RPI Day 8

 Day 8 looked at 'Create', and it's importance to learning, and showing knowledge.

Through creating, there is the opportunity to engage more with the learner. Especially for those who may be reluctant - as they see there is the chance of something interesting to do. Choice of activities, templates, working independently (but with the opportunity to collaborate), can cater for a range of learners abilities and learning styles. The idea that create activities can be before and during reading as well as after, helps to hold a learners focus. Encouraging learners to reflect on what they have done through a Success Criteria or a rubric that shows the next level of thinking allows the learner to self monitor and set themselves goals to work towards.

There are some challenges with this. There are so many different ways to 'create' that it can be difficult to choose the ones that might be most effective in engaging, challenging and allowing for success. There is also the challenge of providing choices that allow different learning styles and interests to be met. There is another challenge which is almost as important as the 'create' and that is providing the chance to collaborate with others - a friend or a group working together. This skill seems to be slipping back, as children find it more and more difficult to work together. Even taking part in extended discussions, Talk Moves (DMIC Maths), responding to texts and showing and sharing their thinking becomes rarer.

I have some new ideas for creating that I hope to try out over the next few weeks (especially the one-shot-film). It will be interesting to see how they go in engaging and encouraging.  

RPI Day 7

 Thinking Critically = Empowerment.

Everybody has heard the term 'Fake News'.

Being able to think critically is an essential skill in today's world. There is so much information available that being able to analyse it and evaluate it is incredibly important. Teaching children to be able to look past the words and consider the point of view, the biases and the word tricks to see the actual message needs to start early. It is a skill that has to be taught.

With that as a theme for the day, we looked at how we can do that - and have some fun - and make it interesting for the learners - and use every variety of text - at any level.

Using the Rules for Talk, providing a 'Provocation' rather than a question encourages discussion rather than an answer. It provides a chance for further reading as ideas need to be justified. It allows for many points of view. As there is no right/wrong answer, it lets everyone express their ideas.

Where to next? I will be modelling more of this to the reading groups, explaining what I am doing, why and why it is important.