Week 3/4, term 2

I have had a busy start to the week. We have had a re-jig in our school to even out class sizes etc. So I am now teaching a Year 1-3 class which I am pretty pleased about because I was struggling a little to get conversation flowing with only 7 students.

Over the last two days I have spent time reintegrating the Year 3's into the class and going through what is expected, routines etc. They have picked it up fairly quick as it was only a term ago that they were doing it.

In writing my goal was to have children verbalising what they are learning and their next steps. My Year 2s, and some Year 1s can, however I will need to work on this with my Year 3's. I have created a visual set of posters similar to the butterfly lifecycle which I plan to have them using tomorrow. I also was working in allowing time at the end of a lesson for reflection. Which I have done a couple of times but need to make sure I do it more often.

For reading we have been making use of the word wall and I have noticed my students also using it a lot during writing which is awesome to see. My next step in reading is to develop some independent activities for my Year 3 students that aren't to easy.

For maths my focus was to have students practicing their basic facts each day which I have achieved - wahoo. My goal for the next 2-3 weeks is to get my maths programme running smoothly with 5 extra students who have a range of learning needs.

Week 1/2, term 2

We have had a great start to term 2.

My goals at the end of term 1 were:

• Writing - to have students being able to voice what they are learning, how they will know that they can do it and their next steps. 
• Reading - to add follow up activities after chn have read with me.
• Maths - complete an inquiry/stick to it.

So far in writing I am doing well. We have a great collaborative teachers facebook page that has heaps of awesome ideas. My principal 'tagged' me in one that had visual cues for writers. I printed this out the next day and put it on my wall. It is super easy to understand and my students know exactly what they are learning and where to next - so I can tick that one off.

My focus for week 3-4 is to ensure I allow time for reflection at the end of each writing lesson. I use to do this well and it makes it easier that we visualisers.

On reflecting on my end of term reading goal I don't think it is necessary for me to change this as I do the Daily 5 programme and this has heaps of follow up activities that the kids learn from. My focus for week 3 is to make use of the word wall and ensure I or a buddy goes through cards with the kids.

In math I have been doing whole class teaching of measurement. However I have gathered my data and made a range of basic fact games to do with children. Today I set aside 5 minutes after maths calendar for my target students to play the game. My goal is to have students play their basic facts game everyday for the next 3 weeks.