Following on from the cursive writing project at the end of last term I've been continuing the theme through this term with thinking about letter formation and how children see and understand letters. Also promoting handwriting in the school through icreasing the visisbility and profile of handwriting.
The cursive letter formation images I created are on behance and have been shared through the school, hopefully to some positive effect.
Wednesday 28 January 2015
Wednesday 12 November 2014
From whatever next, to the final frontier...
I'm in a reflective and thoughtful mood this morning so prepare thine-selves for some self-indulgent pondering,
We are thinking about light and dark, at nursery at the moment and have been reading "Whatever Next", that favourite story about a little bear with a big imagination. I really wanted the children to get an idea of what it means to go into space, to go to the moon, because I very firmly believe that story books are more than entertainment, they are access points to the fantastic, springboards to the incredible.
We watched the footage of the lunar landing and those first steps onto the surface of another world. Nursery were very impressed with the rocket launch, they liked the spaceman "jumping" on the moon and we had a jolly good time imitating him and moving in different ways.
One very aware child asked the question I'd so hoped they would pick up on, and soon other children were asking too. "Why's he moving so slowly?". My answer to questions like this is always the same, "Shall we find out?" like a record stuck on repeat, towards the end of the year astute children have been known to replace these questions altogether with "shall we find out why...?" to which the answer is always, of course, "yes".
We decided that asking myself wasn't a good idea because I, regrettably, haven't been to space so I "don't even know". We looked to the internet to find out who had been in space, who was "the best" on this subject, and 'discovered' (ok, I admit, I lead them towards...) Chris Hadfield.
For those who don't know, Chris Hadfield was aboard the International Space Station (the world's spaceship) from December 2012 to May 2013, he was the first Canadian Commander of the ISS. During his time in Space, Chris regularly communicated with the internet and ran live Q&A sessions with schools. He is an incredibly inspirational person to millions of people across the planet.
Commander Hadfield recorded videos of himself performing every day tasks aboard the ISS, these are the videos we watched at nursery.
The first time that Commander Hadfield let go of his microphone and it just stayed, floating in space, the children's faces lit up. We watched him make a sandwich in space, the ingredients floating around him like magic, we learned how different going to sleep is in space, we saw water forming glassy wobbling bubbles, and watched space haircuts. The children were delighted every time something floated, they laughed watching Chris explain how important exercise and staying strong was, in general, but especially in space! and do the "Hadfield shake".
Though my class are only three, I jumped on this opportunity to promote aspirations and self esteem, and alongside our "five little men" songs, cardboard tube rockets, aliens in underpants, and moonscape counting, I spoke to the children about being an "expert", being so good at something that you were the best, or nearly the best. We talked about how Commander Hadfield knew that not everyone can be an astronaut, even if they really want to be, but that he decided to try his best every day anyway. He came to school every day and tried to be "the best" Chris Hadfield that he could be. He went to university to study something he loved (engineering) then got a job doing something he loved (flying) and tried his best and was happy the entire time, because life isn't measured by the end point, it isn't measured by big shining moments, but by small successes, every day victories.
We looked at photographs of people living their dreams, dancers, artists, singers, chefs, doctors, astronauts. We talked about practising the skills you need and the things you love, a little bit every day and getting better and better. Every day you can be "the best" you that you can be. You don't have to wait until tomorrow, until you are an astronaut or a fireman or prime minister.
Space is something that has always fascinated and inspired me. It motivates me to learn, to explore and to try to always be a pioneer in whatever i'm doing. Sometimes it doesn't happen, but when it's the journey that matters, your destination doesn't hold the same power over your self esteem. I want so much for the children to have that inspiration, I hope that this topic gives them some of it.
After our discussion the children went to choose their activities, some chose to go and explore the light and dark tent, some immediately wanted to practise their writing "I'm going to be clever, I can be best", one went to the "five little men" table and looked for numbers all afternoon, telling me she wanted to be a "spaceman". One even stayed back a moment to tell me that she wanted to be a ballerina and she was going to "dance everyday".
My next step is to make sure the self esteem in my classroom stays high, that my class, when they change their minds to the next impossible dream, as three year olds naturally will, know that with effort, and the right attitude, we might not get everything we want, but we will be the person we want to be, and that is real success.
For Chris' video's click here!
We are thinking about light and dark, at nursery at the moment and have been reading "Whatever Next", that favourite story about a little bear with a big imagination. I really wanted the children to get an idea of what it means to go into space, to go to the moon, because I very firmly believe that story books are more than entertainment, they are access points to the fantastic, springboards to the incredible.
We watched the footage of the lunar landing and those first steps onto the surface of another world. Nursery were very impressed with the rocket launch, they liked the spaceman "jumping" on the moon and we had a jolly good time imitating him and moving in different ways.
One very aware child asked the question I'd so hoped they would pick up on, and soon other children were asking too. "Why's he moving so slowly?". My answer to questions like this is always the same, "Shall we find out?" like a record stuck on repeat, towards the end of the year astute children have been known to replace these questions altogether with "shall we find out why...?" to which the answer is always, of course, "yes".
We decided that asking myself wasn't a good idea because I, regrettably, haven't been to space so I "don't even know". We looked to the internet to find out who had been in space, who was "the best" on this subject, and 'discovered' (ok, I admit, I lead them towards...) Chris Hadfield.
For those who don't know, Chris Hadfield was aboard the International Space Station (the world's spaceship) from December 2012 to May 2013, he was the first Canadian Commander of the ISS. During his time in Space, Chris regularly communicated with the internet and ran live Q&A sessions with schools. He is an incredibly inspirational person to millions of people across the planet.
Commander Hadfield recorded videos of himself performing every day tasks aboard the ISS, these are the videos we watched at nursery.
The first time that Commander Hadfield let go of his microphone and it just stayed, floating in space, the children's faces lit up. We watched him make a sandwich in space, the ingredients floating around him like magic, we learned how different going to sleep is in space, we saw water forming glassy wobbling bubbles, and watched space haircuts. The children were delighted every time something floated, they laughed watching Chris explain how important exercise and staying strong was, in general, but especially in space! and do the "Hadfield shake".
Though my class are only three, I jumped on this opportunity to promote aspirations and self esteem, and alongside our "five little men" songs, cardboard tube rockets, aliens in underpants, and moonscape counting, I spoke to the children about being an "expert", being so good at something that you were the best, or nearly the best. We talked about how Commander Hadfield knew that not everyone can be an astronaut, even if they really want to be, but that he decided to try his best every day anyway. He came to school every day and tried to be "the best" Chris Hadfield that he could be. He went to university to study something he loved (engineering) then got a job doing something he loved (flying) and tried his best and was happy the entire time, because life isn't measured by the end point, it isn't measured by big shining moments, but by small successes, every day victories.
We looked at photographs of people living their dreams, dancers, artists, singers, chefs, doctors, astronauts. We talked about practising the skills you need and the things you love, a little bit every day and getting better and better. Every day you can be "the best" you that you can be. You don't have to wait until tomorrow, until you are an astronaut or a fireman or prime minister.
Space is something that has always fascinated and inspired me. It motivates me to learn, to explore and to try to always be a pioneer in whatever i'm doing. Sometimes it doesn't happen, but when it's the journey that matters, your destination doesn't hold the same power over your self esteem. I want so much for the children to have that inspiration, I hope that this topic gives them some of it.
After our discussion the children went to choose their activities, some chose to go and explore the light and dark tent, some immediately wanted to practise their writing "I'm going to be clever, I can be best", one went to the "five little men" table and looked for numbers all afternoon, telling me she wanted to be a "spaceman". One even stayed back a moment to tell me that she wanted to be a ballerina and she was going to "dance everyday".
My next step is to make sure the self esteem in my classroom stays high, that my class, when they change their minds to the next impossible dream, as three year olds naturally will, know that with effort, and the right attitude, we might not get everything we want, but we will be the person we want to be, and that is real success.
For Chris' video's click here!
Friday 17 October 2014
Apps for Baby
I have a five month old niece who is always interested in what I am doing. She was watching me check my ipad so I ran a quick search to see what apps were free and baby safe.
I stumbled across one called "baby photos" by fisher price. I vaguely remember a DVD of babies being a popular thing for babies to watch so downloaded it out of interest. The app is completely free, no in app purchases and very well made. When you fire it up it gives a little security hint to help make sure your tiny tot doesn't accidentally close the app and play on other things.
I elected to use it with the guided access feature built into all ipads for added safety.
Straight out of the box, so to speak, the app is essentially a slide show of photographs of babies pulling pleasant faces, accompanied by a twinkly soundtrack and giggling noises. When baby touches, or in this case - lunges at the screen, twinkles and stars appear under baby's hands.
To say my niece loved this would not do her reaction justice. She was enthralled. She looked carefully at the faces, touched them and chased the resulting twinkles with her fingers. When the game giggled she squealed with delight. She concentrated like this, highly engaged, for several minutes.
The app asks for permission to access your device's photos, there's no uploading or photo stealing, but what the app can do is use your own photos, so that baby can enjoy a slide show of faces they recognise.
We didn't get the chance to set this up before bed time but I will definitely be having a go after the engagement and enjoyment this evening.
Now for the teacher part, if like me you are always interested in what your little one is learning through their play, this is how this app links to "development matters" the govt guidance on learning progression in birth to fives.
- the app encourages babies to look at faces, teaching eye contact essential for communication and language as well as social skills that underpin problem solving and collaborative learning later.
- the touch sensitive twinkles demonstrate cause and effect, early science. They also capture baby's interest in the effect of movement that leaves marks, a precursor for writing.
- the emotion appropriate sounds help consolidate baby's understanding of feelings and interaction as well as helping them to recognise familiar sounds.
- the simplicity, and lockability, means baby can learn essential independence skills and boost their self confidence by learning and playing with parental guidance, instead of passively watching a screen.
Not bad for a free little app.
I had a look at the other fisher price apps, almost all of which are free, and free from in app purchases too. There are some excellent ideas, the high contrast apps look particularly interesting. I've downloaded a few more to try.
Friday 3 October 2014
Sesame Street: Will.i.am Sings "What I Am"
This is one of our favourite treat and inspiration songs in nursery.
I love the celebrity sesame street videos. They feature people that children recognise, people that are famous and people who are important in culture. To see these people take the time to sing songs and present information that is designed for very young children is wonderful because it sends a message that all young people need to hear: "you matter".
Sesame Street: Bruno Mars: Don't Give Up
A favourite treat and inspiration song.
I love the celebrity sesame street videos. They feature people that children recognise, people that are famous and people who are important in culture. To see these people take the time to sing songs and present information that is designed for very young children is wonderful because it sends a message that all young people need to hear: "you matter".
Sesame Street: Usher's ABC Song
We use this as a "get up and go" phonics starter. The children love it and are already getting really good at listening to the words and doing the actions.
I love the celebrity sesame street videos. They feature people that children recognise, people that are famous and people who are important in culture. To see these people take the time to sing songs and present information that is designed for very young children is wonderful because it sends a message that all young people need to hear: "you matter".
Sesame Street: Cobie Smulders shows Grover how to be Courteous
Used as a carpet introduction for a circle time and focus of the week towards PSED development. A kind mind is a fine mind!
I love the celebrity sesame street videos. They feature people that children recognise, people that are famous and people who are important in culture. To see these people take the time to sing songs and present information that is designed for very young children is wonderful because it sends a message that all young people need to hear: "you matter".
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