Welcome to our first post here at Planet Diversity. At the end of each week, we will be adding to this new venture about what we have been up to, what we’re working on and anything else that pops up!
Friday 24th of February 2023
After a week off and following a number of power cuts that interrupted two of our classes before the break, I am happy to say that the power cuts seem to have disappeared – for now! This week, we have introduced project-based learning to our functional skills classes and it seems to be doing its job. English functional skills isn’t the most exciting of topics. Our first project-based topic is ‘Chickens’ as so many of our families keep them, earn pocket money via them and just wish they were able to have some (me included). This week’s lesson introduced proofreading and spelling and we started work on short and long vowel sounds, consonants and syllables. Hopefully, introducing the theory of spelling in our first lesson didn’t put anyone off!
In maths, we have been working on the order of operations, so BIDMAS/BODMAS and for our friends in the States, PEMDAS. This topic gives us lots of opportunities to build up confidence with puzzles and activities and it seems to have been a hit. Even our dyslexia class, The Shine Learning Programme, got in on the act. I can only apologise if I send your kids off wanting to convert your garden to a chicken coop!
Our new YouTube channel which is soon to have free dyslexia and dyscalculia resources and 10-minute lessons will be launched, after a delay of a number of months due to COVID, new projects and now moving house. April is our new release date, so do keep a lookout and I will keep you all informed. Specialist support should not only be for those who can pay, so I think the channel will reach a new audience. We’ll be having monthly chats, alongside the videos and resources, so I hope to meet you all soon.
I have added a dyscalculia checklist to Facebook and for our Shine members a freebie, working on the short vowel sound /i/. If you think this might be of benefit to your friends, families or learners do let them know.
Life is on Planet Diversity may prove a little challenging over the next couple of weeks due to a last-minute house move, so do bear with me and do send me positive vibes, please. Take care and have a great week.
Jill, https://planetdiversity.education/ 