Leeston Consolidated School Visit

Today I was able to visit Leeston school to observe their implementation of The Daily 5 programme. This is a programme I have experimented with this year and wanted the chance to go out to a school who have implemented it across year groups and are now well and truly established in the routines.

The main thing I noticed about this programme was the lack of noise and verbal instructions. Once the routines are set up the children can self-regulate their learning to move between transitions and time-slots quickly and quietly without a verbal instruction. The other thing that really impressed me was that the classroom teacher could easily teach all 4 of her reading groups in this session!

Observation Notes:

9.10-9.30 - 20 mins silent read to self. The children have been building up their stamina and can now read silently and on-task for 20 solid minutes. Different groups had different choices of reading material, some worked with books from group based browsing boxes, some were allowed to choose from the library shelf (this changes daily). Things to consider: books from home for very able readers?

9.30-9.35 - quick transition down to mat for waiata/brain break

9.35-10.00 first rotation. While on mat the teacher asked each child what they were going to do first today from the four options. She then recorded this on a chart to keep track of which activities the child had done over the week. Things to think about: How would this work with a large, collaborative group of children? Can I make it more self-managed? Wall chart with velcro-dots and option cards maybe? One per group? Teacher read with first guided reading group while others worked independently. Worked with group for 10 mins, no interruptions then sent group off to read to each other while she worked with the second guided reading group. Several children were working in breakout spaces and outside which helped keep the noise down.

10.00-10.10 - quick singing break and choosing options again.

10.10-10.30 second rotation.

I now have the Daily 5 book which I am looking forward to reading ready for next year!

Notes:

Phonics/word study is usually taught instead of singing breaks (children tired from swimming today!).

Writing is usually taught instead of silent reading on Monday and shorter sessions/group based needs on other days. Children free write once writing tasks have been finished for the week Things to think about: give children free write options/story starters, lots of children struggled to generate ideas

word work options:

rainbow writing

pin-it - letters on pins into a sponge

create-it- small paper letters to stick into book to create word study words

Other things I saw

desk tops on wheels - kids moved these around as needed, more stable than lap trays.

All maths and writing resources were stored in small plastic boxes - much easier for the children to grab and use than in maths trolleys. Can we repurpose the maths trolley as tote trays next year and transfer some/most equipment into plastic boxes?

Repurpose some teacher shelves into reach-height shelves for children's equipment.

Swiss balls for fidgety children - I need some!