The Learning Progressions and Assessing students work.

I have made this rubric for my students to use as a self assessment tool. (This is the first page only.)
Based on the Literacy Learning Progressions.

What the boys have to say about Writing...

1
2
3
4
5

Interesting to hear the boys love writing when it is on their terms.  If they can write about what they want to write about, then they are keen.  If they are told what they are to write about and how, then the ideas and passion don't flow so freely.

All of my boys prefer to type, rather than hand write.

And all but one, like being given the time to plan their writing first.

Some boys prefer to write on their own and some prefer to write with others.  I let my boys choose for this task.

I am definitely learning!!!!

I have made new discoveries this week, about boys and writing.

Boys don't listen.  They like to see and do.  I should have known this before, from my own experience with my husband and 2 boys :)

Keep things short, sharp and simple (achievable).

Roller Coaster!

So up and down we go.  Everyday is a mission to try and engage these boys in their writing.  Sometimes it works and they love it and so do I.  But it is so hit and miss.

The writing challenge at the  moment is the boys are writing what is "around the corner....".

I took them over to a corner of our school and told them they couldn't look around the corner because the scariest thing they have ever seen is around there.  I said they needed to plan story of about 5 paragraphs telling me what is around the corner and how they were going to get past.

They were so excited about this at the beginning and their imaginations were flowing, but when it comes to putting the words as a brainstorm they are struggling to stay focused and I am hearing "this is boring!"

I feel like I can't win.  I put a lot of my time into thinking up creative lessons for them.  It's really hard when they don't buy into it.

I have given them options to put their brainstorm on the computer via cube creator which will turn their story into a 3D cube.  Still not focused.  The lack of listening and focus is driving me crazy and then the repeating instructions etc.  I am feeling frustrated!

Light Bulb Moments....

The last week has been a huge week for me and my inquiry.  It started by observing my boys early last week and seeing that they were quickly moving off task and just generally bored.  I had started looking at paragraph structure with them and it was too much sitting around with very little purpose to them.

Things I have learnt:
Boys need to see a bigger picture - there needs to be purpose (for them, not just me).
Boys need to move around, don't just stick them at a desk and expect them to engage.
Boys have brilliant imaginations, and love to have fun!
Boys learn by doing and experiencing.
Boys need to experience different learning environments.

From these realisations I have....
Moved them away from having lessons completely in one space.
Started exploring the environment around us.
Created new learning spaces in my classroom for my students to work, e.g beanbags, couch, mat etc.
Tried to put my self in the boys shoes, what would make me excited about writing?  How can I get them to use their imaginations?
Asking the boys "What do you want to write about next?"  "Why?"
Opening up the discussion - Wow, the language that comes out when they can 'just talk'. Exciting! They don't even realise they are talking in similes, metaphors etc.
Finding other ways to express their written language.  Presentations, recording their voice, video etc.

I am so excited, i just need the ideas now!

The other day, it was so windy.  So we went outside, in the wind.  We sat by the buildings and listened to the wind howl around the corners,

We went to the middle of the field and felt the wind, played in the wind.  We talked, we shared and then we wrote all our ideas down.  They boys wanted to sit outside in the cold wind to write, they loved it.  "Can we stay out a bit longer?" They asked, "I want to be able to write down all my ideas!" Love it! Yay!

Once the boys had written down their own ideas, they shared their notes with each other and then wrote a description of their time in the wind.  Check out the video of their writing.

http://youtu.be/NI_6oJqcxFA

My thoughts...

As I am teaching and planning little thoughts (sometimes big) run through my head and as Ruth Foulkes suggested, I need to reflect on these, so here we go.

Jerry - his progress has stood out the most so far.  His writing prior to ALL was very hard to read as it had no structure to it.  His confidence has grown (partly from being "chosen" to be in this special group of writers and also he is more focused and enjoying the more practical, hands on lessons.  It is great to be able to really focus on the students needs in a much smaller group situation.

Callum - This is an interesting one.  He isn't completing as much work as the other boys (mainly becauase he is called out to reading during our writing sessions) but he has developed a passion for writing.  Prior to ALL  he hated writing.  Said it make him cough!  But now he is writing his first novel and works with a buddy to check his work and help him with grammar and spelling etc.

One thing Ruth suggested is that I need to have more urgency with my programme and teaching.  This is something I need to work on.

Ruth Lickfold is such an asset to this programme and my class.  We are working really well together as team teachers of writing.  Discussing ideas, sharing knowledge and planning next steps by looking at the students needs.  I am really enjoying this part of the programme.

I am thinking we may need to start to separate what is happening in class and what is happening with the boys soon as the boys will need to start planning their trip soon.  I think we will plan this for the last week of ALL.  I want to spend some time working on paragraphing and structure for reports as this will help the students with their inquiry work and also in the future when it comes to writing essays etc.

Setting up our learning space.

I have transformed our back room into a small group learning space.  It was jam packed with furniture and rubbish 2 weeks ago, I am looking forward to getting some of the boys work up on the wall, to  brighten up our new space.

Reaching for the stars

Rere atu, rere mai

Taku manu e

Rere ki tua, rere ki ko

Kia wheturangitia e.

Fly, my bird in every direction

Attain the countless stars.

I have been at a course for the last 2 days.  Soaking in all the big words and ideas that were being introduced to me.  My head ached by the end of the first day.  I think I had soaked in so much information that I actually felt like I was going to drown with the weight of it all.  Thankfully, today it all started to make sense to me and I was able to relate the information to my teaching practice and my class and the heavy feeling quickly lifted and left me with a whole new realisation about where I am as a teacher and what direction I am wanting to go.  

It's such a refreshing feeling, going from "what am I doing?" "Am I making a difference?" "Am I a good teacher?" To, WOW!  I know where I need to go, I can see what I need to change to make a difference and become an effective teacher.  Yay!

What is this realisation? Well, probably most teachers are already doing it, know it and can't believe I haven't been, but for me its been a stop/start journey so far.  I came out of University as a trained Primary School Teacher, but due to the huge amount of teachers coming out of training at the same time as me and a lack of jobs in education, I waited two years to get my first teaching job as an HOD of Music in a High School for girls - hmmm a slight tangent.  I loved my job but always desired to teach the younger students I had trained to teach.  After nearly 3 years, I left and went to teach year 7 students at an Intermediate School, where I happen to still teach.  I love this age group!  I taught for 2 and a bit years before I got pregnant and 2 children and 4 years later I excitedly returned to continue my journey as an Intermediate teacher.

Last year, (my first year back after my Mummy time) was a year of getting my head around the classroom management, as I had a rather interesting and challenging class.  I didn't have a lot of time to focus on my teaching practise other than my management strategies and finding things my students would love, so they would be engaged, on task (hopefully) and gain some skills for their learning.

This year is so different.  My class is completely opposite to the last class I had.  I actually find myself having time to meet with students in small groups or one on one and know that the other students can manage themselves well enough to stay on task.  It's lovely!

So my big realisation today was that I don't need to do all the big, fluffy, fun and exciting stuff to keep my students busy and engaged anymore.  They are engaged, they are enjoying learning.  I need to focus in on their individual needs, through all the testing I have done and look at what does this student need to know, to move on.  What do I need to teach them so that they can progress?  How can I teach them this so that they will succeed?  I need to simplify.  I need to get rid of the extra things I am doing in my time table, that take up time, sure the students enjoy them and they gain small amounts of knowledge from them, but are they achieving what they need to be achieving.   Are they focused in on what they need to know so that they can move up to the next level?

While this is my focus for the next year, the thing to remember is we all have different classes, with different needs and we as teachers need to decide the best way to address these needs, with the time and resources that are available to us.  Be open to new ideas, work collegially with your fellow teachers, as we are all aiming for the same outcome - to help our students succeed.