TOD DAY 2 - Functional Behaviour Analysis

TOD 2 - 2015 - Here are my notes from this mornings PD with RTLB Robyn Harawira re:Functional Behaviour Analysis

Background info - Teaching is a journey, Wairua and Skinbag, What you focus on grows!  Your class is a reflection of you! :) Mirror of you!

Alison Kearney - Motivation - google

M=SE x V SE - Self Efficacy (Can I do it? Do I think I can do it?) x Value             Motivation = Self Efficacy x Value - What’s the purpose?  What is the reason for this?

When behaviours arise check the motivation?  Are they misbehaving because they can’t do it or they won’t?  Cannot?  Will not?

How you speak - deliver instructions - focus on positivity - feed self efficacy ... "You can do this …"   "I know you can do it …"   instill belief

Focus on what you can do not what you can’t do.

The presenting problem is seldom the real problem. - Do not make terrible assumptions!

Measure the behaviour - need to know exactly what the behaviour is in objective terms.  Your loud may not be the same as what someone else considers loud.  What is naughty??

Appropriate a.t.p.i.t (at this point in time)

Use A B C when considering behaviours - What was the behaviour? What happened immediately before the behaviour. What was the motivation? Avoidance? Attention?

I found this mornings PD very relevant and in parts a timely reminder of how to approach and deal with inappropriate behaviours in the class. It requires self reflection - is this behaviour brought about because of the choices I have made regarding classroom management, difficulty of the work? When planning lessons I must ensure that I am catering for the learning needs and styles of all children. In order to do this I must know who my children are as learners. This comes down to establishing open relationships with my tamariki and their whanau. The first few weeks of this first term must be taught with this thinking in mind. Know your learners, who they are, what they bring to school with them each day, what motivates them, how they prefer to learn. Aue exciting stuff that will make Ti Kouka a great place to learn and minimise inappropriate behaviours in order for each child to achieve learning success!

TOD 2015 - Staff Health

This morning we had a two and a half hour workshop with Life Coach Denise Simons from Relate Coaching, www.relatecoaching.co.nz.

This workshop was brought about in recognition of the need to provide our staff with strategies to cope with stress.

We began by listing the positive and negative aspects of 2014.  We then listed what we predict will be the positive and negative aspects of 2015.   By doing this we were able to voice our stresses and then wipe them clean.

We also learnt how to how we are both 'Wairua and Skin Bag'.  Often we let the skin bag side of ourselves take over.  We leart a simple technique of using your hand as a reminder to change that voice inside your head to wairua when the skin bag side (stress) gets too loud.

We then went through a process called Getting Complete.  This involved acknowledging how you react when your back is up against the wall.  Do you get resentful or upset?  From here we worked through listed things that we were resentful about or regretted.  Then we listed our requests and finished off by acknowledging the process in order to be complete and move on from the things that we regret/resent.

After this we learnt how to be Committed Listeners.  This technique is used to scaffold the 'getting complete' strategy.  You need to find a buddy who will listen to you and commit to being available and keep your discussions confidential.  We learnt the process and the rules for being a Buddy.  We then practiced with a Buddy.  This technique allows the speaker to speak and be heard by their buddy and themselves.  It acknowledges the need for the speaker to realise that they have been heard and therefore are able to move forward with an action to resolve the issue discussed or to clear the slate because your aired your issue.

Overall it was a good morning.  Basic message is, acknowledge positive and negative stresses.  Use the strategies to minimise and move on from stress.  Remember your Wairua side and don't allow your skin bag to dominate.  Maintain your integrity with yourself otherwise you will not be able to maintain integrity with others or with what you are passionate about.  Seek support - make regular 'appointments' to meet with your Buddy.  List your regrets/resentments and work through the getting complete process in order to move on and leave the stress behind.

Ahhhhh, my Wairua is speaking to me now and it wants to sing and dance to music.  So chow!

Back into 2015!

Well the 2015 school year has begun. Had our first Senior Syndicate meeting today. Was great to see everyone again. Roz lead our meeting which consisted of revisiting expectations for teaching. This year Roz has given us each a folder which contains relevant but important information about J.S.S and what we believe, think, do and expect in regards to teaching and learning. It will be added to throughout the year but it is our 'go to' folder. We also discussed up coming events and lastly collaboratively planned our Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga unit for term one. It was a good way to wake our brains up and get them thinking again after having a rest during the holidays. A great start to the year!

2014 is finished!

So school has finished for another year.  It has been a rewarding but challenging year at times.

There were some highs, lows and also a devastating tragedy with the death of one of my students mid year. At times the workload seemed impossible but with support from within our syndicate and senior management we made it through.

I've loved my class this year.  They have been great learners, challenging me and themselves daily to achieve and learn as much as they could.  Today we said our good-byes.  There were a few tears from my year six girls a few whom i have had in my class for three years.  They are lovely girls and boys and I will miss them all very much next year.  There were also lots of hugs too which is very special.

This holiday break it definitely well deserved and essential to maintain good health and my mental capability!

I look forward to resting and recharging ready for 2015.

Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga at James Street School

So today I met again with our Principal Norah Schreiber.

As Lead Teacher for Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga it is my responsibility to lead the Te Reo Maori Committee in order to meet our Charter goals and policies.  In 2011 Norah and I co-contructed our school's Maori Achievement Strategy, our Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga Implementation Plan and our Two-yearly Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga Foci Plan.

The aim of our meeting to-day was to reflect and revise these documents now that we are three years on since their implementation.

We have therefore made some additions to the M.A.S and I.P to include greater emphasis on Student Leadership, Well-being, Engagement and Hauora as well as fostering productive partnerships with students, whanau, teachers, school and community.

So we are all set now to continue teaching Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga in 2015 with our updated documents which will be added to each teacher's resource Kete for future reference.

It was a productive, engaging and exciting meeting in regards to the future of Te Reo Maori me ona Tikanga at James Street School.

Year 6 Leaver's Evening

Tonight we farewelled  our Year 6 tamariki who head off to Intermediate next year. A lovely bunch of gorgeous tamariki all but two who spent all their primary years at James Street!

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!