Handwriting and Next Steps

Question: Can my students evaluate their handwriting by identifying their next steps?

My class already assess their own work by using a highlighter to identify their best letter that meets the criteria of:
1. correct starting point
2. touching the top line
3. touching the bottom line
4. correct formation

First Attempt: I asked my class today to write down their next step in handwriting and most of them were able to do this.  The ones that struggled were the ones who thought their work was faultless.  So then they brought me their books and I could help them out in identifying what they needed to work on next.

Next Step: I would definitely add this to our handwriting programme, perhaps those that can't find anything to work on could ask a peer to help assess their next step.

Reading Inquiry - Student Agency

After reflecting upon my video recording of my reading lesson and looking at the student feedback sheet. A gap I would like to address is Student Agency - how are they contributing to the lesson?

*  Will letting children choose their story from a Junior / School Journal address Student agency? If the group all chose a different story will I still be able to get them to achieve the WALT when addressing multi-text reading within one group?

 

I started my first Student selected story today.  I was surprised at the choice that was made - Hinemoa and Tutanekai. They chose this story because they did it for the end of year production last year.  My WALT was 'prediction' and changing their thinking if their prediction is not correct. However only one could make a prediction as she did not know the story. So I changed my WALT to understanding unknown words by using the picture, using the sentences / clues around that word to help us work it out.  They were all excited about being able to read this story (except one who wanted to read the non-fiction text).
 

My next step: to try multi-text reading (to keep all the group excited about reading)