Hello everyone,
This year we have been focusing on class meetings in a different way than what we were use to. We have been looking at problems and interesting topics in the world. Sometimes it may not be a problem, it might just be something we have different opinions on. We have a recorder and a chairperson and we change them every week.
Chairperson: Emily Recorder: Marie
WHY WE DO CLASS MEETINGS?
We do class meetings to help our confidence since we are talking to one another about our opinions. Also we do class meetings to learn more about the world’s problems or things that we have/haven’t heard of on the news, magazines and newspaper. We also need to make sure that we respond to other people’s comments in a respectful way and can ask questions to find out more on the topic. The chair person runs the meeting and the recorder videos or types the opinions brought up. Sometimes our meetings are on a Thursday and other times it’s Friday.
Today’s two topics were: 1. Do Royals get too much attention? 2.Should children under 14 go to jail/juvenile detention?
These are some notes from our discussion:
ROYALS…
- Many people in our class agreed that they got too much attention and shouldn’t have cameras on them 24/7.
- Many people in our class believed that it was important to have important news like the birth of King George. ‘Everyone likes updates on things and enjoy reading about the royal family in magazines and newspapers’.
- Others believed that the birth of baby George, the future King, had too much attention and even though he was born into the Royal family there are lots of other babies that are being born and are important too.
JAIL…
- Many people in our class believed that children under 14 who commit a crime should have a warning/police record and then go to jail if they repeat the crime.
- Others believed that they should go into jail straight away and have some time to think about their action like in ‘time out’.
- A few class members brought up the concern of the children becoming criminals in the future and thought it was important for them to have a consequence.
- Many class members brought up the importance of helping these children and how police officers do try and help them.
Do you have class meetings?
If you do, what do you have a meeting about?
How is your class meeting structured?
Do you have a chairperson and a recorder?
Would you like to try a class meeting if you’ve never tried one?
By Marie
Hi There
This is a very interesting post.
We would have class discussions
as part of our language development classes,
but to ‘class meetings’ sounds very interesting
and motivating.
We are a younger class than yours perhaps.
We are seven and eight,
so usually teacher is the chairperson,
but now students would love to have
this opportunity more often.
Recording must be challenging for students;
to learn how to record the meeting:
what to include and what to leave out!
Would one use a short hand way of recording
what was said?
I think that more regular, formal class meetings sound like a great idea.
Thank you for sharing this idea 🙂
With every good wish
http://www.merrybeau@edublogs.org
Dear MerryBeau,
Thanks for posting the first comment on our blog!!! We were so excited when we saw that someone had commented on our blog. Yes when recording sometimes you might miss a few things so we just jot down dot points of what the class member says. I guess it is fair to have the teacher as a chairperson since there is younger students but maybe sometime you should trial it and see how it goes. Sometime we can come and visit your blog.
Thanks again,
Marie
Thanks for that Marie.
I will certainly try it out next term. If the younger children get practice ‘chairing’ they will improve. It is a great life skill.
Best regards from the other side of the Planet Earth,
and about a half a day behind ;))
Merry Beau (Greystones, Wicklow, Ireland)
Dear Merry Beau,
Yes the younger children will improve lots and will have more confidence to talk in front of a large group (CLASS).
From Marie
Dear 5/6 JK
5/6SG do have class meetings.
We have a meeting about things going on around the world for eg: animal testing, freedom of speech, Australian currency
We sit in a circle and creatively write our name on a piece of paper so instead of us raising our hands for a long time we just simply place the piece of paper on the floor and the chair person will call out our name to talk.
We do have a chairperson and a recorder.
And I have been in a class meeting.
From Rozetta
Thank you for your reply Marie,
We return to school on Friday after eight weeks summer holidays on this side of the hemisphere. I look forward to being more adventurous with class meetings having read your account.
Rozetta’s idea sounds good too I think. We find that sometimes when the students have their hands up to speak that they are concentrating on what they have to say and are not listening to other people as a result.
I look forward to seeing how you get on with your reading challenge.
With every good wish,
Merry Beau
Hi 5/6 JK,
Observing your class meetings that you have in your set sessions, I have noticed that the laminated name displays are working really well. I have noticed how it allows everyone to have a go with what they would like to contribute and express opinions.
I have noticed that a television has been placed in the learning link outside our classroom.
Do you think this could assist us with some discussion points in our class meetings?
What could have been the purpose of having the television placed in our learning space?
Miss Salim
Dear Miss Salim,
Yes, the laminated cards let everyone have a chance to talk and share their opinion. There is a television in the level 4 link which is very exciting, I think that we sometimes will use it to help us with our meetings or to get topics of it. The television may have been put there to help us understand what is happening in the world, also to our class it means that we can find lots more topics for class meetings.
From Marie
Dear 5/6 JK and bloggers,
I don’t think that they should go to jail straight away because it should depend on if the crime is really bad or not. Everyone deserves a second chance. I believe the royals should be photographed a lot because everyone wants to know about them since they’re famous but their privacy should also be respected.
From Andrew (Marie’s dad)
Hello 4JK,
Keep up the great work that you are all doing.
Great job.
From Sue (Mary’s Mum)