What does online learning look like?

So what does online learning look like on our site?

We each chose a part of the curriculum to focus learning on. I chose writing, with a focus of Narrative writing. I thought that given our situation, it might be good to find out how creative they would be writing about, what life is like in their bubble. 

       

We video ourselves explaining what we would like students to do today for writing. We also remind the students about setting up their books with the date and title of their story. We also encourage them to try their best. We write the learning intension as evidence of what the learning is for the day. Making videos of myself does not come naturally to me and I was very anxious and worried that I was talking too much or the students and parents wouldn't understand the learning focus as I'm sure a lot of teachers all over New Zealand were feeling the same way.
This is just a snapshot of Wednesdays Focus. Click the link below to check out our site.
https://sites.google.com/ptengland.school.nz/theblockyear342020/home
Here are 2 writing examples of the days' activity. A clear indication of how 2 students processed the information from the video. Teaching from home has had its challenges. In class, I would have taken the bottom student and any other students with a similar idea, to the side and worked with them. This can't happen for obvious reasons and so reading some of the student's blogs have been both, hair pulling and teeth clenching as I can't physically be with them. So, I will use this to reflect on my teaching, and use evidence from the student's blogs as the next steps in my teaching, when we all get back to normal school life and routines. I'm sure many teachers across New Zealand will be feeling the same way, remember, we are all in this together.

  

hi today i'm writing a narrative this narrative is going to be about living in the bubble. It look normal, beautiful, giant, different. It feels strong, hard, like stone. It also sounds loud and noisy

First Google Hangout with the Students.

Our first Hangout with the students. This was really exciting it was great to see them online. I'm proud of how versatile the students have become given the situation we are in at the moment. I'd like to give a special shout out to Mrs Currathers who has worked extremely hard to prepare our site for online learning.  Thank you Clarelle. 

This is the edited version of our first hangout with the kids.

Learning Online.

Online learning, Wow who would have thought we would be teaching from the comfort of our own homes. The first week brought home the reality that this had actually happened and we were going to be in lockdown for 4 weeks. After a few days of getting myself and family prepared for the weeks ahead, that first week was suddenly over. The second week my colleagues and I discussed how we wanted online learning to look like for our students. I work in an ILE with 3 other teachers who are absolutely amazing and in times such as this, it has been most comforting knowing that we have all come together to support each other to create an online learning site that was easy for our students to navigate. We have videos of the teachers giving instructions, explaining maths strategies, writing genre, and of course a little help from online activities. 

 Check it out

https://sites.google.com/ptengland.school.nz/theblockyear342020/online-class
Our second week became the first week of our school holidays. This meant finding ways the students could still be learning, but just in a fun, relaxed, no-pressure way, that would help keep the students interested in learning online. So our wonderful teachers came up with this Holiday Learning Journey

This allowed the students to choose a variety of learning challenges and an opportunity to earn points for prizes and certificates, while still learning online.

Home Learning Packs

Finally, a moment to sit down and reflect on the last couple of days.  I am so happy to be working with the most dedicated compassionate amazing people  The PES Whanau. Thank you. Thanks to all our support workers who helped with learning packs for our Tamariki. Senior management, Office staff including our principal who works tirelessly behind the scenes and magically makes things happen. Thank you, maintenance crew, who packed down our school in a couple of days. Thanks to all the people who have supported us with Chromebooks, stationary, we never get to say thank you personally we appreciate your generosity and kindness and wish you and your families well during this time. Teachers, absolutely love working with you all. Be safe, be kind and I'll see you in our Hangout.

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                                                      Delivered the last of our home learning packs.  

Inquiry Term 1 2020

On the Move again.

I get to teach in another open learning space this year. I'm a teacher in "The Block" we are a group of year 3/4 teachers. Two teachers work in a 2 room space with year 4 students and I get to work with 2 lovely teachers with lots of energy and dedication, I look forward to working with both teachers this year.
It's fortunate, I know most of the students from when I was teaching them in Team 2. They are a really lovely team of students. We have lovely new bright furniture which the students like. I really like our learning site page. This term is very busy with Kiwi sports, Rippa Rugby, Te reo Maori and soon we will begin practising for Fia Fia. I'm looking forward to the year.

PENN News Term 4

This is our last PENN movie for Room 11 2019. I really enjoyed dressing up and putting on a play. I liked learning about how to keep ourselves safe in and around water at Glen Innes Aquatics. Making Fruit kababs was awesome. Playing Chubby Bunny for our writing experience. Our treasure box has been full of fun and treats and slime. Reading about pizza and then we made pizza. We went to the beach to explore the rock pools, that was lot of fun. We have had so much fun learning together in Room 11.