N.B. I am a little apprehensive about next week as I have tried to set up scheduled posts (as I will probably be unable to have access to the internet) but I thought I had done this for today's and it doesn't seem to have been posted at all at the time I set - so forgive me if no posts appear but be assured I have written and submitted them all K through to P!!
Jigsaws - In schools we have lots of educational jigsaws as well as purely pictorial ones and over the years I have found jigsaws to be a great way to improve children's dexterity, co-operation when working with others, independent learning and resilience. I have made several on different themes which self-correct and allow the child to build success in stages - head for the freebie of the day at the bottom of this post to download one :)
Jobs - Before you get worried I'm not advocating child labour but all children benefit from being given the responsibility to undertake a job in the classroom and some are really good at doing it. Sometimes the children who you think won't be able to do something very well actually surprise you the most :)
Jackdaws - Don't worry this isn't a strange craft you've never heard of I just couldn't let the letter J pass without showing you what those naughty birds have done - trying to build a nest in the chimney pot!!
Jigsaw Freebie -
This is so cute! My son loved to do jigsaw puzzles when he was little. I have one that I am working on now. I used to love doing them with my Mom.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie - my daughter and I often do a jigsaw at holiday time - but we normally limit it to no more than 750 pieces so it gets done in a short time!
DeleteI did like 'easy' jigsaw puzzles...the complex ones though challenging bores me after a time.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favourites as a child were circular bird ones from Waddingtons and I think they only had 75 pieces but they were beautiful :)
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog earlier! This is very interesting--I used to work with families and children with developmental delays. I've used some similar ideas, though obviously with much younger kiddos.
ReplyDeleteIt's always nice to meet new bloggers during the challenge and find out how much you may have in common!!
DeleteShovel ready. I recently saw a bunch of 8-10 year old kids who did not even know how to use a shovel. They couldn't understand that you had to push your body into it. But I bet they are great at video games. lol
ReplyDeleteYes it is amazing how some things have been missed out on - that's why I think a well rounded curriculum is VERY necessary in this day & age.
DeleteWonderful stuff. I'm a teacher (well, tutor now) as well as an author so it's great to meet fellow teachers in this challenge!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of jigsaws as a tool for learning to work with others, but now that you've said it, it makes perfect sense.
Lovely to meet another teacher. I've just been looking at your blog to take a peek into the life of an author - fascinating :) Sending lots of good wishes your way!
DeleteI had issues with scheduling my posts at first and discovered that my timezone was set to somewhere outside of the UK, so the scheduled posts were posting as scheduled, just to a different timezone! Might be worth double checking in your Blogger settings. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sorry but the jackdaws' nest did make me laugh. I can just imagine a proud bird getting ready to settle on his nest, just as the lot disappears down your chimney! Hopefully it's all fixed for you soon and you don't have to worry about them doing it again. :-)
I feel a bit of an idiot - not realising I had to press publish!! As to the jackdaws, you'd think they'd realise they've brought enough sticks by now for five nests at least!!!
DeleteFellow teacher here....retired. You are right. Anything you can do in the classroom to make a student feel valued is worthwhile. Giving them a job to do is a good way.
ReplyDeleteGreat to have some feedback from other teachers - it is always so helpful - lovely to meet you :)
DeleteThanks for visiting our blog and inviting us over. I had a bit more head scratching today when you mentioned Jackdaws. We don't have those in Virginia, so it was fun to see the nest materials of your unexpected visitor!
ReplyDeleteHickory
I didn't realise you might not know this bird - we tend to forget what might seem very common to us is very rare or even non-existent to others :)
DeleteJigsaws and jobs are great teaching tools I completely agree.
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by - I will be visiting your blog soon :)
DeleteI always liked the sound of the word Jackdaw. Much more interesting that saying "crow"!
ReplyDelete--
Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
2015 A to Z of Vampires
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/
Jackdaws always appear more cheeky than crows and less menacing - maybe because they're smaller and quick to take flight?
DeleteDon't you hate it when birds try to make nests in the chimneys? Very cool theme for the challenge. Interesting techniques. :)
ReplyDeleteThe worst thing is when I'm outside & I can see them bringing the sticks to the top of the chimney pot before chucking them in!!
DeleteHi Senco - you may also not have pressed publish .. because I did that - and couldn't understand why my post hadn't published - then I found out why ... that publish button is frightening - but if the date is forward (and the time) .. then you'll be ok - except the week has past now!!
ReplyDeleteJigsaws can certainly be fun, the jackdaw nest - amazing and then a job - yes we all need to learn to work and to acquire the skills of holding down a job etc .. cheers Hilary
Yes that is EXACTLY what I did forget - so now everything is published but all a week late - oh well - at least it's there so I can feel I have kept up on the Challenge :)
DeleteMy son is in love with jigsaw puzzles right now. I will be checking out the freebie for sure. And wow what a mess that nest has made!
ReplyDeleteI do think jigsaws are a good way for children to practice and gain independence when learning certain things such as sequence of alphabet or numbers :)
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