We didnt really get started on our sessions until the second week in April so have worked hard to catch up. We have also had several missed sessions with sports day rehersals and holidays etc.

 

It was good to have three collegues to plan, teach and reflect with although our timetables seldom allowed us to meet up at school altogether, which hindered progress at times. We have a variety of knowledge, skills and attitudes between us.

 

As far as internet access was concerned three of us have been without internet much of the time at home and at times at school also...big problem. If we were to go online with the students we would have had great difficulty as we have one ICT lab with internet for the whole school which is busy most of the time. Another deciding factor was that as individuals, online collaboration was not appropriate for this age (6-7) group and we would focus on basic ICT skills.

 

Our group was made up of the gifted students in English, two or three from each of our Year 2 classes. A lively and talented group but the logistics of timetabling etc. was very complicated as we had six more teachers to communicate with for sessions, the trip, collecting and returning students to class, catching up on work, letters in and out and more. The teachers were naturally very concerned about us taking up the students time as they are busy preparing them for their imminent British National Curriculum Tests, just a week after the Openhouse Ceremony in May.

 

On reflection this project would have been better timed in October or January. Additionally I would recommend it be done by two or more teachers in the same Year group (none of us is a Year 2 teacher) and across a few subjects such as English, Art, ICT, PHSE and science or humanities. The class teacher working with her own students would know them already across all subjects and the project would be complemented by different subject and curriculum areas. Boys, I believe, respond well to a number of short meaningful tasks and enjoy learning and corresponding through ICT. This could be well structured  into a successful  cross curricula project.

 

In future I would like to work with children on a project benefitting a community in need.