Maths

Although I have been focussing on writing, my other original goal of number knowledge has still been an underlying inquiry for me. I have been analyzing my assessment results and can see that mult/div is a weakness in my room.

Writing, writing, writing!

It has been a little while since my last reflection and I have so much to share!

I have found this website from a colleague The Literacy Shed this has some really great story starters and prompts the imagination.

We were meant to be going to a literacy course in the holidays but unfortunately it was cancelled.

Since then I have been trying to familiarise myself with the Sheena Cameron and Louise Dempsey writing book. So far it looks to have some really good, practical ideas for the classroom and I would like to start them up from next year onwards.

I have observed in the Year 7-8 Syndicate to see how they work their writing programme. Have also been to a year 1 and 2-3 class to observe. I talked to our Year 5-6 team leader on how they run their programmes. Using all the information I have gathered and that from my own team members I have come up with what works for our class room.

That will be my next post.

New goal...

After quite a lot of reflection I have decided to change the path of my inquiry. After further investigation I feel that my maths programme is going to be an ongoing thing but my Writing programme needed more attention.

I am still looking at how I-Pads can be incorporated into my learning programmes.

I have spoken to Karla, Tracy and Shanna re their writing programmes. Have also had informal discussions with my team on how they run theirs.

I have decided to change the way that I do things. I am trialling having a writing tumble. I have four writing ability groups. 4 days a week we will run the rotation and 1 day we will do whole class writing e.g. if something comes up with inquiry-we are writing an ongoing diary about our plants.

Will continue the rest soon...

After discussion with some colleagues in a meeting the other day, they showed me this website. It has videos that follow the numeracy project. I have been using these after I have taught the lesson. Will keep you posted with how it is going.


http://www.teachertools.co.nz/lessons-more/

My first post wahoo!

After figuring out how to work blogger I can now tell you about my Professional Development Inquiry.

After assessing my children in the first few weeks of the term I have discovered that I have a number of  children who are below in Maths. The biggest thing that I have found is that they are lacking number knowledge. My goal is to raise the achievement of these students and have the majority working at the National Standard. I want to focus my inquiry around mathematics and also how the use of technology (computers and i-pads) can enhance their learning.

Let the journey begin...