Learning

The content of this blog and the threads that we develop as a class will evolve and change over the year.

One of the main reasons for using this tool is to develop a way of sharing the things we have been learning about and to encourage comments and feedback on our work.

The Topics cloud in the top left corner of the home page will grow during the year.  Click on any topic link and you will get a list of the blog postings associated with that  topic.

Morning Routines

The use of this blog and its content is integrated as necessary with current topics and issues as part of our class oral language and written language programme.

The key ways in which this blog is used are: as part of our oral language news presenting, oral language buddy and group talking, note taking, thinking and learning journal reflections.

Each morning different students take it in turns to take the class roll.  Two other students then read the morning news out loud to the class and present the daily blog.


Speaking and Listening
Presenter Skills

• Taking a risk to be a presenter
• Helping someone else to have the confidence to be a presenter
• Cooperating with a news buddy (organising and taking turns)
• Reading and highlighting the news email and blog as it is presented
• Using a clear loud voice 
• Head up with confidence 
• Use some expression
• Learn to deliver the news with good pace and timing
• Use your initiative with ad-lib links to make the presentation your own
• Organise and select audience members who wish to contribute their ideas
• Identify new, difficult or unknown words - ask the audience about the meaning of new words
• Identify errors in the daily news (proof reading skills - surface features)
• Identify where the meaning is lost - ask the audience for clarification

Audience Skills

• Looking at the speaker
• Keeping your thinking in your head until it is your turn
• Being respectful by keeping quiet - wait your turn
• Listening to understand
• Listening to understand and then ask questions
• Hands up to contribute your ideas
• Thinking about new information and making notes of ideas in your learning journal
• Journal notes can include pictures, cartoons, comedy, diagrams, fancy lettering - make them memorable
• Interact with the news content: notes, questions, ideas, examples, stories
• Store questions in your head: who, what, where, when, why, how
• State your opinion
• Give the facts

Group Skills Tools

• Take turns
• Paraphrase
• Show understanding
• Body language
• Circle time
• Buddy think pair share
• Fish bowl
• Donut
• 
  

Learning Journals

The main role of the learning journal is to support and develop thinking skills and to promote individual expression.

The rational for using and developing a personal learning journal is that through self knowledge and thinking about our learning we discover more about our own learning styles and our individual passions.

Journals are a place to keep notes and write down ideas and plans for projects.  Our learning journals are for keeping a record of our thinking about our learning and the things we have done.  They show personal progress and individual changes in thinking, focus, and ideas.

• Take notes
• Reflect on learning
• Use thinking tools - PMI, Venn Diagrams, Thinking Hats
• Develop mind mapping skills
• Use sentence starters
• Justify thinking and give reasons - I think because...
• Feature pages, ideas, treasures, jokes, idioms
• Story starters
• Facts - opinions
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