Creative curriculum

I am fascinated to see how the curriculum encourages the children to use their English practically in our school and also how effectively ICT is used.  I don’t know if this is how it works in all of the Spanish schools?

The school is very good with technology, with several trollies of Chrome books shared between classes. They use the Google Suite, particularly Google Docs, to support learning and collaboration.  In addition, they clearly have committed and skilful parents and teachers.

At my school, as well as the grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing lessons, there are regular ‘projects’ for each of the year groups. At the moment, Years 5 and 6 are at the point of completing and submitting their summer projects. Year Five children have been studying food and the language around shopping and cooking. For homework they were asked to find a recipe in Spanish, translate it, then write it out in their very best handwriting. Then individually or in pairs they cook the item, filmed by a parent or sibling, edit it and submit the film electronically to their teacher. The end results are of a fantastic quality!

Faces scribbled on to protect identity, rather than an act of vandalism! 

Much of the Year 6 projects on filming a scene in a restaurant has been completed in class. The children are working in groups to agree and present an attractive menu, then write a script about ordering a meal. It is fascinating to watch them working together using Google Docs to produce a shared script. Each child has direct access to the document, with their writing recorded in different colours. This way all can be busy composing and recording their own words, rather than having a single scribe. They can access the document at home as well, so the collaboration can continue.

Once the script is completed, it is submitted electronically to the teacher, who marks and returns it. 

Children involved in filming

Next week the playlets will be filmed in school, so I have been doing a lot of watching and listening, correcting pronunciation and supporting with grammar in preparation for the big event.