National Reconciliation Week 2017

Today, on National Sorry Day, 
I add my personal apology to the families of the Stolen Generations.
I am sorry for how our country treated you, 
and commit to standing with you towards reconciliation and justice.

Sorry Day - 26th May
Reconciliation Week - 27th May to 3rd June
Mabo Day - 3rd June

Yesterday was National Sorry Day and the beginning of Reconciliation Week for 2017. So I thought I'd share a couple of AMAZING resources that I have found that could help explain this very important week to you children/ students.

But before we get started, let's talk about WHY this year in particular is so important!

This year is a HUGE year as it is the 50 Year Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum where we saw the removal of the words ‘… other than the aboriginal people' from our constitution.

It is also the 25 Year Anniversary of the Mabo Decision which involved Eddie Mabo challenging the Australian legal system in recognising the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Owners of their land.

And the 20 Year Anniversary of the 'Bringing them Home' Report, which was a National inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.​

There's a lot of stuff in there. There's a lot to remember and a lot of pain to dig up. That's why I was completely blown away after reading Jennifer Castles' 'Say Yes'. Not only are the illustrations absolutely beautiful (thank you Paul Seden) but it explains the importance behind the 1967 Referendum clearly. Castles uses a number of examples to delicately show how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were treated prior to the Referendum. 

While Castles respectfully recognises that some people believe that the Referendum was a waste of time as not a lot had changed, she states that if we look back we can see that slowly ("very slowly") some positive changes have happened.

This book is a must-read. I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy!


While searching around the internet, I also stumbled across a number of resources that have been put together by Twinkl. There's lots of resources that can be used and adapted. I particularly like their PowerPoint presentations on Reconciliation Week and Sorry Day.

Screenshot from the Twinkl website.

Don't forget to check out BTN (Behind the News) as well. They tend to cover lots and lots of topics and present the information in a kid-friendly format. They have an episode that covers Reconciliation Week, another that covers Mabo Day and finally one that was released just this week about the 1967 Referendum.

Also remember that the National Reconciliation Week website has lots and lots of ideas. You can download their teaching and learning resources HERE.

NAIDOC Week 2017: Our Languages Matter

Worimi!

I would firstly like to acknowledge the Darug people, the traditional custodians of the land in which I live and work. I would like to pay my respect to Elders both past and present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people visiting my blog and reading this post.

This year the theme for NAIDOC week is 'Our Languages Matter'. 

And they most definitely do!

What does our census say about Aboriginal languages?

In the 2011 Census, 83% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reported speaking only English at home, similar to the proportion of non-Indigenous people (80%).  

About one in 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (11%) reported speaking an Australian Indigenous language at home. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25 to 44 years were most likely to speak an Indigenous language at home (13%), followed closely by those aged 15 to 24 years and those aged 45 years and over (both 11%). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 14 years and under were least likely to speak an Indigenous language (10%) and most likely to speak only English at home (85%).  

Of the Australian Indigenous languages spoken at home, languages in the Arnhem Land and Daly River Region Languages and Western Desert Languages groups were the most widely spoken (18% and 14% respectively). The next most prominent language groups spoken at home were Yolngu Matha and Torres Strait Island Languages (11% each).

Image from ABC Aboriginal Language Map

Here are some helpful resources that can be used to help teach your students about the Dharug people and their language:

1. Campfire Stories
This is an interactive website with short videos of elders speaking in their language. The interviews are presented in sections and include questions to guide students thinking as their watching.

2. Learn Darug
I'm a little addicted to this blog! It contains so many wonderful teaching resources, including notebook files and PDF's. The resources cover topics such as language, sacred sites, "Survival Day", etc. This site was developed for teachers working on Darug country.

3. Splash
Jacinta Tobin… where have you been all my life??? Splash have put together a number of videos with Jacinta speaking language. She explains how to greet people and use manners in Dharug. It's absolutely stunning. Click on the 'What to view next' side bar on the right to view more of her videos (after clicking on the 'Splash' link that is).

4. ABC Aboriginal Language Map
A great interactive tool to help show the different language groups/ countries. Use the magnifying tool to zoom in and have a closer look at the countries and where they are.

5. Dharug Dalang
This website is virtually a dictionary of Dharug words and phrases. Click on the 'Word Lists' tab to search for English words and find the Dharug translation (and vice versa).

Want to see some of my other posts? Click on the following links:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in the Classroom

NAIDOC Week 2016: Songlines

Aboriginal-inspired Artworks

10 ATSI Online Resources

Halloween Art

What's that saying? 

'It's better late than never'?

Today I thought I'd share with you TWO really easy artworks that I have taught to students in Years 3 and 6. These artworks are a great activity to complete around Halloween, however, they're so fantastic that they can be taught at any time!

The Haunted House

This one is so easy!

Students watch the following youtube clip 'How to draw a haunted house' which shows each step. After watching, students create these creepy houses using paper, black markers, a drawing compass (or something round to trace for the moon) and warm coloured pencils (red, orange, yellow).

They can change the design and add in bats to make it even scarier. My students loved drawing in the tomb stones!

I completed this lesson with Year 6, however, I feel that you could probably do this lesson with any age group. You will just have to prep them on how to use a marker correctly.

The Howling Wolf

I completed this artwork this year with Year 3. I showed students the following youtube video 'Drawing a Howling Wolf with Chalk Pastels'. After watching the video, I explained to students that we'd be creating our own version of the artwork. As I completed this with younger students, I printed out templates of the wolf which they stuck on once finished. However, feel free to get students to draw their own wolf.

I used black card (A4), chalk pastels, hairspray, a circle template (or you could use a drawing compass), a wolf template and glue.

The students loved creating their howling wolves. They're hanging up around the room and they look amazing!

As the end of the year approaches, I will be updating my blog with great end of year activities as well as some Christmas art ideas. Be sure to check back here every now and then or join my mailing list to get updates.

Taking Off With Numeracy (TOWN) Part I

While I was off on Maternity Leave, my colleagues participated in a number of professional learning sessions around TOWN (Taking Off With Numeracy). Since I have come back, I have had to do some catching up and I thought today I'd share what I've learned and how I'm applying it.

What is TOWN?

Taking Off With Numeracy (TOWN) is a whole-class intervention initiative which focuses on improving numeracy skills of students in the upper primary years identified as not performing at expected stage level. The initiative provides ongoing professional learning over the school year to assist teachers to assess each student’s current numeracy understanding and to monitor student progress against a research-based framework. Beyond this, the program aims to provide explicit guidance in designing whole class teaching programs to further develop each student’s numeracy understanding. Emphasis is given to the teaching sequence related to developing Place Value, as it underpins the four operations and decimals, as well as important concepts in measurement. Focus is also given to the teaching of Multiplication and Division concepts. 

(information taken from http://www.takingoffwithnumeracy.com.au) 

How and when does TOWN occur?

In my class, TOWN activities occur three times a week. Students participate in the same activity across the week, developing their ability and improving their skills. Each of the three sessions go for 10 minutes. We are currently focussing on place value.

I have a visual prompt on the board as the TOWN activities are differentiated, so you may have three or more variations happening at the one time. Materials are organised into tubs so that they're easily accessed.

What resources are needed?

Most of the resources needed can be found in the DENS books. Other resources include playing cards, dice, unifix cubes, counters, MAB Blocks and other maths equipment found around the classroom. Students will also need a book to put their working out in, a mini whiteboard and whiteboard marker. However one of the things that I love about TOWNS is that it is pretty adaptable. 

I am currently building up a bank of activities and I will share these with you in the near future. So make sure you check back here!

New Buzzwords: Visible Learning, Learning Intentions and Success Criteria

I don't know about you… but when I returned back from ONE YEAR OFF on Maternity Leave, it felt like the whole "teaching game" changed. All of a sudden I was hearing new acronyms, seeing new faces and learning whole new approaches to teaching. May I remind you all that I only had one year off!

So today I thought I'd share some of the things I've learned and how I apply them to my always-evolving teaching style.

Image taken from cognitioneducation.com

It all starts with this guy… John Hattie.

Hattie has challenged the way in which we teach. He has also challenged our ideas around what actually impacts learning and surprise, surprise… it's not class sizes!

He wrote a book about Visible Learning which explains fifteen years worth of research around what actually works in schools to improve learning.

He also coined the phrase "Know Thy Impact"… amongst many other things.

I recommend you watching his TEDx talk [below] which looks at: why are so many of our teachers and schools so successful. 

Ok so now that we all know a little more about him… What next?

So my school has started to really push Learning Intentions and Success Criteria. The idea is that you explain to students at the beginning WHAT they will be learning and HOW they'll know they're successful. It's actually a great way to think about the purpose of the lesson. I know in the past I've just taught things and never really thought about WHY. And I know I'm guilty of explaining to students what I want them to do without really giving it purpose. It's like that classic situation where a student asks 'how does this apply to the real world' and the teacher explains that the student needs to learn it "because it's in the syllabus". I don't think that's a good enough reason. Also... If that were true... Everything a child can learn is at their finger tips on the Internet... So lessons need purpose otherwise our role as a teacher is made redundant.

I thought I'd now share how I've been incorporating Learning Intentions and Success Criteria into my teaching. Now I cannot take credit for any of these ideas, as they are an initiative of my school and/or my supervisor.

1. Notebook files (or PowerPoint slides):

We show these at the beginning and conclusion of a lesson.

2. Programming:

We have Learning Intentions and Success Criteria built into our programs.

3. Around the room:

We often display our goals around the room or in easy-to-find locations for students to access.

4. Displayed during rotational activities:

These stands are placed in the area where that specific activity will be run.

We bought this template off teacherspayteachers.com

Now other ways to ensure that learning is visible, is by giving students an opportunity to show what they've been learning and get feedback. We (the teacher I job share with and I) try to meet with students twice in a Teacher-Student-Conference. Once during independent reading and the second during our daily writing time slot. Conferences only go for a couple of minutes but it's long enough for the student to show what they've been working on, for the teacher to give some constructive feedback and for the two to plan the students individual goal (short term) for the week.

We also try and keep a communication line open with parents, to share what we've been doing/learning during class time. This term we've chosen to use ClassDojo and utilise the Class Story tool as well as the direct Messages to parents. You can check out what ClassDojo has to offer HERE.

Where to next?

My aim is to establish a Bump It Up Wall for my class. I'm deliberating on how to best make one as I want it to be flexible and general. That way it can be used it all subjects and topics. However I'll go into this further in future posts.

I also want to create a way for me to assess my IMPACT on the class. Maybe a way for students to offer feedback to me about how I'm going so that I can further improve? I still need to put a bit more thought into this... And I'm definitely open to suggestions! So feel free to share any of your ideas below or email me at rach.sellen@gmail.com

Spelling Rotational Activities

So I've been doing a fair bit of research around spelling lately, particularly how to better utilise the THRASS resources that my school has invested in. There is also a fair amount of content in the NSW English Syllabus in regards to Spelling and I felt like I could teach it better. So I created the following activities to be used during Spelling lessons. The idea is that students rotate through the activities, completing two different activities each week. My hope is that through all of this word work, students will not only know how to spell a word, but they'll also learn how to construct it, where it comes from and how to apply it in their own writing.

Here are TWELVE of my Word Work activities (all resources included):

1. Stamp It

This is a really cute activity. I bought these alphabet stamps from Kmart for $5 and the containers to put them in for $2.50. The idea is that the students stamp out their spelling words in their workbooks. I just wanted students to get as much practice as possible while catering to different learning styles. This is a great hands-on activity.

2. Built It

For this activity, students are to build their spelling words using magnetic letters. I bought tubs of magnetic letters from Aldi a couple of years ago now. I unfortunately haven't seen them since. Magnetic letters and whiteboards can be quite pricey, but they're definitely worth it.

3. Make It

Here is another hands-on activity for students to practice their spelling words. For this activity, students make their spelling words with play dough. Needless to say, this activity is very popular!

4. Sign It

As the new English Syllabus (NSW) content includes developing and applying contextual understanding of Auslan, I thought it only appropriate to teach my students some sign language. In this activity, students finger-spell their spelling words. I found this very easy to read poster from TeachStarter.com

5. Type It

I saw this activity originally on Pinterest but the idea is that students type out their spelling words on a QWERTY keyboard template. I just got my template from the internet.

6. Text It

I found this very cute iPad template on Teachers Pay Teachers. A lady named Christina Winter created it and you can download it for FREE HERE. I laminated the templates so that students can write their words on it using a whiteboard marker. Once they've written out their words, they text them. Alternatively you could just use an iPad… but I don't always have access to a set.

7. Rainbow Words

From the same creator, Christina Winter has created a Rainbow Words worksheet. You can download it HERE for FREE.

8. THRASS Match

I made this activity for my class. I wanted to strengthen their knowledge of the THRASS chart by matching the corresponding word with the phoneme (correct grapheme). These cards are great because you can play Snap and Memory with them also. Students can also spread the cards across the floor and create a large version of the THRASS chart by placing the cards in the correct order. You can download a copy of this activity HERE (vowels) and HERE (consonants).

9. Front or Back (Morphology)

This is a great activity for students to learn extensions (prefixes and suffixes) and how to apply them to their spelling words. Students write their word in the centre of the card and then add prefixes and/or suffixes, taking note of what sounds and looks right. You can download a copy of everything you need HERE (card to write on), HERE (prefixes) and HERE (suffixes).

10. THRASS It

For this activity, students construct their words using the THRASS phoneme-grapheme cards. It's a simple activity in concept, but students really have to think about the individual sounds which can be quite tricky. Students will need a THRASS chart to help them work through this activity. You can download a copy of this activity HERE.

11. Phoneme Frames

For this activity, students write out their words and then break the words into the individual phonemes by writing them in the smaller boxes. For example: TABLE | T - A - B - LE | You can download this worksheet HERE.

12. Word Origins (Etymology)

I think it is so important that students know where their words have come from, whether it be Latin, Greek, etc. By knowing WHERE the word originates from, students are given clues to know HOW to spell the word. There's a few Etymology Dictionaries out there and sometimes class dictionaries may include the origin next to the definition of the word being looked up. However, I really like using etymonline.com

The idea is that I start the lesson off very structured. I read the words out, we break the words down and identify the sound we're looking at for that week. We talk about possible meanings and discuss similar words. Students then complete TWO of the above activities independently. However, although the lesson is independent the activity itself is very structured.

The next day during Literacy Groups, students complete a spelling worksheet where they write their words out, find the definitions and write the words in sentences. You can download a copy of my worksheet HERE.

What do you do during Spelling lessons? I'd love to hear from you - comment below or send me an email at rach.sellen@gmail.com 

Programming for Spelling while incorporating the THRASS program

A couple of years ago now, I was formally trained in THRASS. I remember coming home absolutely exhausted but inspired about what I had learned. I began incorporating what I learned into my own teaching, but it has taken time. My colleague and I had to think of a way to inspire the teachers back at home and think of ways to incorporate our knowledge across Years 3-6.

We ended up creating a program that contained eight spelling lists that looked at one phoneme a week. The idea was, that teachers could pick a list that best fit their class/ group of students. It was flexible enough, that the program could work around their own teaching practices. I guess it achieved what we set out for it to do.

However, my colleague and I feel that we need to update our programs. So for this blog post I thought I'd share some of the PROS and CONS to our current program and share where we want to go with it all next.

As I mentioned, our Years 3-6 program has eight differentiated lists to cater to the varying spelling abilities. Each week we look at a different THRASS phoneme. We study a consonant, followed by a vowel, and then repeat. Our program looks like this:

You can download a copy of our program HERE.

Now here are some of the PROS:

• All of the hard work was done. Teachers didn't have to think about spelling lists and themes. It was already done for them.
• Across the year, students are exposed to all 44 speech sounds (phonemes).
• The program is simple and easy to use. So even if a teacher hasn't participated in formal training, they should be able to effectively use the program.

And now here are some of the CONS:

• Phonological strategies is only one small part of the content that needs to be covered in "Spelling". Students need to also look at word origins, base words, suffixes and prefixes, etc.
• While the program provided teachers with a spelling list, it didn't effectively provide teachers with a template of HOW to teach spelling.
• The program did not include any word work activities and strategies.
• My colleague and I did not have a proper opportunity to explain the program to all staff before it was implemented.
• Not enough teachers at my school had been formally trained in THRASS.
• We are working with a limited amount of THRASS resources as our school is building up their collection.
• The THRASS program itself, is a whole-school program. However, we were only teaching students from Years 3-6 (this was originally decided upon due to lack of resources).

So we decided to do some research and figure out ways to IMPROVE our current Spelling program. That was when I stumbled across Normanton State School's whole-school Spelling Program. My mind was blown at the amount of work the teachers over there had invested into such an impressive document. YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT! You can download a copy of it HERE.

The Normanton State School Spelling Program (NSSSP) explicitly explains HOW spelling should be taught. It also provides teachers with already created spelling lists as well as word work activities. The NSSSP document also includes spelling assessments for each grade and a comprehensive marking guide. The program extends from Kindergarten (or Prep) right through to Year 10. And finally it also covers most elements (if not all) of word knowledge across their spelling lists. What more could I ask for?

I feel like this program has inspired me to update our current program so that it is of a similar standard.

So… Where to now???

The plan is to meet with teachers in the Spelling Committee at my school, and share the Normanton State School Spelling Program. Hopefully my colleagues will be just as excited as I am! In the meantime, as holidays are fast approaching, I will endeavour to create as many word work activities as I possibly can. I want to begin improving my Spelling Lessons as of DAY ONE of TERM THREE.

Over the coming weeks I will share some of the independent and small group activities that I am working on as well as some FREEBIES. So be sure to check back!

Aboriginal-Inspired Artworks

Artwork One: Nature Installation Artworks

I taught this lesson a couple of years ago now, but it has left an imprint on my memory. It was such a fun unit to teach and the students LOVED IT.

We actually started off by studying Andy Goldsworthy the installation artist, while studying Aboriginal culture and history. Goldsworthy's artworks are stunning. He uses only things found in nature to create his artworks and then he films/photographs them as "nature itself" destroys the artwork. 

Students were encouraged to explain their own message through a nature installation. This could be easily adapted so that students are explaining a Dreamtime story or a moral. Students are given a certain amount of time and can only use things found laying around the playground. They could not pull anything off trees or destroy bushes and plants.

Like Goldsworthy, we photographed the artworks being destroyed by nature over time.

Artwork Two: Vivid Opera House Design

This is another fun art lesson and is very appropriate as Vivid Lights are currently on in Sydney's CBD.

For those who haven't heard of Vivid, it's a light show in Sydney that projects images on some of our iconic buildings and structures. It's absolutely beautiful. Every year, the Opera House gets covered in lights and there's usually an Aboriginal design in amongst other designs.

For this lesson, I merged the Vivid lights show with NAIDOC week. Students were encouraged to paint an Aboriginal design onto an Opera House template. We then cut it out and glued it onto a piece of paper that was coloured in oil pastels and then painted over in black paint. Students then etched fireworks into the background.

I can't take credit for this lesson idea... It actually came from my Brother and Sister-in-Law but I can highly recommend it. It's such an easy lesson that looks very impressive in the end.

Artwork Three: Bark Paintings

I actually organised this lesson for Years 3-6 to complete when celebrating NAIDOC week at my school.

Students were given brown paper which they ripped around the edges to give a bark-effect. Students then chose a Darug Totem (Aboriginal Countries have different totems which are special to them) and sketched it out on the brown paper. Using a cu-tip, students dot painted their animal and the surrounding. They were also given oil pastels to draw designs on their animals.

The final results are impressive.

For more Aboriginal-Inspired artworks, games and activities... Check out my Pinterest Board: http://pin.it/KUjMPe-

Artwork Four: Aboriginal-inspired Stencil Handprints

I have been teaching this lesson to the whole of Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) in our CAPA rotations time. It's been such a great lesson! I started by informing students about WHY Aboriginal people use stencil handprints and we looked at a variety of artworks that include stencil handprints. We then discussed different totems, symbols and traditions of the Darug people (we had an excursion only weeks before to Muru Mittigar which was perfect). Students already had knowledge about this, so they felt like experts. And then we got straight into making and creating.

I bought some spray bottles from a $2 Store in the 'Hair' section. I mixed paint with water so that we had a watery mixture and that's what students sprayed over their hand template.

A very quick and easy lesson that produces an effective piece of art.

I'm so happy that they're hung up and ready for NAIDOC week 2016.

Well I hope you found these ideas helpful and/or inspiring. I'd love to hear about any of your ATSI CAPA lessons and/or teaching ideas. Feel free to comment below or email me at rach.sellen@gmail.com

10 ATSI Online Resources!

I love being able to incorporate the ATSI perspective into most areas of my teaching. Now there are HEAPS of resources out there… the problem is sometimes trying to find them!

While on Maternity Leave, I dedicated a fair amount of time to finding these resources and creating a database of them. I had to search far and wide for some gems which were hidden in the abyss that is the internet.

With NAIDOC week fast-approaching I thought that tonight I'd share TEN of these amazing resources and websites with you, that are perfect for the Primary Classroom.

Image taken of one of my students artworks (2014).

1. YULUNGA- This is a PDF that you can download/print and it is filled with games and activities from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from around the country. This is an excellent resource for PD/H/PE and for those moments when you need to fill-in some time.

2. Dust Echoes- This is a favourite of mine. Dust Echoes is a series of twelve beautifully animated dreamtime stories from Central Arnhem Land, telling stories of love, loyalty, duty to country and aboriginal custom and law.

3. Global Words- The fifteen units of work in Global Words have been produced by World Vision Australia and the Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) to integrate the teaching and learning of English with global citizenship education.

4. Move It Mob Style-  Move it Mob Style is a 20 episode x 30 minute dance-based fitness program for television broadcast and online. Showcasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hip hop and popular music, Move it Mob Style is all about good beats: using dance to stay healthy. Another great resource for PD/H/PE.

5. Deadly Vibe- Our vision is to support all Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people in reaching their full potential by providing positive imagery, identifiable role models and quality information to improve community and quality of life. Deadly Vibe is Australia’s only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, sport, entertainment, health and education magazine. This is a great resource for Literacy Groups.

6. Be Deadly Online-  Deadly Online is an animation and poster campaign about big issues online, like bullying, reputation and respect for others. Developed with deadly Indigenous writers and voice actors, all Australians can enjoy these short, fun animations and learn about how we want to behave together online.

7. Dreaming Stories Online- A collection of Dreamtime stories in video format, and useful information for students.

8. Gummingurru- There are a variety of resources and units of work on this website, available to the general public. These learning activities are seen by the Gummingurru Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) as an important reconciliation activity to be shared by Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people.

9. Darug Country- The blog is designed to promote Learning from Aboriginal Country in Sydney. This site provides you with videos, lessons for the IWB, texts, and ideas for teaching about Darug on Darug Country. This resource is brilliant… make sure you check it out!

10. Education Dreaming (Crackerjack)- Education Dreaming is a non-Profit, For Purpose, Social Enterprise set up to share and educate to the world (using positive and innovative methodologies) and revive for our own people, the incredible and precious ancient culture and knowledge of this country’s Ancient Australians.

And there you have it… 

Ten AMAZING websites/resources that you should definitely check out RIGHT NOW!

EDIT: I have created a database with these and other websites/resources that I've found. You can download it for FREE right HERE. 

Please note that this is a work in progress. If you find any other ATSI websites/ resources please feel free to comment below and I'll add them in :)