Classroom+6

2 March 2012 With all the testing that has happened recently it has been rather challenging to get the routines up and running but...I have started a bit of fluid timetabling during my reading/writing block. The children have responded well and enjoy being abe to choose their own learning order. There are, of course, self-management issues with some of the children that still need to be ironed out. Does this ever end? It is much easier starting the year with a whole lot of laptops. (I have 6 laptops and the original desk top) I don't think the children know how lucky they really here. Five weeks into the term and they are already so comfortable with "Studyladder" and our wiki. Their reading logs are on the wiki now and (most of) the children are filling them in diligently. Sometimes it is easier to teach the children because the parents are not as good at embracing this new technology. Our blog started...and then stopped, but not for long. We will get into it next week.

The year has started off so well. Going to Learning@Schools certainly set the scene for great things waiting to happen in Room 20. I have started a class blog and the children wrote about the start of the year. You will find us at: [|wiredforblogging20.blogspot.co.nz]. The children are all inspired to start adding stories. (Thank you to Shaun for our first comment) This year, I am starting out with 5 laptops and a computer, as well as an ipad, 3 cameras and a Flip camera. The children also have their own individual flash drives so there are a lot of changes. The children are still a little unsure of how to do things but, the thing I love the most about children is....they aren't afraid to have a go at something new. We shall be launching into our flexible timetabling as soon as routines and expectations are firmly established. Hopefully in the next three or four weeks. My wiki is gr8joy4learning.wikispaces.com

I am so inspired by what I saw on "Everglades" wiki. I have already starting looking at the ideas on there to introduce some new ideas into the children's days. Thanks to Garath and Jacqui (It's not stealing if it improves practice) I am looking forward to tomorrow's school visits to freshen up my thinking and move me forward again.



Week 9:My children have done their fluid timetabling. I set way too much work for a week and they are **still** working on it. I must say that I don't always remember to sit and check through what they have done. Real meaningful conversations need to take place. Each child now has their own blog and most of them are starting their blogging journeys. The initial blogs are still small, one sentence comments but I have great hopes for great things.The first thing I have noticed is that children are logging onto their own blog to comment about another child's blog. Tomorrow I shall address this because (and it shows what one can assume) I didn't realise they don't know that they need to add a comment in response to the initial blog. CONFUSED? Welcome to my world! Oh, another thing. Today, after a maths group had worked with me they had to do two maths examples on a whiteboard, photograph their work and that became my check of their understanding. They loved it and it "bought me time" to check their understanding. They are now stapled into their WAHLT book.

And so I learn another lesson. From now on I am going to add my newest post to the top of the page, it is rather tedious scrolling down to find the new stuff. (I learnt that from looking at blogs.) My planning

17 January 2011Here begins the start of the new year and the new adventure in teaching.Just looking at the mess that will be a classroom soon. Where do I begin?A week later and I am ready for the children. (No, not this picture) Our shared learning area is also set up. We shall be putting pictures up soon, showing the areas as well as the children in action. hopefully

28 January 2011

I have been trying to give each child a copy of the Digital Competencies Matrix. It was too big. Here is the converstaion that ensued via Skype: Cheryl Joy McLeod 6:30 PM Hi JacquiI want to save the “Digital Competencies” matrix into each child’s wiki page. But the document dominates the page. See: gr8joy4learning.wikispaces.com/Aveshan What would you suggest? I don’t want all children to go to a central link, I want them to all have their own copy so they can highlight it etc. Please help. Ta Cheryl

Jacqui Sharp 6:32 PM hmm, how about saving each copy as a google doc, and then embed into the wikipage, that way you can have a small view of doc on wiki6:32 PMchildren will edit on the Google doc

6:32 PM which will in turn update on wiki

Cheryl Joy McLeod 6:33 PM But will they each have their own doc? Do they need a password to have a Google doc?

Jacqui Sharp 6:33 PM they will need to have their own doc, they won't need a password, just the link (internet address of page) 6:34 PMso upload the matrix to your google docs6:35 PMgo to File - make a copy, rename it with kid's name

Cheryl Joy McLeod 6:37 PM I'll have a go. Thanks. I shall let you know the result (if I can pull this off)

Jacqui Sharp 6:37 PM make a folder in Google docs and drag all kids files into that 6:38 PMwrite about it on your page6:38 PM copy our conversation on to your page and then finish off with if it works

I'VE GOT IT. Thanks Jacqui. Exactly as you said.

29 January I have found my planning exceptionally hard to do because I want to have some tasks the children have to get done in their own time, running through my planning.(The start of fluid timetabling) I don't know how to represent this. I am looking for ideas and inspiration.

media type="custom" key="8555298" width="80" height="80"**Week One:** The first three days have been wonderful and the children are settling in well.They are getting to grips with the idea that there are no assigned seats and are enjoying the opportunities this provides. This week has been all about setting up routines but I am throwing in a few tasks that need to be done by a certain time, the start of flexible timetabling.Today my class had an opportunity to explore our collaborative, shared area and such wonderful photo opportunities presented themselves. I loved this picture because it summed up exactly what we want to see - shared experiences in a happy environment.

Week Two: I was in PB Technologies and I saw (and bought) a Genus Graphic Tablet. Well, I took it home and have discovered that it is very successful with files made for Mimio. I am looking forward to getting to school to give it a go tomorrow. I envision it being used with a small group of children and I shall see where their entusiasm takes us. Two days later and the pen has (what I hope is an intermittent) fault. Maybe not as robust as first thought. But still a great tool.

Week Five: I can't believe that the term has flown by so fast. The middle of the term is almost upon us already. My children are so excited about our wiki and they are trying all sorts of things. Not all are successful but I put up "how to..." media type="custom" key="8555264"lessons on the wiki (under 'What's New") and have a lot of learning and "how to..." sessions the week. I keep an eye on who is using it by checking it each evening. I also hide little tasks for them to do around the wiki so they get into the habit of continually exploring all areas of it. After another while of exploring, I am going to start setting some more serious tasks to achieve so that it becomes a reflection of their learning.

The mimio is becoming a fixture in the class that is used in so many ways for so many things. I have a few very eager computer experts and they rally around trouble-shooting (whether it is needed or not) I can't complain about lack of enthusiasm.

It has been a wonderful start to the year.

Week 7: Thanks to everybody for the wonderful chat we had last week. It was great to be able to bounce ideas off each other. I am ready to go with my first week of fluid timetabling with a group of children. I have chosen six children who I think will rise to the challenge and this is what their brief is:

I have just had such a thrill when I looked at my children's wiki pages. They have started commenting on each other's pages, with no mention of it by me.Click on the dynamite at the bottom of the page. Have a look.