Exploring Learning

http://www.amazon.com I read ' Teach Like a Champion ' over the summer, which made me realise the importance of setting up classroom routines that establish clear guidelines and expectations, leaving more time for learning. This year, I created a presentation on Google to allow me to set up my expectations for learners to share in the first lesson. I interspersed the guidelines with games to get to know names and personalities. I called theses guidelines expectations rather than rules, to set up focused routines that place emphasis on why we are there - to learn. I began by explaining that having clear expectations allows us ALL to know where we stand with each other and lets us get on with the important stuff! I started with contact details - my website, Twitter and email address - so they immediately know how to get in touch if they need to. Later on in the week, we also set up Edmodo accounts as our Learning Portal. Next we played a name game - to get them listen...

Writing Journals I started reading an awesome book today. ' Spilling Ink' is aimed at children and encourages them all to become writers. I got about half way through by the pool this morning. I tend to fold down pages where there are great ideas I want to return to (I know this is will irk some people, but this is my method). As you can see, I folded down almost every page. It has so many great and workable ideas I can use in the classroom that I know will help them find who they want to be as a writer. I am so excited about sharing them with my learners and to see their progress. We start our journals next week - this weekend, learners are buying their own or decorating the one I gave them ready to be filled with their scribbles and musings. Learner Agreement As I launch, I will provide a writers agreement. This is a combination of ideas from both the Spilling Ink book and another book I read recently, ' Notebook Know How '. It consists of a learner agree...

I have just finished co-moderating the #satchatoc Twitter Chat that takes place every Saturday morning. Today, we were discussing Educational Grit - how we show it, encourage and reward it. It made me reflect on the last year and in particular, on my achievements with my first M.Ed Unit. Teaching full time in a new school as well as being a mother, wife and runner is tough. Add on to that the need to model life-long learning and my cup really runs over! However, I just got the results back for my first module of my M.Ed and I am so pleased. After not studying officially (other than online and PD stuff) for almost twenty years, the learning curve was steep. Add onto this, the expectations are high. 80% is the what is accepted as standard and only a B grade! As a high achiever who cuts myself no slack, I was seriously worried I would not live up to my own high ideals never mind my university's expectations. How could I get 90% and the As I have received my whole life? The learn...

The ‘Digital Divide’ is a term originally coined by Lloyd Morrisette to “describe the growing gap, or social exclusion, between those who have access to the new services of the information society, and those who ­do not” (P2P Foundation, Nd). As an educator in today’s world, I see this Digital Divide concerning also an understanding of the benefits of using technology in the classroom. There is a pull between seeing technology “as a magic black box with the potential to create a learning revolution or a black hole that consumes resources that might better be devoted to traditional classroom activities” (Jenkins, Purushotma, Clinton, & Weigel, 2006, p. 7). I agree that technology can sometimes be used for technology’s sake, and that sometimes, learning is best supported through ‘traditional’ paper and pen. Sometimes though, learning is advanced through both low-tech and high-tech choices. This can provide those with different learning styles the chance to shine (or to challenge). On...

View from the top of Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore We are back to school next week. We kicked off with a few days of PD, and ended for a long Independence Day holiday weekend, by being treated to a wonderful sun-soaked afternoon on the top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel. I have had a great summer - lots of sunshine, swimming and reading. I found a great balance between relaxing and learning, and thought I would list the great books I had the pleasure to read over the six week break. Fiction Coraline (graphic novel) by Neil Gaiman and P Craig Russell Tooth and Nail by Ian Rankin Strip Jack by Ian Rankin The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald Black Swan Green by David Mitchell Mockingbird by Katherine Erskine When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli While I Live  by John Marsden Shakespeare's Star Wars  by Ian Doescher The Miseducation of Cameron Post  by Emily M Danforth Out of My Mind  by Sharon Draper ...