TBCS - Duh Moment - Judy -Anne

I had a bit of a duh moment driving over to school this morning.
Steve and I had been talking about K yesterday in a discussion about why some of our children had moved and some had not. I mentioned a comment I had put in his report about his perfectionism getting in the way, and his ability being higher than his confidence. I had a similar discussion with Mel as she works with him too, and has noticed the same thing.
So my duh moment was thinking about similar children I have taught, J from here and a child years ago at Victory. One of the strategies we used then was to set a timer during writing time. When they got stuck on a word they had a set amount of time ( generally a minute) to make their best attempt at the word then they had to move on.
Time to try this with K!

Reflection:
Sometimes we just forget about things we used to do.
One of the advantages of being in a small school is that we talk with each other a lot, and everybody tends to know about all the children, not just the ones in their own class. It means there are lots of brains trying to come up with solutions.

Next steps:
Set the timer for K when he gets stuck on a word during writing
Continue to work on adding  sounds and words to his kete so his bank of known words continues to grow.



Discussing my practice with colleagues and being open to new ideas.- or maybe retutning to old ones!

TBCS- Word of the Year - Judy-Anne

When I first started at TBCS Lyn used to get us to choose a word for ourselves for the year. It would be interesting to go back and see if I could find some historical ones.

This year I have chosen the word Capacity. Yesterday I was thinking that I should choose a more uplifting word as well but I think this will be sufficient. Our capacity directly affects our well being and the sustainability of what we can manage to do so it’s a useful start.

Reflection:
Why Capacity?
Recently Steve and I met with Rob from Learning architects. He talked about the capacity of our team.  Obviously a smaller team means a smaller capacity, plus each member has a different capacity. It is important that we’ve don’t exceed the capacity of our team. We need to be wise about what we take on. The challenge is to know how much is too much for each member of the team I guess.

Then Daryl commented that I have a large capacity, because I put my hands up for lots off jobs at church. I did say that was related to my family situation because I don’t have as many calls on my time as someone who has young children or a partner. I also commented that my capacity is decreasing.

When two unrelated people mention the same word in connection with you it is worth listening!

I have been finding that I have a lot more ability to make plans than to carry them out!

One way capacity gets decreased is by negativity. We have taken some hits about our performance and  abilities over the last year  so that’s takes a bit of recovering from.
As I get older I am feeling more tired so also have less physical capacity.

I am hoping that Nick coming in to increase Teacher Capabvility is going to be within our capacity!

Definition of capacity:
Your capacity for something is your ability to do it, or the amount of it that you are able to do.

1 (noun)  in the sense of ability

Definition

the ability to do something

Our capacity for giving care, love and attention is limited.

Synonyms

ability 

power 

strength 

facility 

gift 

intelligence 

efficiency 

genius 

faculty 

capability 

forte 

readiness 

aptitude 

aptness 

competence or competency

Next steps:
Talks to Nic at Dovedale. How do they manage with just two of  them?
Improve health- increase fruit, vegetable  and water intake and exercise.
Learn more about everyones strengths and therefore what indicators they may demonstrate to indicate they are being overloaded.

•  Engaging in regular professional communication as appropriate. 
• Participation in professional development (PLD), both in school and through outside agencies. Working with colleagues to enact the new learning. 
• Actively listening to what is being said by others and reflecting thoughtfully on information shared. 

TBCS - Deliberate Acts of Teaching - Judy-Anne

Instructional strategies are the tools of effective practice. They are the deliberate acts of teaching that focus learning in order to meet a particular purpose. Instructional strategies are effective only when they impact positively on students’ learning.

Effective Literacy Practice in Years 5 to 8, p. 78

Teachers need to be able to use a range of deliberate acts of teaching in flexible and integrated ways within literacy-learning activities to meet the diverse literacy learning needs of our students.

Deliberate Acts of Teaching


Apparently ERO feels we weren't able to show that we were teaching our children, and were too reliant on a use of technology to do so.
Therefore somehow we need to get better at showing what it is that we actually do!


I checked to see what were classified as 'Deliberate Acts of Teaching.'
Sometimes you just need to use the right jargon. This is something I have tried to avoid throughout my career as I have seen a number of people use jargon as a weapon to show that they know more than others. My pet peeve is 'pedagogy!' I would much rather say things in a way that everybody can understand- isn't that why we are supposed to write plain English, easy to understand reports?

Pedagogy: - 

What is Pedagogy?

Pedagogy is defined simply as the method, and practice, of teaching. It encompasses: 

• Teaching styles 
• Teaching theory
• Feedback and assessment

When people talk about the pedagogy of teaching, they will be referring to the way teachers deliver the content of the curriculum to a class.

My challenge is not using the Deliberate Acts of Teaching (I hope!) so much as it is in recording them.

To help I think I will print out the list of deliberate acts of teaching and store them at the front of my planner.
I also need to add those specific words to some generic, as well as specific plans eg handwriting and phonics will include modelling and feedback
Maybe the words can be highlighted or colour coded and specific questions I am planning to use, or do actually use can be recorded in a regular fashion, whether daily, weekly, per lesson type...

Next steps:
. Print deliberate acts of teaching and put in planner
. Record at least one deliberate act of teaching in planner each week, increasing frequency as it becomes a habit
. Aim to complete the daily class journal daily!
I also found a great lesson plan about simple sentences which outlines DATS through out

• Use of inquiry to inform planning and teaching.
• Checking to see if planning and delivery of programme is tailored to the strengths, needs and interests of ākonga.
• Using appropriate pedagogies to accelerate progress of ākonga who are achieving below national expectations

TBCS - Learning Through Play: My Why - Judy-Anne

I have been meaning to get to developing my why for ages now. So many ideas floating it has been hard to put them together. I guess I wanted to be able to come up with a 'one sentence wonder' and maybe it will take more than that.
I want to be able to put together ideas from a number of people and meld them into my own foundation.

Nathan Mikaere Wallis - Brain wave Trust
How a child sees themselves is crucial
Oral language for under 7's is vital
Boys particularly benefit from play-based learning
Creativity is linked to resilience and intelligence
Most learning is done through play


Leslee Allen- Number Agents
“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” -Leo F. Buscaglia

We are so busy preparing children to be successful adults that we forget to embrace the brilliance of a child. Their honesty, often to the point of bluntness; their openness to new learning; their inquisitiveness; their quirky senses of humour and the way they can belly laugh at just about anything. Their ability to freely use their imaginations without the constraints of reality; their intelligence to be able to turn the tiniest, most obscure thing into a wonderful world of play; their inventiveness and their ability to truly be absorbed in the moment. Their innate ability to embrace difference; and their dispositions of wonder and joy. Not to mention their overwhelming ability to forgive. Children gradually learn to modify these behaviours to become what they think we need them to be, but maybe it is us that should be modifying ourselves. The world needs the qualities of a child, now more than ever. Bringing play back to classrooms could be just the answer we are looking for.

Leslee Allen Perhaps instead of a definition it would be useful to think of the components of what play looks like an environment that values child led play. Joy, wondering, child led discussion, children’s interests genuinely guiding learning, teacher as follower/provoker rather than director, developmental awareness, timetable free, narrative assessment valued, inside/outside, high trust, mutual agreement between learners and teacher. Not sure if I’m really making any point here lol, but perhaps you get what I mean? Just typing on my phone off the top of my head.

Longworth Education
Conversation is critical
Peer to peer conversations correlate to children's achievement
Developmentally appropriate response to the learning needs of students
Age and stage don't necessarily link!
Vygotsky and Piaget
Emotional intelligence is built
When engaged in authentic play, children are more likely to develop higher order cognitive and socio-emotional skills, particularly through problem solving

Tara O'Neill - Learning Through Play facebook page
 The learning comes through the authentic play. ‘Learning through play’.
Some schools get freaked out simply by the word ‘play’. It’s just simply developmentally appropriate inquiry 🤷‍♀️ not scary. I’m with you on validating the word.
Tash Dunne





Paula Jamieson - Play, Make, Create

Five proven benefits of play:
Healthy brain development
Reduces obesity and associated diseases, particularly if children are running, jumping and climbing
Helps children manage stress
Helps families bond
Contributes to academic skills, in particular language development and general knowledge
From https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/52136/five-proven-benefits-of-play




In Room 1 we are Learning Through Play to help encourage critical, creative, innovative thinkers who are engaging in their learning in a developmentally appropriate way. There should be lots of talking, movement and creativity.

producing critianinnovative thinkers.

produtical, creative anthin

I am most keen on the idea of free play and have become more comfortable letting the children play outside, within the boundaries / rules we have set.
I am interested to see what ideas I get out of this Fridays workshop and whether that might change my thinking.

Currently we are in camp week so there is plenty of playing occurring.
Next week we will be back to a more normal programme. This involves lots of free play, individual reading time, class writing with varied goals, class and group maths.
I have some new plans for writing / phonics with some of the less advanced children.




Next steps:

• Play, Make Create workshop on Friday
• E modules through Longworth Education

TBCS - Decodable Texts - Judy-Anne

Inquiry:

So I had been seeing posts on Facebook pages about decodable texts and how amazing they are but didn't know what they were or why they were so great, and I also wasn't sure how to get new resources with an empty money pot!

I did a little research on them today and discovered they are phonics based. There are heaps of free ones available, some online and some that you can print but looking at them I realise we have some of them sitting in the back room as well. What a bonus!

I am wondering whether increasing use of phonics and decodable texts will help my youngest boys with their reading at a more accelerated pace.

Action Plan:

. Set up the phonics song on the sample student on seesaw so they can access it for themselves more readily
. use decodable texts with Samuel, Beauden, William and Elijah
.continue to work on blends with the whole class



Chalking on Blogger

Decodable books

• Undertaking PLD and further professional reading.
• Engaging with school-wide inquiry approaches as expected.

• Use of inquiry to inform planning and teaching.
• Checking to see if planning and delivery of programme is tailored to the strengths, needs and interests of ākonga.
• Using appropriate pedagogies to accelerate progress of ākonga who are achieving below national expectations.

TBCS - Fitting it All in - Judy-Anne

Fitting everything is one of the biggest areas of concern for teachers. You know what? You can not be everything to everyone all of the time. If you burn out, then the greatest resource in the classroom is extinguished. Here are some basic tips for fitting things in that I shared at my last workshop.

Aim to only read twice a week with children. Quality over quantity.

Change the time of day you do things each day, this means different slots will be used for play etc. We eat together and often do phonics at this time of day.

Set a goal of writing for five or ten minutes independently for all children depending on age, then let them go, while others can choose to stay. The ones that go, are usually the ones that need the play.

Start the day with play...that first 20 minutes of the day is generally when I get most of my photos for reflection and is also a good chance to fit one or two readers in.

Set weekly priorities, what are your goals for the week and then tick them off as done. This feels good!

Don't have a timetable, write it down, after you have done it, then you won't feel guilty at the end of the day when you have not managed to get to everything.

I'm pretty sure this came from Leslee Allen of Number Agents. 

Reflections:
I love this lady! She is so sensible and realistic.
Sometimes it is easier to just continue with the same thing rather than taking the time to think about the changes you want to make. I am slowly trying to change things in my class and want to use many of Leslee's ideas.
It is important to remember that if I burn out I am not any use to my class!

Next Steps:
I was wondering how to get the photos for the daily journal so using the first part of the day for that is very sensible.
Try changing the time of day we do things- good idea.
I am trying to remember to have food a few minutes before they go outside to play too so that they eat enough during the day.
Weekly priorities- brilliant.





Undertaking PLD and further professional reading.

TBCS - Sally Clendon Course - Judy-Anne

Well I obviously need to come back to this one! Took lots of notes on the handouts!

• Undertaking PLD and further professional reading.

TBCS - Teaching Beginning Readers - Judy-Anne

Finding the pathway of success


Main takeaways:
Struggling readers overly rely on meaning and sentence structure as compensation for poorer decoding skill.

Teachers need to be equipped with the knowledge and teaching methods that consider what happens in the brain as children learn to read.

..when teachers have the knowledge and resources for twaching the code explicitly and systematically, children's reading outcomes improve.

Next steps:

Upskill phonics knowledge

• Undertaking PLD and further professional reading.

TBCS - Relational Leadership - Judy - Anne

Professor David Giles
Relational Leadership
The essence of leadership is relationship

Our mandate is to grow children not measure them

Life centric - what is giving life to this place?

To ponder
When is education, pedagogy,  curriculum, leadership not relational

If you get the culture right the learning follows

We are after leadership formation not leadership development

Leadership is not a solitary thing
What are the questions to ask yourself in relation to your contribution over the next 3-5 years
What do we want the school to be known for?
Leadership journey is mostly about finding out who we

How do we walk alongside and change the narrative

Major takeaways:
Leadership is not solitary
Our mandate is to grow children, not measure them
Education is always relational
What is life giving about our place?
What do we want to be known for?
What do I want my contribution to be over the next 3-5 years?

Next steps:
Check out appreciative inquiry
Consider what I want my contribution to be over the next 3-5 years



Undertaking PLD and further professional reading

TBCS - Teacher Imposter Syndrome- Judy-Anne

Reflections:

I had no idea there was actually a name for it but I know that I have spent the greater part of my teaching career waiting for somebody to walk into my class and tell me I have no idea what I am doing and no business being in the classroom. A few years ago I said something to that effect to one of our senior teachers and they said they felt the same! 

It certainly meant I had to read this article!

I am not a perfectionist by any stretch of the imagination nevertheless one of the statements that really resonanated with me was that ' Aiming to be a perfect teacher was an unattainable and pointless goal.'

One of the challenges with teaching is that there is always more we could do, or things we could do better. Sometimes we have to remember to celebrate what is going well- celebrate the small wins. Wouldn't we do that for our children?!

The other statement that I realised was me to a T was 'people with imposter syndrome explain away any success as luck, chance, or a result of something outside of their actions. I did that frequently and still catch myself doing it now. This just needs to stop.'

Celebrate the wins- no matter how small.

I had a chat with Margaret about this too because I realised that this artickle could possibly have been describing her as a beginning teacher- ie appearing capable but inside really struggling. 

Next steps:

Celebrate the small wins

Be prepared to take credit for successes rather than assuming it was luck, chance or someone else who made the difference

Ensure I check in with Margaret regularly to ensure she is doing the same!

• Undertaking PLD and further professional reading.

• Appropriate and professional communication with colleagues, ākonga and whānau.

TBCS - Compliment- Judy-Anne

It was lovely and quite encouraging to have a parent tell Steve that she really enjoyed seeing the children playing in class and wished the junior room had been like that when her boy was in there. Quite a surprise as that is not what I thought her preference would be.

It's always nice to hear that people think you are getting something right. This is a job in which it is very easy to feel that you can always do better and therefore not actually stop to think that you are actually doing well.



Next Steps:

I have joined the Happy Healthy Teacher  face book page. Lots of positive messages and encouragement there.

TBCS - Routines- Judy-Anne

Sometimes it is easy to take for granted all the great things our children do. It was awesome to arrive in class after break today to find all the children doing their readiing- either reading books or on Lexia. The part that was funniest to me is that on Friday we normally head to the library after break and don't do reading the normal way at all!  Sometimes it is extremely hard to change their routines.

The children have routines, but also choice within those routines (eg could be reading, Lexia, reading games, listening to stories on the ipad)








Next steps:

Continue with strong routines and regular communication about changes to routines.

TBCS - How to Lead - Judy-Anne

The Think Farm; People Mechanic

My notes:

John Peachey

People Mechanic

How to lead when you are not in charge

Www.thethinkfarm.org

Creating leaders who can change their world

John@thethinkfarm.org

When leaders rise, everybody rises

The dance of leadership

Leadership requires, strength, grace, poise, rhythm

Also excitement and difference

People tend to leave jobs because they donʼt feel trusted, valued or that their

contributions are appreciated

Often it is just because we forgot to say thank you - we want the

acknowledgment

God endorsed his son publicly when He got baptised!

I want to be with someone who believes in me

Staff want to be listened to - very significant findings in research

Itʼs about slowing down and listening to the heart people have

To learn leadership read Psalm 23

Stop, Listen, Start

Coffee Fixes Everything - because you have to slow down and listen

Tools and strategies

John will send the document!

Victor Frankl

Your life has value in someone elseʼs life, not only are you unique,  you are

irreplaceable

The French donʼt say I miss Megan, but Megan is missing from me

Better outcomes require:

Better communication, relationships, data, decisions

Servant leadership

Hunger for wisdom

Expect the best

Accept responsibility

Respond with courage

Think ‘others firstʼ

Big difference between having the skill of leadership and the heart of a leader

What would happen if you were looking to try to add value to every person you

meet?

Encourage, edify, comfort

Listen to podcast - servant leadership - m... company

As leaders, like Gideon,

Ignore the past

Disregard the present

Speak to the future

Speak to peopleʼs value, rather than their behaviour or performance- people

know when they arenʼt performing or behaving well.

What is in your hands?

Reflections:
When leaders rise everybody rises

Staff want to be listened to - very significant findings in research

Itʼs about slowing down and listening to the heart people have

Better outcomes require:

Better communication, relationships, data, decisions

Servant leadership

Hunger for wisdom

Expect the best

Accept responsibility

Respond with courage

Think ‘others firstʼ

As leaders, like Gideon,

Ignore the past

Disregard the present

Speak to the future

Encourage, edify, comfort

What is in your hands?

Slowing down is becoming a theme! PAUSE to think from Joy Hooker and Critical Thinking 

Next steps:
To learn leadership read Psalm 23
Research Victor Frankl
Listen to podcast on servant leadership  9m.... company)

Try to add value to every person you meet?

Speak to peopleʼs value, rather than their behaviour or performance- people

know when they arenʼt performing or behaving well.

Links to Teacher Standards:

• Making time to have professional discussions with colleagues.
• Attending and contributing to PLD opportunities within and beyond my school
• Undertaking PLD and further professional reading.

TBCS - Encounter with an Atheist - Judy-Anne

Sean got himself into character as an atheist and took questions from the floor. Too many big, technical words for me!



Reflections:
A major part of Sean's point was that we need to think about how we treat people who don't believe the same as us. We don't need to get defensive and make it into a fight and an opportunity for one up man ship or a belittling of others ideas.
His point fits nicely with his dads message about relationships that transform.
You need to have a positive relationship with people to really speak into their lives.

Next steps:


Links to Teacher Standards:

• Making time to have professional discussions with colleagues.
• Attending and contributing to PLD opportunities within and beyond my school
• Undertaking PLD and further professional reading.