Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Tap Exams
My lovely students completed their tap exams a couple of weeks ago and their hard work paid off today, as they received their results. Distinctions and High Distinctions all round for my lovely Level 4, 5 and 7 students - so proud munchkins! To my wonderful Level 5 student (who went it alone in her exam) we will get you that Gold Award - only 2 points off!
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Dance Teacher
Hello!
I haven't blogged forever but here it goes! This is a slightly different blog - my past posts have been about my life as a school teacher (which I adore, but is the reason I never blog - busy, busy, busy!). This time, however, I will be blogging about my life as a dance teacher.
I first started dancing at the age of 4, taking a ballet class. I continued taking ballet classes up until I entered university, which is when I left the studio as a student and became a teacher (at the same studio). I had been working as a student teacher there for a few years prior to this though.
I started branching out around the age of 10, when I started adding jazz, tap and contemporary into the mix. Tap was always a fun class. There was a big group of girls that I danced with - amazing friends - but I was one of the only in that group to take tap. I got to meet different people and it was nice having a skill that not many people had!
I started taking some of the younger tap classes when I was quite young and have been teaching dance ever since! I initially worked with the ISTD syllabus, but in 2010 we made a change to Glenn Wood Tap, which has been fantastic.
In 2010 I passed my Cecchetti Associate examination and in 2011 I graduated from uni with a Bachelor of Education - Primary and a Bachelor of Human Services - Child and Family Studies. This year I will add Glenn Wood Teacher's Certificate to the mix!
I knew for several years that teaching was my passion - hence the reason I became a school teacher - but I love that I have been able to combine my love of dance and teaching together.
I haven't blogged forever but here it goes! This is a slightly different blog - my past posts have been about my life as a school teacher (which I adore, but is the reason I never blog - busy, busy, busy!). This time, however, I will be blogging about my life as a dance teacher.
I first started dancing at the age of 4, taking a ballet class. I continued taking ballet classes up until I entered university, which is when I left the studio as a student and became a teacher (at the same studio). I had been working as a student teacher there for a few years prior to this though.
I started branching out around the age of 10, when I started adding jazz, tap and contemporary into the mix. Tap was always a fun class. There was a big group of girls that I danced with - amazing friends - but I was one of the only in that group to take tap. I got to meet different people and it was nice having a skill that not many people had!
I started taking some of the younger tap classes when I was quite young and have been teaching dance ever since! I initially worked with the ISTD syllabus, but in 2010 we made a change to Glenn Wood Tap, which has been fantastic.
In 2010 I passed my Cecchetti Associate examination and in 2011 I graduated from uni with a Bachelor of Education - Primary and a Bachelor of Human Services - Child and Family Studies. This year I will add Glenn Wood Teacher's Certificate to the mix!
I knew for several years that teaching was my passion - hence the reason I became a school teacher - but I love that I have been able to combine my love of dance and teaching together.
Saturday, 29 December 2012
CAFE and Daily 5
Two weeks of holidays already gone! I can't believe how quickly it all went! Another 3 weeks to go (plus a couple of extra days if wanted, but I want to make my classroom pretty!)
Unfortunately, I got sick right after Christmas (thankfully it waited until after Christmas!). However, it did give me the perfect opportunity to do some reading - obviously too into my job though because the first thing I did was, not pick up a novel, but pick up my copy of Daily 5 which arrived just before the holidays! YAY!
I love, love, love it. My biggest thing last year was making sure my students weren't doing 'busy' work whilst I was working with small groups! This is just the thing to make that whole session a whole lot easier! I can certainly see some major issues that I'm going to have to work out (i.e. I don't really have time to do a separate writer's workshop, so I'm going to have to figure out how to fit that in, but I will have to work with a spelling group just about everyday to get through my Words Their Way program) but I am definitely excited and keen to give it a go!
I also love some of the strategies that I'm reading about in CAFE. Haven't completed that one yet, but am really thrilled with some of the strategies that I've encountered. I have found the absolute hardest thing about teaching finding the time to work individually with students on setting and achieving personal goals, so I'm really hoping that this will help me find the answer!
What I'm not worried about - and am rather excited about - is making my beautiful CAFE/Daily 5 wall! Although, I've found so many beautiful ones available online that I may just be printing, laminating and pinning up!
My lovely teaching partner from this year is taking on another huge adventure and is moving to LONDON to continue her teaching career! Going to miss her a million blue m&m's! As such, however, I will need to keep updating my blog so that we can keep chatting as usual and continue with our wonderful 'sharing is caring' philosophy about teaching!
As I'm new to blogging (and currently on Summer break), I am not entirely sure how to share resources, nor do I have many to share but as soon as I figure it out I will be on it! Perhaps a TPT account?
Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and has a remarkable New Year which, for us, is only 26 hours away!
Unfortunately, I got sick right after Christmas (thankfully it waited until after Christmas!). However, it did give me the perfect opportunity to do some reading - obviously too into my job though because the first thing I did was, not pick up a novel, but pick up my copy of Daily 5 which arrived just before the holidays! YAY!
I love, love, love it. My biggest thing last year was making sure my students weren't doing 'busy' work whilst I was working with small groups! This is just the thing to make that whole session a whole lot easier! I can certainly see some major issues that I'm going to have to work out (i.e. I don't really have time to do a separate writer's workshop, so I'm going to have to figure out how to fit that in, but I will have to work with a spelling group just about everyday to get through my Words Their Way program) but I am definitely excited and keen to give it a go!
I also love some of the strategies that I'm reading about in CAFE. Haven't completed that one yet, but am really thrilled with some of the strategies that I've encountered. I have found the absolute hardest thing about teaching finding the time to work individually with students on setting and achieving personal goals, so I'm really hoping that this will help me find the answer!
What I'm not worried about - and am rather excited about - is making my beautiful CAFE/Daily 5 wall! Although, I've found so many beautiful ones available online that I may just be printing, laminating and pinning up!
My lovely teaching partner from this year is taking on another huge adventure and is moving to LONDON to continue her teaching career! Going to miss her a million blue m&m's! As such, however, I will need to keep updating my blog so that we can keep chatting as usual and continue with our wonderful 'sharing is caring' philosophy about teaching!
As I'm new to blogging (and currently on Summer break), I am not entirely sure how to share resources, nor do I have many to share but as soon as I figure it out I will be on it! Perhaps a TPT account?
Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and has a remarkable New Year which, for us, is only 26 hours away!
Friday, 16 November 2012
Self Reflection
This is a new concept that I started to implement in my classroom after hearing about a similar idea at a professional development session, which referred to Keep Doing, Stop Doing.
It works as a form of personal reflection for the students, allowing them to reflect on what they are doing and whether it is productive (keep doing) or unproductive (stop doing). I included the 'Start Doing' after seeing it talked about on some other non-education websites. I loved the idea of it because it meant that students can continually reflect on what more they can do and gives those that had a lot of 'Stop Doing' responses the chance to set some goals to improve.
To start with I had the words up on my SmartBoard. I created a poster the other day (see below) which I'm thinking I will be able to either simply point to or hold up after the students have had a bit more practice with it. Just saying the words also proved to be effective. The first few times I did it, the students wanted to share their responses which was great. As they become more familiar with it, however, it will be used more as a quiet moment for personal reflection.
I was amazed at how effective something as simple as this could be!
The background I used for the poster came from a great store I found on http://www.teachersnotebook.com/. You can find it here: http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/Ms.Talley/.
It works as a form of personal reflection for the students, allowing them to reflect on what they are doing and whether it is productive (keep doing) or unproductive (stop doing). I included the 'Start Doing' after seeing it talked about on some other non-education websites. I loved the idea of it because it meant that students can continually reflect on what more they can do and gives those that had a lot of 'Stop Doing' responses the chance to set some goals to improve.
To start with I had the words up on my SmartBoard. I created a poster the other day (see below) which I'm thinking I will be able to either simply point to or hold up after the students have had a bit more practice with it. Just saying the words also proved to be effective. The first few times I did it, the students wanted to share their responses which was great. As they become more familiar with it, however, it will be used more as a quiet moment for personal reflection.
I was amazed at how effective something as simple as this could be!
The background I used for the poster came from a great store I found on http://www.teachersnotebook.com/. You can find it here: http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/Ms.Talley/.
Praise and Home Contact
Can't sleep at the moment so I'm just blogging away!
These are one of the easiest and best things that I have used in my classroom!
One of the things that I struggled with most last year was maintaining continual contact with home.
These provided a consistent form of communication with parents.
When students reached the top of my clip chart and now a certain number of points on the Class Dojo, they take one of these home with them.
They outline that their child followed the three school rules of being safe, being respectful and being a learner.
I have a document of these with four different praise words and just print four to a page using different coloured paper. Easiest thing to make but the kids just adore getting them!
These are one of the easiest and best things that I have used in my classroom!
One of the things that I struggled with most last year was maintaining continual contact with home.
These provided a consistent form of communication with parents.
When students reached the top of my clip chart and now a certain number of points on the Class Dojo, they take one of these home with them.
They outline that their child followed the three school rules of being safe, being respectful and being a learner.
I have a document of these with four different praise words and just print four to a page using different coloured paper. Easiest thing to make but the kids just adore getting them!
Class Dojo
I have tried several different behaviour systems in my classrooms. I have two favourites. One is the amazing clip chart, which I adore! I started out with one from the lovely Clutter Free Classroom and then progressed to using another rock star one (which I can't for the life of me find a link for but I will search for it!).
I was then introduced to Class Dojo by one of the other teachers at our school and I absolutely adore it! If you haven't seen it, then go and have a look! My school is very heavily invested in improving the meaningful use of ICTs and this is one way to do it! The kids absolutely love it because they can check themselves in each day and they love to see their points accumulating. The small 'ding' sound effect is perfect for proximal phrase because as soon as they hear it they all sit up straight and immediately fall silent. Love, love, love!
This is not to mention the fabulous reports that are developed! Perfect record of a child's behaviour - such a helpful tool when writing behaviour comments on report cards!
I was then introduced to Class Dojo by one of the other teachers at our school and I absolutely adore it! If you haven't seen it, then go and have a look! My school is very heavily invested in improving the meaningful use of ICTs and this is one way to do it! The kids absolutely love it because they can check themselves in each day and they love to see their points accumulating. The small 'ding' sound effect is perfect for proximal phrase because as soon as they hear it they all sit up straight and immediately fall silent. Love, love, love!
This is not to mention the fabulous reports that are developed! Perfect record of a child's behaviour - such a helpful tool when writing behaviour comments on report cards!
Blog help!
Hello there!
If there are any bloggers out there that can help me out, how do I make my posts go on other pages?
They all immediately post to my home page and I can't figure out how to get them to show up on the other pages.
Ta!
If there are any bloggers out there that can help me out, how do I make my posts go on other pages?
They all immediately post to my home page and I can't figure out how to get them to show up on the other pages.
Ta!
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