – this is not just a programme for fun and games, it has great educational value too!

 Have a go!