Storybird for Classroom use.

If I could have a fairy godmother I would want to be able to draw and play a musical instrument. I can however, do neither! What I can do is take a half decent photo and use the tools available on sites such as storybird to support my classroom work. I love the fact that the artists' work on there is so amazing and adaptable. I find it therapeutic and am fast becoming addicted! I've uploaded my latest offering on the six hats thinking introduced by De Bono as well as older works on the PLTs and Bloom's taxonomy etc,
The Thinking Hats on Storybird

Blooming Questions on Storybird

Personal Learning & Thinking Skills The PLT's on Storybird

Independent Thinking on Storybird

Cooperative Learning on Storybird

Ask 3 before me.

How do we get pupils to be more INDEPENDENT ? Last year my year 7 class were asked to design a website using ‘front page’ this is software I have never used. However, pupils wanted me to have all of the answers to their problems and it struck me how quickly I just give pupils the answer because I’m ‘helping’ them. We introduced the system put forward in books such as The Lazy Teacher’s Handbook (Jim Smith) of ask 3 before me. I made a huge badge with 3 penguins (don’t know why penguins!!) that said 3b4me and explained they were to see if others could help first.
I now have a new year 7 class and yesterday Elliott walked across the classroom to me to ask for the web address of ‘that man reading the book’…actually on the chair next to him, Jack was on the site he wanted. Nathan wanted to know where the headphones were…George is wearing headphones go and ask him?
The class are getting used to the idea of supporting on another but it did worry me that one wrote on an analysis of some work ‘we now know not to bug Mrs Hewitt with mindless questions!!’
I spent some time with Hywel Roberts this morning & he introduced me to the idea of ‘SNOT’ – Self, Neighbour, Other, Teacher (makes a great poster)
I have seen it as Brain, Buddy, Book, Boss.
Whichever way you look at it, it’s good that the teacher is not the fount of all knowledge. I look forward to introducing ‘SNOT’ tomorrow 

Story bird on Independent thinking

http://storybird.com/books/independent-thinking/

Independent Thinking by janeh271 on Storybird

Co operative Learning

I love the cooperative learning techniques. The booklet below is created on Storybird as an introduction for younger pupils or SEN secondary.
Cooperative Learning by janeh271 on Storybird

PLTs - Personal learning & Thinking Skills

Personal Learning & Thinking Skills The PLT's by janeh271 on Storybird
Written as an aid for SEN pupils, just a starting point