The Enviro Program Our School Farm Donvale Christian College.

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The Enviro ProgramOur School FarmDonvale
Christian College.
Helping boys to re-discover a passion for
learning.
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The Horse Whisperer
You can lead a horse to water and encourage him
to drink by earning its trust and providing
incentive.
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The Tech Teacher
He could spark a desire to learn by making it
hands on relevant.
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The D.C.C Enviro Literacy Sustainability
program.

• You may have seen recent news features about how
  some boys struggle to stay engaged in the
  learning process from as early as Year Four. Over
  the years, we have discovered that a certain
  percentage of students struggle to acquire
  Literacy skills and consequently develop a low
  view of themselves as learners.
• The Enviro Literacy program was established in
  2000 to provide a different approach to address
  the needs of these particular students.
• The aim was to re-invigorate their desire to
  learn by helping them to discover the God-given
  gift within.

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1. Ants in their pants or, engineers to change
the world.

• The Problem Disengagement
• behind everybody else- Felt like tails not
  heads.
• Others had interests/passions not being
  recognised.
• Tools of assessment AIMS, BURT,TORCH, ACER
  revealed most needy,
• Support in place READING RECOVERY, LEM, BRIDGING
  THE GAP.

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The Cubby Builders..who couldnt sit still.

• However, we had observed that a number of these
  students have a more kinesthetic learning style
  and responded enthusiastically when their
  Literacy work was tied to outdoor activities,
  information technology and their personal
  interests.

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So we built.
Our school farm

• The Premise
• Boys need schoolwork that is imaginative,
  personally relevant and involves more hands on
  activity...its got to have a visual/spatial
  element. If they can shape it or make it or
  design it, they will be much happier. Parker .

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2. Motivation is linked to confidence. Finding
your niche, how you are wired.

• By..taking a positive approach. What I can do
  well.
• Byacquiring literacy skills through experiences
  linked to their passions.
• Bydeveloping LEADERSHIP.

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Enviro Wednesdays

• When- Wednesdays during Literacy block
• Group of 6- 8 students from Years 3-6 as
  recommended by class teachers- for small group
  support
• 2 X 50 minute sessions
• 50 minutes literacy/guided reading/modelled
  writing/ I.T skill development/Project work
• 50 minutes fieldwork- School Farm-
  animals/orchard/excursion/woodwork
• Consultants Involve Fathers, tradesmen and older
  students to mentor.

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3. Doing it smart-Content Planning activities
that dove-tail with the curriculum.

• Teaching content directly supports/ under-girds
  that being covered in the classroom .
• Developed sub-modules that supported existing
  units GS
• Literacy linked to curriculum, linked to
  fieldwork activities.
• SECRET 1-Pre-emptive I.T Teach them I.T skills
  ahead of their peers. Word, Excel, Powerpoint,
  Movie-maker.
• SECRET 2- Pre-emptive Literacy- teach new genre
  BEFORE cohort.
• SECRET 3- Pre-emptive Project work.

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4. Activities- Lesson topics.

• Convincing them that learning is fun
• GS Topic Module
  Skills Fieldwork
• Primary Industry Egg Industry
  Procedural text Animal husbandry
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• Endangered Feral animal study
  Information text Aquatic Creature
  
• Animals
  
  study
• Endangered
• Environments Worms Waste
  Recycling/sustainablity
• Media Video Editing
  Expressive language Film production
• 
  Reporting text
• Aboriginal Bird of the bush
  Narrative text Woodwork
• Australians
• Farm visits- Edendale Farm (Primary Industries)
  Bike rides- Currawong Bush Park (Endangered
  Environments, Aboriginal Australians)Woodwork-maki
  ng bird hides. Movie production- Media

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The Benefits

• Increased motivation to learn
• Improved writing skills
• Stronger self-esteem confidence
• Leadership skills
• New friends
• Heightened social kudos within peer group- due to
  I.T skills.
• Technical skills
• Landscaping skills
• Personal organisation

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Parents perspectives.How the program has
benefited their child.
He loves it all.. getting out of the classroom,
getting physically involved in activities that
are concrete, even the writing he now approaches
with enthusiasm.

• Apart from sports, Enviro is almost the only
  thing that Danny speaks about in a positive way.

QUOTES
I think being in the Enviro team has improved
the way he feels about himself as well as giving
him motivation to write.
Enviro makes me feel that I am good at
something.
Enviro is scratching boys where they itch.
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Teachers Forum

• Learning style/multiple intelligence quiz
  inventory of your own students with learning
  needs.

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Question time/ resourcing

• Learning style questionnaire
• Seven ways to unlock academic performance for
  boys- Kids Hope article.
• Enviro modules-
• Birds of the Bush
• Worms waste
• The Ferals
• Chooks
• Parent/Student feedback
• University thesis on the Enviro Program

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Boys have an innate need to be good at something.
When they discover the talents God has given
them, experience success and find their
individual niche, they become far more positive
about learning in general.
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Contact details

• Name of project
• The Primary Enviro Program
• Contact person Peter Jones
• School Donvale Christian College
• 155 Tindals Rd. DONVALE Vic 3111
• Ph. 98442471 Fax [phone]
• email jonepet_at_mail.primary.vic.edu.au