The Daily 5

This term I have decided to implement the Daily 5 literacy framework as per The 2 Sisters—teachers Gail Boushey and Joan Moser wrote The Daily 5 and The CAFE Book their method for accelerating literacy and learning.

My reasoning behind implementing this is to give my learners greater choice in what, when and how they go about predominately learning to read and write.  It enables learners to develop agency, time management skills, decision making, problem solving, self management, stamina, love for learning.

I brought the book at the beginning of the year but put off implementing it for a few different reasons.  Having completed the Modern Learning Practices Core Education I can see how this framework can support me in my pedagogy and classroom practice.  This also tied in with my thoughts and wonderings about how I can cross group/multi level my instruction lessons into workshops that my tamariki opt into based on their learning needs and interests.  Given time to set up this framework and work through management issues I believe that I will be better equipt to move into this typing of 'non-grouping'.

I also read a a Sabbatical Report written by Sue Allomes (Principal of Terrace End School) in Term 2 of 2014 entitled “Does a Daily Five Literacy Programme support future oriented learning and teaching within literacy?”

These are the conclusions of the report ...
I believe Daily Five and CAFÉ does enable children to self manage, to co construct learning, but it also ensures children are specifically learning skills that will set them up for a future of learning.
Hattie indicates evidence shows that for maximized learning impact some factors positively influence learning more than others; Instructional quality, direct teaching and effective
feedback, student to teacher, teacher to student.
Daily Five and CAFE strategy teaching fits well into the positive key influences for maximized learning impact but Daily Five and CAFÉ are just formats programs.
It is the passionate, accomplished, inspired teachers who use Daily Five and CAFÉ to make a
difference, by relentlessly pursuing maximum learning for their students, they are the ones preparing students for the future.

I have only just begun this journey.  I have much more to explore.  My intent is to take from the Daily 5 framework what works for my teaching practice and my learners.  I look forward to developing this pedagogy further as the weeks roll on.

MLP Challenge 4 - Rethinking Support

This is our final challenge presentation.  I found this particular challenge to be more relevant as I was able to contribute a lot more in regards to the online learning environments having been using chromebooks now for approx two years or so.

This challenge brought together a lot of the knowledge gained throughout the whole learning process.  I think it shows a clearer picture of where we are at as a school and the potential for development and improvement upon what we are already doing.  For me, this is now a go to resource/reflection tool/reminder to focus my teaching in order to enable and establish the learning environment and conditions that my learners need.

I did really enjoy this challenge.

And I am please to say that for this challenge, the marking rubric came back with both areas marked in the 'refinement/renewable' column which basically means ... top marks!