Observation - Y9 Food Tech

Feedback received from SCH has been very good. Organisation, relationships with students, check points, seating plans, responses during lesson etc. were all positive. Discussed challenging students and how I 'pick my battles' - reacting in a calm manner to avoid confrontation/anxiety for both the students and myself.
Sarah has been a wealth of knowledge and a fantastic support throughout my first three terms at FFC. I always look forward to her observations and feedback feed forward.

Assessment Week - Term 3, WK6

Having to wrap my head around the logistics of the Assessment Week Timetable has been a struggle! Faculty meetings, chats with colleagues, chats with students (senior textiles), instructions and blank timetables (SLTs) has made a huge difference to my understanding. I've been able to support my Whaanau students in organising their timetables. Looking forward to two hour periods with my textiles students! Food tech is all organised with two practicals and the focus on healthy eating. My English class is moving onto a weaving/Hangi themed topic where they will be researching/building their knowledge about flax collecting protocol, weaving techniques and hangi prep. I will also be seeing my senior Textiles student's on Friday for a two hour period , unless they are in an exam.

Professional Learning - NCEA

Article: How Many Triangles can You See?

An interesting article sent to all staff from A Kumar 27/6/2017. I came to the conclusion there were 18 Triangles! Almost wishing I taught a math class to give them this as a first up task. What I really appreciated about this article was that they provided an insight (through diagrams) of how they figured out there were 25-26. Here's the link to the article.

9G Co-Construction

Supporting in School Practices

My colleagues and I supported the Hospitality/Food and Beverage students by attending their morning tea's and rating the experience based on their service and the quality of the food. We were served sponge drops and a selection of beverages; tea, coffee and juice. The students' did very well with their level of professionalism and certainly worked hard to make the experience as authentic as possible. There was a small cost involved to help with the cost of the ingredients.
I enjoyed being able to support the students in their learning and hope to attend more of these throughout the year.
Here are JWR, JMC and I enjoying the students hospitality!

Supporting HOS200

The HOS200 class put on a small cafe-like experience where they served beverages and some light snacks in order to be observed and graded by diners - staff!
JWR, JMC and I went a couple of times to support the various HOS200 students. Overall, the experience was quite pleasant. We were served sponge drops (dairy free options available!), tea/coffee/juice. The student's service was quite good and we gave a gold coin donation to contribute towards the cost of ingredients. 
Looking forward to the next one and being able to also support the Food and Beverage students. 

Mid Year Reports - Juniors

Junior subject report comments are due on the 6/6 and Junior Whaanau report comments are due on the 12/6. I have made a start on tick boxes and thought about the types of comments I can use to describe/sum up the practical and theoretical knowledge that Y9 students in both Textiles and Food Tech have developed/gained. Faculty meeting last Wednesday helped to clarify some grey areas around comments for students that struggle/of a lower ability - the goal is to have something positive to say about every student! I'm confident I can get the comments completed in the time frame we have. I need to make sure I double check with Jen/Aimee in regards to the FT assessments and Aimee in regards to the Textiles assessments - making sure that I am following correct procedures when commenting and editing.
Ashok has provided some very helpful hints:

Professional Learning - Motivating the Unmotivated

Textiles Blog

My FFC Textiles blog is an incredibly helpful teaching resource to assist both junior and senior students through a range of topics. This is also a place where I am collecting resources to use for current and future classes. The picture below shows a range of useful sites (on the left) that enable the students to explore fashion on many levels and at their own pace. Thank goodness we have access to chrome books during class time! The Dio Textiles teacher, Amy, has been an amazing wealth of knowledge and support over the last few months. She is very inspiring and has allowed me to make links to her work on Pinterest.

Textile's Blog

The Textile's blog is proving to be a great platform for engaging the senior students. Currently, both the Year 11s and 12s are working on an assessment that requires them to analyse and then sketch their own dress/winter garment design ideas. I use the blog to engage the students in quick and simple tasks that require them to analyse garments with reference to the elements of design. The views on the left hand side indicate how many visitors there have been to the blog.

Quick Writes - Gail Loane

I have been introduced to Quick Writes. Looking forward to using the class blog as the platform to deliver this to Room 29.

http://www.gailloane.co.nz/book.php 

10 FOT (Food Technology)

I have had the chance to teach Year 10 Food Technology. I supported JWR in term one, one day a week. JWR and I would discuss where they were up to and what I could do to support their learning during my lesson every week. JWR would send resources via email and sometimes I would need to continue her previous lesson  because they would not have got through everything they needed to before moving on.
I worked hard to build reciprocal relationships with this class, which was challenging at times because I only saw them once a week. There was such a diverse range of students, from their abilities, to their prior knowledge and their motivation and commitment to completing tasks.
Every lesson I had with this class was a theory lesson and I was often asked - why don't we cook with you miss?! - JWR and I decided at the very beginning that she would do all the practical lessons with them for continuity.
Below is an image of the resources that JWR sent me. 
We started in February, with knife safety and identification and recapped what they had learnt in March. The students were making sausage rolls in a practical lesson with JWR and required a little more scaffolding before the practical lesson. 
We then moved onto bacteria and contamination.
Everyone of these lesson;s required a first up task as well as LI's and SCs. Someties WR and I discussed these and sometimes I had to wing it!
I was quite settled into the routine of teaching this group and enjoyed most of the tasks. When term two came around I was no longer required to support JWR with this class as JMC returned to work.

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