I've attached it to this post if you want to see what schools in Eastern Europe look like. I have to say it's not what i envisaged!! We stayed in Riga and it's a beautiful city. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a long weekend break. For the purpose of the photostory i have removed some of the photo's as i deemed them unsuitable for the children!!
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Latvia
We were told a few days ago that in a couple of weeks time we will be having a Comenius week in school. Comenius is a project our school has been involved with for the last 18 months which links Wales with other countries in Europe. Each class has to focus on a different country from our group and fortunatly for me Nursery has been given Latvia. I say fortunatly for me as i went to Latvia as part of the project back in May so have first hand experience of it. I also have a fab collection of photo's which i thought would make a great base for a photostory to show to the children. I haven't spoken to my teacher about it yet but i'm hoping she'll give the go ahead to show it. I thought it would be nice to have showing on the IWB when the children come in in the morning while they wait for the register to be taken.
I've attached it to this post if you want to see what schools in Eastern Europe look like. I have to say it's not what i envisaged!! We stayed in Riga and it's a beautiful city. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a long weekend break. For the purpose of the photostory i have removed some of the photo's as i deemed them unsuitable for the children!!
I've attached it to this post if you want to see what schools in Eastern Europe look like. I have to say it's not what i envisaged!! We stayed in Riga and it's a beautiful city. I would highly recommend to anyone wanting a long weekend break. For the purpose of the photostory i have removed some of the photo's as i deemed them unsuitable for the children!!
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Photostory 3
The class teacher has planned for an ICT activity in the next few weeks for the children to use the digital camera and i think incorporating that with Photostory would help enhance the children's learning further. Something for me to look forward to!!!
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
ICT Activity
Well after my very stressful Sunday i went into school on Monday armed with my memory stick and am pleased to report that all my textease work had thankfully saved and i was able to start doing the activities with the children. I still haven't been able to get textease back on my own PC but i'm hoping Mandy will be able to help rectify that situation. I was only able to work with a couple of children on Monday but the activity is planned for all week so i'm hoping that by Friday most of the class will have been able to have a go. My teacher thought both activities were great which was fab and reassuring that i hadn't gone down completely the wrong route. I'll leave it till Friday before i say how well or not the activity has gone, i don't want to tempt fate. I took a few photo's of the activity just incase the ever unreliable ICT lets me down again and i don't get another chance.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
Three hours ago i was completely ecstatic! I had made another resource using textease that i was really pleased with and couldn't wait for my son to test out. Then, been the ever cautious person i am, i saved it both on my hard drive and memory stick. Once saved i closed down and decided to check it had saved ok on memory stick. When the file opened it said part of the file may not have save properly so recommended using a scan. This all went ahead perfectly and it said all was ok. However, when i came to open file would it let me??? NO!!! Not only will it not let me open the file it won't even let me open textease! I have spent the last 3 hours removing textease, trying to reinstall it, modifying it, repairing it and anything else that might help and nothing at all is working. It doesn't help that i don't have a great knowledge about computers but i've tried my best. I now haven't got textease at all on my computer which i'm really frustrated and upset about. I was starting to really enjoy using it and had loads of ideas for resources for children. Also it was great to use at home with my son. I'm supposed to be doing the activities with the children tomorrow and can't even redo them in school before it starts as i've got to do breakfast club first. I'm so fed up, this is just reinforcing my dislike and contempt for ICT. Three hours ago i was on such a high and now i'm at the lowest of the low. My poor boys sunday dinner went out the window been replaced by a sandwich and bowl of cereal and for what!! Nothing, zilch, nadder!! aaggh! Anyway, ive wasted long enough on it now. I've sent Mandy and SOS which she may be able to help with, aside from that i can't do anything till Uni on Wed. It's just so damn annoying. Rant over, although it's still going on in my head. Better get on with the ironing and a small matter of my GCSE Chemistry practical exam to revise for which i've got tomorrow night! Why am i putting myself through all this stress?? Answers on a postcard please to ............
Focused ICT activity
My lesson plan will have to wait, just remembered i didn't blog anything about the ICT used in Nursery this week.
This is the first time since September that the children have used the computer for a focused activity so i was really pleased the teacher asked me to carry out the activity. The learning objective was to see if the children could add the correct number of objects to a night scene, this been 3 objects. ( Our topic this term is day and night). The activity was carried out using Tizzy and the first step for the children was to be able to create a black background. Some children were able to carry this out independantly, others could choose the black colour but needed support on which ICON would enable the whole screen to be filled at the same time and then there were others who had no clue how to even highlight the correct colour. Approx half the class needed lots of support, with most of these children having very poor mouse control and knowledge of what the mouse did. After the screen was coloured black or dark blue they then had to add 3 planets. Again a couple could do on there own and knew which ICON was used for the pictures, but for most of the class i needed to show them which it was and how to be able to scroll down etc to find the picture they needed. Some of those with good mouse control and understanding of number could do this with ease. However, some children who can count objects with ease normally and have a good understanding of how many, struggled as they didn't have good control of the mouse or didn't feel confident using it. There were also children who were able to use the computer confidently but were unable to add the correct number of objects.It was great carrying out this activity individually as it gave clear evidence of who could do what and will enable the teacher to use these observations in future planning. It also opened my eyes to the differing degrees of knowledge that all the children have. One little girl even looked at me nervously and said can you help me! She had no knowldge of how to use the computer and didn't even know the name for the mouse. Thats when it struck me that how would she know if nobody had told her or explained what it was for. It made me aware of the importance of ensuring i use the correct terminology and giving the children correct instructions. I hope the children were able to take something away from that lesson because i certainly did.
Crikey, i am getting good. Even managed to add some photos of the children doing the activity. Right really must get on with my lesson plan now.
This is the first time since September that the children have used the computer for a focused activity so i was really pleased the teacher asked me to carry out the activity. The learning objective was to see if the children could add the correct number of objects to a night scene, this been 3 objects. ( Our topic this term is day and night). The activity was carried out using Tizzy and the first step for the children was to be able to create a black background. Some children were able to carry this out independantly, others could choose the black colour but needed support on which ICON would enable the whole screen to be filled at the same time and then there were others who had no clue how to even highlight the correct colour. Approx half the class needed lots of support, with most of these children having very poor mouse control and knowledge of what the mouse did. After the screen was coloured black or dark blue they then had to add 3 planets. Again a couple could do on there own and knew which ICON was used for the pictures, but for most of the class i needed to show them which it was and how to be able to scroll down etc to find the picture they needed. Some of those with good mouse control and understanding of number could do this with ease. However, some children who can count objects with ease normally and have a good understanding of how many, struggled as they didn't have good control of the mouse or didn't feel confident using it. There were also children who were able to use the computer confidently but were unable to add the correct number of objects.It was great carrying out this activity individually as it gave clear evidence of who could do what and will enable the teacher to use these observations in future planning. It also opened my eyes to the differing degrees of knowledge that all the children have. One little girl even looked at me nervously and said can you help me! She had no knowldge of how to use the computer and didn't even know the name for the mouse. Thats when it struck me that how would she know if nobody had told her or explained what it was for. It made me aware of the importance of ensuring i use the correct terminology and giving the children correct instructions. I hope the children were able to take something away from that lesson because i certainly did.
Crikey, i am getting good. Even managed to add some photos of the children doing the activity. Right really must get on with my lesson plan now.
Uni
Eek, i really thought i'd got my head round ICT in the nursery and then i went to Uni on Wednesday, spoke to Mandy and now feel i'm back where i started! Ok, thats not strictly true! I do feel i've progressed a little bit but still got lots to learn. Am hoping by the time this assignments finished i'll have got my head round it and be able to confidently answer any questions about how ICT is used in the Nursery class.
Wednesday's lesson was all about 2animate. A great piece of software and even i managed to use it and impress myself. Started getting all these ideas of how i could use it with the children but.................. yes, you guessed it we don't have it on any of our computers in school!! Unlike Textease i am unable to download it privately so for now that is the end of my 2animate experience. It also makes me feel like Wed was a bit of a waste of time for me as i don't have access to it.
Anyway, back to been positive!!! I showed Mandy my ICT resource that i've made which she said was good so that made me feel better. However, after explaining to Mandy that i wanted to add a cheer when the children matched the objects correctly she said this wouldn't be possible so i'm a little disappointed. She did give me an idea on how i could reinforce the learning further so i'm going to get on with that after i've finished my blog. My teacher has planned for me to do my activity this week so i'm feeling quite nervous about it. Infact i think i'll sign off my blog now so i can get me lesson plan done. Sorry Harry, Sunday dinner will have to wait a few hours.
Wednesday's lesson was all about 2animate. A great piece of software and even i managed to use it and impress myself. Started getting all these ideas of how i could use it with the children but.................. yes, you guessed it we don't have it on any of our computers in school!! Unlike Textease i am unable to download it privately so for now that is the end of my 2animate experience. It also makes me feel like Wed was a bit of a waste of time for me as i don't have access to it.
Anyway, back to been positive!!! I showed Mandy my ICT resource that i've made which she said was good so that made me feel better. However, after explaining to Mandy that i wanted to add a cheer when the children matched the objects correctly she said this wouldn't be possible so i'm a little disappointed. She did give me an idea on how i could reinforce the learning further so i'm going to get on with that after i've finished my blog. My teacher has planned for me to do my activity this week so i'm feeling quite nervous about it. Infact i think i'll sign off my blog now so i can get me lesson plan done. Sorry Harry, Sunday dinner will have to wait a few hours.
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Sunday, 16 January 2011
ICT in Nursery
What a difference a good book can make! I'm refering to Primary ICT for Teaching Assistants by John Galloway. I found it via Blackboard on the reading list of last years ICT module. Anyway, i ordered from Amazon via a private seller and it was here in 2 days and i have to say it has opened my eyes to ICT. Until now the reading i've done has been from books which have covered all aspects of primary teaching with just a chapter given to ICT. In these books ICT has just focused on the use of computers, whiteboards, webcams, scanners etc etc. However, this book has helped turn a light bulb on in my head and realise that the toy microwave, kettle and toaster, the class cd player etc are all equipment that has the ICT tag attached to it. They all have batteries which means they are all electrical, therefore all classed as ICT. Now why couldn't every book put it in such simple terms and be such an easy read. Admittedly the book would be even more beneficial to me if i worked from year 2 up but at least it's given me a start.
Mr Galloway even says himself how easy it is to forget that these are all classed as ICT. We tend not to notice the role of technology anymore as it's so embedded into what we do on a daily basis. He also goes on to say about the inportance of teaching the children how to use the equipment properly. Now i know that may seem like common sense but sometimes when it's the most obvious you don't do it. But... tomorrow when the boys fill up the kettle with the multlinks, and try and stuff playdough into it instead of just asking them why they've done that and telling them that the multi links belong on the maths table and the playdough on the dough table i'll take time out to sit with them and talk about the kettle and how it works and what it's used for etc.
I know at one point we did have a Tuff Cam and Microphone in class so i need to try and find them this week and get them working again. The bee bot we did have went to year 1 as it was classed as not been suitable for Nursery.
Yes, i'm feeling more positive tonight about the assignment. How long it will last who knows, but i will go into work tomorrow with a fresh pair of ICT eyes on!
PS . The hardest part of keeping this blog up to date is thinking of a Title every time!
Mr Galloway even says himself how easy it is to forget that these are all classed as ICT. We tend not to notice the role of technology anymore as it's so embedded into what we do on a daily basis. He also goes on to say about the inportance of teaching the children how to use the equipment properly. Now i know that may seem like common sense but sometimes when it's the most obvious you don't do it. But... tomorrow when the boys fill up the kettle with the multlinks, and try and stuff playdough into it instead of just asking them why they've done that and telling them that the multi links belong on the maths table and the playdough on the dough table i'll take time out to sit with them and talk about the kettle and how it works and what it's used for etc.
I know at one point we did have a Tuff Cam and Microphone in class so i need to try and find them this week and get them working again. The bee bot we did have went to year 1 as it was classed as not been suitable for Nursery.
Yes, i'm feeling more positive tonight about the assignment. How long it will last who knows, but i will go into work tomorrow with a fresh pair of ICT eyes on!
PS . The hardest part of keeping this blog up to date is thinking of a Title every time!
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Panic sets in!
After i'd updated my blog last night i thought i'd have a little peek at everyone elses and really wish i hadn't. To see that some people have been able to make ICT resources actually in school time and just how much others use ICT in their classes as put me into major panic. I'm with the Nursery children in the morning and year 5/6 support in the afternoon. In Nursery, apart from the Computer and IWB there is very little ICT used and as i've mentioned previously they are not the most reliable pieces of equipment. Yet again Baglan spent all morning trying to fix the IWB remotely which was hindered by lots of little hands removing the pens and trying to draw on the board. Telling them several times a day not to remove the pens or draw on it unless Tizzy is on is not having any impact. The positive side is that we have found out that a lady in Baglan gives training on the Smart Board so we're hoping it's free and she can come to see us one afternoon after work. Fingers crossed. In the afternoon i do withdrawn literacy support with the Juniors but don't have access to a Computer or IWB. Everything is paper based or on the small whiteboards. I have spoken to the Nursey teacher and asked her if she does plan any ICT activities if i can do it with the children and she has said yes so fingers crossed it will be soon.
I did manage to post a comment on someone elses Blog last night so that was something knew learnt and after reading about Mandy's Amazon kindle and not having a clue what she was talking about i saw it advertised twice on tv! So now i'm completely up on the latest technology! Well not quite, but at least i know what it is now and what it does.
I also printed off all the fab instructions for Textease so am going to have a bash at that this weekend. Might make me feel a bit better about things. TTFN
I did manage to post a comment on someone elses Blog last night so that was something knew learnt and after reading about Mandy's Amazon kindle and not having a clue what she was talking about i saw it advertised twice on tv! So now i'm completely up on the latest technology! Well not quite, but at least i know what it is now and what it does.
I also printed off all the fab instructions for Textease so am going to have a bash at that this weekend. Might make me feel a bit better about things. TTFN
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Happy New Year
Crikey, were did the last 6 weeks go? December was hectic both in school and personally. Plus i had the dreaded flu which knocked me for 6. I will have full empathy the next time someone tells me they have flu!
Well were to start this blog? I was very happy that i managed to log onto both Blackboard and my blog tonight so thats a positive start.
I have to admit i am very concerned on how successful i will be at this assignment considering how little ICT i actually come into contact with at school. There wasn't any opportunity for any ICT work throughout the whole of December. The mornings were taken up practicsing for the Infant Christmas concerts and in the afternoons the Juniors practised. When i say we practised everyday that is not an exaggeration! The last week of school was then taken up with the actual concerts, trips to the cinema, school parties and practising for the Christingle service.
The New Year hasn't started off much better. Yet again the man from Baglan ws called as our Interactive board was once again not interactive. Then when he came the teacher requested he loaded TIZZY onto the computer as that is what we use in Nursery but he said TIZZY couldn't be put on as we already had Textease. Panic set in as it is textease i'm hoping to produce my ICT resource on! Anyway, he did manage to fiddle a bit and as managed to get both resources installed, although i haven't yet checked to see if Textease is working properly! (Note to myself to stay behind tomorrow and check.)
On Tues we were able to use the IWB for our Maths lesson. The children were learning how to write the numbers 1 - 3, by overwriting on the IWB. However when the teacher came to save and print off the childrens work it kept coming up with a little ICON and when we closed the ICON the children's work disappeared. The only way to save their work was to copy and paste the page onto a word doc and save in there in order to print. (my idea, which i felt very proud about!) I thought the poor teacher was going to cry! Also fiddling hands and fingers kept touching the IWB which means it can't be used properly!
At home i haven't had much to do with ICT. The Christmas holidays took me to London and York so i didn't have access to a computer. Also i must be one of the only people who doesn't have an IPOD, Iphone, DS, Wii or any of the other pieces of technological equipment that most people have. I can't even borrow my sons as he doesn't possess any either. I might have to cave in next Christmas and buy him a DS!
Well were to start this blog? I was very happy that i managed to log onto both Blackboard and my blog tonight so thats a positive start.
I have to admit i am very concerned on how successful i will be at this assignment considering how little ICT i actually come into contact with at school. There wasn't any opportunity for any ICT work throughout the whole of December. The mornings were taken up practicsing for the Infant Christmas concerts and in the afternoons the Juniors practised. When i say we practised everyday that is not an exaggeration! The last week of school was then taken up with the actual concerts, trips to the cinema, school parties and practising for the Christingle service.
The New Year hasn't started off much better. Yet again the man from Baglan ws called as our Interactive board was once again not interactive. Then when he came the teacher requested he loaded TIZZY onto the computer as that is what we use in Nursery but he said TIZZY couldn't be put on as we already had Textease. Panic set in as it is textease i'm hoping to produce my ICT resource on! Anyway, he did manage to fiddle a bit and as managed to get both resources installed, although i haven't yet checked to see if Textease is working properly! (Note to myself to stay behind tomorrow and check.)
On Tues we were able to use the IWB for our Maths lesson. The children were learning how to write the numbers 1 - 3, by overwriting on the IWB. However when the teacher came to save and print off the childrens work it kept coming up with a little ICON and when we closed the ICON the children's work disappeared. The only way to save their work was to copy and paste the page onto a word doc and save in there in order to print. (my idea, which i felt very proud about!) I thought the poor teacher was going to cry! Also fiddling hands and fingers kept touching the IWB which means it can't be used properly!
At home i haven't had much to do with ICT. The Christmas holidays took me to London and York so i didn't have access to a computer. Also i must be one of the only people who doesn't have an IPOD, Iphone, DS, Wii or any of the other pieces of technological equipment that most people have. I can't even borrow my sons as he doesn't possess any either. I might have to cave in next Christmas and buy him a DS!
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