Jolly Phonics

Last year I started teaching Receptions (aka Kindergarten in USA). I was very interested in starting a phonics program in the school as I had taught children up to grade 4 in previous years with very little phonemic awareness and this worried me! They couldn't read a simple text and had no idea how to sound out words & blend to read! ahhh! Something needed to change!

I had been to a Jolly Phonics training in 2010, and found the program very interesting. I researched by talking to teacher friends, purchased a handbook, and last year started it in my classroom.

I couldn't believe the results, in the 9 weeks the program took to teach (one letter sound a day), every one of my class had learned pretty much all the sounds (some had forgotten some of the trickier diagraphs). They were blending to read and segmenting to spell. I was absolutely amazed at my clever kiddies! By the end of the year, most of the class were on reading levels (something that wasn't usually seen at our school!) and were spelling at an age appropriate level!

This has been so successful with our kids, and I know there are other synthetic phonics programs out there, I wonder what other teachers use....

Ok,

So I haven't posted for over a year. One thing I would like to do this year is blog a bit more! I love reading other people's blogs, and find them so interesting, but I think it is overwhelming and I don't really know where to start!  I need to set aside time each week or so to do this!

I'll fill you in on what has happened in the last year:

Last year I had the most amazing class. I miss them a lot this year. They picked everything I  taught them up so quickly. They were also very mature for 5 & 6 year olds! They were like little 'old people'. Everything interested them. They learned so so much and I was so proud at the end of the year with their results. My little girls still come in and see me almost every day at recess and lunch.

At the end of the year I travelled to America to visit my family in Oregon (and had Christmas there), spent time with friends in NYC, Vegas and LA. I had a great time. While in Oregon I went to Lakeshore - the store that I read about on the blogs I follow! We don't have anything like that where I live in Australia. I spent over an hour just walking around looking at everything. I am so jealous!!

 At Disneyland! Last time I went the teacup ride was closed due to rain! I was so so excited to be able to go on it this time!! I was like a child again when I was Minnie and Mickey mouse!!

 At the Alice in Wonderland sculpture in Central Park. Loved seeing this - Alice is one of my favourite stories!

This year's class is a bit of a shock - most of my class are brand new from kindy. I have had to teach them school routines, how to sit on the floor, how to ask to go to the toilet, how to walk around the school sensibly. The first couple of weeks were really hard - I compared this lot to my class last year. I had to keep reminding myself that this was all new for them, their first few weeks ever at school. After 3 weeks I have seen improvement and they are starting to show emotion (the first 2 weeks I would say something and get blank looks back - instead of giggles like I was used to!!)

 A picture of my classroom before the first day of school!

We are using Jolly Phonics again this year, and that is again showing its amazing-ness!! The kids are picking it up, but are slower blending sounds together. I will have to do a lot of work on this, perhaps in small groups as there are already many different ability levels showing.

Ok so I hopefully will write again very soon! I'll set a goal to write again in the next week!

Merry Christmas

I can't believe this year is already over. I am really going to miss my lovely little class I had this year. Next year, I have RECEPTIONS! ahh! I have had some great times with this class-  going to the high school for cooking and learning, travelling to the road safety centre and riding bikes, art, craft, assemblies, singing and dancing. They were little legends!

Since I'm now on holidays, I have already started looking for resources to make for next year! (Sad I know, but I can't help it!)

A great website that has cute games for maths and literacy, as well as some themed resources, is http://www.teachthis.com.au/ You have to pay a small fee to join, but then you have access to all the online material, which just needs to be downloaded, printed and laminated.

I also use http://www.k-3teacherresources.com/ This also requires a small fee, but has some good ideas for junior primary teaching.

Okay, I think that's enough promoting! Have a Merry Christmas all! I know I'll probably be in the pool swimming because it's meant to be very hot here on Christmas day!

It's been a while

Ok, it's been a while since my last post!

So much has been happening at our school - we had a craaaaazy end to term 3, and after a much needed 2 week break, we are back into our learning! This term in our class, we are learning about Australian animals - we have already made some cute kangaroos using sponged paint and paper plates - I'll try and post a picture soon! This week I am away in Sydney at some training - I hate that I'm away from my class for a week, but I am looking forward to what this training has to offer.

At the moment, it's hard not to think about next year - I have already found out what year level I will be taking, and have started finding cute resources & writing down ideas!

One website I have found really useful is: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/ - it's full of great resources & lesson plans - some free, some for a small price.

Some other websites I use ALL the time (my classroom has lots of posters and resources printed from them!) are:
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/
 and
http://www.twinkl.co.uk/

I have found that there are quite a few UK websites that have HEAPS of FREE printable/editable resources.

Alrighty - I'd better head off. I wonder if anyone will find this useful....

First Blog!

Hi! I'm a teacher and am starting this blog to vent, to educate and to inspire (maybe?)

I thought the other week, it would be nice to start writing about things that happen in my classroom... funny moments with the children, lesson ideas, good websites I've found, stressful moments, school in general, etc etc... I guess it will be like an online diary that can be shared with others.

I guess I'll start by telling you a bit about myself.  I'm a beginning teacher, I'm in my third year of teaching, and feel like I have only just found my feet with what works for me this year. I work in a small-ish country school in South Australia. We have around 160 children and 8 classes. We also have a high population of Aboriginal children (not that I take any notice of the ethnicity of the children in my class!). I have been at the school for a few years now and have seen many changes. I guess one of the biggest changes is the turn over of teachers we have had each year I have been at the school. Most teachers move on quite quickly around here - moving back to the city when they feel they have gained some experience. I am happy staying for a few more years - or until I find a job in the city I would like!

Well, I might leave it there for my first entry!