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Hi Jacqui, Wow, you have been doing alot of work. Kids like a variety and engaging activities and from your powerpoint to your supporting booklets, they will definitely be engaged and supported. Congratulations. Hatice.

Hi Jacqui, well done (I can't believe we have finished!) I have enjoyed reading through your portfolio and see clear links to 21st century skills and PBL - when you told me what your topic was back at the face to face training I was wondering how you were going to expand the unit - so well done! I think your unit has a lot of potential to integrate with other subjects. I could see you taking it a step futher and developing the fantasy writing peices into scripts and the children having the opportunity to make a short film from start to finish - so you could link with music, media etc.
 * __Feedback from Helen Trewavas__**

You have thorough assessment tools - I was reading it through thinking you would benefit from a student checklist, and then low and behold found one in the student brochure. I think that brochure is important and will be great and keeping the students focused and have an idea where the are heading with this information.

I like that you have given the students a choice when completing the materials to support their work - I thought you might even eatn to add in making a song about the character / story as another option.

Well done and good luck in the delivery of your unit.

//Initial comments:// I first thought this was a unit about writing a fantasy story, but it is so much more! What a resource rich unit this is Jaclyn! The more I looked the deeper and richer it became. I like the way you constantly place the question “What First?” before the student. The Unit is highly organised and clear, even though it is so complex. Is this a unit that you have taught previously and used the Intel EOL course to refine (which is something I encourage my MTs to do)?
 * __What First? – Feedback from Alan__**

Your Introductory PowerPoint strongly emphasises the EQ repeatedly and has students thinking about the application of the question to the unit theme, to the subject itself and to their life in general. It is rich in examples and I am assuming that it would be a whole class activity that you go through together. It would certainly ground them in what they need to do and offers many suggestions as to how they could go about it. However, it does not dictate how they should do so. So you have achieved a PBL unit that is directed, yet clearly student centred. You have used graphic organisers, text, templates and tables and so catered for different types of learners. Have you considered podcasting as well? I found this worked very well for VCAL students who had difficulties absorbing detailed textual instructions (and saved me the frustration of repeatedly photocopying sheets that they regularly lost.)
 * __Introductory Document or Presentation__**

You have embedded 21st century skills and H.O.T. throughout, and utilise Web 2 applications with the Wiki and Blog.

Your summative assessment is very detailed. I like how you have helped students to categorise their learning by breaking up the assessments over several discrete tools. They are clearly labelled as //21st century skills assessment//, Self Direction Rubric, Oral Presentation Rubric and so on. The way you have used the 21st Century Skill assessment tool to bring all the assessments together is very effective and will provide a effective guide (and check) for students, much like the progress checklist we have used in this course, but within an assessment tool.
 * __Student Sample Summative Assessment__**

This made clear (even to me - a Mathematics teacher!) what is was that was to be produced. Even though the Introductory PowerPoint did this effectively, this sample brought it together for me as it would your students. It made very clear the stages (is that what you call it) of a story and would help students to think like this as they are constructing their stories.
 * __Student Sample__**

There is an abundance of support and facilitation resources. I don’t think that I came across one document that was not also a support/resource. The //What First Booklet, Lotus Diagram template// and //Steps for Writing a Good Book Review// are all examples of this. You really have put a lot of thought into this unit Jaclyn!
 * __Student Support or Facilitation Resource__**

The FantasyNarrative Wiki was full of surprises. I liked the way you have //“Help I’m Stuck”// link with the “//Help I’m Stuck chart ideas”// document. This will encourage students to be independent and manage their own learning as well. You seem to have thought of everything.
 * __Other Resources__**

This unit is clearly founded upon student centred learning with a PBL approach. Higher Order Thinking is evident throughout, with students having to really think about how they will use the knowledge they gather. You have them evaluating what they are doing and why they are doing it all the way through the unit. They cannot ignore or duck around the CFQs and assessment is an integral part of almost every part of the unit. There are support structures at every turn and lots of choices for students. All nine 21st century skills are evident and explicitly assessed. Your Blog looks good and your use of the Wiki innovative.
 * __Entire Unit Portfolio__**

I really enjoyed looking through your unit Jaclyn. I am really lost as to making any further suggestions other than those above. You seem to have thought of everything!
 * __Other Comments/Notes:__**

Hi Jaclyn, I enjoyed reading your unit - it could be easily adapted for Level 4 students at our school. Last year we did a unit called "Once Upon a Time" which had a fairy tale component. I agree with Helen re. developing the fantasy writing pieces into scripts and possibly making a film. An opportunity to collaborate with your Music/Drama colleagues. You plan to share the stories with primary students. You may consider setting up links between your students & the primary kids before they start writing & keep them in the loop as the project develops. This could be done face to face or online. Good luck for the year & I hope you enjoy teaching the unit. Cheers, Kerrie
 * __Feedback from Kerrie__**

Comprehensive description of the requirements of your Unit Jaclyn, though just go voer it to fix up your written expression and spelling…sorry…the English teacher in me.
 * __Feedback from Neil__**

Your 21st century assessment sheet is really intersting Jaclyn. This is probably the best checklist that I've seen to keep track of all the requirements of the unit.

Student sample was developed on the first one before the holidays Jaclyn. The responses seem to match the style that a child would compose. Just make sure to correct the spelling of Fantasy in your title

The hats material and the LOTUS diagram are both effective resources for facilitating effective collaboration between the students. Lets try to get these on the walls around the place Jaclyn. if we can start postioning them around the school then we can start to build up a culture.

Great work Jaclyn. Your unit was clear and comprehensively developed. I like the way you've incorporated the Thinking Hats and LOTUS into your overall plan. I guess we'll both have to devise some simple instructions for the students about how to do them properly.

Cheers,

Neil


 * __Feedback from Erik__**

Jaclyn, congratulations on your fantstic unit. I would love to use this with my Year 5 students. Your unit plan was very thorough, I particularly liked your EQ's. You provided many assessment tools which was great. I really liked your lotus digram and your blog looks great too. You have definitely incorporated all 21st Century skills in your Unit plan. Your learning activities were very easy to follow. One suggestion is that you could incorporate more in your standards section. There are other areas you are focusing on that could be assessed such as thinking, ICT and speaking and listening. You seemed to have only given us the writing standard. All the best, Erik


 * __Feedback from David__**

Wow Jaclyn, I think you've blown us all away!

I can only reiterate the comprehensive feedback you've had from the group and congratulate you on such an imaginative project. Your fantasy narrative wiki is an extraordinary resource and a very creative use of web 2.0 tools. Great to see that you've also incorporated blogs and a collaborative document into the unit.

There is a a wealth of support material here to guide the students through a project that will no doubt inspire! This will address, as Erik suggests, not just the English (Writing) domain but many other Domains and Dimensions from Strands 1 and 3.

I hope you get to teach the unit and I'd be fascinated to hear how this goes.

Congratulations again.

David