Teaching as Inquiry (Maths)

Main question: "How can I accelerate the progress of my focus group of students to where they should be in relation to the National standards?"  Using some initial data and knowledge of my students, I was able to identify (target) students.

My Focusing Inquiry questions were:

• What assessment information do I have?
• What are my students' strengths?
• What are my students' learning needs?

My Inquiry: "How can I support these students to show and explain their thinking?"

My Teaching Inquiry questions were:

• What instructional strategies will I use to help students achieve?
• What resources will I need?
• How will I differentiate to meet student needs?
• How will I encourage student ownership of their learning?
• What personal learning do I need to undertake? (Research/Readings/Support from others/Professional Development/Observations/videos)

Actions:

• Encourage student recording: Whiteboard, Student books, iPad - voice/ video, Student blogs
• Relevant problems: student interest, addition and subtraction
• Using materials
• Providing challenge: students think of problems
• Learning buddy work: explain what buddy said
• Questioning: provide thinking time

My Learning Inquiry will look at:

• What impact has my teaching had on my students?
• How do I know, what is the evidence? (Assessment/Student feedback - feed forward/Observations)
• What do I need to do next?
• What changes could I implement?

Reflection: (To be elaborated on in due course)

See outcome in 'End of year  reflection (2014)'

~ "Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best"
 - Bob Talbert  ~

Culture - Delving beyond the tip of the iceberg via #GlobalClassroom

Last night I participated in my first Global Classroom chat session, as I think culture plays a major role in the vision and values of New Zealand's unique identity.

My involvement in this chat session helped to clear some ideas about culture as well as reaffirmed my view on the importance of beliefs and values of a group of people.  I am convinced that if we treat others with dignity regarding different cultures, positive relationships will be build on trust.  Positive communication is the key.

Thanks to Sonya, who informed me about this chat, I had the privilege of learning more about this valuable topic from all the participants.

~ "No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive" - Mahatma Ghandi ~

Professional Learning Planning

I am privilege to be co-organiser of the Connected Rotorua Teachers and the yearly Educamp Rotorua. Therefore Annemarie and I spent our Waitangi day, planning this two professional learning opportunities for teachers and we are looking forward to collaborate with teachers who are interested in learning with Digital Technologies on a regular basis.

Resources:

The Connected Rotorua Presentation is a work in progress of topics to be discussed :



Educamp Rotorua Smackdown:


Thank you to everyone attending Educamp Rotorua and for all the contributions to the Smackdown.  I thoroughly enjoyed learning alongside everyone and am grateful for new connections made.


~ "We  are not 'just' teachers, we are the managers of the world's greatest resource: Children!" -                                                               Robert Johan Meehan ~

First Week Reflection

The new school term started on an optimistic note, and with a positive feel around school.  It seems as if this year is going to be remembered as an exciting one.

This first week had many new happenings for me.  I was not in class full time, like I use to be.  Instead I was working with great learners as part of my Reading Recovery training. I have already been learning a lot from the first two assessment meetings this week.

Then back to class it was, for some learning sessions with my lovely New Entrant/Year 1 learners.  

One 'challenge' I faced with going into class halfway during the day though, was to quickly settle my learners and myself.  Everyone wanted to talk to me as soon as I walked through the door.  I knew I couldn't expect my lively learners to be just 'ready' for the next learning session.  

So what did we do?  

We started off with having a short sharing time about how our day was going.  This helped everyone to settle down and everyone felt valued. It also gave me the opportunity to learn about my new learners and I was delighted to see the happy and excited faces!

Throughout the week we had also established our Learning Buddy system, which already is working a treat.

I am looking forward to all the learning opportunities with my class.

~ "The wonder of teaching is watching caterpillars become butterflies" - Unknown ~

A productive start

We kicked our Term off with two very meaningful and productive PD days which [this year] I thoroughly enjoyed!

PD #1: iPad in Education

This was a day to be in touch with learning.  We were reminded that all students in school is 21st Century kids.  Therefore, how will the iPad (21st Century device) transform learning for 21st Century learners?

Apps for the day were: Explain Everything, Puppet Pals, Book Creator, Brushes and Pic Collage.  We also explored  the ability of Explain Everything to use as rewindable learning.

We examined learning experiences within a digital content looking at the SAMR model.

The focus was on fun and we had wonderful and meaningful conversations.  This day definitely laid the foundation to the start of a wonderful journey for us, utilising our iPads in Education. 

Personal learning after session: SAMR model explained for teachers via Educational Technology & Mobile Learning.

PD #2:  SOLO - Our school framework

We worked collaboratively to create our school based concept curriculum with SOLO Taxonomy.  The excitement, laughter, creative thinking and teamwork among us were amazing. Everyone shared ideas and contributed to discussions.  The end result was a framework to be proud of.

Exciting times ahead now, moving towards Extended Abstract!

Personal learning after session:  Blog post by Craig Perry (geoperry) 

~ Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire - William Butler Yeats ~

Educating life long learners

This video makes some interesting points and shows just why it is vital to educate life-long learners.

My opinion:

It is my believe that students succeed in their learning in a supportive and caring environment, where they feel secure enough to learn, explore, challenge, test, discover and engage.  Building a good relationship with my learners also contribute towards building their confidence and skills to ensure their learning is successful, enjoyable, meaningful and lifelong.

My aim this year?

To motivate my learners to be active, engaged and connected learners for life, whilst getting them to use and apply the NZC Key Competencies and any other resources available to them.

How will I do this?

1.  Educate learners on how to make choices, how to think and learn

2.  Encourage learners to be critical thinkers and to use their ideas/thoughts to learn both independently and collaboratively

3.  Value each learner for what they do well

4.  Let learners know they matter

~ The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery - Mark Van Doren ~

Being happy, Being Brilliant

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading  'The Art of Being Brilliant' by Andy Cope & Andy Whittaker, a book that was filled with motivational quotes, humour and valuable questions about work and life.

Their advice is to have some direction, to set yourself a target by making use of HUGGs (Huge Unbelievable Great Goals).  This will enable you of reaching your targets, if you strive to attain them.

This book starts with the story of Jimmy's Diary.  A classic example of how people might see/experience things differently, but mainly, to make you realize what is actually important in life.

Some advice quoted from the book:

'Success' isn't about becoming a different person.  It's a matter  of finding out what really works for you, and doing more of it.

It's safe to say that positive thinking won't let you do 'anything'.  However, it is even safer to say that positive thinking will let you do 'everything' better than negative thinking will.  Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome.  It works this way.  You can walk into a dark room, flip on the switch and immediately the room is lighted.  Flipping the switch did not generate the electricity;  it released the electricity which had been stored.  Positive thinking works that way - it releases the abilities which you have.

The Art of Being Brilliant from Capstone Publishing

The six points the Andys recommended for brilliance in life:
1.  Choose to be positive.
2.  Understand your impact.
3.  Take personal responsibility.
4.  Have bouncebackability.
5.  Set Huge Goals.
6.  Play to your strengths.

Put this into practice to be a top 2%er - someone who is happy.

~ Discover your strengths, learn to make the most of what you've got, identify where you want to be, and take some concrete steps towards you brilliant future.  Just be yourself.  Brilliantly - #beingbrilliant ~