This was one of my goals this year. I wanted to run a Presentation of Learning (POL), High Tech High style. Post experience, it’s got to be one of the most valuable things I’ve done in years. The day started off pretty rough – students pulling out, panel members not showing up etc. Then, our first speaker gets up. She’s shaking. The moment she starts … Continue reading Presentation of Learning
This week has been massive! We have two very cool projects about to launch (I’ve just added them to Project Cards – House of Cards and Mosquito Project). Johnny and I have spent a rainy Sunday holed up project planning – feels like the good ol’ days. Anyway, we’ve got very some cool Entry Events planned which I’ll get back to soon, and I’m experimenting … Continue reading Coming Soon…
Another of my favourite creative writing prompts. The idea was posted on the ETA Facebook page last year and after hunting down a class set of keys (BIG thank you to our school GA!) this has become one of my most loved creative tasks. http://squishynotslick.tumblr.com/post/22121050121/keys?utm_content=buffer1ddfc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Meet the keys! Each key has a cryptic message to inspire a story. I’ve been using these to build sensory writing; describing … Continue reading The lost key.
Allow me to introduce my AMAZING Year 11’s. They have absolutly nailed the art of editing both their own and each others work. In just two lessons. (Proud? Yes I am. We all know self critique is a challenging skill) From first draft to last, the difference is phenominal. I love it. They are learning to ask questions, identify language that adds little to their work and … Continue reading 50 word stories so good they must be shared…
Note: Not my idea, but one I’ve really enjoyed putting into action and had to share. A gem from my Head Teacher – Hi Fi! 🙂 Here’s how it works. Students bring in 6 artefacts that reveal something about themselves. We bag these up (as covertly as possible), attaching a number to each bag. Once all the bags are in (this took about 3 days) it’s … Continue reading Detective day!
Around this time last year the stars aligned and all my classes were doing creative writing at the same time. So naturally, I decided to turn the classroom into a crime scene. Whilst this was an awesome lesson, it wasn’t until afterwards that I realised how potentially inappropriate this could have been. Thankfully it was all fine. The kids LOVED it. We used the scene … Continue reading Crime Scene
I adore my Year 12 Studies kids. They are the most amazingly creative and eccentric group of people. What I hate, is the label that seems to be attached to our subject. 12mths ago when we came together I tore through the first lesson (with what in hindsight could be described at manic enthusiasm) determined to break the stereotype of ‘bludge‘, ‘film studies‘ that plagued … Continue reading English Studies… It’s a bludge, right?
I’m a newbie to the world of Year 7. Two weeks in and I’m hooked. Little kids rock. They have this amazingly positive vibe radiating off them every lesson. I’m determined not to kill it. Gotta say, the pressure to not be dull is a little daunting! Don’t be dull, don’t be dull! Ok, got it. Phew. So here is idea 1. Inspired by Bianca Hewes … Continue reading Tiny Historians
