Our First Teacher Only Day of 2023

 Our newly formed Professional Development Team consisting of Patsy Wynyard, Kerry Boyd-Preece, Nyree King, Susan Arrowsmith and myself collaborated to facilitate our first hui today. Is it just good luck or the outcome of tika and pono that I get to work with such capable people? 

Wahine toa indeed! 

And speaking of collective efficacy, the staff who participated did so with such a positive mindset, activities planned exploded with personality and laughter as we all learnt together. We have re-affirmed our Waka Eke Noa. I wish I had been organised enough to take photos. Lesson learned Ruth.

 Curriculum refresh and Professional Growth Cycles - not scarey but an opportunity to grow as implementers towards  more meaningful learning for our akonga. 

Hopefully, our Culturally Responsive and Relational approach today assured our staff that they will not have to walk that journey of self improvement alone. Instead, they can be accompanied by that critical friend who will support them to grow. to be resolute in the face of challenge (I haven't got there YET) and who will celebrate their successes with them - be they minor or major. To quote Nyree "bumps not jumps".

A great way to end the week and start a new school year. 2023 - here we come!

Ref

Scratch -ing Beneath the Surface of Digital Technologies

An additional stressor lurking in the wings of our future school landscape is the Digital Technology Curriculum. I, personally don't tend to panic. After 37 years of learning/teaching I've learnt to do my bestest to enable my learners and not panic about upcoming changes. The coding aspect of the document had me second guessing, though.
But TA-RA Kerry and Monika brought some enlightening and timely experiences which

Finally - a capitulation. Am building a site. ...and other stuff

"Think of it as a one stop shop" urged Sarnia when I shared my continuing reluctance to make a learning site for all things physical and healthy. Thus, I nudged a little closer to the tipping point of compliance.
When my some of my co-learners were invited to share their sites I furtively leaned over to Hayley for directions to our BOIC site. Two minutes later and I was re-acquainting myself with a site I created in 2017. When I pushed buttons it opened to nothingness!
Alright, don't be self absorbed. Pay attention to my fellow learners who were presenting their awesome sites. Feeling inspired and ever more convinced. Kaha au ki te tuku arotakenga ki a raatou
Tipping point was finally reached when Darren stepped up to present his site.
Vanessa to the rescue and I have started building my 2019 website

I was totally captivated by one site I visited in the Deep Dive. Photos of nga tauira.
That banner elicited an instant response in me because it made me think of those children using the various activities and resources each press of the button revealed.
This may be a strategy for attracting parents to my site. Perhaps a parent/caregiver who visits the site would spot their child and be emotionally drawn to visit that site more often. Maybe I'm just rambling.
Anyway...., of course I want to use photos on the banner of my new (and used) website.
Thanks again for your leadership/ manaaki Kerry,Vanessa and colleagues.

I am blog-abled!

Yesterday I got together with Kerry to set up a class blog site for my Year 13 PE class. Picture Kerry explaining,telling me which buttons to push and explaining some more - and me actually understanding! Today Kerry came in and took our photo and my learners posted their first responses to a couple of 'reflect on a great leader' prompts. Exciting! One giant step for Rangitehau!

My learners - To blog or not to blog?

That is the question that I have been considering recently. At present I have students regularly reflecting on how/what they have learnt verbally and in different writing (digital) forums.
I always read their written reflections and respond which often leads to a digital 'conversation' that is private and targeted at taking that learner forward and/or strengthen our relationship. So-o-o, what additional benefits would blogging bring?
I'm less interested in gaining a greater audience for my learners then gaining additional support/opportunities to prompt my learners forward.
To this end have decided to try a class blog for my Year 12 and Year 13 classes . Watch this space for impact on the learners and their learning.

OK - so now my positive post about today's learning in Create.
WOW! So many ways to create!
Live streaming - way beyond me. Won't be using this - YET but as I have the rewindable resources I can revisit when I am.
Personalised my settings in  my YouTube Channel. Who knew I had a YouTube Channel. 
Have three videos in my playlist. Great to find a place to store videos I want to keep at my fingertips.