Den Making Take Two!

abc doesChild Initiated Learning, Creativity, Planning and Assessment3 Comments

We had another great morning making dens with the Y5/6 children. Some were coming to help for the second time and you could really see that they had learned a great deal from working with the children yesterday.     I put out Art Straws and various joining items in the afternoon and was chuffed to see that a number of children replicated their dens in straws!  When we had finished working this morning I asked the Y5/6 if they wanted to stay and play with the children  – which of course they did! When I say play ' with ' that is a bit of an over statement! We ended up with Y6 in the water tray, the compost and in full … Read More

Gerbil traps and Gun Play in Foundation Stage!

abc doesBoys Learning, Child Initiated Learning, Creativity, Mark Making, Weapon and Superhero Play3 Comments

Walked in today, switched on the light and there she was – just looking at me. She let me walk right up to her, bend over and then VAMOOSH! She was off! I then sat in the talk area for 20 mins while both of the missing gerbils scurried around me, even sniffing my hand. But as soon as I moved as much as an eyebrow…they were gone! In the end I constructed a tunnel of cardboard boxes along the skirting board and herded them into a corner where I could get them! So after half an hour of hoofing around they were all back in the telly! When the children got in they were full of it so I … Read More

Setting Up an Outdoor Area

abc doesBoys Learning, Creativity, Outdoors, Planning and Assessment2 Comments

I have only got two weeks left on this project! Can't believe how fast the time has gone – also can't believe how much I have got to get in place for the person who is taking over once I have gone. I haven't forgotten that I said I would post a completed medium term planner. My team will have finished their initial assessments this week so we are going to have a go at our first medium term theme that will kick in after half term. I thought it might be relevant to post that one as it relates to the children and the experiences that I have shared so far on the blog. Time allowing I will post … Read More

Students and millions

abc doesUncategorized4 Comments

Was in Hope University Liverpool yesterday presenting a workshop to students on Multimodal approaches to Foundation Stage education and then a key speech to round off the end of the day on phonics and the teaching of reading. It was a really good day with loads of info for the students and also interesting for me. Not only did I get to work with lots of enthusiastic students. I also got to meet ' Frank ' ! When I arrived on campus and set up I was asked to go out and find ' Frank ' who was kicking off the morning before jumping on a train to London. Had no idea who Frank was or what he looked liked so … Read More