Camp considerations

Camp provided an excellent opportunity to experience " öut of classroom education."

The aims and goals of camp were clearly listed under Social and Outdoor Pursuits.

These included :
- to face the physical challenges presented by the camp activities;
- to follow appropriate safety procedures;
- to participate in new outdoor activities;
- to encourage and support other team members;
- to face the challenges of staying away from home;
- to recognise the similarities and differences between people;
- to respect other peoples property as well as their own;
- to continue a healthy lifestyle with grooming, showering, eating, sleep, relaxation;
- to participate in all camp activities.

The link to the curriculum was Health and Physical Education :

strand A - Personal health and physical development
strand B - Relationships with other people
strand C - Movement concepts and motor skills
strand D - healthy communities and environments

Risk Analysis and Management Strategy (RAMS):

These were composed for the four risky activities and a generic list was composed for general activiites.

Leaders were made fully conversant with these strategies.
Children were made aware of all hazzards prior to participation in the events.

Strategies were also composed re first aid kits, diets, children's medications, allergies and food allergies.

Provision made to have a vehicle available for emergencies.

Communication :

Liason was required between El Rancho personnel, parent helpers, teachers, children and their families.

Procedures :

I learnt some of the procedures required to run a successful camp :

- program - schedule activities on rotation so that over the camp children get to experience every activity;
- checking the roll on camp - ensuring that children number off to simplify roll taking;
- teachers'attitudes are more relaxed but firm control is still maintained;
- children could be grouped by class groups or activity groups;
- reward good behaviour by allowing those children to be first into meals;
- invite parents to visit camp;
- allow sufficient freetime for fun/play;
- maintain high standards re children's hygiene issues;
- planning transportation;
- carefully select the composition of groups.
- have a list of camp rules !

Conclusions :

The keys to a successful camp are :

- planning in all areas;
- a mix of activities;
- good food;
- well-briefed parent help;
- contingency plans;
- an attitude of both fun and seriousness.

Prac 1B Reflection

On Friday X, our deaf student arrived at school without his hearing aids. Luckily this coincided with the visit of the van Asch support person. While the office was ringing X's mother to have her bring in his hearing aids, I was able to speak to the support person about X and how she had recently assessed him.

She thought that he had regressed a little in his learning and was concerned about his progress. She thought that at times he was unable to follow classroom conversations and instructions and was therefore "filling in the gaps himself" or just following his classmates, and in particular, his brother.

She thought that he may need another hearing test to see if his hearing had further deteriorated. To ensure that he does not miss out she thought that X had to develop better advocacy skills for himself. He needs to ask more questions if he is unsure and he needs to make an effort to position himself close to the teacher on the mat.
This making X responsible for his own learning will have a significant effect on his learning improvement.

Taking responsibilty for one's own learning is one of the goals of the class, so X must embrace this goal for himself.