New Class

I am going to do some broad ramblings about my new class. Its 18 Y1/2 with a wide range of abilities in all curriculum areas so I am going to have to plan carefully to make best use of our learning time. I have had 14 of them before so it will be interesting to see what has happened with their learning after 20 weeks.
I know I have to be aware of the N.S but I also want to have a classroom that uses inquiry and ict to help with this learning. I want to build on the students interests and I want to start with an inquiry on WATER. (I know its for 2011 but hopefully I will be doing my science fellowship then, so I can build on that.)
Writing - I will try a block on scribing for the lower groups and also use this as part of their reading programme. I want there to be authenic reasons for writing so EXPERIENCE- WRITING- READING. I want to make use of the Natural Environment, science experiences and art. I alsowant to do my style of Literature circles- remember to visit Tia's work and share it with the children
How will I use ICT? IWB for lots of things including for Inquiry -brainstorming, graphic organisers,. for reading , writing and maths . For kids to present and share their work. Digital camera and class blog (just for us). Use Owhata wikis for literacy and numeracy planning. When I do my planning I will make deliberate acts of putting in ICT (I know it should just be part of our teaching by now but i want to keep track of what I do.)

New Class

I am all excited about my new class for next term and I am determined to use ICT/Inquiry/Science to get my kids to be the best possible learners I can.

ICTPD Contract

LW has just sent thru my goals at the onset of our contract in Feb 2008.I cant believe that its the same person . Just imagine that for the section "Communication - online interaction " in 2008 I had Not at All ". I am so glad we had that starting data. Its just as important for us teachers/learners as it is for our kids to have good starting data so we can show our journey. Here are some of the people that have helped along the way.

Feeling Flat

After my science muck up, next came some more bad news with a real muck up with renting Mum's place. I am feeling so down at the moment and my readings are all high. I am hanging out for the holidays. B. texted me and said I was moving to R20 for next term so I guess that means back to NE? I have really enjoyed doing the release but I know it was going to be temporary.

At our curriculum team meeting J was all excited about our project for 2011 hopefully I get up again to be really postive about that. I do think its a great idea.

Briefly, I enjoyed Kath Murdoch last weekend and feel I have been really on track with the 3 Inquiries I have done- How to welcome back a loved one ? What makes a great NE class? and The state of Science at Owhata School?

I hate it when my life is all exciting one moment and then things crash around me. I am quite down right now.

Science Fellowship

Due to a funding cut my science fellowship has disappeared-words cannot express how disappointed I am. I think it may happen for term 1 and 2 2011.

A Year

Going through Bruce H.'s blog and some comments I came across somebody in US who has made a film about her class over a year and also a lady who wrote a book about her class over a year. Wouldn't it be great to do that. I like the idea of long time things. Even my blog (for me) has been a sort of record of my learning over a length of time.
When I start my science fellowship I am going to write about it because reflecting on your own learning and thinking is a great way to learn even more. Blogging is good (better than just writing in an old exercise book) because people can visit and help clarify your thinking by challenging ,sharing etc
Maybe in 2011 I could video more and make a recording of my kids learning too..

Callibration

I had a minor panic- well no major really when I thought my power point for staff meeting on Monday had gone pear shape. Joss from room 6 said to me quietly that maybe I needed to callibrate and he showed me how. WOW -that fixed the problem in no time. I have on the classroom wall (a quote from Robyn )that its important for us teachers to have the climate in our class to allow the kids to do things with ICT and each day I am learning that its even more than this, its also about us all helping each other with our learning.
All this 3 years work on ICT, Inquiry, Thinking etcetc is so much about learning and thinking about learning and getting better at learning.