Charlotte Verity Professional Learning (School Based)

Observation & Reflection Notes 4/4/24 - Krystal Hunt Observation & Reflection Notes 5/4/23 - Anna McNeill 

Presentation Link Teach Dispositions For Maths  * This includes teaching what the School Values look like in maths learning (we care, we get there together, we love challenge) * This includes teaching what the Key Competencies look like in maths learning * This includes that maths needs fast thinking (e.g. basic facts) but also a lot of slow thinking  (place value on this when discussing with students), like maths inquiry Represent maths concepts in familiar and unfamiliar ways e.g. using mixed fractions, using a wide vocabulary Inquiry Maths * provides multiple solutions and pathways * provide extension, i.e. an extra challenge, organising and setting out all the answers you can find, join two groups/students with different answers and ask them to talk, compare, contrast, justify etc * enable students to solve or attempt to solve independently (do this by pre-teaching some content, reduce the number of steps, change the way it is represented, simplify the numb...

Resource: Incredible Teachers by Carolyn Webster-Stratton, PH D Chapter 8,9,10 & IYT Workshop 6.7.17 Behavior Planning  This involves a functional behavior assessment, creating and reviewing a plan for a child who has ongoing challenges which a highly challenging behavior.  Template 1,Behaviour challenges (be specific, incl timing and frequency) 2.Desired behaviour (positive opposite of the current challenge) 3. Proactive strategies (Coaching, relationship, specific praise, incentives for desired behaviour, deliberate ignoring) 4. Planned consequences if required (only use when proactive strategies aren’t taking effect). Consequences must be logical and natural e.g. time away from the activity.  5. Parent input and ideas 6. Re-evaluation date and review. Plan next steps e.g. to slowly remove incentives; plans for student self-evaluation Key points: * The behavior may grow worse bef...

Resource: Incredible Teachers by Carolyn Webster-Stratton, PH D Chapter 7,8 & 15 & IYT Workshop 8.6.17 Behaviours When ignoring a challenging behaviour, I am trying to: Use visual prompts/reminders Proximinal praise to those showing the desired behaviour Focus on discussion with the other students, about how they are showing great focus etc Short, simple reminders to whole class e.g. "Who can show me 5?" (focus on mat) When one child is challenging, I am aware of certain other students who may get involved. I will praise those students for being on-task, and encourage them to continue. Give clear expectations, "I will listen to what someone has to say when they come to the mat." for a child calling out and walking around room. What I can't ignore: * Repeated refusals to complete a task when requested * Rudeness towards myself or others (e.g. kicking the wall; pulling faces, name calling etc) * Repeated distraction of others * Defacing o...

Resource: Incredible Teachers by Carolyn Webster-Stratton, PH D Chapter 6 & IYT Workshop Reflection on Engagement and Behaviour (Term 2, Week 3): I am continuing to reflect on the level of engagement and on task / positive behaviour in my class, and what is / isn't working. I feel like we are making small steps increasing both positive behaviour and engagement. Collegiate support and ideas have been critical to this, e.g. Dorinda's Self-Regulation Tools and observing Sue and Dorinda teaching the students.  Other things that are working: * Noticing..making time to share with students, in detail e.g. I noticed that you looked at me when you said that; I notice you came straight to mat * Trying to ignore low level distractions/challenges, and focus on those learning * Having the children demonstrate or lead the class * Limiting time on the mat with lots of short movement breaks * Songs: start of day, rhymes to re-engage students during the day * Consisten...

Kate introduced her six stages of Inquiry (Copyright EduKate), see details below: My Next Step  after this learning: * I am going to try planning backwards, flexibly planning according to needs of children and then documenting the learning as we go. * Focus more on FORMATIVE and SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT e.g. a wall display or verbal statement from the children of their learning. This is EVIDENCE OF LEARNING AND TEACHING.  * Spend time unpacking key words, questions and ideas through engagement e.g. picture sorts, ask an expert etc 1. PURPOSE - So what does this mean for our Identity Unit: I will suggest to team that we spend  longer  on engaging the students into the concept of Identity and why its important.  e.g. tell a personal story about why my family is important OR start with the word identity on the board and have students draw/write what they think it means OR cut / sort paper words related to identity. 2. EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP ...

SELF-REGULATION = staying calmly alert, focused and managing emotions in a way that is socially acceptable. THE ALERT PROGRAMME... * is a way of thinking about internal state, without focusing on emotions. * uses neutral language AROUSAL = HOW ALERT ONE FEELS To attend, concentrate and perform tasks in a manner suitable to the situational demands, one's nervous system must be in the optimum state of arousal (Mercer & Snell 1977). We need to be in exactly the right state of arousal to attend and complete a task.                  How is your engine running? Take the time to stop and check, how is your engine running? Ask the students, how is your engine running? Discuss how the class' engine is running (as a group). You can use a speedometer picture to show this. What affects self-regulation? * Physiological needs e.g. hunger, fatigue * Sensory processing difficulties e.g. over-sensitive or under-sensitiv...

14 March 2016 The best moment of our day was after lunch.  My NE class and I headed outside for a short PE session.  three children got waylaid on route, having stopped to collect acorns. So we all stopped. And we went back. And we spent 10 full minutes collecting and then discussing  what we know or what questions we have about acorns. Our thoughts: * they sometimes have a hat * they turn brown with the sun * the drop from the trees * there is something inside * they can grow into trees * we have to look after them because they are part of nature * if we squash one then it won't become a tree and our questions... * how long have they been there? * why do they fall? * where do seeds come from? You will pretty quickly see that most of the children's questions were answered by other children. Tuakana-teina and peer-led learning in action! Everyone was equal - all had a chance  to share while all others listened. Everyone had something to say,...

I was interested to focus my observation on Te Waka Una on: * How  do teachers collaborate - in terms of space, student groups, planning? * What opportunities are provided for student self-management, agency and voice? * What digital devices are used and how these are managed? I saw a very  calm ,  focused  working environment with all students doing, making, writing, reading together or independently… inspiring ! Teacher collaboration Each term, teams review data and group students, with a focus on target students. Target students receive additional teacher sessions (short, sharp sessions during other whole class work e.g. handwriting) Students are grouped (assessment) and matched to teachers' skills and interests e.g. one teacher may teach multiple art classes, across levels. Students develop relationships with more teachers, and get the best teaching skills available for their needs. Staff teach to their strengths Frequent data review and fle...

Something that has really challenged me this week is student motivation.   Do students believe they can achieve (i.e. that their effort can impact on outcome; intelligence/ability is not something that is fixed from birth - see Dwek etc) Do they feel what they are learning matters? Is it related to them and to the real world? How can they share what they are learning?  Do they have opportunities to experience success?  What can I/others do/say to help them feel/enjoy this success? How can I provide for and listen to students' voices? How can I give them a REAL  say in what and how they learn? What can I do as a teacher to engage them? What tools do I have? e.g. build relationships; bring in humour; use a variety of stimulus which connects to the real world; encourage positive connections with others; set up tasks which allow students to connect with others; knowing students' interests and planning learning accordingly; help students direct their ...