Context

Any takers before I download to MYLO??????????????????????????? I added some ict in there for Sara as she is the braveheart in taking on ict for the unit. If I have not heard from anyone by 3pm in she goes. I would like another opinion just to make sure that its what we want.

The framework of this unit has been planned for a grade four class consisting of 21 students; 11 girls and 10 boys. The school is situated in a country district with the majority of families holding middle to low socio-economic status. The duration of the unit will be two weeks consisting of eight lessons that will run from 60 to 90 minute periods. The literacy level of four students are below the standard with others above the standard requirement. With aide/parent help time and working in collaborative groups the educator can focus on the four students independently. The classroom possesses five computers which many of the students are competent with, progressively working with the applications of Word, Publisher, Excel, Powerpoint and internet service provided. It is envisaged that working in collaborative groups will enforce and enhance the fundamental skills needed for the global challenge of information technology required today and the foreseeable future. 153 words for the context.

Sounds great. Maybe include something about the literacy/ability levels of the students and the fact that we dont have any learning needs in our class just so sharon knows that we didnt just skip over it we actually did discuss it. Just thoughts better get back to work. Emma

just another thought I had to add to the context would be ICT skills of the students and what kind of access they have to computers in the classroom. I know that I will probably have computer based activities in my lesson. My idea would be- good to really good skills on the computer, most kids seem to have that these days, with good access at school to computers, but being country the possibility of computers being in every students homes could be low, again just ideas!! Thanks again for completing the context and handing it in! -Sara**
 * Hey Ingrid,

Hope this helps us begin, happy for any changes to be made, Leeanne

2. News article creation– what stories will we put in our newspaper, why and how? 3. Advertisement creation – what adds will we put in our newspaper, why and where? 4. General Information and quiz creation – what general information will we put in our newspaper? Weather, school sports and events, questionnaire: should our paper continue? Literacy, maths and science quiz and puzzle section, 5. Cartoons and stories creation –small fictional narratives and cartoons of students own topic choice. 6. Proof reading, editing, completion of pieces and some class presentations for feedback and suggestions. 7. Publishing and Collating of the newspaper. 8. Visual and Verbal presentation to class, and delivery of newspapers to other classes, library and main office. || This looks great. I am happy to work on lessons 2 and 4? are we doing two or one lesson? Also any other curriculum links, ie ICT? Emma
 * ** Context ** || What is in a newspaper, what is its purpose? ||
 * Year level || Grade 4 ||
 * Number of students || 21 ||
 * Length of unit || 2 weeks ||
 * Length of lesson || 8 lessons of 90 minutes each ||
 * Lesson sequence: || 1. What is a newspaper, what is in it, who reads it, where do you get if from, can we make one?
 * Specific curriculum links to Level 4 || __English__: Reading,Writing, Speaking and Listening (VELS, L4, pp. 35-36). ||

**Hey Leeanne, great work, we do still need to discuss special needs and levels of the students!! I was thinking it is just easy to say that the students are all at an average or just above average level, so that we could put in some activities for students that are finishing quickly, but not have to worry too much about creating a really diverse unit of work that will need to cater for many different levels of student. What do you think?

You know what you are envisioning for these lessons, so I just wanted to make sure we have covered all the aspects of literacy, so speaking, listening, writing and reading, which it looks like you have. A suggestion, and I don't know if it would go here or just in the lessons would be maybe publishing to a class wiki or blog.

Emma- I'm pretty sure we only each have to complete 1 lesson. Mind you we only have 1000 words for the entire assignment that isn't the rationale, so we are going to have to be very careful with words. I really do not mind what lesson I do. -Sara**

Word Count: I read from one of the other students 120 words context. 600 word overview. 80 resource list. 300 word lesson plan. 1000 rationale. This is just an idea. I know I am way over in my lesson plan. We are only allowed one lesson but as you will see by my plan it will extend into another lesson period. Ingrid.

Hi, with the developmental needs how does an average mix sound? if we are getting them to write a newspaper then there should be a high level of self directed work from the students as we can not write the paper for them? not sure if I am on the write track here, just thinking out loud. Also what about the background of the school, middle class school with low or high numbers? (Emma)

**Sorry Emma, I didn't see this message until after I wrote the above. I agree with you about them needing to complete a lot of this on their own. The background, I would maybe suggest country?? From the sounds of it we all work in country or country like school ( I am only assuming as what I have seen of Tas is quite small, please correct me if I am wrong). What do you think? -Sara** Hi Guys, I've put in my idea for a lesson plan in my newly founded page (thanks Sara). It's associated with Speaking and Listening of the curriculum as you will see. Will be a great start or finish for the advertising that Leeanne has ideas for. I think its a wonderful idea for an excursion as long as its linking to an area of concern, not sure which one it would cover unless put into a specific lesson. Now for the context - country school is fine (its where I live and went to school but I volunteer in a city school). Socio economic background is an important aspect of design so to speak being aware of the differences that can prop up in a classroom.So how about middle to lower social status? I have never worked with kids with issues like autism etc only slow readers but willing to cater for, will have to read up. Will discuss issues with you tonight 7pm MSN. Sorry you can't be there Leeanne I will be online most of tomorrow due to BAS statement so feel free to drop a line or two. ​