Use inquiry, collaborative problem-solving and professional learning to improve the professional capability to impact on the learning and achievement of all leaners.
For our whole day course on the 6/4 we took our group along side with Matua Anaru whole day course to the great Taranaki Maunga. Taking the students to experience the maunga is an opportunity for students to indulge in the landscape right in their back yard. For a lot of the students they had never even attempted the journey.
Once we arrived Matua Anaru did a quick karakia to bless our long journey ahead. Three hours later we reached the lodge and got a view students could only dream of.
A few things that raised our concerns during this haerenga that students only had just learnt was that.
Students fitness were lacking and some struggled with the climb.
Students understanding of how Taranaki come to be.
That Taranaki is a Volcano.
Here is a few more snaps of the trip.
I learn’t to adapt to the students different fitness levels and adapt our pace accordingly.
To set different teachers in different places to keep students close to an adult.
Student Voice is a large part of understanding not only what our students like to learn also what knowledge they have previously obtained.
Here is a general overview of the student voice form for art for the students to complete to generalise what we should study during term 2.
From these questions we found that the results pointed towards Landscape for genre of art and then painting for the type of medium they wished to pursue.
At first I had Portraits detailed in as term twos inquiry for art and working with facial features etc. With principles of pencil and mixed media involved.
So with this information received from the student voice I based Terms twos activities accordingly to aid in the changes and wishes of the students learning.
Term 3 is a completely new story as our students decided if they wish to pursue art again for the next two terms or go over to wood work or vice versa. This in mind I throughly think the students enjoyed this terms activities as they feel as though they had a large portion of input to their learning.
Alenzo a key speaker from attitude New Zealand attend our school on Tuesday 12th June. Thanks to Anaru for organising such a wonderful speaker to come in and share his experiences and trying to make a difference in our students lives.
Attitude is dedicated to equipping teenagers with the information and skills they need to negotiate the adolescent years and build meaningful lives. The resources, based on credible research and linked to the health curriculum, give young people strategies for solving problems, handling stress, building resilience and negotiating relationships.
We choose the topics. In the morning from 9 – 10 we had our year 9 – 10s with the guest speaker who spoke about the awkward sexual encounters they may have to over come or maybe going through at the moment. From 10 – 11 we had our seniors students with Alenzo, who spoke to them about resilience and how to overcome some obstacles they may face. A key factor within this hour was focused on four main things,
The four great choices to making a better life. One was to “find your strengths” – Find what your good at, whatever that maybe. Secondly was to “find Meaning” – find a reason and meaning to live, to experience life, to make life worth while. Thirdly was to “find your passion” – find what makes you happy and something that your passionate about doing. Something where materials and peoples opinions don’t matter. Lastly there was “find a cause” – where he expresses to find a cause to your passion a reason.
Follow them on insta – @attitudenz
How will this develop my students learning?
Having Alenzo come to speak to the students will hopefully bring some engagement and some focus to them on what they can do to make their lives better. Also will help students make better choices with their learning and opportunities here at Patea Area School.
Here is a clear pester observation from term one. I reflected highly on this as it was a difficult lesson. Not only were we a few weeks in the school term students were still in Holiday mode and it showed.
From here I decided to go back to some class room structure and adapt lessons accordingly. From Karakia and clear expectations of learning intentions of this period through the coming weeks.
“Some students engaged in off-task activities”. These were the students I wanted to focus on so what I did was
A. identifying students working on off-task activities.
B. Move students to a more practical workspace.
C. Ask questions to find out what they didn’t understand.
Katrina Fraser hit us with next terms inquiry which revolves around culture.
“Culture is the widening of the mind and spirit.”
With this in the background of our mind we were all asked to participate in an activity which we get to express our futures, beliefs and messages we were bought up. The importance of this activity was to share with each other and understand how many cultures we have in the room with us today.
A key message from this was that culture go’s deep for each and everyone of us. To understand our own culture is a key to expressing this to the children.
Food , Fashion, Music, Dance, Visual Art, Drama, Sport, Countries, science & technology, geography , literature, and rituals are just apart of some ideas for our children interest.
These were some ideas surrounding the presentation process of next terms inquiry.
Personally I haven’t decided on which culture I wish to present as taster for next term, I’m drawn between expressing dance maybe like break dancing culture to stomping etc to express the difference of understanding of culture. What to do? what to do? With excitement fulfilling my body no doubt the right presentation of culture will come to me all in good time.
Can’t wait to see the outcome of this inquiry bring on term 2!
Second day back into 2018 and we get the ball rolling with a visit to Ngaati Ruanui.
After our mihimihi we were straight into mahi with Whaea Debbie Ngarewa with the process of Design Thinking.
The process of design thinking incorporates the same strategies as our inquiry process but have different terminology. For the short video of design thinking we have Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and finally test.
We’re faced with a problem to work through it using this method of thinking. The opportunity we have is to create something to ‘keep young minds motivated and happy.’ Has to be able to work instantly, Be anything you want, Created from whatever you want. “Don’t let what is present be the only possibility for your design.”
Group 1 – Ngaraina, Melody, Kate, Katrina Fraser, Jenine, and Joy.
2me was their creation. It was a white tattoo you can get which picks up on your neuro system to detect how your feeling. It works hand in hand with two devices which can call loved ones or work with something that will lift your mood.
Group 2 – Me, Nicola, KittyKat, Ravena, Daz, and Hannah.
Our group’s product uses the concept of a mood ring but with different types of objects. So not only limited to rings but have bracelets, watches, and necklaces. These objects can be connected with an App. The app is already built into your smart device so it is very discrete and hidden within other apps. It can open anything from videos, music to quotes.
For children however who may not have devices, we thought of having toys that speak or a taonga that can pick up on your attitude and send signals to parents or teachers to pick up on their distress.
Group 3 – Anaru, Jason, Wayne, Mark.
The men’s men. Their creation was a blue dot that is placed on your face which can make you more likable, more intelligent and more confident. “Makes me like Eru.”
Group 4 – Bruce, Nicki, Anil, Hirangi, and Fiona.
Their group made cool objects like mood rings but they had made mood nails. Multi sex so for men they had toenails available. The nails actually work well with anyone to give them the necessity to carry on in their day for however, they felt. So for example by rubbing the mood ring on your index finger it boosts your energy level.
This exercise has been extremely mind-opening in the terms of design thinking and the different possibilities available just by working together. Thanks, Debbie.
Reflect in order to detect my strengths and weaknesses. Only one way to know is to look back and evolve.
Lesson regularly link back to prior learning:
By performing do now task that relates to previous lessons I feel that this is more than a productive way to achieving this part of the criteria. For example, in lesson one, we did multiply two digits by two digit numbers. By having to do now’s which link to these types of equations is an example of how we are linking to prior learning. I feel as though the students work greater with do now’s or warm up activities which they already have experience doing as well may be due to a vote of confidence within them knowing they have been able to complete such equations before.
Supports students to implement their personal goals
Supporting student’s goals in class is a personal goal of mine. Showing students that achieving the goals they set is a hard task at hand. Some have decided on goals, which are set more or less outside the classroom. Students have provided goals such as making sports teams and becoming fitter for their personal goals. Implementing their sportsmanship throughout their daily activities. So some are to get fitter so when we swear or students go off task and miss-behave we draw towards press-ups, sit ups, star jumps as a consequence. I have had a few moments where 5 minutes have passed and I’m constantly reminding them of their behavior.
Differentiation in classrooms
Offering differentiation in class in the most difficult to grab a hold of. Ways in which I’ve approached this is offering students the opportunity to apply what curriculum area they wish to study in at any given period in the day. I am challenged however with reading workshops and writing workshops as students are pulled from their social studies hat or numeracy hat to come and do literacy hats. Vice versa with multiple other curriculum areas. So I’m still thinking of the most productive way to come about this.
How well do you know those students in front of you?
Are they really only numbers in our class?
By understanding them we can gain an insight into how to teach them. This year we took a brief description of our classes. This helped my teaching on so many different levels. It made me understand these kids, understand their habits, their reasons behind their behavior. Some children don’t come to school because of home situations, some students only come to be safe, to be feed. We as teachers need to take our time out of our days and step into these students shoes.
We got to know these students special interest, for example, We have “Student A” who is our class clown. Along with this, however, he loves sports, he’s into his rugby league and even plays for the Hawera Hawks not only that however, we have his work-output which is extremely well when he works independently. This student has a family of five siblings. To preserve and show up to school every day is a hard task but something I wouldn’t have been able to imagine if I never got to know this student.
Then we have another student who from the outside looks gentle and harmless. Who is a quiet worker but is never on task. To unpack this student I figured out they actually liked drawing and was extremely good at it. This student comes from a family of six and still growing. Understanding his likes and dislike helped us to develop and excel in our education.
Check out the link for a quick geeze on my student description. Don’t worry no names were used in this doc 🙂
The evolution of diamonds! At the beginning of the year reflecting on what I needed to do to develop my teaching was a concern around my environment. Beforehand, my walls were blank, tables square and atmosphere dull.
In order to make the room more appealing, we called our hero decorator Kat with her minions Mercedes, Samara, Kelsi and Anna-rose to help my room shine like a.💎
They did an awesome job including the Inquiry wall, location wall, motivation wall and a piece of the school “Growing good people for a growing world”.
Here is a quick pester we use here at Patea Area School as a way of observation for staff to reflect and strive to be a greater teacher.
Through my observation from Raveena it gave me a lot to work on. Only being my first year teaching I’m open to any strategies and help I can receive.
Here we can see some positives from the engagement of students by comments such as “Active Engagement” which shows me the willingness of the students to work with me. Also, the teaching side using google classroom for dividing fraction videos to help these students who aren’t getting my strategies from the whiteboard.
Things that definitely need to be worked on in some form is my Environment. Comments such as “Need some more display” and “Busy classroom” imply that these are concerns I need to focus my future lessons on.
Future steps, Get more displays and brighten up the classroom with resources that are easy and visual for the students. Also to control the busyness and transition between classes through Karakia or other means that I may learn along the ways.
Chinese Day in the big smoke. This year we’ve been lucky enough to have Xiwun Whu who is a Chinese teacher directly from China. She has been learning our culture and practices and had organized a day where we could learn about her culture and her origins.
We started with a traditional Powhiri where I was lucky enough to speak on our visitors’ side. We not only had Xiwun participating in teaching for this day but also all the Chinese teachers from around Taranaki to Whanaganui.
I was with the mask painting teacher. She had put in a lot of effort from her presentation to her mask creation where she had an outline on every mask before the students were even in the class. Different colors mean different types of characteristics which students can express themselves through their mask.
We also had some cool kung-fu fighting, dumplings to even paper cutting workshops.
“If they can’t see the world, let’s bring the world to them” – Unknown
Begining of the year we were notified of a really cool whakangaahau competition known as Ngaa Kaahui Whetu. It is an annual event that Patea Area School has never been involved in. This year 2017 was the year of triumph for us. We set aside the date, time and practices in preparation for this. It involves Taranaki secondary schools but is actually only a fun event for teachers and staff of the school to be apart in. You can have as many items as you want as there was actually only one compulsory item which was our action song.
Nicola said, “Although this isn’t a competition, it’s a competition”. With this drenched in the back of our mind, we put in some serious Mahi after school, before school and even during our lunch breaks. It was a hard-fought performance by all our staff and we look forward to being apart of it again next year.
We performed at Spotswood college in New Plymouth. This was Whaea Nicolas and Matua Wayne’s old stomping grounds so an A class performance was a must. Check it out to see if we performed to that standard.
On Friday the 1st of December. The first official day of summer was an amazing day here on the west coast! The sun was shining and the festivities were growling. We had Tag Oil Tough kids in New Plymouth.
This event included years 5-8! It was an amazing event and we took some our toughest kids and man did they prove their strengths. The likes of Caesar year 6 dominated his heat and then we have Dejhana with her long legs stretching out in front! All though there were no winners the kids enjoyed them self and worked hard to complete the course.
This event was held for all schools in Taranaki district. So we saw close to 1200 kids at this event. A really cool group known as RRT ( Rapid Response Team) Was there in force making burgers and sausage sizzles for everyone there! They provided 1000s of people with free delicious food! They are a team of Breatharians from a New Plymouth church.
Unfortunately, however, we weren’t prepared for the volunteers and teachers race which is held after the final event. We will definitely be back next year to participate in this. Our school and students showed great sportsmanship, leadership and showcased our school values throughout the day! All in all what an experience.
On the 29th of November, we were lucky enough to be visited by…
Tapawera School
This is Jeff, he was their first speaker who
is the Senior Leader for their senior side.
Like our PRIDE we use here they used FIRE.
F – Friendship
I – Integrity
R – Respect
E – Effort
Along with their new scheme, they created merchandise as seen here, wristbands, beanies, water bottles to even vouchers.
This comes from their movements to becoming a PB4L school who they greatly seem to be appreciating.
‘The Edge” a way in which Tapawera school collects data.
Their community involvement is tremendous! They have fire cards “reward cards” everywhere I’m talking shops, buses fields where children can be seen for their good behavior everywhere and be rewarded for it. They use these reward cards for merchandise as said before or even to donate to charities of their choosing!
The way they even start their days are amazing! 👍 They have meetings every day etc raising student voices. On Monday’s it’s full school where students have to get up and share their experiences from the weekend in terms of sport. These kids are ranged from 5 years old to the seniors! They’ll have year meetings following the Monday morning all year 6, year 11 etc and let them discuss their issues.
They offer those great opportunities like here at Patea but maybe drive it a little more from the sounds of it? Like for example, their students will come to their leader staff to present other avenues for these children. Like courses that cross from hairdressing, beauty, trades to farming and gateway programs. Like how we run our gateway etc.
On a Thursday afternoon, they run a none credit afternoon which allows them the opportunity to do a sort of whole day afternoon. For example, they’ll have the home ec room open, the art room or even go mountain biking etc.
one student even had bought his mother’s dining room table in to fix.
A really cool thing they talk about is School camp for everyone ! Years 1 all the way to Year 13 and have their own camps! This is an excellent idea!
Outdoor education for senior students! Learning life skills as an option.
Tataiako is a leading document in New Zealand’s educational system. We have grown as a nation and are continuing to grow in the rate of success we find within our Maaori students and societies in schools today. The competencies through Tataiako are not only used for everyday learning but also through growing stronger communities. From Waananga – Participating with learners and communities to Ako – Taking responsibility for their own learning that of Maaori learning. These are only two of the six competencies represented in this document.
Whanaungatanga – Is what I believe is one of my strengths in teaching and as a character. Whanangatanga speaks of how culture, identity and language impacts on relationships. This creates outcomes where I’m visible in the local community strongly through sport. Where I create an environment, other teachers, whanau and the community feel welcome not only to school but also to my class.
The education council has reviewed the practicing teaching criteria and have made a change from setting the criteria to six from twelve.
He followed through with an awesome clip he created through iMovie. Was a cool short film 👍
*The exponential growth of technology.
An Artifical lawyer named ‘Ross’ who can read large and extraordinary amounts of text within ten minutes. This robot so per say is now a hired hand at a law firm.
Along these lines, we have a car company that uses 20% less of there staff as they’ve been replaced by robotics.
There is also an artificial robot doctor that can do surgery on its own and complete something that’ll take a normal surgeon two weeks to do within one day.
Following this, we were asked to partake in a small activity. We’re asked to collaborate in small groups to discuss what we do well at this school around being culturally responsive?
What is culturally responsive ? Hirangi raised a very warming korero for this, to be responsive to the culture around us, weather it be Maori, Samoan or chinese.
With this, we were given the percentage of how many Maoris we have in our school.
We are 78% of Maori, but yet how many Maori students do we have actually understood their cultural identity? Only about 14 students were asked three questions,
1.Are you Maori?
2.Where are you from?
3.Can you confidently express your Mihi?
Out of the about 14 asked, only 3 understood how to portray their mihi. It was an overwhelming experience to see the effects of this lost identity.
Firstly we have the lovely Katrina Fraser with her slick new hair cut! 👀👍 Kats guiding us through some blogging techniques to advance us through our performance appraisals.
She helped us through understanding the different types of categories that are available to you using WordPress. The easiest way for us to do this is to create different categories based on each standard that we are aiming towards.
Quick steps are to tap on the categories slide and click the add new categories.
Second is simply to type what the categories will be about e.g PTC 1: etc it was as simple as that but has proven to become quite challenging.
There’s also a thing called Tags which we can use on WordPress which helps categories and tag single post to collaborate with others.
Secondly this afternoon Mr. Wright followed up
Mr. Wright opened up with confidence surrounding the three principles that ULearn focused on. Following the three key focuses, we all interacted in an activity which surrounded our schools’ strategic plan.
He had a very amusing joke during the time we took to do the act which was ” what’s big and red and eats rocks? A big red rock eater 😂🤦🏼♂️😅
He aroused us with a few videos one which was did you know in 2028? Which really woke us up to the fact the A. 50% of jobs will be replaced by artificial intelligence B. Will we still be educating the students in the same way?
The second video was a delightful scene from Jarhead which had awoken the teacher within. It was a short scene that shows us that the easiest way isn’t always the best. Which is something that teachers and students may fall into these ways?
Self-reflection sheet and our schools’ strategies which were pages we received by Jason to work with.
Overall was a great afternoon of learning and developing our own performances due to these two wonderful souls.
By Michael
Who is this lad? He is a extremely talented educator who has had the experience of teaching through primary, secondary, tertiary and also Adult learners.
He also does game design. Bike that makes the plane fly with handle bars with sensors on it.
Include
Young enterprise
Apprenticeships
Reactions – crime scene investigation (could even be foot prints)
Recreating famous disaster (scale models titanic)
Peer review science/ math fair.
Alpha particles, and even radiation.
Build a robot that travels around the school. Through sensors it replays back what you sent it out to do.
Mahaki Akauola 