Archive for January, 2010
Wordles of Character
The first outcome of our “Bringing The Village To Life” project at Whissendine C.E.Primary School was a set of powerful images, which the children created through quite a complex, yet, in reality, acheivably-simple procedure.
It involved them working across a few programs and resources, and having to keep track of a collection of thought processes. They also had to “think on their feet” and work out exactly HOW to succeed in the challenge.
A shared learning journey.
Whissendine C.E.Primary School, Rutland Day 2
Well! What an emotional and thoroughly immersive pair of days at Whissendine C.E.Primary School.
To work alongside a group of children, and their teachers, who are up for challenges and creativity in a big way is a real joy. When those people are under the microscope, an inspection breathing down upon them, and they still buzzz, fly and excel themselves… that is a priviledge!
I cannot tell you how they did in the inspection of course, except to say that, all of this close-knit and supportive community, have the right to be VERY proud of their continued efforts.
Well done, to headteacher, Rob Gooding, and his “TEAM”.
Continue Reading
EasyDefine
Using EasyDefine is very simple. Simply copy and paste a list of words into the text box. Look up multiple words quickly. Simply copy and paste a list with any delimeter. Definitions/synonyms are immediately
If you want to look up a word with 2 or more components such as “computerized axial tomography scanner”,(!! Go look it up !!) simply type in “computerized-axial-tomography-scanner” and EasyDefine can interpret this appropriately.
After that is done, EasyDefine offers the list to you in its entirety for download as a word document, for viewing on the website itself, or for emailing to yourself.
Also don’t forget about the advanced options (located under the text box in the home tab) which give you options such as alphabetizing and numbering your list.
You can specify the maximum number of definitions for each word and whether or not to randomly pick these definitions from the dictionary (for example picking 2 definitions out of a possible 10).
The synonyms tab provide you with synonyms of the word list you gave.
More than just a simple fast dictionary.
Whissendine C.E.Primary School, Rutland
The first of a six day long project working alongside the children and staff of Whissendine C.E.Primary School, Rutland.
This is different for us in a couple of ways:
1) it is organised in coordination with The Mighty Creatives, and Creative Partnerships.
2) it is the first such event, for us, that has been launched by the auspicious element of an Ofsted inspection too!! (The school got “the call” on Monday, and are bravely striding ahead with our partnership, despite “the visit”).
This promises to be an exciting new project. It is always fun to do new, and exploratory ventures. We are excited to be developing some new ways of working. Continue Reading
Forvo
Find out how to say a word you’re unfamiliar with, at the web site Forvo.
Forvo describes itself as: “the largest word pronunciation dictionary in the world, now with translations. All the words in all the languages pronounced by native speakers”. Continue Reading
South Avenue Junior School, Sittingbourne, Kent
Today, we were lucky enough to work alongside staff and children at South Avenue Junior School, Sittingbourne in Kent. The morning focused on demonstration lessons exploring speaking and listening activities, writing, drama and so much more, using, this time, the beautifully detailed landscapes of the Myst computer game Revelation. Continue ReadingThanet 2 Day 3: Newlands Primary School, Kent
Thank you to Marie Knight for recording her thoughts on today:
“Having seen Tim in action on training days and conferences, I am, at last, standing in the hall of my school, watching Tim doing what he does best: Working with the kids and being shot by Mr Walker. (Just a normal day at Newlands then).
Looking at a landscape from Myst IV the children come out of their shell. It gives those children who often are the ones struggling with the academic structure of the day coming out with amazing descriptions, bold enough to speak out loud, explain ideas and develop their sense of achievement. Continue Reading
Wordnik
Wordnik is “a dictionary aiming to collect all the words in the English language: 1.7 million so far! Examples, pronunciations, user notes, and more”.
“Wordnik is a place for all the words, and everything known about them”.
Wordnik‘s goal is “to show you as much information as possible, as fast as we can find it, for every word in English, and to give you a place where you can make your own opinions about words known. Continue Reading
Thanet 2 Day 2: Newlands Primary School, Kent
Today, we were lucky enough to be back working alongside staff and children at Newlands Primary, Ramsgate, Thanet in Kent, joined by colleagues from Priory Infants, Chilton Primary, Newington Primary, Upton Juniors, Ellington Infants, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Dame Janet Infants, Christ Church C of E Junior, St Ethelbert’s Catholic Primary, Bromstone Primary, St Mildred’s Infants, and Dame Janet Junior.
There is a lovely atmosphere in the school. Each class is named after an animal: Reception – Lemurs and Meerkats, Year 1 – Badgers and Squirrels, Year 2 – Giraffes and Lions, Year 3 – Elephants and Tigers, Year 4 – Leopards and Zebras, Year 5 – Koalas and Pandas, Year 6 – Dolphins, Otters and Seals.
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In Bb 2.0 and YouCube
In Bb 2.0 is a collaborative music and spoken word project conceived by Darren Solomon from the band Science for Girls, and developed with contributions from users.
The videos can be played simultaneously — the soundtracks will work together, and the mix can be adjusted with the individual volume sliders.
To find about YouCube and more… Continue Reading
Beaver Green School, Kent: Day 2 Reflections
Having spent Monday working with our staff and showing us how to use the magical world of Myst and other IT resources to improve involvement and the desire to write, … Tuesday was about the children! The day that Tim went “live” with our children.
It is a brave man that will stand in front of 80 children and 20 adults and model a 90 minute writing lesson, so… Continue Reading
As well as our events, we like to share interesting, and more often than not, FREE tools, resources and ideas, some old, some new, and we hope you might find something useful. We'd love your thoughts. Tim & Sarah
