In the first week of school we spent some time with the children collaborating a classroom treaty for the children to follow this year. We began by reading the Tree Hut Treaty to introduce the concept of a treaty, followed by creating our own class promises, the children all had a chance to voice their ideas and we put these together to make a collaborative set of rules. The children then each received a piece of the artwork to complete which in the end created a big collaborated picture of the school flame which we felt was an important symbol of our class rules and school values.

Teaching Observation and Feedback Here is a copy of an observation done on my teaching this year.

Professional Development for our Opuke Kahui Ako. Arowhenua Marae On November 15th we went on a bus trip to the Arowhenua Marae in Temuka. Our entire Opuke Kahui Ako went as part of professional development and also to learn about their Tikanga and Powhiri protocol.   On Arrival the women were at the front supporting Karanga (Rana), the men were behind. We all entered the whare and moved to the left. The women sat at the back and the men moved to the front. Chris spoke on our behalf, followed by waiata from us, manuhiri (visitors). The Waiata we sung was ‘Ma te kahukura’. The Tawera (Tangata Whenua) concluded the speaking with an invitation to Hongi.  We all got up and took part in the hongi and then it was time to move through to the next room to complete the Powhiri process with kai. After the Powhiri we came together in the main meeting room and listened to speaker Hana O’Regan "Hana O’Regan (Kāti Rakiāmoa, Kāti Ruahikihiki, Kāi Tūāhuriri, Kā...

As part of our weekly set up for the classroom, we collaboratively sit down and work out what is happening for the week using a weekly plan. From here we can click into subject tabs which then have our names, student names, or group names, for us to write in our individual plans. Attached to these plans is also a link to a formative assessment page which lets us keep track of how our students are going on a weekly basis. This then allows us to shift students as needed, or see where extra time is needing to be spent, allowing us to create lessons and groups that are more student/group specific and orientated.

Near the end of term two, we needed to complete running records, and spelling tests on all the students in Mahi Tahi. Collectively we decided to test the students in our own groups, rather than in our class homerooms.  This decision was based on the fact that we A) knew the students expected from our groups, and B) that this was how we planned to write our class reports.   This involved the testing for my students, as well as loading them on the databoard and Edge. Testing was to be both a summative test for report writing, and to let us see what students had/had not improved on, as well as a formative test to allow us to see where we needed to make adjustments in groupings and teaching so that we could plan for the following term. 

Our term focus this term for IPC  has been a unit called 'space explorers'. This is the 'Big Idea' for this unit We know that when we look up at our sky we will see the Sun, the Moon and the stars. We take them for granted. But why are they there? What do they do? How do they affect the Earth? Astronomy, like all sciences, is about asking questions. By becoming space explorers, we can find out more about our solar system and the deeper mysteries of the universe. In Science, we’ll be finding out: How to compare the size of the planets and their distance from the Sun. About the movements of the Earth, Sun and Moon and how they affect us. How to create a timeline to show the life cycle of a star. About the planets in our solar system. In Art, we’ll be finding out: How we can capture the shape, colour and patterns of nebulae in art. How we can create our own satellite images. In History, we’ll be finding out: About what people in the past used to t...

IPC This term has introduced our school to a new international curriculum (IPC). We are the only school in New Zealand and we are piloting this new curriculum in NZ. "  The IPC is our International Primary Curriculum for children aged 5 - 11 years old. It is used by over 730 schools in 92 countries worldwide. It is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum, with a clear process of learning and specific learning goals for every subject. It also develops international mindedness and encourages personal learning." The first part of the IPC is the brainwave unit.  These are the Brainwave learning goals Children will: 3.01 Know about some of the recent evidence and research into the brain and learning 3.02 Know about some of the different areas of the brain and their function 3.03 Understand the different ways that they can learn 3.04 Understand how they can improve their learning and their attitudes to learning 3.05 Understand the importance of cooperati...