SHARP Reading

Attended SHARP reading course. Had PD around the level 3 which was about teaching children to think about what they are reading to aid comprehension. The strategies used when working with children seem to be  effective and require the teacher to follow specific routines, which in turn the children transfer the reading skills into their own reading and thinking about text. Will be implementing in the reading program and monitoring development and progress.

Challenging learning

A motivating Saturday PD with James Nottingham on Challenging Learning. I really like the idea of having 'preview' for children prior to learning and will share the learning pit with the class and attempt to keep learning interesting and challenging. Also will definitely be praising the action and process rather than the person. Need to also look at progress verses achievement, might be a high achiever but not progressing.

Notes and images from the day

A new year, a new beginning.

2017 and a new classroom and a new year level for me. Started really positively, trying to introduce the 7 habits from The Leader in Me and have built good relationships with the class. We have been developing relationships and collaboration through team building challenges and activities. This year I am trying to not use extrinsic rewards with the children as I have previously done with Class Dojo and other reward systems. I want to develop intrinsic rewards, to develop the children's growth mindset and positivism. This has come from reading The Leader in Me, listening to Mike Scadden at U-Learn and speaking with Mary Gordon, the writer of the Roots of Empathy Programme, who i was fortunate to meet. 

This year I have also taken on PE/Sports and Health Leadership which I am really enjoying. 

Teacher Inquiry and reflective questioning

Staff meeting today was led by NpEW on reflective questioning and peer coaching

Wrote down strengths and weaknesses then fed back to partner- neutral

Looked at levels of questioning and wrote a series of questions based on them.

Asked partner the questions.

Discussed challenges of questioning. We looked at and developed and questioned the use of the following.

Found it tricky to not want to show agreement or disagreement or to add own thoughts or interrupt when listening and difficult when not given any acknowledgement when talking. Something I need to learn. Will also try and use these reflective questions with the class, may help in my inquiry this year on self-directed learning.

What is the vision for our school? TOD 2017

An interesting day looking at the our mission and vision statement and what we see as our vision moving forward. Having read the book The Leader in Me and listened to the talk from Western Heights Primary I really like the 7 Habits and their initiatives especially as it fosters an inside out approach, starting with teachers and that it is not a curriculum, it is integrated throughout the school and community. I will try and introduce this into my practice and life this year. A summary of the day can be viewed here

ULearn 2016

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-M3neOoHjNFdG3Cxz1_sirlNcbv7bqjjPAP9-53DQ4s/edit

End of Mindlab

http://ncarrington-apc.weebly.com/

The above site was used to reflect on applied practice for the last 16 weeks of the Mind lab course on applied practice in context and also includes a reflection of the course.

Using ICT to enhance Literacy workshop

Had a great evening presenting 2 workshops at this event organised by the Waiariki literacy association. It was an honor to be asked and great to meet and share with other teachers.

Reading to Learn TOD

Reading to Learn PD workshop

Melanie Winthrop

Teacher only Day 19/5/16

Important to integrate different reading genres and across curriculum.

Engagement-thinking critically, making the code, managing meaning.

What is my response, what do I think?

Many strategies working together-children need to know this when comprehending.

Reading and writing as interactive tools.

Discuss with children why reading a book set up success.

In silent reading go round and question children on what and why they are reading and gow they might have worked things out.

High 5 strategies

1. Activating background knowledge
2. Questioning-who is asking
3. Analyzing text structure
4. Mapping a text
5. Creating mental images

Critical literacy- what is the information, what is the purpose, what is the author's intent/message.

Mind Lab

Work covered in the first 16 weeks on the Mind lab course.

Te Rangihakahaka

Our second teacher only day focusing on our professional development of Ngati Whakaue identity, language and culture.

Te Rangihakahaka 3 from Callie Raureti on Vimeo.

Te Rangihakahaka

Attended our school's Te Rangihakahaka wananga at Paratehoata-Te Kohea marae. Where we experienced the marae setting and deepened our knowledge of Ngati Whakaue identity, language and culture through various korero about whakapapa, tikanga and whenua. We also learnt about the setting and significance of Ohinemutu and various other places in and around Rotorua, including the stories around the street names in the CBD. From the wananga experience we reflected and considered what we had learnt and how we can use this new learning within the school community and classroom, and what support is needed.

Managing change transition

Attended a two day course facilitated by Vikram Murthy on managing transitional change. This involved looking at different types of change and how organisations and individuals perceptive, react and respond to change. We questioned and self analysed our own organisations through many self tests and assessments and gave feedback and presentations of our findings/data. A force field analysis of the driving forces for change and the resisters for change was conducted for both the school and individuals. The effect of change on organisations and individuals was explored and the transitioning process identified. Changing output or skills or people didn't have as profound effect as changing a culture which needed complete change. One aspect that came from this was the need to have a vision that was actually attainable and measurable and the importance of all staff sharing, fostering and working towards the vision and believing in it and it's attainability.

Growing the Brain

Attended the course/talk below on what children's brains need to optimize learning.  

connected Rotorua meet

Friday evening meeting with people of Connected Rotorua.  Looking at ways of doing RTC on line. Discussed different ways of recording evidence. Also questioned ownership of material etc if leaving school if using on Blogger who owns it. Also security of pictures and videos  of children could be an issue.Shared my own RTC with the group.

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.

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.                                              

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.