What have you done to maintain the classroom culture?

These quotes from the teachers running projects highlight three very important parts of maintaining classroom culture
1. We all need to see what the purpose of the "team" is, so that we can worrk together.
2 Community an dculture need regular attention.
3. Critique is a great way to build supportive learning communities. 






Regular critique & a culture of optimism - a 'we can do' & 'nothing is out of our reach' approach. 



Took the Crammy Wipeout students out on a trip to meet Britain's strongest man today who owns a strongman gym in Consett. Students treat him like a celebrity; taking pictures of him at the end of the workout he had designed them. This was an opportunity to show a range of fitness strategies. The activities encouraged critiquing technique and team spirit by supporting other students. I asked students to write a paragraph about the experience. Most wrote 3- 4 paragraphs. 

We have had an exciting day today! We started by reading each other's 1st drafts, offering valuable critiquing to each group. Groups were then able to make necessary changes to their work. We were then visited for a professional storyteller who explained how to read to children. Finally we visited Newcastle Central mosque, exploring the Muslim culture!

This constant team work and collaboration helps to promote a collective classroom culture of confidence and happiness, working with our new friends.

Past Present Future vintage

Briefings, regular review stops, critique. Setting up room and resources in a way that the students will engage with and respect(high quality resources).

We have encouraged students to take more of a lead in training and activities.

·         5 students have put themselves forwards as potential captains (4 slots available)

o   Students started to co-lead warm ups and help with equipment

·         Focus on a team culture – can’t win as individuals need constant critique and coaching of each other

·         Students watching video footage of their own plays to critique, soft on player hard on content

·         Skype call with coach from another flag football team from Darlington taking his team to USA.

o   Students see how he went from our stage to his over past 5-8 years ( Seeing the big picture)



 We did a gallery style show and tell and used post its to give feedback, groups then had 10 minutes to read their feedback and respond, including a to do list for the next session. We also did a literacy exercise on how to summarise information (not cut and paste!) using the funnel thinking map.

Resilience

I witnessed a wonderful display of resilience yesterday, the "knitters" in the Science Learning Plaza were a picture of concentration and dedicated practice. Although they said it was frustratingly difficult they did not let this get in the way if them practising or anyone else.  

Project Based Learning at CLV

Projecting success at CLV

What is Project?

Cramlington Learning Village is putting into Project Based Learning (PBL) into our core curriculum.  Project Based Learning refers to students designing, planning, and carrying out an extended project that produces a publicly-exhibited output such as a product, publication, or exhibition. This year Year 7 students have around 20% of their curriculum time delivered through project based learning primarily in Science and Humanities.  This is supported by our Learn to Learn programme.

World Class Education Study Tours

Over the last three years senior leaders and key practitioners have worked alongside partners such as the Innovation Unit and Whole Education to use study tours to High Tech High in San Diego and Expeditionary Learning Schools in New England to build our understanding of PBL and the learning it brings to students in our own context.  Cramlington Learning Village is working as part of the Learning through REAL Projects Pilot  to drive forward and evaluate the impact of PBL.  

Why PBL?

Our own experience and the growing community of practice around PBL demonstrates the impact deep learning opportunities bring to our young people.  Cramlington Learning Village is proud to offer a curriculum which not only optimises achievement but builds opportunities to develop the key attributes and dispositions (our 5Rs) in meaningful ways.  PBL offers further opportunity to build on a core principle of our school - to develop independent learners and thinkers.  Evidence shows also that working on authentic, well designed Projects increases engagement for young people.  Moreover PBL helps our organisation to develop classroom norms for critique which empower students to make improvements in their work; to work hard to perfect work in light of critical analysis.  Finally, the principles of curating, displaying and exhibiting beautiful work gives our young people a real sense of what can be achieved

There are 3 key areas of the curriculum where PBL is central to the experience of our young people:

Project Fortnight - the high point in our educational year happens in June.  Almost 1000 students from Years 7-9 engage in intensive 2 week projects in small groups. The outcomes are astonishing.  They range from professional, bespoke chairs designed from scratch using mathematical principles to CDs sold on iTunes comprising original music inspired by local birdsong and accompanied by hand drawn illustrations as sleeve notes.  The impact of Project Fortnight for many of our young people is transformative; it brings real authenticity to their learning and leaves a lasting impression on how they view school and what can be achieved.

Experience Week

In February Years 7-9 engage in a week long project delivered through the normal curriculum.  Students create their own timetable based around workshops offered around a planned core theme.  Each department plans workshops around the theme culminating in two days where pupils craft their final product to show their learning.  Examples of the beautiful work created by students is displayed in the JLV street.  Students love the variety of experience and the way the theme brings relevance to their learning. It brings a crucial opportunity to develop a culture of drafting, critique and the meaning of quality work. 

In 2014 the focus of the week was the “Big Write”  with students in Year 7+8 creating an A-Z of their learning around the theme of “East meets West”.  Year 9 students were challenged to think about “What if…?” For example, students had the chance to visit workshops ranging from “What if the Cuban missile crisis had escalated?” and “What if Vampires were real?” in order to inspire their amazing written pieces.  Each home group produced a book which is to be published very soon.

Current Projects

Pupils exhibit their learning
to family and friends

Year 7 are introduced to PBL with a project entitled: “Who am I?  Here I am, illuminated” in Humanities.  This first project is about Culture, Community and Contribution.

Students will create a piece of really high quality work which will establish for students the culture and work ethic of life at Cramlington.  This will be an opportunity for the classroom communities to explore the identity, skills, qualities and contributions that each individual brings to the learning journey they are about to embark on over the course of the next seven years.

Students will investigate the story of the creation of the Lindisfarne gospels- Northumberland’s greatest treasure and use this as inspiration to craft their own illuminated manuscript page , learning calligraphy along the way!

Sample draft page from the EAT book

Year 7 students have just completed the Educate a Town project (E.A.T.) in science.  The theme was inspired by the local issues of health and lifestyle. Students are working with experts from Newcastle University and local community members investigating eating habits, consumer issues as well as the science of nutrition. The result has been a carefully researched and scientifically written book for everyday consumers helping them to make healthy choices and become informed about the food they eat which will be available to buy locally.