Relationships

Week 3 at SPS has been all about the relationships. We held 3-way learning conversations so this gave me a great opportunity to meet 17 out of my 20 mentor group families. Hearing the children being able to articulate and truly understand one of our core beliefs – that of having a growth mindset, was amazing. These 5 year olds can talk about a concept that most adults would struggle to define. Not only that but they can also talk about a time they have used it and also apply it to their future learning.

 Being part of the learning conversations with Muireann was an amazing growth experience for me. Hearing our children talk about their learning and then listening to Muireann talk about progressions and describing to parents (and the children) why the goal the child might have chosen was appropriate has deepened my understanding of teaching year 1 children. 

Writing was one focus picked by the majority of children as an area where they could use their growth mindsets. The complicated nature of learning to write was highlighted. Children have to think about what they are going to write, then hold the pencil properly, having the fine motor skills to be able to do this, forming letters and building the letters in to words and then the words into sentences. Not forgetting the purpose, and other conventions such as finger spaces, full stops, capital letters (in the right place!). Phewww!

Having spent the last 3 weeks with this group of children and another mentor, has been a really good introduction into both life at SPS and the capabilities, quirks and personalities of these 5 and 6 year olds. Bring on the next instalment!