Longworth Forest Class Trips

Throughout May 2017, Rooms 22, 23, and 1 went to Longworth Forest on individual class trips.  

As team leader, these trips came about on 3 different levels:

1. These trips would directly support the play-based learning development that is happening in Heretaunga Ararau.  The learners would be able to engage in the philosophy of play-based learning in a natural environment that we are unable to provide in the same way at Frimley School.
   
2. These trips would act as hands-on PLD for the classroom teachers.  The Longworth Forest is run by the same people that run our in-school PLD and weekend workshops for play-based learning.  There will be times to work 1:1 in a coaching role with the facilitators with the teachers 'own' class - powerful!
   
3. Chances for whanau to join us and experience the learning with the children and also have the chance to discuss with learning professionals what their child is interested in , strengths/weaknesses, values/family values, and the position of school.

Reflection

• Children all participated in a range of urge led learning which reinforced the learning from school that they had been undertaking prior to the visit.  This consolidated for me that urges lead learning in a compulsive way.
• Parent helpers for Room 1 were able to interact with the play in a supervisory role without commanding the play or simply watching from afar.
• All teachers, facilitators and parents were able to interact together to build an understanding of the learning they were seeing.  

Reflection in line with prior next steps

Sarah Aiono and I have discussed in the past the need to value the different styles of play - solitary, parallel, associate and collaborative play.  In the Longworth Forest scenarios, I was able to observe these styles of play and model moving from solitary to parallel with 2 ESOL students in particular.

Curriculum links were made everywhere and as a next step was around narrating learning, a learning story is below.

Next steps

• Developing a relationship with Longworth Forest to allow our learners to use this facility in times to come.
• Build on the PLD for my teachers by having them attend future workshops around the role of the teacher
• In class, provide more authentic outside nature play for the learners of Room 1.