Year 3/4 Learning Reflection

This week in phonics, Grade 3/4 students have been learning the spelling codes for /l/. Some of the sound spellings we have looked at are:  l, ll, le, al, el, il, ol 

Word examples; apple, collect, double, camel, pencil, petrol. 

For a while now, teachers have been implementing a structured gradual release of learning. This means reducing students cognitive load by firstly front loading students with the information they need to achieve the highest success, secondly modelling how this may look in a specific relatable and contextual way and finally giving students the opportunity to practise what they have learnt independently. 

We call this the "I do", "We do", "You do" approach. 

The work samples attached show the process students worked through to publish a non-fiction piece. 

Firstly, we discussed and compared the similarities and differences between fiction and non-fiction texts, secondly the teacher modelled how to research the information to write about the topic using topic-specific vocabulary and now the students have begun using all this knowledge to publish independently (with appropriate scaffolding of course!). Check out their books!

This week students participated in 'The Bee Man' incursion with Clancy Lester.  WOW! What a wealth of knowledge Clancy was. He spoke to students about our native bees, their features, how they are being affected in their environment, things we can do to help them and so much more. Students were engaged and knowledgable themselves on the many environmental affects to endangered insects and animals such as climate change.    

Students got right into the hands on activities of creating Ground Nesting blocks, mixing sand and clay to embed into brick foundations. They also used recycled PVC pipes and filled them with bamboo to make 'bee hotels' or cavity nesting. It was a wonderful incursion and a bright sunny day to make use of our new outdoor workshop area.