In accordance with Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, the graph displayed above is in no way an accurate representation of the “brightness” of the children.

All spelling words are first given to the children in oral form through storytelling, then are introduced in written form through the children’s workbook and lastly in a spelling list to be practised throughout the week for the “spelling bee”.

While the above methods will appeal to the logical – mathematical child, linguistic child and spatial child, to give each child an opportunity to excel greater measures can be taken. Eg. Discovering the rhythm of the words for the musical child, perhaps developing a clapping game to the rhythm for the bodily kinaesthetic child, finding word relationships and conundrums for the interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist and existentialist children


Kindergarten

Wooden Boats

From a plan I drew and gave to the school’s workshop wooden boats were shaped, masts cut and given to the class.

The children were required to sand the boats until they were completely smooth, with no sharp edges and the masts also were sanded.
The boats were oiled.
The sail was made from felt, each child made their own individual sail, felted from coloured fleece.
Sails were attached to the masts using a simple strapping stitch.





The boats are made from pine and are a streamlined, simple design. Sanded and oiled the boats are very beautiful. As each child felted their own sail they were able to design the felt themselves, and each sail is as individual as each child.

I am delighted to see them so beautifully set up in their display in the classroom. The children love to play with them and they make elaborate waterways to sail them on.

Some children found sanding the boats to be hard work, taking many days to get it completely smooth. Where one child wouldn’t come to me for help once, another would come five times to check if they were finished yet. It was a lesson in determination and will activity.






In this era of modern technology we are no longer bound by the constraints of classroom and teacher. Using a constructivist, collaborative approach to education leads us to a “distributed learning environment”.

Distributed is defined as the capability to use common standards and network technologies in order to provide learning anywhere and anytime.
Learning is defined as the acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes.
Environment – classroom, home…


It is within the context of a distributed learning environment I am able to study for my Bachelor of Education while working full-time. Having access to a computer and the internet I am able to communicate with University lecturers in Sydney via email, access course details online, and research required information in the comfort of my own home after I put my children to bed.








My first blog creation. After a day of learning cognitively - I'm tired!

lotus blossom said...
One more day of collaborative learning, 3 more porfolio's handed in, an exciting day!!

8:54 PM


lotus blossom said...
Only by wrestling with the conditions of the problem at hand, seeking and finding his own solution
(not in isolation but in correspondence with the teacher and other pupils)
does one learn.

~ John Dewey, How We Think, 1910 ~

2:17 AM


lotus blossom said...
I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so that they will be positioned to make it a better place. Knowledge is not the same as morality, but we need to understand if we are to avoid past mistakes and move in productive directions. An important part of that understanding is knowing who we are and what we can do... Ultimately, we must synthesize our understandings for ourselves. The performance of understanding that try matters are the ones we carry out as human beings in an imperfect world which we can affect for good or for ill. (Howard Gardner 1999: 180-181)

2:48 AM


lotus blossom said...
'Learning is an active process in which learners construct new ideas or concepts based on current/past knowledge' - Jerome Bruner

2:59 AM