The first, of a three day project, in Somerset, and a fantastic day at West Pennard Primary.
The project has become entitled Somer-Settings: Using ICT to Inspire Powerful writing.
The day started with 24 teachers and 61 Year 1 and 2 pupils in the hall – remarkable engagement and remarkable outcomes, including a high level balanced argument with a Year 2 girl.
Tim and Sarah visited us today for an ICT inspire day, funded by the Somerset ICT Team.
Tim did 2 demonstration lessons using Myst, working with children from Years 1+2 as well as 5+6.
The infant children were introduced to an unusual spiral object and thought of verbs and adverbs for the movement we would make to go up the spiral. They were then asked to imagine what was at the top of the spiral.
The children’s enthusiasm and engagement for the activity was incredible, as was the writing they did in response to exploring the game. Some of the Year 2 pupils produced half an A4 page of rich descriptive writing. The rich stimulus that the game provides clearly has such a positive impact on children’s enjoyment, enthusiasm and ability to write.
The Key Stage 2 pupils had a similar experience, using a place in the game as a stimulus for generating similes and metaphors. The sharing of the similes and metaphors at the end was particularly powerful.
Children that don’t perhaps normally have the confidence or, maybe, the ideas to share, really had the chance to shine and the writing that the children produced was of the highest quality.
One boy, when asked at the end of the session to stop and put his hand up to give himself a pat on the back alongside his classmates, was still writing with his other hand!
It is such a simple idea and so easy to put in place in your classroom. I can’t wait to explore some of the worlds and read some of the writing that my class do as a result!!!!!
The afternoon was spent working with some of the teachers and teaching assistants from the 14 invited schools, reflecting on the morning’s lessons and going further with ideas and approaches that engage and motivate pupils.
Then, after school, a twilight session with further staff looking at Wii games, Web2 technologies and so much more.
Category: 1) Events and Training days