3.8_Jennifer+P

Jennnifer P =**Background**=

I team teach on a Years 5 and 6 Opportunity Class. So in reality, two classes in the one big room. 60 students. **It is very noisy!**

83% of the students at Chinese, the remainder are Korean or Indian, and then 1 Russian and 1 Ango-Saxon //(there on his own steam,- no coaching and possibly the best writer in the class).//

We usually work together as one big group for most subjects, although we do split into grades for Math and English.

Our students tend to write to a formula. Although their writing can be technically correct, it is often boring or peters out. It may capture the reader's attention to begin with, but does not maintain this interest to the end, or is __very light on any character development.__

=**What have I planned?**=

There are two things that have happened during this term that will be the basis of my program:
 * We are reading "My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece" to the class as a whole //(but you could use any novel you are reading at the time).//
 * We have introduced //Reading Circles//, which the students have just loved!

//The literature circle is a student centered cooperative learning reading activity for a group of four to six students at any grade level or subject area.// // Each member of a circle is assigned a specific role, with specific responsibilities, which are used guide the group in a discussion of the text material they are all reading. // // Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Students reshape and add onto their understanding as they construct meaning with other readers in their group. // // The literature circle assignments or roles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response. Literature circles provide a constructive educational opportunity for students to control their own learning as they share thoughts, concerns and their understanding of the concepts, events, and material presented in the material being read. The benefits of literature circles include: // // 1. Help to teach, not merely check, comprehension // // 2. Allow you to teach many facets of comprehension // // 3. Encourage students to learn from one another // // 4. Motivate students naturally // // 5. Promote discussion more effectively than whole groups (Day 2002) // []

My pre and post assesment task will be the same.



=**Order of events**= 1. At the completion of the class novel (My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece) the pre assesment task will be given. //End of Term 3 all going well, in the middle of practising and preparing for the major 3 - 6 performance.// 2. Students choose their //Reading Circle// groups and novel for Term 4. 3. During Term 4 I will be modelling character analyses, using the whole class novel chosen for Term 4. This will be done formally and informally/incidently. 4. Students prepare, in their //Reading Circle// group, a trailer for the novel they have chosen to read during Term 4. For example, the trailer advertising Term 3's novel. 5. Each student chooses a character from their Term 4 novel to complete an in-depth character analysis on, which will then be posted on our class blog for their peers and parents to read. 6. Post assesment task given.

7. I collate all the data to share with Rhonda and Amiee, and all of you lovely Literacy Leaders.