Greenwich seminars and conference

A blog post has been long overdue, partially due to procrastination on my part and also due to spending quite a bit of time up north with family which meant that I unfortunately meant that I missed a few seminars.

The early years team at Greenwich however couldn't be better and kept me up to date on what was discussed at the prior seminars. It was lovely to return to the seminars and the conference and how well they were both attended. I also was very lucky to be asked to share my experiences, with using iPads with children and the staff, at a seminar at that the conference.

Although the conference seminar groups were relatively small, it gave us plenty of opportunities to share our practices with the iPads and to discuss any issues that had arisen as well as providing networking opportunities.

Mathematics and critical thinking

Sometimes getting past numbers and counting is difficult and some practitioners are not confident in going in depth with mathematical and scientific concepts.

Tonights early years seminar at the university of Greenwich was an interesting concept which involved mathematics, creative thinking and food!
The task was to make a caterpillar using the items on the table and as you can see from the pictures we are an uniquely creative group!



The activity showed how individual perspectives can influence end products as well as how to approach the task.

Interesting enough I have recently been looking at the Nrich mathematics project from Cambridge, for ideas we could implement in the nursery.





It reminded me of a shape activity that we did at the nursery based on a Nrich activity where each person was given a loop of string, paper pens, cello tape and elastic bands. They were asked to think of a shape based activity using some or all of the items and to report back to the group. We had 2d, 3d shapes, outlines, shapes within shapes.....








Sometimes it helps to not having a set plan and specific outcome.

SEN resources/activities

These are some photos that I had taken during a Local Authority training session/surgery last school year. They showed how you can use various activities (seen in Tasks Galore) and use them in the early years or with existing resources that could be used as part of language or other small group activities.

Making a sandwich

- using either picture flip books or story book/cook book to follow the instruction to make a sandwich

- sandwich could be used making either imaginative/role play resources or actual food depending age and stage of ability.
-the flip books range from 1 to 4 toppings

Setting a tray for tea using imaginative/role play resources and picture aids

- aids the development of language i.e the red cup is on the yellow saucer

- can be done using one or more item which invites the use of nouns, verbs and adjectives depending on ability

Dressing Mr Potato head using picture aids

- aids in the naming of parts of the body

- begins with placing just one body piece and then building upon this

 Visual timetables and choice cards
Starting with now and next cards, progressing on to longer timetables with clear posting boxes for when the activity is finished

Number race

- can be used for number stories

- sequencing/ordering of numbers

- what's the missing number
- numbers could be shaped into cars

Matching numbered pegs to their numeral

-can be used for starting from zero or going back from 10 or for identifying the missing number

 Matching lettered pegs to their letter

-can be adapted so that the letters can be placed in any order so can be for word construction as well as ordering

Sorting bugs by colour

-can be adapted so that it could be sorted by number of legs or other attributes

- can be sorted by 1 to 4 different colours/types

Sorting animals by type

-can be adapted so that it could be sorted by number of legs or other attributes

- can be sorted by 1 to 4 different colours/types

Colour matching butterfly and beading

- matching the coloured peg to the corresponding coloured segment of the butterfly

-matching the coloured bead to the corresponding coloured pipe cleaner

School supplies

- packaging school supplies by the pictures on their cases

- could be used in the transition to school (rather than large cases pencil cases could be used)

- extended by the number of items in the case or by matching colours

Assemble duplo by picture

- building different duplo pieces according to the picture

- extended by the number of items included in the picture ranging from 1 piece to 5.

- aids language development in regards to nouns, verbs and adjectives

Greenwich University Early Years Seminar Series

Early Years Seminar Series, University of Greenwich Avery Hill Mansion Site, Bexley Road, Eltham, SE9 2PQ




On the 24th October I had the opportunity to attend the first of eight Early Years Seminars and Networking events that the University of Greenwich have organised at their Eltham Campus. Which was where I completed my EYPS with BA (Hons) Early Years.




It was a great and well thought out evening which allowed me the opportunity to briefly catch up with some of my course tutors. The seminar looked at Inspiring Innovation and enhancing Oral communication through storytelling. It also involved reading for pleasure and reading for pleasure rights that you can find here as well as a video  "I'm a digital native" which prompt discussion on how children use ICT today.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay for long after the seminar to network but I'm looking forward to networking with other professionals at the next seminar.

As well as networking opportunities, they are also offering the opportunity to participate in practitioner research of the uses of Ipad's in the setting which looks and sounds very exciting!

The seminars are occurring once a month, involve different guest speakers and are then followed by networking opportunities. To attend the seminars there is a fee of £20 (or if you want to attend the following seven seminars you can pay a discounted price of £120) or if you wish to attend just the networking event then this is free to do so.

The themes for the remaining seminars and dates are:

2012
Wednesday 28th November     Learning and Exploring Outdoors

2013
Wednesday 30th January         Mathematical & critical thinking
Wednesday 13th February       Design,composition and the creative arts
Wednesday 20th March            The Young Scientist
Wednesday 15th May                Developing Young Citizens
Wednesday 26th June               Partnerships with Parents as Educators
Wednesday 10th July                Mobilising ICT and the Languages of Media Rich Technology

and the agenda for each seminar is as follows:


6-6:30pm Introductions and Guest Speaker
6:30-7:15pm Practitioner research and best practice from settings
7:15-8pm Networking and refreshments
8:30pm Optional meeting for managers to meet and discuss any current or emerging issues from within their Local Authority or sector


If anyone is interested in attending any of the seminars networking or require further information please email cn37@gre.ac.uk

TES Resource show 2012

That time of year again, the TES Resource show. This years resource show wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be, definitely down by at least 20 exhibitors from last year and was more geared towards the later stages of education however there were a few new exhibitors and some fresh ideas that have got me keen for the TES Special educational needs show in October. 

One of the new and interesting exhibitors (and not just because I got 2 pieces of wood from them - quite possible the most exciting item I have ever received free from one of these shows!) was KAPLA who are based in France and were sharing the various different constructions they had made using their pieces of wood.

The wood itself is made in such a way that it creates a natural friction between the pieces when placed on each other making it easier to build on.

As well as the free bits of wood to take home they were offering the opportunity for nurseries and schools to try the product (about 2000 pieces along with 4 different instruction manuals to give kids ideas of what to build free for 2 months with the option of returning after 2 months (where they were aware that there may be some damage or pieces missing) or the option of paying around £170 (I think) to keep it all.

Another new exhibitor was Kids out who had this extremely funky, prototype sensory room called a Phyzzpod. The prototype itself wasn't that big however it was at least half its usual size and as you can see my photos my work mate loved and only left once I told her how much it would be for the nursery (it would set you back around £15000 we were told) however if you have got the money spare I would definitely recommend it as it evokes different senses and reacts to different movements. This one had a jungle them to it which had underfoot sensor pads as well as a jungle die which could change the sound being heard

Fine solutions were again there, although the stall looked quite bare it still showed its resources off well, I thought the panda habitat set would work quite well especially for those who have the opportunity to visit the Panda's residing in Edinburgh Zoo.

The threading bars also reminded me of a physical activity I did on a placement years (mines involved plastic netting from a builders yard and different paper 'threads') ago but these showed how the activity could be adapted not only by ability (it had individual 'threads' as well as ones that had began to pleat) before then coordinating the threads through

 

TES Resource show 2011

I am one of these people who enjoys going to various different education exhibitions (and not just for the freebies) but some of the stalls also are great for getting ideas for activities and displays. 

This stall in particular was interesting to me as I have been looking into how we can introduce more natural resources/forest school approaches (without the forest) into the nursery. At this moment I can't remember to name of the company however will update this post once I do.

 The resources were very innovative and adaptable for most ages and abilities. 

We were told that the fire pit was safe to use almost anywhere due to its stand and was a great alternative to building a natural camp fire.

I really liked what they did on the 3 little pigs which I then used in the setting. The children collected sticks from the local gardens to make their stick house, instead of bricks we used stones and hay for our straw house. The pictures of our display on the 3 little pigs should be up soon.

They also showed how easy it is to make a den using some fabric and sticks, having seen the difference putting a cover on a corner or a small area of the room to children's play and the use of the area. I thought it was a brilliant way to show how even a small space when changed could be effective.

 The next TES Resource show is taking place at the Business Design Centre, Islington on the 14th & 15th September 2012 for more information http://www.teachingexhibitions.co.uk/Exhibitions/TES_Resources/London/2012/

a few weeks after is the TES Special Educational Needs show which is also taking place at the Business Design Centre, Islington on the 12th &13th October 2012 for more information 

http://www.teachingexhibitions.co.uk/Exhibitions/TES+Special+Needs+Exhibition/London/2012/

Picking and unpicking observations

During one of my EYPs placements I was asked to make a display on how we use observations in the nursery to identify the children's interest which could be used to inform parents, visitors and staff at the nurseyr.

 One of my first proper displays that was basic but still effective (I hope!)