It's 6.30 am and in about 8 hours or so, my holiday begins. We've planned a shared kai in class today and I think that's another great reason to get up early this morning.
The weather lately has been bleak, cold and at times miserable. Although we've experiences a short term of nine weeks, it sure feels longer and I attribute that to testing, report writing and late nights completing interviews. People have asked me what I intend doing with myself over the term break and I've answered 'nothing really' although I know that time will mean mahi before play- cleaning and relaxing in that order. I decided to delve into the aspects of my role as a PRT mentor and in doing so, I've added relative content to my PRT Mentoring webspace. I've 'devised' an Action Plan too that supports the NZ RTC's and will be used in consultation with my colleague to track professional teaching and learning.
A separate web-blog (that is password protected) e-Tipu e Rea has also been set up for imparting knowledge and documentation as well as the collective sharing of our thoughts and ideas. I have started documenting my first 'focused' TAI or Teaching as Inquiry in Maths. The cyclical process is making me stop and think critically about myself as a classroom teacher (the WITFM or...what's in it for Me...) and more importantly those students of whom my Inquiry is focused on and I work alongside. I absolutely love the professional learning that results from this practice. Date: Saturday 10th May 2014 Venue: Whakatane High Cost: $15 (non Slanza members) Programme: 10:15am Virtual Library Tour : Websites, apps, databases, social media - moving your library into the digital world. Presenters (1) Penny Walch, Southwell School, Hamilton, sharing Pinterest, (2) Sheila Little, Bethlehem College, showing Slideshare, (3)Michelle Simms, Te Totara School, sharing PlayBuzz and LiveBinders 11:35am Virtual Library Tours: Part 2: Presenters (4) Jude Cosson, Greenpark School, Tauranga, sharing Weebly and Canva, (5) Glenys Bichan, Cambridge High, sharing her blog and FaceBook page 12:30pm SLANZA Waikato/Bay of Plenty AGM Lesa, Jean and I were most fortunate to attend the above-mentioned weekend workshop. We came to understand that there are so many passionate librarians in schools doing amazing 'online things' out there. BEST OF THREE LIKES: (1) Pinterest - How to remember books that teachers are recommending. Add books and any school BIG ideas. E-mail links to teachers re: specific pinterest boards. Excellent space to curate integrated inquiry webspaces/resources. (2) Slideshare - Tool to share Annual Report. Link school website to OPAC. Use slideshare for 'How to's'. ipads in the library - Book Creator - students, guarded access keeps them in that patch. Students write their own stories. Teachers encourage to write theirs. Reasons for Book Creator: easy to do and update, students identify with the school environment, they read a story but also learn some library skills, they find out about authors they could try. Download to ibooks and use Google Drive. (3) Two important things about my blog - client and contact. Book reviews are 'laser light'. Add in trailers. Play on spines. Posters for the library competition. Check the use of Office 365. (4) Look at Wheelers platform. Add in parents pages. Idea - mystery book. Book character pages, take me to your reader...Reading bingo made for online...Live Binder and Symbaloo, You Tube playlists, List challenges, Play buzz for quizzes, Limit of 8 possible answers. Pond - Network for Learning digital discovery and participation. Roll out to students early 2015. Can become a pond pioneer to help shape it. (5) Canva for creating posters. Weebly...Apple TV and fairy tales...using images as visual aids.' WHERE TO FROM HERE? (i) Sort Pinterest page -include integrated inquiry link to blog (ii) Continue research on Office 365 (iii) SWSW Book Creator - use with class ipads (iv) Register as a Pond Pioneer (v) Sandpit time: Canva and Playbuzz It's Term Two and I do believe the next nine week's are going to be very busy. I've just spent a couple of hours on my 'digital footprint' and have yet to post to the VLN, capture a few TED videos then look at what's in store for the Appraisal Workshop I will attend tomorrow. I do have a fair idea what my classroom planning will look like this Term so that's a bonus. I am however currently toying with the fact that my PLN or digital footprint is in need of a boost, not quite sure whether I need to drive more traffic there or work on the overall appearance. The time is now 10.40pm on Monday night so I might just have to keep my head above water right now and 'sleep on it'. All great ideas come to those who wait...and wait...and wait... Date: 05 April 2014 Venue: Bushmere, Gisborne Lesa and I attended the GATE symposium with Jude Cornelius-Nuku and two other staff who are associated with REAP in Whakatane. Keynote: Dr Amber Dunn - Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
"We have a long-term investment that steadily grows and matures over time. Our experiences shape us and in doing so, we must endeavour to invest time into our families, to send love willingly so our children 'dare greatly' and 'get into the area of life'. To do so, our children need to brave the arena, have the courage to face their dreams and the certainties and uncertainties that may arise. Standing on the shoulders of giants - Surrounding our families with great people, people who will mentor our strategies, our dreams and inspirations and people who have similar values with which to live by. To surround yourself with people who will empower you with courage and wisdom to strive for your dreams and to have the courage and belied that you can achieve. "A great education can change a lot of things, but a great teacher can change everything". WHERE TO FROM HERE?' (i) Check out latest posts on VLN - Maori succeeding as Maori (ii) Think about integrating GIFTED activities into classroom programme (iii) Visit GIFTED online The end of a busy day and finding time now to reflect on what's important...
Arohamai...It's been a few months since I last blogged. I've finally downloaded the i-app for Weebly and this will come in handy so that I may express any quick thoughts. Here's two now....
1. Today is my daughter's birthday and isn't it interesting that we attended the STEPS Training Course together. More about that PD later... 2. About a minute ago I received an email from Karen Boyes with a link to her new e-book 'Collective Wisdom 2014'. Take a peek if you're keen:) I might also link it to my Reading Log. It's going to be very busy the next few weeks...17 days about and counting...Today I was observed for writing/appraisal...nervous start...eased into the first session eventually..It seemed to take forever...due to the fact that I did not keep track of time...and tried to squeeze too much in. Heoi ano...the second session came and went a lot better..plenty of smiles, enjoyment and fun. Students in both groups were great...excellent participation, thinking and learning.
I enjoy feedback and feed forward so today was very worthwhile. I am also proud of the following achievements that we, as a class have enjoyed: - five genre covered in depth this year (recount, narrative, procedural, explanation and poetry). - writing daily (SSW) - 10 proof-reading codes for Room 6 have worked well - Class shared writing books - excellent models of writing - Quadblogging - online commenting - Use of iPads for publishing in different forms - class modelling books completed and regularly used by students as a reference point. Thanks Kim for observing myself, partaking in conversation with Room 6 students and your most valued comments, feedback and feed forward. I am a reflective practitioner who will always take on board suggestions and improvements that help or support me with my current teaching practice. This week I have been 'toying' with the idea of what should go into a modelling book for class writing, who the book is intended for and how the information should be displayed. I have worked alongside two groups both with differing literacy needs this year and therefore used two books so I I am now considering putting both sets of information together. I also think it is a good idea to include (with permission) samples of students work as great models along with any planning templates and rubrics that they've used.
Modelling book NLS (or next learning steps) for 2014: - Divide the book up into susbstantial sections that will separate one genre from the next. - Include just in time photos as evidential data. - Think creatively about publishing ideas with laptops/ iPads and add these examples to the book. - Ask students for reflective feedback or feed forward and include their comments. - Put models of other forms of writing (eg: inquiry templates, graphic organisers etc) at the back of the modelling book. |
FIVE Modelling Book Tips:
1. Keep a toolkit of pens, coloured pens, ruler, highlighters, pencils, dictionary and thesaurus handy. 2. Write up the WALT well ahead of time and have additional information ready. 3. It's a modelling book so errors or the modelling of errors are acceptable. 4. Ask for samples of work from students to include in the book. 5. Keep the modelling book up to date and encourage students to refer to it often. |