Let them play

I feel very strongly about this

I agree, especially after my role play yesterday. I wish we had a more elastic timetable I am still doing the tma, I am finding the middle bit of the sections hard to do, to me the evaluation would go with the reflections, I am a little confused on this....never mind! It also seems strange that there isn't a conclusion as such or am I going slightly mad?

Finished - I didn't enjoy writing that one - but enjoyed the topics and I agree Veggie - let them play! It seems that play is acceptable for SEN or reception - but beyond that????? A lot of Year 1 and 2 children I have (limited) experience of working with just are not engaging with a lot what they are taught in a formal style. They are not yet ready for it (and maybe some children never are) This course is making me think about a lot which is great. I'm feeling glad that I am just a volunteer at the moment - it's worse than the NHS where I am constantly having to meet targets in my "proper" job.

star, I would put in a short conclusion as this is what my tutor always 'congratulates' me on. I think it finishes off an assignment, even if it is just one or two sentences.

Just about getting there with this. My activities aren't great and have had to go off memory to do them, which is a shame, but my job just doesn't allow me to create things like this in regards to this topic.

My first activity was a Year 2 one I was involved in a few weeks back where a small group of children were using the classroom's creative area to play out a little scenario to with numeracy. It was based around a take away and placing orders, counting out money and giving change back. Not great but I can pad it out enough I reckon.

My second activity is one I run on a regular basis which is a TV News Group for my Year 6 low self esteem pupils. Where they film, edit and report on things going on in the school. All very much child lead, I merely only have to supervise and ensure they're on the right track each week.

Still think it's going to be a bad TMA for me though.

I've made a start on writing the TMA up today so have the first part [play] nearly completed. There is so much you could incorporate in this assignment but again due to lack of word count I don't feel I am doing it any justice.

Like others have said this TMA really makes you think about what we expect young children to achieve at such a young age and I have found the two activities so different.

I don't know about anyone else but my activities I have written about ended up with the 'play' one being directed by adults [year 2 class] and the creative one totally owned by the children [year 1] ???

I suppose I can conclude that the difference with the curriculum for the two year groups puts emphasis on formal learning still for year 2 even though play is [occasionally] incorporated.

I have now finished typing it up, just need to claim those pesky learning outcomes now. Not sure how effectively I will be able to claim the ICT one but I will attempt it and see if the tutor allows it!
Bluebell, yours sounds great again, both mine had adult intervention and were learner considerate rather than inclusive but I have written about that within the tma. I also wrote about the "chocolate" tequired to help the children think more creatively, will be interesting to see if she agrees with my comments on it.
Well it's another one nearly out the way, onwards to the next one now and that horrible sounding eca!

I've decided. This is by far my worst TMA. Not sure on half the stuff I've included. Referenced as much as I can but no idea if they're decent references or not.

My first activity was pretty rubbish and the kids were Year 2 special needs and didn't have a hell of a lot to say about the activity and play in general, my second was very good but was with Year 6 and they tended to give answers that were a bit OTT. Ah well all I can do is put in what they say!

Good luck with it all, fingers crossed. I am just hoping for a pass on this one. The way my marks have yo-yoed I may achieve a fail

Well mine is in thepost now, not sure if I have managed to claim some of the learning outcomes effectively, guess I will find out soon!
Good luck everyone!

I quite liked writing this one up but again like others not too sure of the referencing but don't care now! A pass is a pass? and if I pass that's all we need.
The ICT bit is a bit scant too [just kind of linked it in but not too much reference to it.

Said the children retold the story into a tape recorder. That's it!!!! Think that's enough lol.

One group looked at me blankly when I asked how it could have been better?? How do they know that?

The other group actually THANKED me for letting them play [poor little mites and these were year 1 children]

They had such a good time that they couldn't think how it could be better. but they did tell me what they were learning.

Good luck all ,I am sure we have produced master pieces!

if children are not used to being asked to reflect on their learning it is obviously going to be hard isn't it. [Didn't have enough words to write that up though.]

bluebell, I found the same about the feedback comments. I did manage to write about them not being used to given feedback in mine (otherwise the chocolate and glitter comments would not really make sense). It will be interesting to see what the tutor says. My little year 5/6 ones who did the play keep asking when they can do it again, I think it would do them the world of good to escape the pressure of approaching SAT's.

Pressure with SAT's? What's that?

One Yr 6 boy told me yesterday he's sick of being told how hard he needs to work, he says why do we have to keep asking him to try when he's already doing his best? Felt sorry for him.

Anyways, my TMA has gone. The feedback was generally rubbish, especially from my Year 2's. It's where this course can be a problem. Asking children isn't always a good thing!

Not happy with it because didn't feel my play activity was much use at all. But we'll see. My two 78%'s in my last two, should help buffer up this one if it's as bad as I thought.

Steve, I'm sure you will have done alright. I'm not feeling too confident about this one either, but at the end of the day all you need is a pass.

Good luck to everyone still finishing tma 05.

Well it's in the post now. Went to post it last night but realised I'd left it at school [took it to get to post office straight after school. Ah well my last one din't get there till the next day after cut off day.

And I have already read the literacy part to the next assignment!