Connected Educator month

Have been taking part in connected educator month and as part of this have been doing PD on-line and also attended the U-learn mobile day in the holidays, which i attended a workshop on Google apps for use on the Ipad and Torbay school presenting about BYOD. Still not sure about the ability and use of Google apps on the I pads, need to look at other way to collaborate, also need to look at task first rather than tool. As for BYOD not sure if we need to specify a device as this limits, however, would be good to have information for parents of what we are doing and what we may need and to offer some sort of package to lease or buy. As part of connected educator month students in my class have taken part in passing the blog, a blog which showcases Rotorua and is been commented on and accessed globally.

http://connectedrotoruaschools.blogspot.co.nz/

Recent Professional development

Taking part in the above which involves being connected with thousands of educators across New Zealand to partake in professional learning events and to access resources and connect with different communities. Taking part in a month long learning event involving taking part in events each day to complete a kete of PD

Attended Excel Rotorua "what does success look like?" in cooperation with Massey University worked on defining what and how success and progress will be and mean and hoe it can be measured. Felt a little out of my depth with so many distinguished guests at first. However by the end felt our school's input was more than valid and welcomed. Left excited about the future and hopeful that the initiative of having every child connected and access to a devise will be acted upon sooner rather than later.

Had a week trialing BYOD in the classroom, highlighted what we would need to implement to initiate a programme of BYOD.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bx2pZgQDmDHKJ7lI6v6ffX-_B5ZmYTbiV3BZHO9NLQo/pub

TOD- PACT trial, had PD around what it is and for and how to use it with students. From this I quickly realized that there were areas/strands that needed to be learnt more. Also that we can't teach strands in isolation and at specified times of the year. We need to be using the different strands regularly and using them to enhance and confirm number knowledge and use of strategy.

Maths PD with Bruce Moody around fractions and games and activities to motivate and engage and reaffirm learning. From this have added to independent activities table.

Attended Connected Rotorua workshop on E-portfolios at Selwyn school.

Book parade

Was asked to help MC the book parade during book week. Liased with colleagues and delivered a fun event. Managed and guided children and questioned them about their costumes. Introduced and collaborated with the judges. Used humour and actions to enhance event.

Marae trip

Spoke at the marae on behalf of the school; my pepeha followed by recognising the ancestors and the tangata whenua of Tangatarua and Ihenga and thanked them for welcomimng our school.

No Ingarangi ahau, te tāone o Coalville

Ko Beacon Hill te Maunga

Ko Soar te Awa

Ko Singapore Airlines te waka

Ko Leicestershire te Iwi

Ko Carrington te hapu

Ko te whare o Matua Carrington toku marae

Kei Rotorua ahau e noho ana inaianei

Ko Neil Carrington toku ingoa

Tena koe te whare e tu nei. Tu mai tu mai tena koe.

Te papa e takoto nei tena koe oti kau tena korua.

Tena koutou e nga tangata o te hau kainga,

Mo te whakatau mai i a matou nga manuhiri.

Mihi mai ki a matou te kura o Otonga.

Kua tae mai i waenga i a koutou.

Mihi mai, mihi mai, mihi mai

Tenei te mihi tenei te maioha

Tena koutou tena koutou tena tatou katoa.

ICT PD

Led an ICT PD session with colleagues on using the SAMR model to scaffold technology use in the classroom and for assessing and evaluating technology use in learning. Used the Ipad to give examples of different stages of the model. After we went into team groups and explained the use and capabilities of apps and Ipad functions. On reflection in the team there was some enthusiasm and some resistance to the new Ipad and the loaded apps, it is apparent that more PD is needed ,(will include this in team meetings with an 'app of the week'), with examples of how and why the Ipad can enhance learning.

TOD

Teachers Only Day Tuesday 3^rd June

Met with different iwi and hapu in Rotorua and discussed working together with schools to build relationships and engage further in raising Maori achievement in schools. Heard of initiatives that are currently taking place and the aspirations of Excel Rotorua and the different hapu. On return to school we questioned and discussed what we had learnt and what changes we could make. These were the thoughts of our team.

                                Middle School Team

Be more aware of your children's background - how are we going to use that? 

Link agencies to your child. Tap into resources- stories. 

Pull all resources together? Without loss of identity. 

Identify your students iwi!

Science camp! Joe Evans 

Maps were good. We need to know them and where they are.

Engagement of families - ECE! See the values of education future employment

Inclusion - partnership. How can the parents help us? How can we help our parents? 

Common Haka and waiata

Would love if people came in and spoke to our kids.                                              

Middle school disco

Helped out at the school middle school disco as the DJ, helping the community and the OSSG. Have also joined the OSSG as the teacher representive.

BYOD

Attended webinar on BYOD and N4L. Schools shared their journey of implementing BYOD and the effects on learning. Interesting that one school decided what devices children would be allowed and another allowed any and multiple. However, the later was a year 9-13 school. What next for Otonga? Need to question the reason and need for BYOD and how it will impact on learning. These questions need to be put to all involved; the staff, board, community, students.

ICT PD

Took part in a webinar today on N4L and how it is being put into schools and what we can expect from it. mainly discussd its speed of connection and connectivety. Two schools discussed how they could put their money they had saved, from paying for other network providers, towards buying devices and especially the use of Chromebooks. There was some talk around filtering content, but not around what else we can expect from N4L. Really wanted to know what else is going to be available, what resources, capabilities, storage, channels. However, the schools present discussed the impact on learning and achievemt since having access to the internet and at school and the benefits of learning with digital technologies and the transformation of teaching and learning.

PRT/OTT mentoring course

This year I have taken on the role of mentor for a second year provisionaly registered teacher. I attended a course at Glenholme school today which gave me the guidlines, expectations and roles of the mentor and the PRT. As part of the course we were required to share resources, knowledge, strategies and what we are currently doing. From this I questioned how I am supporting, mentoring and what the PRT is doing. At are next meeting I will question and reflect with the PRT what she feels my and her roles are and compare and contrast. This course also made me question what are the characteristics of a quality mentoring programme and am I supporting this way. Sharing with other mentors and PRT's highlighted the importance of being a mentor and the significant role I have in guiding the PRT towards full registration, it also allowed for me to see how different mentors and PRT's manage the I&M programme. We also all shared what evidence is needed for the 12 RTC and how it may look and different ways it may be gathered.

Blogging 2014

This year I have gone back to having a blog on blogger for my class, which like my class page last year has learning activities in various curriculum areas to help anytime anywhere and posts about our learning journey in room 22. It is also a communication tool to the community.
Click the Image below to see the blog