Thursday 6 December 2012

Literacy in the Woods at the Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery

This post has moved to a new location
http://creativestarlearning.co.uk/literacy-outdoors/literacy-in-the-woods-at-the-secret-garden-outdoor-nursery/

8 comments:

Kierna C said...

Thanks again for giving me a snapshot of another wonderful setting. I think the photo of the laptop in use in the middle of the woods may be my favourite! Kierna

Juliet Robertson said...

Yes - what is interesting is the paper-free approach (in the main) to assessment, record keeping and communicating with parents. For me, it's a positive reinforcement that digital technology is a tool that is as good or as bad as the person that uses it. In the Secret Garden, the use is positive, well-informed and purposeful. How many pre-school settings can say this is consistently the situation in their establishment... hmm.

I'm also hearing about some very interesting and positive record keeping using tablets which take photos, use observations and can be quickly transferred to individual pupil profiles....

Kierna C said...

Thanks for adding this one Juliet. Anything that would make record keeping less time consuming will be most welcome! Kierna

Deborah Stewart said...

What a beautiful place to visit and to learn. It is so inspiring to see how others are using the outdoor environment to promote language and literacy. I know that I have difficulty thinking of how to connect language and literacy when we go outdoors. I think it takes inspiration such as this and experience and just the right thinking or insight as a teacher to know and understand the learning that is taking place through natural exploration and discovery outdoors.

Love this post - so well written and worthwhile!

Unknown said...

What an inspiring place for the children. It never ceases to amaze me how children use an outdoor environment like this (no resources!). Play is much more co-operative and there is lots of wonderful risk taking. I am a firm believer in using the curriculum and interpreting it to follow children's interests. I would be very interested to find out how tablets are being used for observations and record keeping.

Coombe Mill - Fiona said...

Oh my I wish my children could learn with you! This is my perfect literacy class. A great day and learning without knowing they are doing so, perfect! Do please join me on Country Kids too

Juliet Robertson said...

Thanks everyone for your comments.

The tablet recording is something I do plan to look into in more detail. One local nursery got a rave write up about this in a recent inspection. Meanwhile, one version was flagged up by Alistair Bryce-Clegg over at ABCDoes called Orbithttp://abcdoes.typepad.com/abc-does-a-blog/2012/07/another-assessment-idea-orbit.html

Hannah said...

Thanks I really enjoyed your post, I'm not a teacher but a mum trying to get her kids outside more! Stopping by from the Outdoor Play Party