Beginning of the Year Classroom Set Up

It is always busy at the beginning of the year getting to know new students and take yourself back to setting up routines for new learners. I have a brand new group of students and have been surprised at the literacy skills they have arrived at school with. In Term 4 of last year I had an intake of 10 new entrants and 7 of whom were ready to move to red readers after 2 - 4 weeks at school. This year I have had 2 out of 9 students ready in the same way. Hence, I have slowed down my process and am not rushing in to writing as quickly as I might have previously.

My principal has recognised that I have chosen this path and raised a good question during my walk through observation: What changes will need to be made when more students become ‘ready’ for a more structured learning programme?

So far this is what I have established:

            - Modelling and guiding students through independent learning activities that will be slowly introduced into the mahi list. (I had planned on having my independent activities 'mahi list' established in the first week).

            - Most students are still learning to write their name. Therefore, too many students would have needed 'mirror writing' and so their learning goals for writing are to 1) write their name with correct letters and 2) learn to correctly write 26 letter/sounds

            - I am trying to prioritise the Early Words programme in my day. I feel 7 out of 9 students will benefit from this approach immensely. This is difficult to do and I am hoping students in Rimu will finish soon so students in Kowhai can get teacher aide support.

            - Trying my best to talk regularly to parents about their child's good progress in class and encourage the mahi they are doing at home. Four parents are coming to the Reading Together Programme which is really encouraging.

            - Choosing achievable activities for our phonics sessions. 

My next steps are:

            - To personalise the individual learning videos that students will begin to complete in their 'mahi list'. Currently we are doing this together during writing time.

            - To add a time of drawing so students gain confidence for drawing a plan in their writing.

            - Ensure I am modelling writing before guided writing and having a time of shared writing with our class blog on Friday.