Boys Reading

Probe testing indicated that many boys were not achieving their chronological age when reading fiction texts. To create a culture of reading fiction amongst the boys in the class I followed some recommendations in the below reading. Strategies I incorporated were as follows 

• I used comics as a way to engage and motivate the boys to read regularly 
• I read regularly to the class in order to provide a male role model as a reader 
• I made connections through twitter to the author Andy Griffith.

Boys and Reading

Gifted and Talented/ESOL

The evaluation below identifies learning needs and strengths of individual students

Gifted and Talented/ESOL

Google Docs Collaboration

Below is some writing students completed independently but on a shared document. This way students were able to work whilst also being able to read what the others were writing. Sharing writing this way allows the students to see some quality examples, different vocabulary or interesting sentence starters that could help them in their own writing. This method of collaboration helps raise achievement.

Justice League Letters

GAFE Summit

As part of professional development I attended the GAFE summit. The below presentation was from a workshop I attended on visible and engaging in a digital learning environment. I implemented ideas from this workshop in my practise namely the use of blogger to engage an authentic audience for children's work and the use of the app explain everything.

Observation of Miss Mendelson

In my role as a mentor teacher to Lucie Mendelson I observed her teaching and offered feedback/suggestions.

Observation of Miss Mendelson

Observation - Maths

The following observation was with a target maths group.

Observation - Maths

Term Evaluations

The following term evaluations demonstrate how I use assessment information to inform my teaching practice

Term Evaluation #1

Term Evaluation #2

Coping with Stress

I implemented the health plan (below) focussing on promoting awareness about mental health. The children created comics to show their learnt strategies for coping with stress.

Health Plan

Powhiri

The students participated in a powhiri at school. The children studied the vocabulary and protocol of a powhiri. 

Powhiri

Social Media Safety

This letter was sent home to parents explaining the purpose of a classroom twitter account. The letter explains the practices used in order to keep the children safe. 

Twitter

I created a classroom Twitter account as a way for parents to access their children's work anywhere and at anytime. The twitter account also provides links to the class blog where parents are encouraged to leave comments. Using twitter has helped drive more traffic to the class blog. The reading below is evidence of 'systematically and critically engaging with evidence and professional literature to reflect on and refine my practice'.

"What teachers must do for parents is instigate student learning logs (in any format) and raise the incentives for parents to be involved in them. Documenting learning allows parents and teachers to recognise it and this raises learning’s status in the mind of the child. Parents need to be made aware that becoming participants in this recognition they will raise the achievement of their own children with only small but regular gestures and comments.   

The big benefit of digital is that many people in the life of a child can provide these small gestures of recognition from their phone anywhere and at anytime. Schools need to harness the power of having a child’s learning widely affirmed by their own community, including peers, and move beyond the reliance on just their teacher as learning provider".

Author: Richard Wells http://ipad4schools.org/

Below is the letter sent home to parents.

Matariki Festival

Following reading journal stories about Matariki (Maori new year) a reading group wrote to the principal about having our own Matariki celebration at school. The students researched Maori culture and held a Matariki festival. The festival featured different stations including traditional Maori games and crafts. Below is a video of the festival.

TIp Top Trip

As part of an experience out of the classroom (Visit to Tip Top Ice Cream Factory) I liaised with parents to organise transport and completed a RAMS form to ensure the children's safety on the trip.

Tip Top Rams Form

Stop Motion Animation

As part of my role on the IT team, I ran a workshop on using the Ipad app 'stop motion animation'. Learning to use the app allowed the teachers to use another ICT tool effectively in the classroom. Below is an example of what the teachers produced during the workshop.

Kelly Sport

The link below demonstrates how I undertake areas of responsibility effectively. I took on responsibility for organising a Rugby World Cup day at Halsey Drive with Kelly Sports. I liaised with Daniel from Kelly Sports and teachers to ensure the day ran smoothly.

Kelly Sport Rugby Day

BT Report

The BT report below highlights the positive relationships I have built with students and the supportive environment of the classroom. 

"You have developed an excellent rapport with your students and it is obvious that they adore having you as a teacher. You know them well and plan according to their interests and abilities". J.Palliser

  

BT Report Term 3

Nature of Science

Following professional development on teaching science and the Nature of Science. I completed the following reading on 'thinking about the nature of science'. The article highlighted the need for teachers to teach children how scientists work, how they investigate, how they share their ideas and make connections with the wider world. This method on teaching is in contrast to focusing mainly on knowledge. I implemented this idea through making connections on twitter to Science learning Hub who helped share our scientific findings with a global/authentic audience. Susan Heeps commented below.