I had my Performance Management assessment observation today. One of everyone's targets was to show that we are trying to promote boys' learning.
The main teacher of my class (she does 3 days, I do 2) had provided sets of Dr Who books and the boys love them - even the poor readers will independently ask a better reader to share a Dr Who story with them.
This week we are having our ICT suite upgraded and the staff computers all linked to the pool. The children have been watching the men working through the glass door.
So, having made chocolate crispy cakes this morning for our science lesson, I went in this afternoon all awestruck, and told the children the amazing news that our new improved computer system had allowed Dr Who to communicate with us! The children's eyes were on stalks and there was an intake of breath.
Apparently "Dr Who had sent" a PowerPoint illustrated message asking the children for help against his fight with the Daleks. There was immediate imaginary girding of swords by the boys, prepared to up and at 'em there and then.
But what it seems Dr Who needed was a chocolate snack to increase his energy and powers. Some of the children independently volunteered the cakes waiting to be taken home to eat; others demurred - they wanted to eat them - then one of the reliable ones suggested "We don't need to send the cakes - we could give him the recipe." Bingo!
But it further transpired that the Tardis was malfunctioning again (knowing nods - they recognised that scenario of old) and could only understand diagrams. "What's a diagram? " asked one. "It's two letters that make one sound," replied E, who had obviously been listening to his phonics lesson and knows a digraph when he sees one!
The lesson progressed and they all went off enthusiastically to help Dr Who out with a nicely sequenced set of diagram instructions on how to make crispy cakes.
I got full marks for getting the boys on board!
PS. Dr Who has just sent the class an email of thanks, with a warning that now the lines of communication are open, they may be hearing from him again....
