9G C0-Construction

Inter-Mountain Singing Challenge

Mountain Assembly 12:15 - 12:45

Introduced the song that has been chosen to Maungatautari today during mountain assembly - S Club 7: Reach
The reaction was mixed, but with the help of some senior students I have faith that our maunga will pull through. Here's a link!

The school Hymn will also be sung. Matua Colin added some actions for the first verse and the chorus , that align with the words being sung.

I am doing my best to join in and encourage students across all year levels.

Co-Construction Meetings

First round of Co-Constructions  meetings are coming up. I'm not quite sure what to expect - I understand that this is an opportunity for us to discuss learning programmes, star students and students of concern.

We are expected to take some evidence along - books/prototypes etc. 
Here's the schedule below...

Textiles Blog

I created a blog for my Textiles classes at Fairfield College. I teach Year 9, and a composite class of Year 11/12/13's.
As well as class and year level information, the blog contains links to the school website, a basic timetable, health and safety information, and NCEA information and links.

Year 9's are building their knowledge of the parts of a sewing machine, control of their stitching (on paper), and working towards making a Drawstring Bag with a screen print, an applique, and a patch pocket.
Year 11's are developing their repertoire of stitch samples, moving from basic to a little more advanced; building understanding of fabric types and how to identify them; physical and functional attributes; needle types and their uses; fabric testing; and will use the technology design process when working on their NCEA assignments, beginning with Summer PJ Shorts.
Year 12/13's are also developing their sample portfolio with more advanced techniques. Because the class is a composite classroom, the year 12's are lending their knowledge and skills as experts to Year 11's in need. The year 12/13's will also use the technology design process when working on their NCEA assignment, beginning with a Summer Blouse.

I really look forward to these classes as the majority of students are really positive and work to the best of their ability.
There are three new students joining our class, which is somewhat frustrating as I have been through a number of processes to find out what the students know e.g. basic knowledge and skills of the sewing machine and demonstrating their skills by following instructions to create samples. I've observed that new students change the classroom dynamics, not always in a good way. I'm going to have to be on my toes and establish firm boundaries, whilst tuning into their PK of textiles and use a sewing machine.

PRT Workshops

Received confirmation from JRA. I have been signed up for two workshops this year: Motivating De Motivated Students; I have all this achievement information - what do I do with it?
Really looking forward to these, one in May and one in August. Will have to make sure my planning is up to date and prepare work for a reliever. 

Induction at Fairfield College

Timetable; walking tour; car park; classroom spaces; lap top, teacher shared; whanau group...

Richard, Mike, Ashok, Rudy, Aimee

Fairfield Song:

NZQA

Navigating around the NZQA website without a login!!

Technology subject and resources

E Noho Tuheitia

Bomb Hoax

Today we experienced a rather frightening bomb threat via an automated ph call. Room 9 learners were at Tech Arts, whilst I was in the classroom working away at my desk. It started off with a lockdown announced over the loudspeaker, which I immediately responded to by locking the doors and hiding under my desk. Within 30Seconds the situation turned into an evacuation. I was calm and proceeded out of the door towards the field in the dorection of the tech arts rooms, I was concerned for the welfare of Te Aroha learners. 

The whole school remained on the field, in class lines, from 11:20 (ish), till just after 2pm. Students were allowed to be collected, once the school had been cleared by the police, and contact with parents/caregivers had been established. As a staff we made sure students had access to our cell phones, offered support to those that needed it, and continued to monitor the wellbeing of all Berkley learners.

This was a huge undertaking, which ran really smoothly. There were stages early on where we were not sure what the evacuation was all about, however we maintained our composure and kept up communication with one another.

This was a somehat frightening experience, and I was proud to be a part of a team that responded so quickly, efficiently, and professionally. 

Stuff.co.nz wrote about it here

EDpuzzle

During the last Tutor Teacher meeting, 23/11, Rachel introduced me to Edpuzzle. This is a fantastic app that allows you to add questions to any video. I love learning new ways to incorporate digital technology into my teaching.
Here's the link to the video 'questionnaire' 

Maths Workshop 3 - Measurement 2 - 23/11

Staff Meeting - Te Reo - 22/11

Lighthouse Learner PLC - 17/11

This was a really great opportunity to discuss the opportunities for Lighthouse Learner's in the classroom and their successes with the PYP.

Maths Workshop 2 - Probability - 16/11

Term 4 Te Aroha Focus

Focus is an opportunity for teams to share their learning, with the rest of the school.
Last week I was a part of the collaboration process of getting the Te Aroha focus together. As a team, we discussed what our learners could share with the rest of the school. Their are a few unspoken rules about putting on a focus and one of the main ones is: Do not repeat what another team has done! This is pretty self-explanatory and the majority of Te Aroha learners wanted to present something completely new.
Our team teachers collaborated and came up with a range of ideas to present to our respective rooms and hand over ownership to the learners.
Room 9 were really excited to work on skits that retold Berkley's 2016 events/adventures. Together, the learner's and I decided to focus on three different skits: The evacuation; The Culinary Challenge; Market Day.
Collaboration and communication were the key to successfully creating the scripts and making sure as many learners from room 9 were participating. There were a range of ways learners could participate, such as: technicians (working on lighting and sounds); props (bringing on and removing props from the stage); hosts etc
I was really pleased with the way most groups came together, shared their ideas and bought the scripts to life. The organisation was quite stressful! Rachel created a really fantastic video, along with backing music, that showed images of Te Aroha learners throughout the year, and events that the whole school participated in.
Rachel taught Sarah and I how to insert audio and videos into a powerpoint. Sarah and I worked together to add suitable images/audio/videos for the backdrops (projected onto a white wall in the Cultural Centre).
Te Aroha learners pulled off a really funny, attention grabbing Focus. There were loads of laughs, and moments that other learners could relate to.

Classroom Blog - Update

I really enjoy maintaining a classroom blog for Room 9. There are so many benefits of using a blog when teaching, especially in languages. During Spanish I use the blog to embed the language in a range of modes. Learners view and sing along to Youtube videos, mark answers on written tasks, and can re-watch/read from home.
I also use the blog to post the fabulous writing that comes from the 100 Word Challenge Blog. I've seen some really great development in the writing skills of the learners that participate. Unfortunately, I don't have 100% participation from the class, even though it is set as Home Learning for everyone.

I like to add pictures from a range of learning experiences to the blog, to make connections with home. I can appreciate the opportunity to see learners in action, and for the learners to share their experiences and understanding with their whanau.

Here are some screenshots of the Room 9 Blog...

Español Sumamtive Task

After teaching Spanish for 14 weeks, I am trying to think of a summative task that suits the learner's of Te Aroha. The task would require the students to create some kind of script and to then present/act in front of the class, or just me, depending on the needs of the learners. 
I will be handing out the checklist next week, along with some guidelines. I have discussed what summative assessment looks like with other language teachers at school, and heard a range of ideas. Due to the limited time I've had teaching Spanish, the summative task needs to be relatively basic, and show off their oral skills. 
I've had to think about the wording of the summative checklist and make sure that I can connect with the range of levels within the team.
These are some resources I've found researching Summative Assessment in language learning, and I think will help the learners to summarise their understanding of Español...

I have absolutely loved teaching Español to the range of learners from Te Aroha. I've collaborated with colleagues, attended language P.D. that has enabled me to be a reflective language teacher. I believe learning a language should be fun, and leaners should be engaged in multimodal (visual and oral), opportunities to develop their understanding of a second language.

The summative assessment task will be fun and engaging for the audience as well as the learners. All the Te Aroha learners would be in the Novice range, as they have only learnt to speak basic Español.

Game of Awesome

Game of Awesome - Literacy Resource

Game of Awesome is a card game for 3-6 players designed to engage and inspire kids to tell stories and learn to write. Playing the game helps students generate ideas quickly which they can explore, expand and then write stories about.

The basic game has been produced as four sets of cards containing topics, themes and ideas that students years 5-8 will find interesting, involving and often ridiculous! The cards can be used independently or mixed and matched to create new combinations and infinitely more ideas.

Last week, Room 9 learnt how to play the Game of Awesome, with the aide of 'experts' from Room 8.  Miss Alloway (Sarah), and I moved about the room and joined in with groups as their games progressed. At each group, we found the learner's were responding positively and allowing their creativity and imaginations to flow. There are many humorous cards, and to put them together and share the story/sequence of events, that the 'judge' chose, was often hilarious. I came up wth a way to challenge them further, by choosing two cards, rather than one. 

Here are some pictures of our session with Room 8...