It's been a while...

 

It feels like I've dropped off the side of the Earth!  Finishing up my last assignment, starting the final term of the school year, and beginning report writing - it feels just like that!

My Y8s are about to start their high school testing and getting ready to move on, we're taking the time to reflect upon how far we've come.  I've tried to instill in my class that we need to celebrate our successes and learn from our failures or "could have done betters" in order for us to grow as individuals.  All of the students have something they can be proud of and things they need to work on, it is a "feel good factor" when they want to tell the whole world, how well they've done.

Writing reports are part of our job for me, like all educators, it gives me time to reflect upon each individual student, time for me to celebrate their successes and give them some feed forward for their "can do better" going into next year.  

In conversation with one of the PRTs (provisionally registered teacher) about report writing, it got me thinking about how I structure my report comments:

• What is something they do exceptionally well?
• How have they applied it
• What else can they do well?
• Is there any evidence of it?
• What do they really need to work on?
• How can they do it?

All my comments are written straight to the point but in a positive manner.  Our report comments for each learning area aren't that big so being concise is very important.

Everyone also has their own way of which order they do it: some like to do one learning are at a time and others like to do one at a time.  I'm one of those people who like to do it one at a time, I prefer to focus on one student at a time as mentioned above.

There isn't an easy way of telling you how to write reports or how to reflect upon the progress of each student.  You need to:

• Take on what everyone else does
• Try them out
• Throw away the bits you don't need and keep the ones you do
• Set yourself goals (especially when working to a tight deadline)
• Re-read as you go

We're lucky we have a buddy to check our reports, which helps me feel at ease because after your 20th report, you're not as efficient at picking up the errors as you'd like to be.

Take the time to reflect upon each individual student, recognise their successes and give them some feed forward.

Doing something different

This year I decided it was time for me to do something different.  I took on the challenge to be a part time student at Otago University, extramural of course!  I chose Otago purely because I did my teacher training and had a positive experience experience with the staff there.

The paper I am doing is EDUX440: Critical Analysis of Teaching, sounds boring however it was a great way to get amongst a community of teachers and principals from all over to discuss teaching practice.  It helped me to reaffirm my own teaching pedagogy, as we all know it is underpinned by theory and experience, being able to recall exactly where it comes from is sometimes a little bit difficult - at least for me!

I must admit it is challenging at this time of the year with the up and coming report writing and assessments, getting to the finish line with my last assignment has been difficult.  I have been very lucky to be supported by my family, people I work with, and Sheelah who has been so great at proof reading all my assignments.

For the my last assignment I stumbled across this EDtalks from Core Education by Quinn Norton - Students as hackers.


This got me thinking not only about students but as us as educators.  We take apart different theories of teaching and learning and put it back together to create our own pedagogy, our own way of teaching, to create something that is personal to you as an educator.  It may not work exactly for the current class or setting that you teach in however, you adapt and change it.  We're creative and flexible, responsive to it.

So for my next challenge?  Not too sure as yet, still thinking about doing another paper, not too sure.

W1 - Connected Education

October is connected educator month and with all the exciting activities that are happening, TeachThought are continuing their September 30 Day Reflective Blogging Challenge with Thoughtful Thursday.  The topics look great!  Week 1 Thoughtful Thursday topic:  

What does 'connected education' mean to you?

Connected education means educators connecting with each other to learn from one another whether it is through a professional discussion or connecting with a class.  We are becoming more connected with each other building our PLN to beyond the area we live in.

As I build my PLN and connecting with other 'like minded' people I am growing as an educator.  I'm relatively new to the online community and have already made so many connections.  If you haven't started, I suggest you do so.  There is a rich resource out there that we all can benefit from each other.

Day 30 - Fearless Educators

I've always thought of myself as a fearless educator, pushing the limits and doing something different with my class, as I'm not afraid to get it wrong and say I'm sorry.  I love the feeling you get when you push it that little bit further, the excitement in the class when they are doing something different.

Reflecting upon this, it has always been within the limits of the school.  So, to answer the final 30 Day Reflective Blogging Challenge topic - what would you do as an educator if you weren't afraid?

*Skype experts across the world
*Tweet more often
*Share with the world the amazing things we do
*Present at a conference
*Ask why more often

Imagine what the world would be like if we were all fearless educators!

Day 29 - Change is the only Constant

I've always thought of myself as someone who doesn't like to sit still, when it comes to teaching and learning.  There is always something more I can do, another way I could deliver it, or something new to try.  When I get my teeth into something I like to keep pushing and challenging myself and the students.  I am very lucky that I have great people around me who continue to help me and my "crazy ideas!"

Reflecting upon my career and the changes that I have made so far, it is amazing how far I've come.  I trained at Otago University, a part of the last of the class before they merged with the teachers college.  My passion for teaching and learning began there.

Since getting my job in the Hawkes Bay, my approach to teaching has changed as I have developed my professional knowledge and experience.

What I value as an educator:

*relationships

*respect

*learner responsibility

*the learner at the heart of it

*procedures

*high expectations

These values stay the same but the approach to it changes each year.  When reflecting upon how I have changed over the years, the procedures and expectations have become more specific, how I build relationships with the students and their whanau have changed from phone calls twice a year to weekly emails, developed the use and understanding of respect and relationships have also changed, and the list goes on.

I have always believed that it all starts with the learner, I suppose that's why personalising learning fits me well.  Personalising learning is a journey I have been on for a wee while now and has changed over the years, moving from full personalising learning to only aspects of it.  I am pleased to be changing again to move again to full personalising learning and have addressed the issues in which we faced a few years ago.

Change is always going to happen if we want it to or not.  As mentioned in other posts, education is rapidly evolving and there is a need for us to slow down and decide what is best for our learners.  I may not like to sit still for too long however, that does not stop me from making that decision of what is best for our learners.  

Change is good, if it is for the good of our learners.

Day 25 - Collaboration

Collaboration is a challenging skill for some students and adults to develop no matter what the activity.  It is a necessary skill to have for life and is something we need to nurture in our classes.

My ideal collaboration between students would be where they would develop the following skills:

*communication - with each other and about their learning

*team work - equity of work

*problem solving

*learn with each other and from each other

*time management

*active participation

The teachers role will then be a facilator and encourager.  There is learning. In all things collaborative, if the group gets to the end or not everyone learns something about themselves and each other.

Day 28 - Driving the Curriculum

Technology is developing quickly and we're now only limited to our own imaginations!  It is an amazing tool that can open the world up to learners beyond the classroom.  We are also very lucky to have a curriculum that is open for us as educators to create programmes that is exciting for our learners.

The question is asked does the curriculum drive technology or technology drive the curriculum?  Technology is a tool to further enhance the learning we do in the classroom.