my favourite song

visit

I have just asked Tia can I visit her class in Nelson next term. I hope she says yes when she is back on line when school starts.

Journal

I have been reading my 14 year old nephews school report from Tolaga Bay Area school. It is great the way the teacher of literacy has been honest about his trouble with writing (spelling and getting going) and how she has put some ideas for helping. So, following her advice I have purchased him a nice book for him to 'journal' in. Great to see David starting to write about his life on the farm and he has started about his 2 dogs. He just told me on the phone that he will read out to me tomorrow what he has written. He thinks he has got nothing interesting to write about , but when he starting talking about his school, farm life and sports he now reaises he has a lot.

Mokopuna

Rellco

The workshop with R and J went well on saturday, although I did feel a bit dumb that my conribution (and ICT) was quite basic.
My son and I just had a meal out in town and he showed me his face book when we came home. I enjoyed seeing what various relations and some of his old school friends are up to. He also showed my 9 month old grandaughter on her early childhood blog - she had this adventure with a big basket. There was photos,comments and music. I know how I felt as a Nana seeing her learning in that way sooooooo -
After saturday at the rellco conference I am going to see if at parentinterviews early next term I can show one piece of each of my kids school work in an ICT format.

T's work

I am so enjoying reading her writings on life, learning, reading, 5 year olds
etc. I wish she would publish them in a book - I'd buy it. She writes that already we are pushing reading too hard and too fast for our 5 year olds. I feel I have to compromise and the work I am doing with good quality books especially NZ ones through the literacy circle headings to guide my teaching is helping to give the depth and richness of literacy that is missing from just a diet of 'teaching reading'. I think this will be the line I will use for my bit of our Rellco workshop next saturday.
T's work with follow up activities has been wonderful to see and I am working hard to include aspects into my literacy programme.
I wonder if she would let me visit her class next term?? Will I be brave enough to ask her. I could use my 20 years of teaching money.

literacy circles

I am making a digital story with KT 'reading" the Lion in the Meadow (when she is only reading on yellow. She has great expression, she knows the story (and loves it).
K (another K) made a strong connection about the sadness (and death )in Roimata's Cloak and sadness and death in another persons life (a big thing to do for a new entrant).