Monday, 23 June 2014
Noughts and crosses
From the game noughts and crosses (tic tac toe) I taught of a really simple spelling game that can be done in pairs. Each person chooses a spelling word from their list and substitutes it for a nought or cross to practise.
Comics and visual learners
I've just completed my first ever French lesson! I absolutely loved it but found my mind wandering a couple of times. To keep busy and focused on my learning I made a little comic strip of the conversation I needed to learn.
Today when I taught a class watching a video about the digestistive system I suggested they wrote dot points and/or do a comic strip to remember what was being said in the video- it worked!
It's a great strategy for visual learners too.
Sunday, 15 June 2014
Number of the day
A nice and effective little maths starter is to set some clues for the children to find the number of the day with some scaffolding clues. It's really nice if the children have whiteboards and markers available, otherwise they can do some working out on paper. It's also a good idea to set and extension for fast finishers whilst the others might be working through.
Checking for children's understanding
It's really important you discover where the children are up to in their learning. Questioning is a really powerful tool and if presented in the right way can give you a clear indication of what they realise. The teacher you're filling in for will really appreciate that information in your notes too. I've jotted down a few tips and techniques for questioning and letting them show you their knowledge in a more student directed way.
1. Make sure the questions are open ended; how do you know that, what do you think it means, what can you tell me about... They allow the children to verbally paint a picture of what they know and might surprise you with what they know and what they need explained. Yes/no answers really give very little information.
2. Reflection time: 5 minutes to think and then record by writing, drawing or acting out can be really effective in allowing them to recap on what they've learnt and consolidate their learning.
3. Think. Pair. Share: give the children a few minutes to think about the lesson, then explain what they've learnt to their partner, then their partner explains to the class.
4. who's being honest game: ask 3 children to explain a concept you've just been learning to the class two are wrong and one is right. Children decide on who is telling the truth and explain why that is the correct answer.
Rubrics for writing
All teachers ask children to check their writing before handing it in. Before doing so, it's important children know what they are meant to be looking for.
Saturday, 14 June 2014
Spelling Word Perimeter
Shape words are a brilliant way to tap into children's phonological and visual awareness in spelling.
This week I taught a spelling lesson with a small group of kids.
Some finished just a little quicker than expected but not quite early enough to do a new activity.. I set them an extension task by getting them to me are each words perimeter which is really straightforward when using grid lined paper.
Cross curriculum learning: too easy.
Secret Super Hero
An easy goal setter for great behaviour management is to have a secret super heroes jar- you can fashion your own jar with a little felt cape or even just use a box, bucket hat... At the beginning of the day, children write their names on a piece of paper, put it in the jar and you draw one out. This is your secret super hero. No one knows who it is but you and you will be watching your secret super hero for great behaviour all day- if they can make it to home time without any problems, they win the super hero prize of your choice. You can also use the secret super hero jar in conjunction with the jelly bean jar (first post on the blog) and the secret super hero can choose the activity.
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Teacher Mascots
When I teach a class of younger kids I like to bring along a soft toy that is my mascot. Mines an orang utan. I introduce her to the class and say she's shy and doesn't like it when people are unkind or doing the wrong thing. Then I choose someone sitting/ working well that she can sit with and change the person throughout the day and routines to make sure lots of children get a turn.
It's also important to explain not everyone will get a go but maybe they will next time you visit.
I've even used it with older classes by putting it on the whiteboard with a magnetic clip with a speech bubble and reminders like newsletters, people who need to go places at a certain time, assembly time, etc.
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