27th Jan

Day Two of Professional Learning looked at Raising Maori Achievement. It was a really interesting session, the ideas weren't new but they really made me look at things in a different angle. Even though I am already creating good relationships with my students i still feel like these more i can do, starting with my form class, especially as they approach NCEA L1 this year. Tomorrow is their first day back an i'm going to get them to create a jigsaw puzzle for me that answers questions that tells me things around them i am unaware of and their goals and aspirations for the year.

A quote Jarnelle used
"if we teach today as we did yesterday we rob our tamariki of tomorrow" - John Dewey helped me understand the purpose and reason for the change to Modern Learning Environment. Its not all about the flashy equipment, digital technology, and room layout, but it's about preparing our students for the "Creative Era" in which careers/jobs will require the skills involved within that MLE.
I am starting to see the link or alignment with the other things we are doing such as the new Year 9 kete and the teaching for inquiry 'Kia Eke Panuka'. Therefore a lot of my blog over the next 12 months will show my involvement with the Kia Eke Panuka (KEP) scheme and cultural responsive systems and how they will influence my teaching and hopefully students learning.

26th Jan

First day back at school. The staffroom was a hum with everyone's Summer Holiday stories, from those that had traveled a far to those that just enjoyed the Christchurch sun.
However down to business..........

HHS strategic plan and our Developmental Appraisal was discussed in the annual first day staff meeting. The common trend spoken about during the day was that its important to be creating environments in our departments and classrooms where TEACHING = Relationships for Learning
#professional learning

The school has been using Te Kotahitanga Effective Teaching Profile which looks at the following 6 elements as effective teacher-student interactions.












How does this link with Hospitality and Home Ec
1. Manaakitanga - pronounce names correctly, write up on the board the date in eng, Maori and Pasifika, signs around the room are multicultural

2. Mana Motuhake - having high expectations, outlining the steps taken to get to Merit and Excellence in a scaffolding manner so the pathway is there for them to create their own learning direction. Giving them that feedback that they can use to build their learning from

3.Nga whakapiringatang - using PB4L effectively so that behaviour is controlled and the environment is safe for those to learn and be comfortable in expressing opinion and ideas.

4. Wananga - using IT for the students to blog about their practical lessons and use this as a reflection tool that allows themselves and others to critique the final products. Ensure that a broad method of teaching is occurring so that it caters for different learning styles/abilities.

5. Ako - that student/teacher learning is occurring and utilizing experts in different fields to pass on their knowledge and experience with both teacher and students. Ensure that learning is promoted in a two way street, tht it doesn't all have to come from the teacher.

Kotahitanga - ensuring that the feedback for each student is discursive - relevant to them and the education path they are on, it's meaningful, achievable yet challenging!!!!!

During Sue's Professional Development Session we watched a couple of clips from Rita Pearsons, I found her to be an inspiring speaker that made you feel good about the profession we are in and the differences we can make to the next generation

Professional Knowledge in Practice

6. Conceptualise , Plan and Implement an Appropriate Learning Programme

HHS is currently going through implementing a new Yr9 programme following on from the introduction of the 7-8 programme last year. We have introduced 5 new Ketes that will be the umbrella for all of our units. 

Still working at this blogging thing, seems to be harder that we first thought. Not much progress, but lots of laughter

January 19th 2015

Holiday prep underway over mock tails and food. Everyone together learning 'Blogger' and getting their Google Sites underway