Down to Devon, at the Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter, for the last event in a huge three week block for us.
Today, we had the joy of working alongside a real Joy.
Joy Simpson, is Literacy Consultant for Devon, and is someone we keep nicking ideas from gathering inspiration and thoughts from already. Joy writes and contributes to the superb blog from the Devon Literacy team. Literacy Resources and Ideas does what it says on the tin, because it keeps bubbling along with articles and links to great…well… resources and …um… ideas.
Joy is another fan of Twitter (@joysimpson) and it was fun to direct delegates towards the powerful CPD and connections that Twittering can provide.
National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services Phase Three of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Leadership Programme here in London consists of a two-day residential conference. Today, we delivered a workshop, looking at different ways of motivating and inspiring students through the imaginativre use of technology.
We often talk about collaborative drawing packages. Here is another one.
Flock Draw gives you the opportunity to draw, mindmap and collaborate on line
Paint a simple masterpiece. Make a point visually. Do whatever you want. Do it together. Grab a tool. Pick a color. Draw something. Show a friend. Show the world. Share your vision.
If you ever wanted to quickly share or collaborate on a simple sketch online, here is a fun tool to try. Read the rest
Another glimpse in to Roz Brown’s Myst based SOW which she wrote the first installment of during our Nurturing Narrative course in East Malling last week.
Roz is the Learning Dimension Leader in Communication & Literacy at Valence School, in Kent.
Roz has also attached screen shots of the Boardmaker symbol sheets that she used. (Click on the images to enlarge). Read the rest
Today, we had the opportunity to put what we had covered yesterday… in to action.
Well done, to all the staff, and pupils, at Banockburn, for some wonderous wanderings in the world of words!
Thank you to a few observing visitors, for their comments about some of the elements they found captivating:
How the resources used were not JUST visual. They became “real”, smelly, tactile and believable.
We found ourselves exploring all 5 senses without making it obvious we were doing so
All pupils were given encouragement and opportunities to build in some way. Whether it was social etiquette elements, writing, choice of learning style, extension out of comfort zones or more, they were “Up for a challenge!”
There was no “Right idea”. Even better, there was no “WRONG IDEA”. All efforts and contributions were rewarded.
Keeping children in suspense, like rattling the gates at the beginning of a horse race, meant that, when they were set free to record their thoughts and ideas, they were off and running.
High levels of engagement were translated in to rewarding experiences. It was more than just enjoyment; they applied that involvement and acheived a lot throughout the sessions.
And, in the words of one teacher, “It got ME thinking, flying, writing, dreaming and believing. I NEED to know what is round that corner, even if the children never get to find out!”
Day One of a two day visit to Bannockburn Primary School in Greenwich, London. Today, a closed school training day with visiting colleagues from other schools, then tomorrow, the best bit, a day of demonstration lessons with the pupils. We were invited here by Rob Carpenter, who is co-ordinating a project with several other schools involved in the London Challenge initiative, focusing on raising standards in writing. The schools attending today included Nightingale Primary, Foxfield Primary, Brooklands Primary, Ealdham Primary and Edgebury Primary.. Read the rest
Day Two of the National College Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Leadership Programme Phase Three, at The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, and we are providing the afternoon Keynote, focusing on the learning, harnessing technologies and adapability.
. Read the rest
Today, we were running a workshop looking at different technologies that can have an impact on standards in the classroom, as part of the Phase three of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Leadership Programme and their two-day residential conference, at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate.
The conference consists of structured debates, workshops and keynote speeches. Read the rest
Day two of the “Nurturing Narrative Event” here in Kent. Today, we had the joy of working alongside staff, and students, from Stone Bay School, Broadstairs, Kent.
And… Wow! What a superb experience! The Kent SEN ICT crew, are a remarkable bunch. In the run up to this event, we have had a lot of Skype calls and “virtual meetings” to build resources, support materials, and some delightful tactile stimuli, such as plants, magnifying globes, and even a balloon containing a mysterious fish like creature. These really added to the buzz of communication in the room. Read the rest
Roz Brown – English teacher at Valence School, Westerham, Kent, was kind enough to record the first part of her thoughts on using some of the virtual worlds with her special needs students.
Valence is a special school for students with physical disabilities and complex medical needs. Students are divided into ability groups for lessons.
Having seen Tim in January 2009, I decided to use Myst to devise a scheme of work for writing non-fiction with a group of students with complex difficulties who all use alternative means of communication.Read the rest
Day 1 of the Nurturing Narrative Special Schools Event, at the East Malling Conference Centre, in Kent. The aim: give staff confidence to integrate technology, and engage students with mixed levels of language, communication and literacy needs. Read the rest
Down to Devon, at the Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter, for the last event in a huge three week block for us.
National College for Leadership of Schools and Children’s Services 
Roz is the Learning Dimension Leader in Communication & Literacy at 
Today, we had the opportunity to put what we had covered yesterday… in to action.
Day One of a two day visit to Bannockburn Primary School in Greenwich, London. Today, a closed school training day with visiting colleagues from other schools, then tomorrow, the best bit, a day of demonstration lessons with the pupils. We were invited here by Rob Carpenter, who is co-ordinating a project with several other schools involved in the London Challenge initiative, focusing on raising standards in writing. The schools attending today included 
Day Two of the National College Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Leadership Programme Phase Three, at The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, and we are providing the afternoon Keynote, focusing on the learning, harnessing technologies and adapability.
Today, we were running a workshop looking at different technologies that can have an impact on standards in the classroom, as part of the Phase three of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Leadership Programme and their two-day residential conference, at the 
WordsLike.net
Day two of the “Nurturing Narrative Event” here in Kent. Today, we had the joy of working alongside staff, and students, from Stone Bay School, Broadstairs, Kent.
Roz Brown – English teacher at Valence School, Westerham, Kent, was kind enough to record the first part of her thoughts on using some of the virtual worlds with her special needs students.
Day 1 of the Nurturing Narrative Special Schools Event, at the 
