Collaborative+groups+5+&+8

 = = Hi Girls. I have been onto Google docs today and I am not sure this is the right one as is only has group 5 on it, and there is nothing on it. Can someone please confirm if they see my message? I am sorry that I dropped off the face of the planet for a while – my son has been extraordinarily sick and we have doctor’s appointments after doctors appointments with tests coming out our ears. All of which have been quite traumatic. I am almost back on track now, well trying to pull it together anyway...lol... We had an appointment yesterday with the paediatrician and his spleen is just about back to normal size and his blood count is returning to normal too – so hopefully we are on the exit road now and he will continue to get better with each day. Needless to say, I am feeling rather overwhelmed and very frazzled.  I am planning to sift through all the posts today and start work. Chat soon. Thanks for being so patient with me... Kind Regards Sarah. (13/5/10) 03 6229 4311 or 0419 392 797 

Sue has been in touch (you might have seen her post on google docs) to let us know that Sarah will be contibuting soon- her son has been very unwell. She has access to the google doc now so we can all post on there from now on. (Louise, 27/4)**
 * Hi Girls,

Hi Everyone,It looks like we have all been placed in same group. I have sent Sue an email with a couple of questions regarding a new discussion board and google doc for us but I thought while we are waiting a new wiki page might be a good idea. I think we can just focus on the assessment task now. Our group 5 have not started anything yet. I've been doing a bit of research and I like the idea of doing a poetry unit- maybe 5/6 level. We could have the kids explore different types of poems (haiku, narrative, nonsense, lyrical etc)so each of our lessons could focus on one of our choice. There is plenty of scope for including reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities. What do you think? You might have other ideas or have already started. It would be good if we could at least decide on the cohort and the unit theme this week. Louise (12/04/10) Ph 62663844 or 0448978392

Just a follow up. Sue has set up the Google doc for us and I have put a further post there. It is probably the best place to work on this assessment. See you there. Louise (13/04/10)

Hi Louise, My name is Carol Eves. Thanks for all your effort in getting the collaborativegroup organised. Elaine and I were the only two students in group 8 and were not sure as to what was happening with the other members, so we haven't started anything for the assignment. Elaine and I both work in special education, although I was very impressed with her postings for the week 6 activities. I on the other hand, am still struggling with adjectives and adverbs. I don't have alot of experience or confidence with literacy. Any activity will be a learning curve so I am happy to run with any ideas. I have never heard of a haiku poem but I'm up for a challenge. If you are happy to guide me in the right direction I'm happy to do the leg work to learn. At the moment google docs won't let me access the program. I have never used Google gocs before.From the email Sue sent I can access the page but can not sign in to edit or add information. Everytime I try to set up a new account it comes up error on page. Will keep trying. Just wanted to let you know that I am here.

I work M-W in Special Ed. and have just started volunteering Thurs in grade 3/4 main stream to get some experience. I live in Mooroolbark, an outer eastern suburb of Melbourne. Will be in touch Carol (14/4/10)

Hi Carol, (15/04/10) I had trouble signing in to google docs at first then I just used my uni email and a new password and was in. The great thing about google docs is that as soon as you sign in, you can start editing and it is automatically saved. It is also much easier to change text colour and fonts. I hope you can access it soon, but in the meantime i will continue to check both. Below is my message from google docs the other day:

Just a further note, I thought we could use the Four Resources Model (Luke & Freebody) as a means of providing a clear and consistent approach. I also came across this great resource [] which has links to a number of great literacy websites including [] There is information on the Four resources model here along with other ideas and elaboration of theory- all useful for this assignment.and [] This one has a number of creative writing suggestions that could help to stimulate some ideas for this unit.Have a look and let me know what you think. Louise (13/04/10)

A Haiku poem is a poem of 3 lines containing only 17 syllables. It is traditionally a Japanese form of poetry.

Hi guys, Elaine Cooper here, how are you all? I too have had problems trying to sign into google docs, I tried my uni email and password but nothing, so I haven't been able to edit it or add anything on there, sorry. I would like to choose a theme for our assignment too, I am not a huge fan of poetry and I think that is only because I haven't connected to it or taken the time to appreciate it. Using poetry as our theme will definately allow me to gain a better understanding and knowledge of it, however I may need a little guidance too. I look forward to working with you guys and will start researching poetry now :) (that is if we choose to have that as our theme) Carol thank-you for you comments about our recent activities, I get a bit intimidated by others and their postings, it was nice to feel someone thought I was on the right track. Elaine 16/4/10

Hi Elaine, I don't know what you are worried about. I thought your postings were great, mine are still on my desk top. I didn't want to post them after reading the fluency of yours. I also don't have a lot of experience with poetry and I'm sure if I asked my grade 6 son to write a poem he would freak. I like the idea of learning and I'm up for a challenge. Carol 18/4/10

Hi Girls, I found some useful sites about poetry 1. http://42explore.com/poetry..............this one gives you a range of sites to go to for information about different styles, lesson plans, poems 2. www.gigglepoetry.com........I really liked this site, I like the idea of teaching poetry through musical activities or theatre, it had some really fun ideas 3. www.theteachersguide.com/poetrymonth.htm..............another good site to gain information

Elaine 19/4/10 Hi Guys, I love the ideas of the Poems, but as I am looking into it I feel like I know less and less about them. As I have not been able to get onto Google docs yet - I am not sure what we are up to, and will need a little guidance to what you would like me to do. Set me on a task and I'll go about it.

I have been trying to get onto Google docs - and I just can't. Don't know what is going wrong but it's just not happening. I have also been finding it a little tricky looking on My Lo discussions, then the wiki and Google docs plus getting emails. Our communication seems a little all over the place, as I am doing 4 subjects this semester and I am in the throes of another collaborative task I was hoping we could keep the communication going in one place - maybe the wiki? Obviously, when I get Google docs up and running that will be effective too. I just hope that by doing that we don't miss anything. What do you think? If anyone has any ideas about getting onto Google docs that would be great!! Sarah.

Hi Sarah, I had trouble getting onto google docs at first. It kept telling me there was an error on the page. I tried two days later and it let me join not sure what happened. Try accessing google docs via the email from Sue. I had a look at some poem resources on the weekend, I didn't realise there were so many different types of poems. I think I might enjoy the research. I think we may need to stay with grade 5/6 for the level of work required to succesfully complete some of the poems. Also which curriculum documents are we going to use? Elaine and I are from Melbourne so have been accessing VELS but if you wany to use the Tasmanian curriculum documents we will need to obtain a copy of them. I'm happy to keep communication on the wiki until everyone can access the google doc page. It sounds as if the google doc page is easier for submission. Cheers Carol 19/4/10

Hi Ladies, I am finally on google docs, I had to open an account and ask to join the group. Can we all choose a preferred place to communicate it is getting too confusing jumping from google docs, wiki, mylo and email. I can now access all of them but I understand sarah is still having problems accessing this one. Which one is easiest for you girls? I will go along with anything, but I think we need to choose.

I agree with carol I think we should work on a 5/6 level if we are doing poetry. Also I think we need to allocate the work load. Maybe if we have 2 people working on the 'context', 2 people working on the 'overview' and all work on the rationale together. (Has anyone heard from Lauren, is she part of our group too?) Firstly we should all brainstorm ideas we want in each section and work for there. I posted a message for Lauren on the discussion board this afternoon. She did email me early last week to say she's happy to do poetry. (Louise, 20/4) "Context" - How many students? - year level? - gender mix? - learning and behavioural needs? - length of unit/number of lesson? (it say it should last for at least 2 weeks) - time per lesson? - list of resources used for each lesson? / (and how they will be used -this will be included in our individual lesson plans and overview) -written, spoken and visual texts used?

"Overview"- Learning outcomes? (for unit and each lesson) - strategies/activities plan to use? -assessment opportunities/ and strategies? (overview done in a table format)

If we answer these questions altogether then we can pair up for each section. My understanding is that these two sections form the baseline for the rationale, I am not sure if each section should be individual or they are actually part of the 1000word rationale. Let me know what you all think, or if this makes no sense at all :)Hi Elaine, My understanding of the rationale was that it is a justification of what we are doing. It is completely separate from the overview and the context and resources list. This is where we put all of the theory and we have a choice as to who we are presenting it to. The task description is very long and I found I needed to read it through a couple of times to understand what is required. Louise 20/4 (It also might be easier to put our thoughts to each of these questions next to the question in different colours) We don't have to do this if you think it is not a good idea I don't mind, just thought I would put it out there, it would be nice to get a solid start on the assignment. Thanks Elaine 20/4/10 (I will also post this on google docs) Hi Girls, I agree trying to communicate in this way is inefficient. The sooner we get everyone on to google docs the better. We can chat live there. In the meantime I thought we could meet in our literacy chat room (Group 5) in MyLo. I put a post on the discussion board about it. The time I suggested was tomorrow night from 8.30pm. If you like I can get on there earlier as long as it is after 7.30 (kiddies bedtime). Please let me know if that suits or if Thursday night would be better. (Louise 20/04)

Hi Louise, I have just been on mylo and under the chat section I don't have group 5, I am free tonight if that's what everyone wants to do, I just need to know how to get onto it. Elaine 21/04 my mob: 0401614914

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">

Hi Girls, Louise and I had a chat last night and have come up with a few ideas.
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">have a 60min lesson on poetry each day, (10 sessions over 2 weeks) **
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2 sessions focusing on a different type of poem. **
 * **<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Louise is going to concentrate on the ** ** introduction ** **into poetry (over 2 sessions)**
 * **I would like to work on** **narrative/rhythmic** **poems (over 2 sessions)**
 * **Other poem suggestions we had were**: ** Haiku, Cinquain ** and ** Pattern/shape (can girls could choose one of t****hese to research/ or if you have a different type of poem you would like to research then let us know)**
 * **We need to start thinking about our context too..........5/6 class, male- female ratio, integrating other subject areas, learning and behavioural needs etc**
 * **Louise and I also thought that the audience for our rationale could be teachers/colleagues, what do you think?**

Hope this all makes sense. Thanks Elaine (21/4/1**0)
 * Let us know what you think, Louise is going to try and organise a chat session through MyLo for tomorrow night (thurs) at 8.30pm - this will give us a chance to talk about our ideas.

Hi guys, Sorry I was working on my HPE lesson plan that I have to video tomorrow and didn't see the chat time until 9.15pm. It sounds great. I was looking at poems on the weekend and was fascinated by the Cinquain poems. I happy to play with them if others don't mind. As for the context grade 5/6 male and female possible 24 -28 students. Several boys with literacy concerns. integrating ICT, Art, to name several. Winch et al (2009, p. 508) discusses the importance of poetry and how it has lost its place in literacy teaching. If we aim the plan at our colleagues to reinforce the benefits of teaching poetry in today's overcrowed curriculum. I will tyr to log on to mylo chat tomorrow Thurs at 8.30 Carol <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Fantastic idea Carol in regards to the importance of poetry. I believe we are going to see an increasing interest and focus on poetry as a literary form with the National Curriculum. Looking forward to a chat tomorrow night. Good luck with HPE- I'm taping mine next week. It will be great to have it out of the way. (Louise 21/4)

Hi guys,

I am finally here, still having trouble with googledocs. Everything on here sounds fantastic and i look forward to working with you all. It seems as through the general concensus was to wait for google docs to be fully operational (for communication). I will be on mylo tonight. Look forward to chatting to whoever i come across. Lauren 22/4/2010 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Hi Girls, I haven't heard back from Sue about the chat rooms and I have tried all means of communication. I will still go to the chat room at 8.30 and hopefully talk to Lauren and Sarah. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">22/4 Louise

<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Hi Girls, Sorry still no luck tonight in the chat room, I still don't have group 5 in there. Hope the chat went well, look forward to hearing about it. Elaine (22/4/10 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">) I chatted with Lauren the other night and she wants to do Pattern and shape. SEE NOTE ABOVE-TOP OF PAGE (LOUISE, 27/4)