Differentiation is the educational catchphrase of the 2010s – or it seems that way to me.  It is possible for me to go back through my teaching career and track by decade key “movements” in professional development initiatives and  understandings about how our students’ learning might best be supported. In the 1980′s my school was trialling a “new curriculum” and structuring the junior timetable to allow junior students to experience breadth in their curriculum. In the 1990′s we moved on to accelerated learning strategies and “ learning styles” – the aural, the visual and the kinaesthetic. This saw attention being paid to the classroom’s physical environment and we all became concerned with thirst as a new generation of students were encouraged to bring water bottles to class.  By the 2000′s we were looking for ways to “move the middle” and the idea of students working together was formalised under the label ”co-operative learning”. And here we are now grappling with “differentiation” in the classrooms of the 2010′s.  The thing about differentiation is, that in fact it provides the umbrella under which we can  shelter myriad elements of effective pedagogy – including those that have gone before.  if we get to know our learners as individuals; by analysing data, by forming good relationships with our students, by learning about their diverse cultural  contexts, then we are well positioned to effectively ‘differentiate’ our teaching.  If we add to that, professional development and learning about strategies we can use in our classrooms to better meet the diverse needs of these students we have come to know, then we are well down the road to providing differentiated instruction.  These are the elements which allow us to provide the quality of dialogue and feedback which will enable us to move all our students from where they are now in their learning to the next place(s) they need to get to.  High quality formative assessment practices are enablers to effective differentiation.  At least, this is how it seems to me.

To be honest, if you look beyond the jargon and don’t get sidetracked by the cynicism of,  “Haven’t we tried this before?”  “Isn’t this just the latest fad?” we can find power in the idea that in one word we can bring all of these powerful learning approaches, as well as others together, and take the best of well-established research evidence to glean the most effective and relevant tools to enhance our teaching, build on the toolbox of pedagogical knowledge at our disposal and continue a cycle of improvement which can only be of benefit to our students.  Most of us teach because we are passionate about learning; our own as well as that of our students.

Follow the links to my studyblue flashcards to help revise language terms before NCEA exams. You can even download an app for your smartphone so you can revise anytime, anywhere.

Imagery

Vocabulary

Structure

Parts of Speech

sounds

This Beautiful Mind Revision prezi might help you with notemaking and memorising as you prepare for your external NCEA examination.

HI everyone, if you are finding it hard to  get motivated to make revision notes for committing vital information to
memory, here is an online tool that might just help.  It is a website that  lets you make flashcards – can be printed or used on the computer – or even  accessed through a free app that can be downloaded to smartphones.  It’s  free and is simple to use.  I have been experimenting with it to check it  out after seeing a recommendation of it on an education website. (I  actually
downloaded the app to phone first then went online to start creating flashcards  in computer is just  fine.

The address is:  http://www.studyblue.com/  then just register and get on with it.  The process of actually creating
the flashcards is a great way to get thinking about the material being studied  and is also the start of committing it to memory for later retrieval – in an examination.

For English, these would be useful things to make flashcards  of:

• language terms (writing techniques) from
  toolboxes and glossaries students have been given through year + definition + eg
  from texts studied
• Key quotes + characters who said them and what
  they mean/ why they are important
• Important characters + facts and qualities (what
  they are like) + egs
• Main ideas from texts +  quotes which sum
  them up

The best idea is to have one aspect/thing per  flashcard.  You can even add a voiceover explanation or video if you have a
microphone and/or webcam for your computer and learn better by listening.

Happy revising.

Speech competitions are coming up for all levels so don’t forget to ask your English teacher for the topics for your year level.  Keep an eye on the notices too as they will have details about run-offs etc.  This little vid might inspire some of you!

40 inspirational speeches in 2 minutes

Kia ora tatou, Have a look at the Y11 page to find links to class docs – worksheets, practice questions, notes etc.  Just beginning to build this doc file so you can access our class learning from home.

Ms Mac

Found this vid through Committed Sardine – gave me pause for thought.  In a world where ‘scale’ is all important and at times beyond imagining, it seems to me that ‘pace’ is similarly acquiring a larger than life status.flashmob gone wrong

To all my students looking for a last  minute chance to ask  question, get some guidance, practice a skill, clarify some information – or simply just make sure you are on the right track – here’s where you can do it.  Follow links to your class page to find level specific revision help.  Don’t forget to use the blogroll link to the English site on the NZQA website where you can find old exam papers and exemplar answers.  Feel free to email me direct with questions or send essays as attached docs whcih I can then assess and give you some feedback on.  Help is here so make the most of it.  Remember – we make our own luck!

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

This fiction book is about a girl called Clary who discovers a different side of her world.  People called shadow hunters kill demons to protect the normal humans (mundanes).  All this going on is unknown to the mundanes.

The story is told from Clary’s point of view.  it’s interesting because it says how she feels about the situations so it doesn’t get boring.  You can imagine it really well.

I think it is a good book.  It’s the first in a series of three.  It draws you in so you want to read the other books.

I would recommend it to teenagers; especially the ones who liked the Twilight Saga.    

Reviewed by Clarys.

Slam

A guy named Greg Harris (Slam) is really good on the basketball court but for him to continue on playing ball he has to pick his grades up.

This book was special to me because it was about  basketball and it had a very good story line to it.

I thought it was a very good story because it kept me on the edge of my seat and it kept me guessing.  It was an award winning story.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good sports story that keeps you excited from start to finish.   

Reviewed by SKUZZ #1

Losing It  by SandyMcKay

Recently I read this great book.  It is about a  15 year old anorexic girl in a mental institute.  She writes to her best friend who gives her hope to get out.  I loved this book and would recommend it for ages 12-17 or any teenage girls.

Eclipse by Sytephanie Meyer

This is the third book in the Twilight series.  It is mostly about Bella Swan having to choose between Edward Cullen, her vampire lover,  and  her lifelong friend Jacob Black; who happens t be a wolf.  They both fight to be the one to keep Bella safe from Victoria – an evil vampire.  It is written in present tense as well as flash forwards and flashbacks to show the different powers of the vampires.  I really enjoyed the book because it is full of suspense and deosn’t have any boring parts.  I would recommend this to teenagers and adults that enjoy fantasy fiction novels as well as romance books.

Reviewed by Brittany

Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince by J. K. Rowlings

It’s the sixth book in a series of seven.  it is about a teenage wizard in training who has been labelled the chosen one because he is the only wizard to  ever survive the killing curse avada kadava.  it is very interesting because it ranges from comedy to horror.  Iwould recommend this book to teenagers but adults would enjoy reading it too.

Oath Breaker by Michele Paver

This book is the fourth book in a series.  The book is about a boy, his foster father and his niece.  Torok, the boy, and Renn, his niece, are hunting a soul-eater that did something unspeakable.  The book was very good.  There was never a dull moment.  I would recommend it to people over the age of eleven – but only to people who enjoy books that are set in the stoneage.

Ryan’s Run – a Jiggy McCue Story 

This book is about a boy called Jiggy Mccue.  His arch-enemy Bryan Ryan is out to get him; well, his brain is.  Even though he is in a coma he is still making strange things happen to him.  I chose this book because of the cover.  It is a picture of Ryan’s Brain.  I think this book is an interesting one.  It’s a good funny book.  You never know what is going to happen next so it is exciting.  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good funny book to read that is nice and easy.                                                                                                                                                      Reviewed by Paul McDonald.

What if …. Everyone Knew Your Name

This book is about a girl named Haley Miller.  She is fifteen years old and has just moved to a new town in suburban New Jersey.  It is about her becoming friends with new people and you have to make the decisions for her because it is  a choose your own destiny book.  I think it’s good because you have to think about what you would do if it was you and put yourself in her shoes.

I would recommend reading this book if you are a preteen or a teenager.                                      Reviewed by Lucy.

The Amtrak Wars

This book is about two sides: the Federation and the Mutes.  The Federation makes out they are the good guys but there are lots of secrets they keep from their populace.  The mutes are the  supposed bad guys.  They are in the overground which is America.  The USA people live in huge underground cities as both sides fight for control over Brickman; a pilot who was taken prisoner buy the Mutes. Will he join the Federation and destroy all the Mutes or will he ally with the Mutes and and save them against the Federation’s wrath?        Reviewed by The Tukinator.

The Whisperer

This book is about Griff who works in a circus with Tess and her magical creatures.  Griff has a magical, unique skill however while he is working in  the circus, Prince Lute, the crown prince of the realm is in grave danger.   When Griff and Lute cross paths more lives than theirs will change forever.

Personally I think this book is great; fuelled with magic, adventure and much ,much more.

I would recommend it to all adventure loving readers.                                                                                            Reviewed by Connor.

Out on the Edge by Anna McKenzie

Alison’s life is totally together.  There’s not that much that can faze her; not until a guy she barely knows turns up in her backyard, his face looking like someone has been using it as a rugby ball.

Gary struggles, not only with the consequences of his actions, but with his darker side.  Alison is sure that she has done the right thing until the authorities get involved and suddenly she discovers that her own complacent instinct is not as rock solid as she thought.

This is a clear story about making your own decisions and learning the full dimensions of your heart.                                                                 Reviewed by Kate.

“If we are not willing to fail we will never accomplish anything.  All creative acts involve the risk of failure.” Madeline L’Engle.

Try one of the following starters to get you writing:

• “Hot water please?”…….
• It started with vegemite on toast for supper……
• All I wanted was new gumboots…..
• Bang, crash, whallop!
• Sarah enjoyed cabbage but….
• Red toenails are good….
• My grandfather did not believe in shooting ducks…
• At the back of the house, under a rock…….