Exploring Via My New Found Friend Twitter

Whilst exploring some excellent teaching and learning resources via my new found friend Twitter, I was lucky enough to come across Infant Encyclopaedia and Junior ICT Companion. These excellent resources are just two of the brainchilds of Simon Haughton, a talented primary school ICT manager, who generously shares his creative endeavours with others. I already have many ideas on how such resources can assist the teaching and learning in our classroom and how useful the Junior ICT companion will be for all year groups. I will certainly be keeping up with Simon's blog and wait in anticiption of more of his brilliant ideas piped through the Twitter channels.

#ukedchat

For the first time, yesterday evening I signed into Ukedchat, via my Twitter account and engaged in the online live education tweet forum. I even found myself posting some replies! Was I impressed? Although it’s fast paced, it also illuminated many pathways to learning and my professional development. Following up on some of the avenues highlighted has led me to sharing in some fabulous teaching and learning ideas and assisted my direction of my new role as ICT Coordinator. If I embrace this resource fully it may turn into an effective additonal source of CPD. Will keep you posted.

Scratch

Just beginning to explore Scratch, http://scratch.mit.edu/ Anyone ever used it before? would be interested in your viewpoint. It certainly seems quite exciting and creative. I'm sure there will be many ways to incorporate it into the teaching and learning. I'll keep you posted on any ideas, and don't forget to let me know what you think about Scratch, too.

Twitter

As a novice using Twitter and someone who still requires step by step instructions on how to tweet, retweet, add mentions and use hashtags correctly I am bowled over by the educational diversity and sources available. It's a professional treasure trove just waiting to be discovered by each individual who chooses to embark on a new learning journey and develop their professional use of ICT in the classroom. Can be utilised as a brilliant teaching discovery tool offering new ideas and a place to share some of one's own, opening up new avenues for professional dialogue and introductory exploration of emergent thought. Used proactively as a learning tool, for professional development many avenues of exploration can be found to actively cultivate and challenge thought. Whilst Twitter remains a personal challenge, at the present time, I look forward with anticipation to a time when my Twitter skills will no longer be emergent but will be developed sufficiently to allow me to participate fully with confidence...

Roald Dahl Inspired Vokis

Well, what a fab resource Voki is...The children used Voki to create Roald Dahl inspired characters. Some chose to recreate the great author himself, whilst others chose significant characters from his books. Matilda had a significant following, as did the Grand High Witch and George, the boy on a mission to cure Grandma's grumpy and ill-mannered ways. Even Mr Stringer found his way into our character gallery along with Grandma and the Brown Hen way before the medicine had been administered.
The children had to think carefully about the dialogue to be spoken by their mesmerising characters. Super fun Literacy! We all loved it.

Quentin Blake Podcast

Our class engaged with the brilliant Quentin Blake, Virtually Live Podcast, the afternoon of Wednesday 28th September. WOW! What a fantastic way to learn.
The children had spent some time during the previous week discussing and sharing ideas for questions that they would like to ask him. Of course there were many about when and how he met Roald Dahl, about his life and growing up, his favourite book and his favourite illistration. In addition to the fantastic and unique experience of hearing Quentin Blake speaking about his life and work, as the illustrator of Roald Dahl books, was the aweinspiring and engaging element of watching him actually draw and discuss how he developed characters. The whole experience was as exciting for the staff as it was for the children. I for one wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Mathsticks

Check out this fabulous site where you will find a multitude of engaging Numeracy resources for all age groups. I absolutely adore the character imagery, which is most suitable for KS2 children who still need to focus on cementing elements such as number bonds. Pay mathsticks.com a visit - I'm sure that you won't be disappointed!