Changing Education

Awards are given when points are earned As a teacher, you are always looking for something that is easy and effective to use as a behaviour mangement system in our classrooms, that allows that flow to happen in the classroom. I have been using ClassDojo for a year and for me it has been a good way to manage behaviour in my classroom in a way that the students respond to as well. The one big advantage I have found is that all the behaviour is recorded of each student. At the end of the day, when the opportunity or necessity arises, feedback can be given to students about their behaviour. This year I started the year off with all of my students using the same avatar. It seemed to be a great incentive to earn points, particularly after showing them the range of avatars that there are. I have prizes for each 10 points they achieve. The prizes include changing avatars, sweets, free time etc. which my students have really enjoyed and are always reminding me when they have reached

We have been looking at 2D shapes in our classroom. Everyone got into groups and create 2D shapes with their bodies. Can you guess what shapes we made?

In drawing, there exists the world of space, both negative and positive. Positive space is the objects that we identify clearly as being an object, such as a chair, a table or person. Negative space is the space that surounds this object. One study we had while I was at university was to draw jumbled chairs, or rather the spaces between the spaces of the chairs. It was a unique perspective I had never thought about before. This week my oldest son had to write a speech about perspective and how a novel can help us see what another persons sees through their eyes and with their thoughts. Children who need assistance regardless of ability, who need someone to help and guide their next step towards understanding a little more. Parents, who love their children and want to support them in as many ways possible. It's important to listen to them and know where there perspective lies. quietenening the noisy, supporting the hurt and injured, listening to both sides of the story and applyi

Taking up the digital and technological challenge of using technology in my classroom, I am constantly looking for ways to use technology to help manage the assessment of students. I was looking at using Evernote, but that seemed only practical when I had access to an I-pad. What to do? I am using OneNote that is connected to Microsoft Office, purely because its practical. Its already on my computer, I know how to use it and I can link computers and upload documents. I am always concerned that things will start to spiral out of control, so my aim here is to keep it simple

There are many ways to teach and learn, but I am enjoying growing in the way I teach through the Daily5. This has been developed by sister team, Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. More information can be found at their website "The Daily 5" http://www.the2sisters.com/the_daily_5.html . They developed the program out of a need to be effective teachers (Isn't that what we all want to be as teachers?). It has been like taking a breath and slowing things down in my classroom. I find that I am focusing on those things that really matter by making sure each child understands what they are learning and that there is a reason what they are doing. Instead of me telling them how well they are going, they are abkle to tell me which is really exciting. There is time to practise the skills and strategies so that the kids know it really well. The strategies that I have used for CAFE (short for Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, Expanded Vocabulary) so far, have been Checking for Unders