Health Expo - Term 3

On Tuesday 19 September we held a Health Expo within our team.  This was the culmination of a terms learning.  This was our teams first Project Based and Problem Based approach to learning.  We planned the unit together and then we implemented it within our classrooms.

Each class then worked through find, collecting and displaying information in project form.  One of the highlights of this approach was the many varied projects created and shared at the Expo.  We invited whanau and friends to come into to view our projects in the hall from 10:30-2:00pm.  All the other classes were invited to view and interact with our projects as well.

As a team, we felt that this Expo was a great success in that it focussed the learning on a specific outcome and was ultimately aimed at sharing learning with other learners.

Here is a link to our team evaluation of the day
Here are some photos of the day.

Te Puawaitanga CRT Day

On Wednesday we had our first Te Puawaitanga CRT day, which means our team were released together at the same time.

We had a great day together, collaborating, sharing, questioning, challenging, and learning all with the focus of accelerating achievement success for our learners.

Fully Registered Teacher!!! Again!!! Woo hoo!!!

So my registration finally came through.  I'm fully registered up until 10 August 2020!

This time round I had some hold-ups in getting my application completed and sent off.

No.1 - We moved house and I couldn't find any of the documents I needed.  No current passport!  No birth certificate, only my drivers licence.

No. 2 - Had to apply for a new birth certificate, and wait 10 working days for it to arrive!  Stress!

So finally got it done, waited, waited.  Then finally received an email saying, yes we are processing your application and will be in touch.  Choice!  Then about a week after that, another email, opened it in anticipation only to read that my proof of identity did not match up!!!!  Oh my goodness!  Such a stupid mistake on my behalf!  Didn't read the find print.  Should have also included my marriage certificate as proof of name change!  Oh no but wait!  Can't find that either and have to apply for a new one - another 10 working days!!!!!  Luckily I used my real me account, ordered online and then pay for a courier!  It arrived in three working days!!!!  I couldn't believe it!!!!

So, photocopied it, got it signed off again, sent it off to the Education Council.  Got an email the very next day saying that my registration had gone through!!!!  OMG!  I could not believe it!

So, so, so happy - Note to self for next time!  Keep your important documents in a safe place and don't ever move house again!!!!!

Riding for the Disabled - Gingerbread Horse fundraising campaign.

This year as part of our Discovery Time we will be baking and decorating Gingerbread horses in order to sell them to the tamariki at our school to raise funds for our local Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).

I have done this previously a few years back.  I find this to be a fun activity that our tamariki can be involved in whereby they are giving back to their community.  The participate in baking, decorating and selling the horses - not for themselves but for the benefit of others.

With the help of the school leaders (who baked most of the biscuits) and Mrs White our teacher aide, we now have over 120 horses to decorate and sell.

Such fun!!

e-asTTle Reading Data Analysis - Term 3

Lightbulb!  Mindshift!  Again!

I had a collaboration meeting the other day with two other teachers.  One teacher was not sure what the next learning steps were for her learners in regards to reading.  The other said, "Well what information, data do you have?"  Some thought was given and then a variety of data forms were discussed although none were current and/or meaningful at this point in time.  So the question was asked "Well why don't you do another easTTle reading test to gather new data?"

My initial thought was, well that's not scheduled to be done this term.  We need to follow the schedule.  This thinking was challenged.  Why?  If you need to know where your children are at, now, why not?

I honestly did not think 'we' could just make an easTTle test and give it to our tamariki.  My experience has of easTTle has only been through following the Assessment Schedule, you do it at this time and that was that.  How dumb am I not to have thought through this more up until now!  Aue!

I am so used to following the schedule, making sure the deadlines are met, that I'm doing the right thing that I have 'almost' forgotten that the whole point of data collection is to inform teaching!  It is not just about complying and getting the data handed in.  Of course I've always used my data but have been remise my thinking that I have to do this now, get it anaylsed and uploaded to etap.  Now this might seem a rather odd light bulb moment but ... shock horror ... I can do an easttle reading test (outside of the schedule) if I want/need up to date data to inform my teaching - especially in reading!  Honestly I feel quite dumb in writing this but this is honest reflection.  Don't get caught in complying and meeting deadlines - keep my learners at the forefront of my thinking at all times - their learning needs are the basis of everything I do!  So hence, I did an easTTle reading test this week to inform my teaching of reading.

You might think well, what was informing my teaching before this?

Well, running records - how the children answered the comprehension questions mainly, observations of learning during guided reading lessons, past easTTle reading test data(now out dated), some use of ARB's and literacy progressions judgements made as to what the learning gaps/next steps were.

So now that the tests have been done and marked.  The next step is to very quickly analyse the data in inform me of what the immediate next learning steps are for my tamariki.  I'm also looking forward to seeing the growth of my tamariki since the initial test was done back in term 1.

Now, back to work!

Seesaw Learning Journal - Parent interaction and feedback

So this week was the first time that I used the messaging function which is now a feature within Seesaw.  It allows teachers to privately message students and the families.  In turn, families can message the teacher back but only if the teacher has first messaged them.

I used this function to let a few parents know that they would be getting notices that night about camp.  One parent responding with a minute or two of me sending the message.  I could also see if the parent had seen the message although they did not specific write a response.

I think this method of communication between myself and parents is beneficial.  I have always wanted to make more contact with my parents but do not want to use my own mobile number to do so.  Using Seesaw messaging is safer for me as I get an email alert and a pop up notification on the app to let me know I have received a message.  My personal mobile number is not being shared around which I am quite pleased about.

One other benefit is that for my parents that work and can't necessary come into to see me, now they can message me through the Seesaw Families app.  I was very pleased to receive an unexpected message from one of my parents regarding how they feel regarding their child being in my class.

This made my heart flutter and my face smile as wide as it could.  Such great, positive feedback which often comes unexpectedly but oh so timely.

Nga mihi 💛😊

Camp Waiotapu - Previsit 3 August

This afternoon Te Puawaitanga and Te Whanaketanga headed out to Camp Waiotapu to carry out our first camp orientation visit.

Due to the main entrance road to the camp being closed because of logging operations, we had to go the long way around to get there.

Upon arrival we spoke with Monica (Custodian) who gave us a brief outline of the camp.  We then roved around taking photos etc.

My reflections of the visit are that the camp is by no means a 'flash' camp.  It is quite basic, not luxuries, simple 6bed cabins, no carpet etc.  This will be an authentic bush camp experience for our tamariki.

Once we finalise the camp activities and organisation it's going to be a great camp.  I'm quite looking forward to it!