T4+Writing+Goal

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**__Feb-Dec 2014__**
The children had been practising writing using an interactive whiteboard method and many had begun to develop their own basic sentences and writing and spelling words independently. I was encouraging children to extend their thinking and lengthen sentences and attempt new ideas and words. Children were encouraged to either spell their own words or locate them from resources around the room eg word cards, dictionaries, alphabet cards and such like. One WALT is eg: ** I am learning to: Write and spell words. ** I also model a sentence for the children as a story starter. This is on a Story writing chart or white board and involves a class planning and sharing session. The children have the option to use the story starter or do their own. Children who are not yet writing stories independently can dictate a caption to copy the words of after they have attempted to write a starter sentence on a white board. They are then expected to attempt their own words. Beginning children may also be at emergent stage where they are learning to form letters and trace over the top of words but can orally tell their stories.They are learning to use ipad apps such as Puppet Pals, Tellagami and Quick voice to do this. I use a 'Go for Gold' pen to highlight children's valid attempts at or correct spelling of words, sentence structure, correct copying of words, use of full stops etc.
 * Success Criteria: I know I can do this when I- -Can show or read my story and words to a buddy or the teacher **
 * Dec** . I now use a pink pen “ Pink for think;” to help students look at their mistakes eg spelling or no full stop for next time.

**__What I did to extend and motivate Students__**
I found that I was not reaching some students who did not enjoy Writing as much as I would have liked them to. They were therefore, not making the progress I also would have liked. I started reading and asking for ideas from my educational contacts and #edchats on Twitter. These include educators from USA, UK, Canada and Australia. I read 2 books Teach like a Pirate By Dave Burgess and Pure Genius By Don Wettrick. They contained a wealth of ideas that helped me motivate the students and increase interest and progress. I especially loved the Hooks that Dave Burgess talks about. ( He has over 30 with hooks within hooks) I used the Mystery bag hook for example several times and the students loved it. I would wrap something up in wrapping paper eg a small toy and put it in a bag. When I removed it the students had to guess what they thought was in the bag, describe what it looked like and what they could do with it, use it for. Their imaginations soared. One example was a puzzle in an hexagonal shape. One child guessed binoculars, another a toilet roll,( his use was for cleaning the windows LOL), another a spaceship. The closest guess gets to keep it. I found the ideas from Dave Burgess and Don Wettrick who emphasises using the student’s interests and passions did what they promised – increased student engagement, boosted creativity and motivated and improved me as an educator. I also used Tony Ryan’s Thinking keys eg I put on a funny hat and was a WatWat. Again students had to describe me and say what I could do and then think of themselves as a Watwat and talk about what they could do. Some could fly into space, some could be invisible. Other ideas were the alphabet hooks and Different uses eg my shoe is a…… (plate, rocket, frisbee, book holder etc).

I used a range of ipad apps that I discovered and experimented with to help students express their ideas in a range of ways. I also used ideas from PLD Rich Allen (USA), The Rock and Roll Classroom seminar and workshop in Hastings, Professor Mark Weston ( USA)2x Learning (Google hangout), Dr Michael Bezzina (USA) Authentic Learning ( Google hangout) My enthusiaism and motivation and the change of focus helped lead to big improvements in my writing programme in the classroom with students.
 * 1) educamps with over 100 teachers from around NZ #educamppalmy, #educampHB

** What the children did and impact on their learning **
The children have been writing lots of different stories. Progress has been made with children as they are writing longer stories or in some cases writing their own stories instead of copying the words of their dictated captions. One of my teacher classroom goals for 2014 was to extend the children's writing in the class and so I focussed on ,many different ways and methods to help accelerate the progress of the children. ( As mentioned above) The children's self confidence in writing has increased, enthusiasm and interest and children are trying to write more and get better all the time. Two ex reluctant writers get upset if we are not having writing due to a school event and keep asking when we are going to have it. Examples of children's progress are below.

** Examples of children's progress **
Boyden Te Iwi March and Nov 2014 Khani March and Oct 2014 Paora Van Feb and Nov Whiore Feb and Nov and Dec 2014 Sean May and Nov 2014

** Evaluation and where to next? **
The children are being assessed against National Writing Exemplars and the National Standard writing criteria as well as OTJs. I will continue to enhance the progress of the children's writing by encouraging them to “write write write." I hope to continue to motivate and encourage the children to have a passion for writing and confidence in their ability to produce amazing work. I will keep on trying new hooks and ideas, as mentioned above. I will continue to use a variety of resources and assess the individual needs of each child and cater for them. I have achieved my aim in that the majority of the class be at or above National Standards by the end of Term 4. I want to further extend and improve this goal. Students are now editing their work , using more exciting words and using punctuation such as capital letters and full-stops. 4 children will be going into another room as Y3s and new entrants have and will be starting. I wish to carry this focus through as a classroom goal again for 2015. It is also a school goal for that year and also over half of my students have come in throughout the year in 2014 with nearly half in the latter part of the year. I also have new entrants coming in 2015.

** Making Connections to prior learning and experiences **
Children were able to integrate new learning with what they already know and understand. I was able to then build on what students knew and experienced and extend that learning.

** Enhancing the relevance of new learning. **
Children were then able to enhance the relevance of their new learning, make connections across learning areas and further extend, modify and adapt their learning.