End of Term 2 Reflection

Highs & Lows!

Daily 5

Daily 5 continues to be a positive in the classroom literacy program.  The majority of children are spending quality time (increased mileage) reading or completing reading based work.  Testing is showing good progress, although some children with the benchmark change have appeared to have gone backwards or not as 'above' prior to coming to us.  With comprehension being the focus in middle school with the transition to senior school reading is now about understanding and less so about decoding.  

I have noticed fewer children choosing writing and a lot of children copying what they are reading into their work on writing books.  We have reflected and we will check independent work on writing more regularly and also the children must write twice per week.  We will also provide alternative spelling options to try and increase engagement.

We are also introducing handwriting and current events as independent choice options. Steps to Literacy children will be able to choose to complete their online program.  We hope this provides the variety and retains the engagement and motivation in the program.

To give the children greater self-management we are also introducing a Daily 5 choice sheet.  This will reduce teacher time managing choices in between rotations.  The downside is greater photocopying and collecting books in to check choices.

Phonics

The Yolanda Soryl program has been running for a term now and I have enjoyed the structure and step-by-step nature of the program.  The children I have had (stage 2-3) have been really engaged with the program, mainly due to the use of whiteboards and the challenge of the revision (element of competition keeps the boys engaged).  There is some transference coming through in writing of initial vowel sounds and the reading progress of some of our low children could be attributed to phonics as well.  These children still struggle with some sounds like 'r' and all vowel sounds and will need to be repeated.  I look forward to teaching a new level next term (stage 5-6).

Flat Stanley & Inquiry

The children have loved Flat Stanley and sharing his travels around the world.  They are proud to see their Stanley up on the map!  It was a great hook into our inquiry but we feel it was not as well linked to our inquiry this term.  The children ended up choosing countries different to where their Stanley's travelled.  It would have made sense for them to have a question and be in inquiry groups around this country.  

In hindsight, greater teacher direction was still needed, especially in the researching/finding out phase.  The children learned how to use google slides to present their information which was a great way to incorporate technology.  It would have been a good opportunity to see the children skyping experts or other school children in their chosen countries to get information, as well as have a bigger, authentic audience to present their work.  Once self-assessments (and teacher assessments) against the rubric are done it will be great to see the progress comparison from term 1 inquiry.