Month: February 2024

Activity description: Reading AI is an app by “Project read” to help students practice phonics. It asks students to read words or sentences and listens for the prononciation. If a student doesnt pronounce the word correctly and clearly then it will ask them to repeat that word until they get it. 

Curriculum connections 

Big idea: Using language in creative and playful ways helps 
us understand how language works 

Curricular competency: Use a variety of comprehension strategies before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing to guide inquiry and deepen understanding of text 

Content: Reading strategies – using phonics 

Core competency: Critcal and reflective thinking  

FPPL: Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story. 

Reflection

This app uses really cool technology to hear the students in real time and give immediate feedback which i think is really valuable. Discussing with students and the teacher of the classroom we concluded that as awesome as this technology is it still has further improvements to be made. It sometimes miss hears the students and makes them repeat it several times, which annoys the students. It is a great tool to be used in short intervals as it is repetitive but valuable, especially considering that students can recieve one on one feedback without working with an adult. 

Activity description: the chair strike was a fun and engaging activity for the students to walk into in the morning. All the chairs were stacked in the corner and wrapped in caution tape. The chairs had a letter attached to them explaining there strike and why they chose to do it. The students first block of the day was PE, so the chairs being on strike did not disrupt their learning. When they returned the students had to write a persuasive paragraph on why they did or did not want their chair back. Some students argued that they needed their chair while others argued they would learn best without it.   

Curriculum connections 

Big idea: Using language in creative and playful ways helps 
us understand how language works. 

Curricular competency: Communicate in writing using paragraphs and applying conventions of Canadian spelling, grammar, and punctuation 

Content: Literary devices: persuasive writing  

Cross curricular connections: although it may not be cross-curricular, as it all falls under language arts, all of the kids read and wrote in this activity. Each of the students came in and read the note on the chairs out of curiosity without being asked.  

Core competency: Communication 

FPPL: Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one‘s actions. 

Reflection

I loved this activity and so did the students! As soon as the students entered the classroom they were engaged in the note on the chairs. Each student came in and read the note, most without even realizing they were partaking in a literacy activity. I imagine when students go home this will be what they tell their family about tonight. 

Mirrors and windows are the most straightforward to me. Students should be able to see themselves (mirrors) in literature and explore other perspectives (windows.) However, sliding glass doors always makes me think a little bit harder. I like to think of it as a slight shift in perspective as if you were to slide a glass door only halfway. Rather than exposing students to completely different lifestyles or topics than they are used to, it shows scenarios students are familiar with, but forces them to look at it from an unfamiliar perspective than they may be used to. This is extremely important in my opinion because as you go through life there will always be people with different perspectives on the same scenario and it builds empathy in these situations. 

When I think of literature as a window into another life, a glimpse at a different reality, I like to imagine students going through that door and immersing themselves in learning. Really putting themselves in another situation and feeling the emotions of the character creates empathy like none other.

Here is a wide range of books I have found to teach students about diverse topics.

 

My ideal classroom reading nook would be a cozy and inviting space, designed for comfort and relaxation. It would have a huge bean bag chair that multiple people could sit on, covered with soft pillows and blankets for added comfort. Ideally it could be near a window so that the natural light can create a relaxing ambiance. Surrounded by shelves filled with books of all different genres, topics and difficulty levels. I would also want to incorporate elements of nature, such as potted plants or a small indoor garden. Finally, I’d add personal touches like some of the students artwork or inspiring quotes to make the space uniquely ours as a class.