In Primary 1 at Nethermains in Falkirk, we have been
actively involved in integrating the 1+2 approach into our everyday classroom
environment. We have two class mascots called Etienne (French elephant) and
Jorge (Spanish giraffe), who represent the two languages which are taught.
These mascots have proven to be an excellent resource to the class. The
children have to look after the mascots during the day; showing them care and
respect and allowing them to be part of their learning experience. On a Friday,
the children are given the opportunity to take the animals home. The adventures
of Etienne and Jorge are recorded via Twitter or through our adventure
journals, which are put inside the animals’ travel bags. Our children and their parents have thoroughly enjoyed this experience,
which not only gives the child the responsibility of care, but also allows them
to practise French and Spanish in their home environment with their adult.
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| Jorge and Etienne visit Geneva |
Within Denny cluster, our second language taught is
French, which is used intermittently throughout the day; colours of lunch
bands, numbers, days of the week, eventually leading on to simple classroom
instruction. Although a third language is not officially taught until primary 5
within our cluster, Spanish is taught separately after lunchtime in fifteen
minute slots due to the knowledge and experience I have in Spanish. The topics
vary throughout the week and are integrated into the classroom and school
routine.
Twitter
Involvement and Parents as Partners
It’s
very difficult to put into words, how incredibly important Twitter has been in
our practice this year in Primary 1. I try to use my camera every day to
capture moments of pure educational magic and then spend half my night
uploading them with creative hashtags. In fact, I’ve been told by some family
members it might become an obsession…….and it has! However, it has to be said
this Twitter addiction has had a positive effect on my teaching practice and
has allowed me to access areas of communication and learning I hadn’t reached
before.
As time has gone on, we have turned Twitter into
an undeniable power tool for Primary 1. We use it to promote achievement made
out with and within the school environment.
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| Mason and Etienne make porridge together |
Parents
and carers are urged to post pictures or videos of their child achieving
something they may not have done before. We set a ‘Weekend Challenge’ every
week and give the children the opportunity to earn 5 Dojo points. This ‘Weekend
Challenge’ relates to our 1+2 approach; encouraging the children to upload
videos of them practising French or Spanish vocabulary. Links are also pinned
to the top of the Twitter page for adults at home to access. These links
provide access to videos which we use in class for phonics, numeracy, languages
or even physical education. This has proved to be an exciting resource and
engages the children with their own learning journey.
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| We visited France virtually |
It
has been a very beneficial process in terms of being a professional. It allows
scope for new ideas and initiatives being taken throughout the country or the
rest of the world. It is an exciting time to be a teacher; where we can use
social media or the internet to create interesting and outside-the-box thinking
with regards to teaching and learning. This ‘borrowing’ of ideas permits us to
be better professionals in the long run. It also gives us a
chance
to be appropriate social media role models, teaching children that the use of
social media can be advantageous and positive. The children are given the
opportunity to promote their language achievements, to engage with their
teachers and most of all, develop their communication skills for the future.
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| Amber and Jorge go on a road trip! |
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| Olivia does her homework with Jorge's help! |
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