E.R.O

So for the past few weeks we have been preparing for our Education Review Office visit this week.  All of our hard working Kaiako and Management team have been working even harder to ensure we showcase the amazing learning and teaching that happens here at James Street School everyday!

The thought of E.R.O visiting, without a doubt, causes stress - it's a given really however this visit was extremely positive.  This time round I had an added perspective of the process as a staff trustee on the B.O.T.

I was able to contribute my own korero and knowledge of our kura at the BOT meeting with the ERO team.  This was a great start to the review week.  As a trustee I was able to confidently answer and elaborate upon the questions and queries presented to us.  It was only an hour long meeting but we could have gone on and on about our school.  I believe that our Board communicate and collaborate effectively to meet the learning needs of all our tamariki.

At the staff meeting with the ERO review team we were able to confidently and quickly provide our thoughts and knowledge regarding the five main questions that were on their agenda.  Our staff are amazing!  We work extremely well together with professionalism, humour and manaakitanga at the heart of our collegial relationships.

As an experienced teacher having an ERO reviewer observing in class still provides some nerves but it also provides another set of eyes and ears to see and hear the learning that is happening in my class for my learners.  This time round the reviewer was accompanied by a member of the Senior Management Team.  This is a new initiative.  I was lucky to have Roz Dakin (Senior Syndicate leader and Deputy Principal) come in to 'showcase' my learners, their learning and my teaching.  As Roz releases me every second Friday while I teach Waiata and Kapa haka she has her own knowledge of our class to enable her to speak to all the learning.  Michelle Andrews was our reviewer.

While I taught my A.L.L group Roz and Michelle read through my planning and supporting documents.  The reviewers had requested that they be able to speak with a few children to discuss their learning - both in their written books, online with their Google Drive & Classroom work as well as their e-Portfolios.  I chose Rosemary and Ashlee to take on this task and they both were outstanding.  Michelle was very impressed with them.  They were 'overflowing' with all their korero about their learning!

Michelle later approached me to convey that she felt it was a privilege to be able to visit in my class. This was a lovely compliment especially because it came from an ERO reviewer!  She spoke highly of our use of e-learning and the level of knowledge and skills the children have achieved in such a short timeframe.  She had thought that we had been using Chromebooks/e-learning all year long and was amazed when I told her it had only been five weeks since we began with 1:1 Chromebooks.  This positive feedback is so pleasing to receive.  It definitely helped to 'fill my bucket' and the girls buckets' too.  I am very proud of my tamariki!  All the effort feels like it 'pays off' when it is recognised at this level.

Come Thursday lunchtime the BOT met with the ERO review team to hear the main points of their initial draft report.  I was looking forward to this meeting most of all as I would be hearing it straight from the reviewers.  Needless to say our overall report was very positive and as one of the reviewers said ... we should be very, very proud!

So in conclusion ... this week began with a degree of stress which turned in to pride, joy, happiness and of course relief that the week was over.

Google Classroom!

Google Classroom - I'm loving it ... now!


So my initial thoughts of Google Classroom were not very good.  But now that I have inquired into the use of G.C, and have TUTU-ED with it, I am loving it!  The terminology is obviously America e.g. assignment, turn in etc. but the purpose/application of it is universal.  I have read that G.C is more applicable to secondary school level but once you start using it and think outside the box, it is easy to use it to differentiate the learning in your classroom.

I started off with simple whole class assignments but as I figured out the possibilities I now have several 'classes'/groups set up.  These include classes for each of my writing and reading groups. Whole class assignments for Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga, Kaupapa Mahi, Key Competencies - Managing Self, Spelling, Cybersafety and Homework.

This has honestly been a break through.  Having the ability to set tasks, attach resources, monitor, view and keep track of the children's learning has been fantastic!  The tamariki are just so quick to pick it up.  Their understanding of how it all fits together is amazing - needless to say the majority 'just know what to do'.  The level of independence and knowledge seemed to double with each assignment they worked on.  I have several tamariki who now lead and tutor others including other teachers.

Google Classroom is incredibly empowering for all tamariki!  They know where and how to access their learning.  They know what they are learning and why. They are engaged and motivated!

As with all learning journeys, there are many paths to travel down with Google Classroom.  I've opened the door of the classroom a little wider and now the tamariki are pushing it open even more than I first expected!!!

Reciprocal Teaching

RECIPROCAL TEACHING with Julia Westera

Today we attended a day long workshop about Reciprocal Teaching which was led by Julia Westera at Edgecumbe Primary School.  We spent the day listening and learning about what is Reciprocal Teaching.  We discussed the evidence based success of this strategy which focuses on reading comprehension using four main strategies ... Predicting, Clarifying, Questioning and Summarising.  We learnt about the structure of the approach and how it is currently working in other school.  It seems that the benefits to student learning within reading initially and then throughout the curriculum is huge and quite exciting.

We were all given a Teacher Manual which we worked through discussing different aspects of the approach.  We watched three videos of a group of students using the approach.  We had a go at using the approach within groups of three.  Reciprocal Teaching empowers students in a variety of ways.  One key aspect is that each child takes on the role of the teacher and leads the group using the RT Tokotoko - 'talking stick'.  This tokotoko clearly outlines the structure of the lesson with prompts for the teacher to follow.  There were also a variety of management techniques included to enable all students to participate effectively in the learning.  These included thumbs up to answer a question or to talk, expectations for participating re-no put downs, no interrupting etc as well as seating arrangements.

My class and one other senior class are going to be the pilot classes for this approach. I will be splitting my class into four reading groups.  Each group will have one half hour lesson per day.  In order to achieve this Robyn Harawira who is our RTLB will teach two groups and I will teach two groups.  We will also have Lynn Wyllie in class at this time to assist with the other children who will be working through the Reading Taskboard while they wait for their time with the Kaiako.

For the next three weeks I will be teaching the four strategies to my whole class using the manual we were given today.  Once all tamariki have been taught these strategies we will begin a 5week intensive teaching of Reciprocal Teaching beginning day one of term 2!

This is very exciting stuff and I can't wait to get started.  I look forward to seeing the learning gains of all my tamariki especially those who are at risk.  I also look forward to this approach transferring into my whole class programme, to developing thinking across the curriculum.

Very exciting stuff!

Appraisal Time

So this morning I had my Appraisal meeting with Norah.  The focus of the appraisal was using assessment data to inform teaching.  The appraisal went very well.  It was a pleasure to be able to discuss the learning of my students and the teaching that I have done which has made a difference to the achievement levels of the tamariki in my class.

Both Norah and I agree that I've had another good year.  I am proud of the small learning steps and giant learning steps that most of my tamariki have made.  Precise, timely, relevant and informed Teaching as Inquiry, At Risk, STAR data, ALL, implementing GGL effectively and all daily planning, teaching and assessment have meant that my tamariki have received quality teaching. 

Some areas for development over the next year are building my leadership capabilities-PD in leadership, taking on more roles/responsibilities within the school which contribute to my own professional development and career pathway as well as continuing to contribute to our school community.

Another year (almost) over, plenty more to come!

Teacher Appraisal using Blogger - Teacher Only Day

Woo hoo!!!! My brains have expanded and shriveled and then exploded!

This has been such an exciting day filled with learning.  I've enjoyed the challenge of using Blogger.  Setting up and putting everything into place in order to have a 'living space' to share my teaching and learning as a Professional Teacher in New Zealand!

So I am excited about the possibilities that I now have to take what I have learnt to-day and blog about it everyday/week.

So often we are busy teaching and preparing for teaching that we don't have time to use pen and paper to write what we have done and who really wants to or can be bothered.  We discuss within our staff meetings and syndicate meetings but often it is not formally recorded.  Blogger provides a format for recording but more importantly on-the-spot self reflection of professional practice.

Aue!  Kei te harikoa ahau!  The tutu inside me just wants to TUTU!!!!!

Here is a link to our James Street School Reflection page from today's workshop.

Welcome to my Blog

Well this is the beginning of my Teaching Portfolio.  It will be a record of my teaching and professional development here on in.  Such fun!!!