Question 1 - the overwhelming majority do like writing - a great starting point! Have to make sure that this level of enjoyment doesn't decrease - no pressure!
When asked what they found easy, answers ranged from "writing I am" to "holding the pencil properly". Easy words and drawing a picture are the 2 most common answers which is interesting as a focus this week has been on drawing ideas.
When asked what they found hard, answers ranged from "nothing" to "everything"! Hard words and puzzled faces were the 2 most common answers. But other interesting points to note are "forming letters" (my words) from the younger children and it was also good to see some honest answers - "to start" from one of my chosen ones who does struggle to start. Showing great self-awareness from a 5 year old.
When asked what their goals were there was a difference in the age of the children the Hot Air Balloons have generally been at school for 5 weeks whilst the Spaceships range from 15 to 45 weeks of schooling. It is clear to see that our focus as mentors has been on the finger-spaces, or perhaps it's the "wriggly worm" that has caught their attention. This is interesting as I thought my focus has been on the ideas stage but that is clearly not the message!
My final question was "What are you learning?" and some just looked puzzled as if to say "to write of course" and others said that. This tells me two things - firstly, that I need to be more careful about the wording of my questions as I was trying to find out the detail - the intentions, and secondly that we are not be clear about the learning intentions as none could really articulate this to me.
All in all an interesting wee survey and I will take the results back to the team, and alter some aspects of the lesson structure.
What a great survey! That first question is particularly important and probably not one we visit often enough. This should be a twice yearly question I think - if the interest is lacking, where's the motivation to learn!?!?!
ReplyDeleteTetli, what an awesome insight into the world of writing for 5 year olds....What I found interesting is the lack of understanding that writing has a purpose...yes they are learning to write - but what is writing used for? Why do we write? When do we write? Did you ever have to write before you came to school? When do you see other people write? What message are you trying to give when you write?
ReplyDeleteMy question to the team would be how can we make writing more purposeful for beginning writers and help them make meaning from it....I think the writing cycle could come into this - especially the publishing part :)
Food for thought as we head into designing for term 2!!