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After typing in the picture books hash-tag on tumblr, I found an overwhelming amount of content appear.The content included a mixture of books, particular illustrations used in a picture book.The picture book I chose to investigate more was ‘The Long Journey to Find Cloud Country’ by Noah Klocek, who is a well known Pixar Animation illustrator.

The post displayed on tumblr was advising on the release of the picture book.The reviews I have read about the book has prompted me to find a copy so I can sit down and read the imaginative and well illustrated text.

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ECL 310 - Prompt 7

I have used Blooms Taxonomy to create questions for the text ‘Thai-riffic’.

Create

What types of ways could Albert and his family improve the design of the 'Thai-riffic' menu?

What other ways could the Thai-riffic restaurant be improved?

Evaluate

What do you think about Albert's attitude to delivering new menus for his parents?

What do you think about Albert’s parents attitude towards the competition across the street?

Are the students at Albert's school treating him fairly by calling him another name?

Analyse

What is the difference between the food at Albert's parents restaurant and the restaurant across the street?

Does Albert like helping his parents at the 'Thai-Riffic' restaurant?

Why does Albert wish his restaurant was an Italian pizza or hamburger restaurant?

Applying

Have you ever had parents that have owned a restaurant or business, have you had to help out? Did you like helping out? Why is it important to help out?

Comprehending

What does Albert mean when he states his dad 'is like an elephant, he never forgets anything'?

What does Albert mean when he suggests he is a 'fake aussie'?

Knowledge and Remembering

What is the name of Albert's family restaurant?

What is the name of the Chinese restaurant across the street?

Where does Albert live in Australia?

What is the Thai greeting used in the text?

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ECL 310 - Prompt 6

Student's are currently learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Histories and Culture, which is one of the key cross curricular priorities located within the Victorian Curriculum.

The topic focus for this literacy lesson is indigenous artefacts, with the front-loading activity going to be centred on the 'didgeridoo', with students to watch an interactive video from ABC Splash titled 'Making the didjeridu: inspiration and culture'. The short clip explains to students how a didgeridoo is made as well as its cultural significance.

The front-loading activity I would use is a 'KWL Chart', which requires students to respond to three questions. The first section of the KWL Chart requires student's to write down what they know about the specific topic, the second section requires student to write down what they wish to find out about the topic and lastly after students watch the short clip, they will be able to write down some things they have learnt about the topic.

The KWL Chart is a great tool for promote active thinking amongst the students, whilst it can be used as a diagnostic assessment tool for teachers and help with future planning of indigenous lessons.

References

http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/1647239/making-the-didjeridu-inspiration-and-culture

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ECL 310 - Prompt 5

First Sentence

I was hungry, I had no food, my strength was beginning to weaken during the cold night as I laid in silence next to the hollow tree, my wife has died and it's becoming transparent that I won't make it either.

Second Sentence

Whilst your wasting your food and throwing it away, I'm starving and my body is slowly wasting away.

Mini Lesson

The front-loading activity I would use for the picture book 'Dust' in a mini lesson for middle years students is a cover prediction and blurb activity.

At the beginning of the lesson, the teacher and students would have a class discussion about the features of the front cover, such as illustrations, setting, potential characters, colour use, size of title, type of font used for title to distinguish what the picture book could be about. 

Students will work individually to analyse the front cover of the picture book, before writing a short blurb about what they think the text is about. Students will be encouraged to add as much detail as they can to their writing piece. 

At the end of the session, the teacher will read the blurb of the text and students will be able to compare their responses.

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ECL310 - Prompt 4

During my placement I spent my time in the foundation year level and throughout the classroom there were many posters to help prompt the children, whether it was for numeracy or literacy.

The poster / work display that was a stand-out for me in the classroom was one that centred on the writing goals for the students (as above).

The students were concentrating on specific conventions in their writing such starting a sentence with an upper case letter, using spaces between words, using full stops at the end of the sentence and using the correct pencil grip.

The poster/display showed two pieces of students work in the classroom and highlighted the use of the writing conventions used in their piece by different colour texta's.

Accompanying the children's work was a writing check-list for students to use when editing their work, ensuring they are using the writing conventions discussed and the display acts as a prompt for students.

After having a discussion with the teacher regarding the display, she stated the students really embraced it as a tool to help remember what's required in their writing.

The display was very simply but appeared very effective and beneficial for the students.

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ECL310 - Prompt 3

Throughout the course of the week, there have been many platforms I have used to read and make meaning of text.

The platform I used continually was technology, using online websites to read local, national and international news and sport, as well as continually using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Intstagram. I heavily used email during the week, reading a host of personal, university and work emails. The piece of technology I use religiously every-week is my mobile phone and I'm constantly reading and sending text messages.

Despite my increased use of technology to conduct the majority of my weekly reading, I always ensure that I buy the Warrnambool Standard and Herald Sun on a Friday and Saturday. I've been reading newspapers since I was six years old and I love continuing that habit. Also throughout the week I received a significant amount of mail in the letterbox in which I read.

Whilst they many other reading platforms I have come across throughout the course of the week, the ones I have mentioned are the main ones I use.

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ECL310 - Prompt 2

Once introducing a new text to students, I believe its important to discuss the various elements that are visually displayed on a front cover to gain an idea of what the book could be possibly about.

A group discussion would identify the features that are located on the front cover, such as the title of the text, the different colours used, the type of font used,  illustrations and testimonials.

This particular text 'Are you seeing me?' by Darren Groth displays a number of these elements, such  as dark colours, interesting illustrations of a car and octopus tentacles and a large font. The text appears to have a thrilling storyline by the features of the front cover.

The opening activity of my mini lesson to predict the front cover would be a brief class discussion about what they notice about this particular text's front cover, before pairing up with a peer and discussing further,  noting down ideas on a piece of paper.

Following the brief partner discussion, the students would then use those ideas discussed and individually write a blurb for the text.

Following the students completing their blurb of the text using the front cover as a guide, I would then read the blurb on the back of the book and see if the students were close in their explanation.

A great activity for students to use their imagination.

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ECL 310 - Prompt 1

I have vivid memories of having a number of Paul Jennings books read in the grade three and four classroom. At the end of each day if the class was behaved, the teacher would read one of the short stories from one of his many great titles including ‘Uncanny’, ‘Unbearable’ and ‘Quirky Tails’. My teacher from memory used to capture the class with their expression reading his books and we would be hanging off every word and waiting for the real funny sections of the story being read. As Paul resides from Warrnambool, I remember he came to our school and read some of his books to us, one of my great reading memories from primary school.

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ECL 310 - Prompt 1

I have vivid memories of having a number of Paul Jennings books read in the grade three and four classroom. At the end of each day if the class was behaved, the teacher would read one of the short stories from one of his many great titles including ‘Uncanny’, ‘Unbearable’ and ‘Quirky Tails’. My teacher from memory used to capture the class with their expression reading his books and we would be hanging off every word and waiting for the real funny sections of the story being read. As Paul resides from Warrnambool, I remember he came to our school and read some of his books to us, one of my great reading memories from primary school.