Registered Teacher Criteria, What does good evidence look like?

This was a really informing workshop around RTC and what is the best evidence when looking at RTC. After this workshop I feel like I have a more in depth understanding of the criteria. I can also see how this links in with the appraisal process. We also looked at Tataiako: The Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Maori Learners. I did not know much about this resource, yet it lines up nicely against the RTC and provides an easy to follow framework to support and guide the professional development of teachers.
We have established a PLG group and we will be meeting in 6 weeks time ( Next term).
My evidence should be quality evidence and not just a bunch of posts showing what I do ( Quality over quantity). It needs to show my reflections, what went well, what didn't. My posts need to also look through different lenses, mine, the students, other teachers and those in management/ appraisers.

To ensure I am doing a good job of this I am going to add another tab to my blog with the reflective questions that I need to ask myself. These have come directly from the Teachers Council Website.

Reciprocal Reading

I have been enjoying using the reciprocal reading techniques in my guided reading sessions. I have had some positive comments from parents saying that their child has really enjoyed the reading group sessions.
I found and printed off some cue cards online and then laminated them.
It was a little bit confusing to use at the beginning, but I have watched a few clips/ tutorials online and this has clarified some of my issues.
I am really enjoying my guided reading sessions and am feeling that I am sending children off after the reading with a deep understanding of what they have just read.

Tapa Artwork

Link to Tapa Art

AT the beginningof the term for Globalisation we looked at Tapa Cloths of the Pacific Islands and learn the process of making the cloth. The children then created some artwork.

Whanau Hui with other Cultural Communities.

An invite was made up (copy of invitation) to invite all parents from other cultural communities to find out what the Whanau Hui do as a group to help the school. It was an amazing turn out and I am sure that everyone met someone new. There was a lovely mix of ethnic foods too. All feedback about this has been positive.
I then had a fono (meeting) with the Pasifika parents that turned up and informed them about " Reading Together" workshop that will be coming up soon. They are very keen to take part and stated that evenings were the best time for them to have these workshops.

Reading Together

Reading Together
I met with Jenny Chapman, a teacher from Horohoro primary, who has run the " Reading Together" workshops successfully at her school. She ran through the manual with me, which really isn't that intimidating once you get past the research part. I really like the way that each workshop has been scripted, as well as how much and what you will need for preparation before you start your workshops.
I am planning to attend one of her workshops being held in the Rotorua library in Week 6.

Link to Created Resources for Workshop

Maori Language Week

 We have been learning the maori alphabet and appropriate greetings when we say the roll.

Pam Hook on teacher Only Day

It was good to be reminded about how great SOLO is in the classroom. I must admit that I haven't been using it at all in the class, mostly because of the implementation of GAFE. The use of the maps and how we can use it effectively in our concept planning has been enlightening.

E Asttle Writing and At risk Register

I am concerned with my At risk children's results on their E Asttle writing. Going through the At Risk register and seeing their previous results has made me wonder whether I have been making a difference in their written language. The results have informed my teaching and I plan to include their next steps into my planning. Parent Interviews will be coming up soon. I'm sure some support from home will make a difference.

On a positive note, I am very impressed with the progress in reading that my At Risk children are making. I am going to trial out Reciprocal Reading with some of my reading groups.

Carrying the Tapa

Had a few days in Wellington to learn about how we can lift the achievement levels of our Pasifika students. This course was a real eye opener for me and has provided some amazing knowledge and practices that I would like to implement into my class and our school.
I am really inspired to learn more and to share my knowledge with colleagues.
I am considering looking into " Reading Together" reading workshop for parents. There were a lot of great reviews from Principals and ERO representatives.

Carrying the Tapa RTC goals and indicators

Course notes

Tarawera and Whakarewarewa Trip

What a great experience for the children learning about the geothermal activity in our city and seeing the remains of Mt Tarawera Eruption. It was a bit scary knowing that we were going out of school and being accountable for 60 children. I think our team were well prepared and the children had a great time.
The children really enjoyed taking part on the concert at Whakarewarewa.
See link for trip photos

Student Led Conferences

I have really enjoyed watching and hearing the children discuss their learning with their parents. Although it was quite a long couple of days I don't feel exhausted, Perhaps it is because I am not the one leading the discussions.
Link to resources  in google drive

Created with Padlet

Pentecost Mass with St Michaels and JPC

What a lovely day celebrating Pentecost with the 2 other Catholic Schools in our Community.
I was very proud of my PI group of children who danced beautifully. It was also great to meet other teachers and students from those schools. Wouldn't it be amazing to do Teacher Swaps, where we can go to other workplaces/ classrooms for a certain time period, I would love to see what is is like how other schools operate.

Catholic Character Review

I had my observation today and I am very pleased with the outcome. The children in my class were engaged with the lesson and the feedback I was given was wonderful.
The challenges that I am finding in my RE programme the level of the strands being taught. This is my first year teaching the Year 4 programme and I have found it to be very abstract and in some ways unclear  and difficult to understand for some of my younger Year 3 children.
Next steps: It is ok to stay on 1 lesson over 2 days, focus on importance of prayer in the classroom.

Children working collaboratively on one document.

I trialled out getting children to work in buddies on one document. They had to work together to find different parts of a story and use the highlight or text colour tool in the doc to help them. They were very enthusiastic about the task and I had children asking to do more. Only problem was the children who get withdrawn from the class ( guitar lessons, enrichment programmes) they miss out or come in half way during the task. From this task I found out what children need to more teaching on about eg similes and adjectives. Link for working collaboratively.

Teaching Inquiry

Goal: 

By the end of 2014, I am successfully inquiring into my practice with using GAFE and how it impacts and supports my children with their learning.

Evidence:

Observation of other teachers/ students, asking for feedback, reflections, PLG minutes

Professional Development notes. Professional learning Blog

What progress have you made so far?

-Getting familiar with some google apps: drive, docs, spreadsheets, presentations, draw.

-My weekly planning, since the start of the year is all in my drive ( spreadsheets). Knew nothing about google drive until the beginning of the year.

Term 2 Reading and math’s Planning has been linked onto my Weekly Plan also.

- Becoming familiar with Hapara Dashboard and sharing files with the class or certain groups.

-Have set up a Professional Learning blog (PLB) with evidence of learning. 

-Attended all PLG group meetings. Here we have discussed positives and any issues that have risen. See google docs link.

-Resources shared

What difficulties have you faced?

-Tried to set up Professional Learning through google sites. This was very difficult and had to switch to a blog.

-Lots of different bits of information in different areas. Issue has been resolved by keeping information in just the school account.

-Google Chrome not working properly on my computer. Will log that as an ICT issue. This has been resolved now, I had an app installed which was causing the problems, once this app was uninstalled chrome was working fine.

-Having different logins and emails. My PLB is under a different account from my class blog. Couldn't find it for a while. Issue has been resolved by setting up different web browser window logins.

-Some children have got chromebooks but are not allowed to bring them in yet. 1-1 device/student ratios would make my lessons more fluid.

- Which is the best device to use? Ipads are not good for spreadsheets and drawings.

-Time: It’s all very exciting and there’s so much potential, I need to manage my time effectively so it doesn’t go into personal life.

Where to from here?

-        Keep postings onto blog regular. Goal: 3/4 in depth postings a term.

-        Managing my accounts effectively so I’m not double handling ( adding authors to blog to eliminate changing account user.) Still don’t know if this will solve that problem. This issue has been resolved by having different user accounts when using chrome. I have an account for my class email ( where I go when writing up my blog) for my personal stuff and my teaching account ( for everything else)

-        Continue with using GAFE, in order for it to become natural I need to use it more and then it will be automatic.

Pacific Island Dean

The school has some units available and one of the units that I am applying for is the Pasifika Dean role.

See link for application letter to Dave.

Google Apps for Education PD

Attended GAFE conference in Auck. Had a wealth of knowledge, tips and tricks handed to me on a platter. So much to take on board. Check out link to see more. Google Summit Notes on PD

Also check out all speakers and detailed sessions on this link:Detailed sessions and speakers notes.

I was a little bit skeptical about the " No paper" in the conference, and was blown away at how much of this was done online. I enjoyed the collaborative work with other teachers and facilitators.

Term 1 2014

Have my Professional Learning Blog set up. Had a few issues with setting up an actual website so ended up going for the blog option as I am more familiar with this.

Feb:
Had my first look at a chrome book. Given the opportunity set up school account on this.
had a very short look on Teacher Hapara Dashboard.

March
Have not looked at the chrome book much, no time at the moment. Trying to set up routines in my class.

17/3: Set up with Lynley after school adding a shared document onto teacher dashboard.
Grouped my chn according to colour. Don't know why I'm doing this, might help with sharing activities just for particular groups.

18/2: Had Anne, Lynley in the class to help chn log into their google account. Apparently ipads are a little harder. Would like to learn how this can be done on ipad. Chn completed library task, only a few chn were able add a new document to write an explanation on how to sort library books.

20/3. Had some children in google acct completing library activity.

21/3: Managed to create a new doc to share with class. Writing activity. Will try this this week. Also figured out that the colours I can use to filter out a particular group. This will definitely be helpful when sharing activities with them. Have shared one activity with wasps reading group.