As I am thinking of how to start this post I cannot believe it but it's nothing ICT related! Anyway...
My team talked awhile ago about our maths programmes and making math overall more relevant and meaningful.We thought about our maths warmups and ensuring they weren't always number knowledge focused. We have found in the past that this does not cater for the vast range of knowledge ability in the class and wanted to do something differently.
So, this week for my maths warmups I have taught fractions. Each day I taught the same objective but in a different, motivating and 'real' way. I even differentiated it for my high-flyers by adding in some decimals and percentage work.
I found great ideas on Pinterest. If you are not signed up to pinterest then you really must!
Here are some posts we wrote on our class blog about our week of maths.
Cubes Fraction work
Pebbles Fraction work
Name Fraction work
Fraction Portraits
I even had one boy say "This is a good way to learn fractions" Imagine my excitement to hear that!
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Friday, December 21, 2012
2012 Reflections
My reflections for 2012
2012 has been a great year for Vardon. Both staff and children have trialed different e-learning tools and have become more able in their IT skills but also their understanding of the pedagogy behind using ICT to support and enhance existing classroom programmes, and for the children - their understanding of how to increase and enhance their learning. Children are actually understanding why they are using tools, such as voicethread, their blogs and the purpose of using these tools.
For me it's about ensuring that I have a purpose for what I am doing when teaching/incorporating e-learning/ICT into my teaching - which is how we think about teaching maths, writing,etc. When I plan for any unit of work or a one off lesson i am thinking of the best tool to use to suit the purpose of what I am trying to achieve, or what I want my class to achieve.
This term I have being using a class twitter account for my class to collaborate with others, improve their writing skills and to also learn about other schools.
I first started with a whole class "tweet" session and this worked well. Most of my class were engaged for the whole 40 minutes. The second time we tweeted I was in the ICT suite so I set up the four library computers and had four chn tweeting. WOW! It worked so well! They were so excited about the amount of tweets coming through and were "hooked" into what they were doing!
Using twitter in the classroom has really motivated chn to write and connect with others. I am definitely continuing this next year!
I have passed on more ownership to my learners and encouraged them to ask me to create new learning using a variety of tools. This is slowing growing and going well. I have chn ask regularly to make a puppetpals to make a movie (an example - on how to make ice-cream- therefore linked to learning) or ask to create an animoto to show their learning of swimming at swimsafe.
I have begun to train my Year 3's so they can take the reins next year.They have been excited to take these lead roles and I'm sure that will continue into 2013!
With our purchase of three new iPads I would like to explore the use of these within our existing classroom programmes. Our iPods have worked really well and have engaged the children who have been using them. I need to ensure all children have equal access to using them and that they are using them in a meaningful way and to also increase their learning capability.
This article http://www.vln.school.nz/pages/revision/122278 is where I will start my learning journey in exploring the use of Ipads within a classroom programme. I will track my journey here on my blog and would really appreciate your comments and questions to guide and challenge me along the way!
2012 has been a great year for Vardon. Both staff and children have trialed different e-learning tools and have become more able in their IT skills but also their understanding of the pedagogy behind using ICT to support and enhance existing classroom programmes, and for the children - their understanding of how to increase and enhance their learning. Children are actually understanding why they are using tools, such as voicethread, their blogs and the purpose of using these tools.
For me it's about ensuring that I have a purpose for what I am doing when teaching/incorporating e-learning/ICT into my teaching - which is how we think about teaching maths, writing,etc. When I plan for any unit of work or a one off lesson i am thinking of the best tool to use to suit the purpose of what I am trying to achieve, or what I want my class to achieve.
This term I have being using a class twitter account for my class to collaborate with others, improve their writing skills and to also learn about other schools.
I first started with a whole class "tweet" session and this worked well. Most of my class were engaged for the whole 40 minutes. The second time we tweeted I was in the ICT suite so I set up the four library computers and had four chn tweeting. WOW! It worked so well! They were so excited about the amount of tweets coming through and were "hooked" into what they were doing!
Using twitter in the classroom has really motivated chn to write and connect with others. I am definitely continuing this next year!
I have passed on more ownership to my learners and encouraged them to ask me to create new learning using a variety of tools. This is slowing growing and going well. I have chn ask regularly to make a puppetpals to make a movie (an example - on how to make ice-cream- therefore linked to learning) or ask to create an animoto to show their learning of swimming at swimsafe.
I have begun to train my Year 3's so they can take the reins next year.They have been excited to take these lead roles and I'm sure that will continue into 2013!
With our purchase of three new iPads I would like to explore the use of these within our existing classroom programmes. Our iPods have worked really well and have engaged the children who have been using them. I need to ensure all children have equal access to using them and that they are using them in a meaningful way and to also increase their learning capability.
This article http://www.vln.school.nz/pages/revision/122278 is where I will start my learning journey in exploring the use of Ipads within a classroom programme. I will track my journey here on my blog and would really appreciate your comments and questions to guide and challenge me along the way!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Reflection
Room 14 and Room 7 are buddy classes (blogging buddies) and have implemented an ICT challenge for children to complete.
The challenges are going really well and are a great chance for our children to interact with older peers at school.
To start with it took time for children to learn their way around using the digital camera which we used for our first task. On reflection I would start with an easier buddy challenge although it was successful.
Our challenge this week is to take a video of a set of buddies saying the maori phrase of the week.
Where to now?
Well, a continuation of weekly challenges is a great way to build and maintain relationships between our classes.
A range of challenges to also ensure children are building upon their their E-learning knowledge.
The challenges are going really well and are a great chance for our children to interact with older peers at school.
To start with it took time for children to learn their way around using the digital camera which we used for our first task. On reflection I would start with an easier buddy challenge although it was successful.
Our challenge this week is to take a video of a set of buddies saying the maori phrase of the week.
Where to now?
Well, a continuation of weekly challenges is a great way to build and maintain relationships between our classes.
A range of challenges to also ensure children are building upon their their E-learning knowledge.
Monday, August 29, 2011
My thoughts....
With each new ICT tool I find to use it's finding more access to computers to allow my chn time to practise these new skills and then use these newly acquired skills to increase their capability!!!
I am finding I am integrating the skills of publishing with Google docs. I have trialled using the slideshow presentation on google docs (similar to PowerPoint) with my class. I find it just the same as powerpoint but you can add youtube videos and it's great for chn because they can embed it straight away into their blog to share with an audience!
A comment made by another school at the holiday ICT course at Southall was... how do we manage individual e-journals with yr 3-4 chn.... I think we are doing a great job. The main problem is getting the chn on the computer as much as possible with as many relevant learning tasks as possible!
It's about teaching the relevant skills for the future and providing chn with the opportunities to develop these skills.
One part of the ICT survey we completed with Jo Wilson was about knowing if our chn are achieving their goals in ICT. How do we know this? How do we know chn are achieving success in ICT? Is it when they can transfer their ICT knowledge to other learning tasks? Is it when they can teach others?
I'd love to know your thoughts on this!
I am finding I am integrating the skills of publishing with Google docs. I have trialled using the slideshow presentation on google docs (similar to PowerPoint) with my class. I find it just the same as powerpoint but you can add youtube videos and it's great for chn because they can embed it straight away into their blog to share with an audience!
A comment made by another school at the holiday ICT course at Southall was... how do we manage individual e-journals with yr 3-4 chn.... I think we are doing a great job. The main problem is getting the chn on the computer as much as possible with as many relevant learning tasks as possible!
It's about teaching the relevant skills for the future and providing chn with the opportunities to develop these skills.
One part of the ICT survey we completed with Jo Wilson was about knowing if our chn are achieving their goals in ICT. How do we know this? How do we know chn are achieving success in ICT? Is it when they can transfer their ICT knowledge to other learning tasks? Is it when they can teach others?
I'd love to know your thoughts on this!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Reflections so far...
There have been lots of positives and some "interestings" along the way.
There are so many webtools that's it gets a little confusing about which one to use. I have turned this into a positive by looking at the tool and thinking 'Will this increase student capability?" and "How can I use this within my class programme?"
On the go (at the moment)... VOICETHREAD
When I found voicethread and started using it in the classroom I could see the benefits straight away!!!
It captures student voice instantly and then can be uploaded and shared straight away on children's e-portfolios.
It's great for instant reflection and because you can upload a scan of children's work or a photo it provides the visual sample as well.
Here's an example: (from my class blog)
I have also trialled using googledocs to create online powerpoints and documents. The positive from creating online powerpoint is you can upload videos from youtube and you can share/embed your powerpoint onto blogs. Visit room 7's blog to see an example of using a google doc and very shortly I'll have a powerpoint embedded.
I am going to trial using this with my class next term.
I have found that a computer roster works wonders at getting children taking turns at updating their e-portfolio or using IT tools on the computer. I use ICT leaders within the classroom to teach others and support them so that my teaching groups are not interrupted.
As a staff we have discussed teaching children to be reflective about their ICT learning. We do this in written form and orally often in our classroom so it's logical to transfer this knowledge to the digital form. I try to ensure that children regularly reflect on their work and either add a written reflective post or a verbal reflection captured on voicethread. I have began getting chn to make comments on their peers' e-portfolios and respond back to the comments I make. This is working well and chn love reading their comments!!!
Onward and upwards!!!
My goals for term 3:
There are so many webtools that's it gets a little confusing about which one to use. I have turned this into a positive by looking at the tool and thinking 'Will this increase student capability?" and "How can I use this within my class programme?"
On the go (at the moment)... VOICETHREAD
When I found voicethread and started using it in the classroom I could see the benefits straight away!!!
It captures student voice instantly and then can be uploaded and shared straight away on children's e-portfolios.
It's great for instant reflection and because you can upload a scan of children's work or a photo it provides the visual sample as well.
Here's an example: (from my class blog)
I have also trialled using googledocs to create online powerpoints and documents. The positive from creating online powerpoint is you can upload videos from youtube and you can share/embed your powerpoint onto blogs. Visit room 7's blog to see an example of using a google doc and very shortly I'll have a powerpoint embedded.
I am going to trial using this with my class next term.
I have found that a computer roster works wonders at getting children taking turns at updating their e-portfolio or using IT tools on the computer. I use ICT leaders within the classroom to teach others and support them so that my teaching groups are not interrupted.
As a staff we have discussed teaching children to be reflective about their ICT learning. We do this in written form and orally often in our classroom so it's logical to transfer this knowledge to the digital form. I try to ensure that children regularly reflect on their work and either add a written reflective post or a verbal reflection captured on voicethread. I have began getting chn to make comments on their peers' e-portfolios and respond back to the comments I make. This is working well and chn love reading their comments!!!
Onward and upwards!!!
My goals for term 3:
- keep up the momentum of using voicethread in the class
- get children to upload samples of their writing onto their e-portfolios and then reflect and set new goals
As ICT leader my goals are to:
- continue with sharing and reflecting on ICT at staff meetings (which is working well so we need to keep the momentum!)
- ensure each syndicate is sharing, asking questions and supporting each other with their ICT journey
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