I now have all of my core programmes up and running. The students seem to be really settling into routines and comfortable in their groups.
Maths -
I am currently running 5 groups for maths. I have split my bottom group into two smaller groups because of the difference in abilities and this is working much better. Studyladder is proving to be a great tool for follow up and extension activities for all levels.
Reading -
Currently in reading we do a variety of activities to improve both reading, comprehension and vocabulary understanding. Students complete a reading strategy based activity, a vocab busting activity and a SRA weekly. I will need to add in some extra activities now that swimming has finished and make sure that my top students are extended. I think that I will begin Book Club for my top group to extend their reading ability and reflection on written texts. Am hoping to start this after we return from camp.
Writing -
I have experimented with using my writing groups to brainstorm and plan their writing together. For the top two groups this worked really well. I worked with the bottom group to brainstorm and plan our their writing. I have noticed that the students are writing narratives instead of recounst and not focusing on a moment in time. I used a recount that I had written as an example and this really worked with showing exactly what I am wanting. We also looked at writing in the correct tense, many of the students are mixing past and present with their writing and even within sentences.
Learning Spaces -
Trista and I have purchased some mosquito nets and bean bags to create extra learning spaces on our deck. The students are loving being enclosed in the nets and are using them well. We are planning to change the location of our bag hooks and convert the cloak bay into another learning space, with couches, bean bags etc. This will be a fantastic additional to our classrooms.
Our learning spaces:
