gfewdeakin19-blog

[gfewdeakin19-blog]

Week 9 Prompt - Multimodal Texts in the Classroom

I have chosen this video as an example to show students how the app Book Creator can be used to bring their writing to life using multi modalities. The video shows examples of books that students have created using the Book Creator app with varying complexities, including multimodal features such as linguistics, visual, audio, gestural and spatial elements.

I would use this video to model to students how they can engage readers using technology to make their writing come to life through the inclusion of text, images, audio and video. I have seen Book Creator used for a range of writing genres, however I believe it is most effective when used in conjunction with narrative writing.  

#ecl310/19 #Week9Prompt #Multimodality

[gfewdeakin19-blog]

Week 8 Prompt - Literacy Assessment Reflection

My video response to the Week 8 Prompt focuses on Running Records. 

#ecl310/19 #Week8Prompt #RunningRecords

[gfewdeakin19-blog]

Week 7 Prompt - Teacher Resources to Improve Language, Literature or Literacy Knowledge

The literacy teaching toolkit developed by the Department of Education and Training (DET) in Victoria is a resource that I have found particularly useful in supporting the development of my knowledge and skills relating to the English curriculum. The toolkit provides information for teachers on how to support student learning in the areas of ‘reading and viewing, writing, speaking and listening and multimodal literacy’ as well as providing expert literacy videos to further support teachers understandings. I have found this to be a great resource when I need to brush up on my own skills prior to planning and teaching lessons whilst on placement, as well as using the toolkit as a reference point for literacy assignments. The DET has also developed an interactive map for the literacy toolkit, making it extremely user friendly. Below is a picture and link to the toolkit map. https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/english/literacy/lttusermap.pdf

The second resource that is useful for assisting teachers to brush up on their knowledge of grammar is the book ‘Grammar Matters’ by Margaret Zeegers. This is a book I have had in my teaching toolkit for a while as it is useful to draw on when I need to refresh my grammar skills. The book focuses on parts of speech, rules of grammar, phrases, clauses, sentences and punctation, including information, examples and activities to help teachers brush up on both their knowledge and skills. I have included a photo of the front cover below.  

#ecl310/19 #Week7Prompt #TeacherResources

[gfewdeakin19-blog]

Week 3 Prompt - Teacher Literature Resource

https://thebookwrangler.com/

‘The Book Wrangler’ is an online blog that provides useful information and resources to support teachers in engaging their students in reading/literature. The blogger, Mike, is a library specialist and former teacher, as such the information and resources he provides on his blog and instagram page are practical and relevant for use by classroom teachers. In particular, I found his ‘What Should I Read Next’ blog and linked resources extremely useful as they provide a guide for teachers on which books they might direct their students to if they have enjoyed reading a particular book (example pictured above). The blog also provides teachers with ideas for activities that can be completed in the classroom to engage students in their reading. I would highly recommend this blog to teachers looking for support to engage students in reading/literature. 

#ecl310/19 #thebookwrangler #teacher resources #literacy #literature #reading

[gfewdeakin19-blog]

Week 2 Prompt - Writing Anchor Chart

On placement last year, my mentor teacher had set up a writing anchor chart wall to support and encourage students to extend their writing by carefully selecting a range of vocabulary to make their writing more ‘colourful’ (interesting). The writing anchor chart provided students with a point of reference when completing writings tasks and allowed students to incorporate more interesting vocabulary choices in to their writing, instead of repeating known familiar words over and over again. Each coloured chart represented a different word category, providing students with a range of examples of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs within different contexts. In addition to being a point of reference, this anchor chart also encouraged and inspired students to seek out and further expand on their vocabulary choices with the support of a thesaurus. Students within the class frequently referred to the display throughout their writing sessions and enjoyed the independence it provided them with in making their writing more interesting. 

#ecl310/19

[gfewdeakin19-blog]

Week 1 Prompt - Childhood Favourites

Thinking back to my time at primary school, I have fond memories of reading and listening to Dr Seuss stories. These stories were a favourite both in the classroom and at home, providing hours of fun listening to and reading the whacky stories and rhymes. When listening to these stories my teachers and parents would always put so much effort into animating the stories through the way that they read them and as a child this made the stories really come to life. 

Having had such positive experiences with reading at school and at home it really has sparked a life long interest and enjoyment in getting lost in a good book. One of my favourite things to do on placement is to sit down with the class and read a story book. I love watching the enjoyment students get from reading a story book when I put the time, effort and emphasis into my reading. 

Whilst on placement earlier in the year I had the pleasure of working alongside a semi-retired teacher who reminded me of my love for Dr Seuss when she planned a whole day of lessons around the theme of Green Eggs and Ham. The students were delighted when their procedure writing on how to make Green Eggs and Ham finished with them preparing Green Eggs and Ham for lunch. 

#ecl310/19