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Prompt 8; Last Prompt

I believe that if used correctly, social media can be an absolutely fantastic resource that can provide you with unique and exciting lesson plans. Upon my hashtag research I searched Facebook as a form of finding a range of picture books and ideas. 

When making a comparison between the tumblr hashtags and multiple social media websites, it was evident that they varied in resources that were provided. I believe that the hashtag throughout social media was more effective and it was narrowed down and provided current information. Whereas the tumblr search was far too large and provided me with irrelevant information, that was very time consuming.

I do believe that it would be acceptable to use hashtags as a form of research or to gather potential ideas for lessons. However it is absolutely pivotal that you take the time to further research your topic and complete proper research through a range of resources to ensure you are gathering the most accurate information possible. 

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Prompt 7: Picture Books

As many people may know, Andy Lee has released his debut children’s picture book titled; ‘Do not Open this Book!’. He initially wrote this text for his nephews 1st birthday and a friend suggested to  publish it. I cannot wait to get my hands on this text, I believe it is such a great concept and believe that students of all ages would absolutely love it. Whether this be, the pictures, the text, and/or the storyline. The illustrations are by Heath Mckenzie and i believe that there are superb and so entertaining for students. I’ll definitely be purchasing this picture book as soon as I can. 

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PROMPT 6

Provide student with image from the text, Stolen Girl. Do not tell the students about the text prior to the activity. Get the students to write a diary entry based on the image, get the students to think deeply about how this girl is feeling, thinking, and what she might be saying. 

From the website provided and picture book Stolen Girl, this would be great to build the students knowledge on the stolen generation. 

http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/1910718/governor-arthur-phillip-and-the-eora

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Prompt 5

Worldle Sentence:

Imagine the millions of people who are hollow, with no food for strength, and are rapidly becoming transparent versions of themselves, while they remain in silence waiting for death to save them, like the many who have died before. 

Picture Prompt:

While stomachs around the world ache from over indulging, many ache in pure desperation. 

Possible Front Loading activity Prior to reading ‘Dust’:

As this text is very important and heavy, I believe that there needs to be a lot of front loading sessions in order to prepare students for the reading of ‘Dust’. A possible front loading lesson could involve devising a session around living on $1 a day. You would explore how individuals who live in poverty live with only $1 a day, and what we as privileged individuals would spend in a day. This will create the feeling of the students making comparisons and the lesson still being relevant. After much research (using the below the line website) and further literature reading, the students will discuss what they would be able to eat with this amount of money, and how much they eat now. You can go on further by reflecting on how much food on average Australians throw out and school campaigns we could develop in order to assist those who are struck with poverty. 

For this front loading experience I would endeavour to make sure that students understand that there are other people in this world who do not have what we have. We want our students’ world’s to open up and become more worldly. 

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Prompt 4: Reading Corner (Text response in separate post) 

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Prompt 4: Cyber Safety

It’s safe to say that technology is so prominent in not only the classroom but also at home, you cannot escape it. So, instead of preventing the inevitable, I believe we must embrace it for the positives it can produce. Like most aspects of life there are positives and negatives, and both should be discussed continually with our students if we want to incorporate technology into our lessons. Technology is such an amazing and effective tool, and we shouldn’t take it for granted. However we need to ensure that when we incorporate technology we need to promote cyber safety, whatever the tool may be. I believe that we need to be open with our students about cyber safety and be completely honest about the dangers that can arise and how to go about any concerns that students or parents have. I feel it is completely unreasonable to completely disregard the use of technology in the classroom and in my opinion becoming nearly impossible. 

Although I did not attend the recent placement, I thought I would attach an image from my sister’s classroom. My sister teaches at a local school in which has a deep focus on the Kathy Walker Learning/ Play is the way (Learning through the use of play) pedagogy. This is an image of her ‘reading corner’, which I feel is so enticing and such a welcoming place to be. The student’s love this area and often chose to work there as this is a safe place for students to learn. The resources surrounding the area are relevant and vibrant for her 1/2 class.   

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Week 3 Reflection: Texts

As mentioned it is extremely difficult to remember all the different types of texts that you connect with on a daily basis as it becomes such a normal behaviour. 

Due to the world being so dominate with technology of course text messaging and Facebook are a high amount of every day reading. There are so many interesting articles on the internet now that reading the newspaper often means reading the same information twice. Another main source of reading is the university course work. Every week there are many readings and chapters that are important to catch up on and making sure you fully understanding the assignments means reading and re-reading many many times. 

Reading for leisure, I have been taught is extremely important so I do enjoy trying to find a text that is interesting to me. I have just finished reading ‘The girl on the Train’, which is soon to become a movie which I’m very excited about.  Overall reading is such an important part of every day life and its essential that you are able to incorporate reading into your life. 

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Prompt 2/Week 2

 Predicting using the front cover is a great skill, and needs to be first taught, and then further developed. An idea for a quick prediction lesson might be to hand out different coloured posted notes. Each colour representative of a different prediction query. For example a pink post-it could ask, ‘what do you think will occur in this book?’, a blue post-it note could ask, ‘do you think this text with be positive or negative, and why?’, and a yellow post-it note might ask, ‘how does the author/illustrator provide us with clues, and what is he/she using?’. It is important at this stage to encourage students to think deeply about these questions and have reasons for their answers. You could then draw either a venn diagram/ Y chart or even just a table where the students could come stick their posted notes. You could then encourage the willing students to express their thoughts and some answers, making sure you are using the terminology and checking for understanding within your class. 

Another task (if time permitted) would be to create a mini story based on the front cover using only your predictions. Though this might have no real connection to what really occurs in the text, its a great way to get students interested. This encourages students to think deeply about their prior knowledge and promote creativity and individualism within their writing skills. 

Overall it would depend on what your class enjoyed more, as long as you were demonstrating the importance of prediction and building on these skills. 

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Prompt One: Week 1 reflection

I believe that at a young age being read to is pivotal in assisting to develop your imagination. It helps in so many ways such as your vocabulary and understanding how to pronounce and use particular words in the correct context. When I have my own class I would really love to read them a series also. I too remember being read to in Primary School and the absolute excitement and involvement every student had. This was usually while we ate our lunch and often we were sad to have to stop reading when the bell rung to go play. It’s essential that we find the time to get to know our students interests so that we can seek a text that will be relevant and appropriate for the group. I absolutely love reading and my memories of being read to are very fond. I remember one large series of books in particular that my mum or dad would read to me before bed. It was a collection of Dr. Seuss texts, in which I bought at a school book fair. I was absolutely fascinated with not only the texts but the cartoon illustrations too. Overall I have great memories of being read to and I hope to continue this on with my own class one day and hopefully provide them with such positive memories as I have. :)