Welcome to the JR Workshop Learning Program… a classroom where you can take control and manage your own learning program to achieve the results you want and also have privileges associated with the level of effort and conduct cooperation you are prepared to operate at.
The following is an outline of the main parts of Workshop…
SW [Set Work] The year is divided into 12 set works, 3 per term running for about 3 weeks each. They contain the required study area subjects, ie, basics and some additional activities. The expectation is that all set work will be completed and whilst some will be checked most is rated using a colour rating system outlined below. To get a quality rating work would be assessed for accuracy, ie, directions have been followed, effort applied, set work is not late & general presentation is evident, like, careful ruler use, balanced layout, handwriting neatness not with untidy error cross outs, but the excessive use of colour and decoration is not required, it is optional. These ratings then go towards an overall rating for the set work which in turn goes towards the final report rating at the end of the year.
Each set work includes …
DB [Day Book] a very important workbook using 8 pages per set work and as such is a mini report to parents on how you have done in the set work and so must be signed by parents when complete. Includes HS [handwriting/sketching/layout skill], set work checklist see page 2, Workshop-credits a list of everything else you do that is school related, S1 & S2 [spelling tests 1&2], LS [listening skills], MS [mental math skills], DB feature usually a double page spread to show parents a special aspect of the set work, GK/TS [general knowledge and/or thinking skills].
W [workshop] ideally a double lesson time where the following can be done….
W-basics [workshop basics] has priority over everything else.
S1 & S2 [spelling] lists using a quota system where if all correct in test then your list grows by one
E1 & E2 [English] grammar skill work and writing/reading type tasks
M1&2:6 [maths] year6, 2 parts per set work
M1&2:7 [maths] year7, 2 parts per set work
MAU6&7 [maths around us] text used as revision and preparation for tests
HPD [health & personal development] basic work includes Program Achieve and physical education. Some times a fitness effort rating may be used.
EA [expressive arts] art, craft, drama and music usually as a workshop activity only.
T [technology]
Sc [science]
SE [society & environment]
ICT [information communication technology] use of computers in classroom and computer suite.
Note all basic work is to be placed in the IN box for rating or checking. When in OUT box the onus is on you to check that it has been seen, if a ‘c’ appears this means correction, a ‘l’ means late, if the work is accepted it will be signed off in one of the rating colours.
Homework is rarely set on a particular night, the expectation is that students will do what is necessary to keep up to date and avoid handing set work in late, daily reminders are given via the diary.
W-activity [workshop activities] activity type learning tasks, some as set work but mainly student interest based where students are up to date with basics, eg, taking current studies further, building a scale model of Titanic or tall ship, cross age tutoring, cooking, sewing, stage productions or out of the classroom special interests. Students involved in special activities such as choir, interschool sport, SRC may miss workshop sessions and are expected to catch up on basic set work.
Absent students can claim activity credits but are still expected to catch up on basics, some negotiation may be necessary depending on the length of time absent & thus extension time is provided accordingly.
IM [immersion]. Considered to be part of workshop activity program.
PD [personal development]. This is a measure of the level of conduct cooperation you are operating at per set work and is linked with privileges within the classroom. It is an indicator of the ‘program achieve’ keys- organisation, persistence, confidence & getting along’& also an indicator of the middle school behaviour warning record, how quickly you respond to teacher directions like getting your diary signed, work without disturbing others, keeping set work up to date & avoiding yard detention.
DIARY includes daily entries usually N [notes] or HW [homework], diary must be signed weekly and 1 week per set work will be rated.
To assess the previous outline a 4 colour rating system is used for both required study areas [SW] and conduct cooperation, [PD].
- Green : excellent, well above average, high quality level.
- Blue : very good, above average, good quality level.
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- Black : okay, standard met, average.
- Black down : usually for basics that are late.
- Red : poor effort, standard not met, below average, work unseen or incomplete.
Notes: Can redo to improve within a set work. Sometimes an up or down arrow is used with a colour rating as an encouragement or warning, eg, black down is equivalent to a ‘late’. The middle school behaviour management clipboard is linked with PD ratings in the following way,
·
No warnings for the week equals a ‘+’ and this helps
PD ratings to move up.
note:
A plus can also be used to cancel a negative or a late.
· 1 or 2 warnings for the week equals a ‘0’ and this means PD rating stays where it is.
· 3 or more warnings for the week equals a ‘–‘ and this will cause PD ratings to drop.
· 3 or more warnings on a particular day equals classroom/office time out, note in diary.
Example set work checklist to monitor/organise your own progress & report to parents