Storytelling - Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks and the Three Bears The next story I focused on was Goldilocks and the three bears. I used the same process as the previous story but this time I added some different deepening activities. This helps the children get the know the story in more detail and exposes them to more language features that they can use in their writing.  ·         Read different versions of the story and made comparisons. ·         Same process as above but this time we completed a Mood Map and discussed the feelings of the characters throughout the story. ·         Deepening: Created character descriptions with brainstorms of WOW words. Acted out the characters around the room and described how they looked, felt, liked, disliked.  ·         Imitation: Retold the story in writing. Character Description: Mood Map: My Findings: I found that the reluctant writers where more engaged as they were involved in acting out the characters and the discussions around the key words.  I also found that the writing produced had more rich language although it was still written in mainly simple sentences and there was not a very clear sequence of writing yet.

Maths - Strand - Shape

These past few weeks our focus in Maths has been about shape.

To begin this unit I did a diagnostic assessment to assess the knowledge that the children currently had about the topic before any learning occurred. This was great as it helped me to develop an understanding of the knowledge that the children have.

At the end of the unit I gave the children the same assessment to serve as a Summative assessment. This was great as the children were familiar with the test as they had done it before. It also helped me to develop an understanding of what knowledge the children learned.

Throughout this unit, before each lesson I showed the children a youtube clip that related to the key learning objectives of the lesson. This was a great way to harness the attention of the children and to get them excited about their learning. It is also another way of enhancing their learning as these clips were presented with songs, music and different visuals, a different method of catching the children's attention.

Assessment Week

So far in my teaching career I have realised how difficult it can be to monitor children's progress and ensuring that the learning I am giving them is at the right level.

My tutor teacher has helped me here as she has recommended having assessment weeks near the end of each term.

This means I give the children plenty of learning opportunities for the week that allow the children to practise the key things that they have been taught without my assistance. This way I can pull children away form their learning and assess their reading with a Running Record and their Maths.

This has helped me to constantly readjust my planning and my learning groups to help ensure that the learning is catered to the needs of the children.

At the end of each term I have also asked each child to produce a writing sample so I can assess the progress they have made with their writing over the term.