Expressions in English

Blogging Update

Students have been enthusiastic about this new way of writing their Reading and Viewing Journal.  In fact, many students are writing more than they would using pen and paper!  I would like to encourage parents and other relatives to explore their blogs and offer constructive comments.

Other blog entries I have asked the students to do include reflecting on the PNG presentation by Mr Jeffreys, some creative 50 word short stories, and soon I will be asking them to reflect on the current assignment.

The blogging is a great way to include more self reflection into my teaching and learning program.  It is providing time for the students to stop and think about what they are doing, which sounds simple, but is often something we don’t give time for.  My own blogging is helping me reflect more on my teaching practice, which can only be a good thing!

Picture Book or Short Story

Students are currently working on a creative writing assessment.  They must write either a short story or create a picture book.  The students can decide on the topic of the story and the age of the audience.  They were also asked to think carefully about the purpose of their writing.  Some students are writing picture books for young children which teach them about simple concepts, such as numbers and the alphabet.  Other students are writing short stories about quite serious adolescent issues, such as teen depression and suicide.

The range of writing demonstrates the positive nature of outcomes-based education.  It encourages teachers to open up tasks and focus on the outcome to be achieved, rather than on everyone creating the same end product.  All the students will hopefully develop their understanding of narrative structure, as well as increase their ability to use descriptive language.

Once the stories and picture books are completed, I hope to arrange a display in our school library so that other members of the school community can enjoy them.

Papua New Guinea Pen Pals

Students in Ms Anderson’s English classes are currently writing pen pal letters to students in Papua New Guinea.  A retired former headmaster, Mr John Jeffreys, visited the classes to talk about the lifestyle and culture of the PNG students.

Many of the students who are studying Year 8 and above, must board at the school, which is located on a small island in PNG.  Some of them are able to return home occasionally, whereas others may be away from home for many years while they study.

They must provide their own food, prepare their own food, and generally look after themselves, as there are about 600 boarding students and one adult staff member to manage them.

Many of the projects that are run at the school are designed to improve the quality of their lifestyle.  For example, some students created a vegetable garden to grow Chinese cabbage to supplement their diet, which mainly consists of rice.  They are also able to sell extra produce at a local market, so that they can purchase other items for the school, such as books.

Mr Jeffreys is also involved in helping them to set up a chicken project, and he is involved in raising funds so that the students can build a chicken run and buy chickens.  Once again, this provides a food source and a source of income for the boarders.

On a previous trip, Mr Jeffreys bought spade heads for the students to improve their cultivation methods, as they only had digging sticks prior to this.  The students crafted the spade handles as part of their wood working project.

Ms Anderson’s students were keen to learn and understand more about the life of the PNG students.  Many are looking forward to receiving a reply to their letters when Mr Jeffreys returns to Bunbury in July.  Mr Jeffreys must hand deliver the letters as the students cannot afford to buy stamps to mail them.

Ms Anderson would like to thank Mr Jeffreys for coming in to talk to the students.

50 word short stories

Students have been exploring short stories in Term 2.  They have been learning about the different elements that make a short story, like plot, setting and characters.  They have also been exploring picture books.  Their first assessment this term will be to write their own short story or picture book.  As part of their blogging, students were asked to write a short, short story (no more than 50 words in total).  Here is my own attempt.  It is actually harder to write these shorter stories than to write longer ones, as the students discovered for themselves.

The Final Straw

It was 11am.  The first student tapped his pen, endlessly.  The second student tore pages from her book, slowly and torturously.  The third student chewed gum, with a disgusting, slurping sound.
“That’s it! I’ve had it!” screamed the teacher.
She went crazy and ate them for lunch.