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Collaborative Mindsets & Moving Into An MLE

Wow - I am learning so much about my team, quality teaching and learning and systems over recent weeks. It has been very challenging but fun at the same time. Working with my team I value the different backgrounds and strengths of my team members, and their senses of humour as well as their individual strengths. I am learning to not take things as personally as I once would have, and to focus on the content of what people say rather than the tone or facial gesture. I loved the simplicity of the suggestions put forward in the Seven Norms of Collaboration (Annotated Poster) , and am endeavoring to increase my use of  presuming positive intentions  as well as posing questions. I am also working on improving my own confidence in meetings. Key phrases that are helping me are: What unique characteristics/views/skills do I bring to this situation? and How can I build on/add to what has been said?  Visiting Waitakiri I loved and would like to explore: * The different col...

Incredible Years Programme: Ignoring & Redirecting

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...

Incredible Years Programme: Using Incentives

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...

Writing & Assessment: Staff Professional Learning 23.05.17

Purposes for this session:  I mprove understanding of the expectation for the children we teach at all levels of the school. A clear understanding of the process we follow schoolwide when assessing whether our children are meeting the National Standard in writing. Key Points: Consider a range of the child's work. Use the 3 resources to consider students' work...each resource gives different information/guidance. Ensure you moderate with team. Marking Resources: The National Standards Document   The Writing Illustrations E-asTTle writing marking guide - attend to these features/traits when considering student work. d o n’t need to use this to “mark” or “remark” a piece of writing.

Taking A Running Record 16.05.2017

Literacy Processing is how the brain works with the text to get a message (reading) or create a message (writing). Reading recovery children will need to go through every level.  Able - very able readers may move through the colours (i.e. may not spend long on each level) The workshop leader suggests that the book going home is not  a guided book; it should be a phrased, fluent book (even if from browsing book). The take home book should be enjoyable  and not labour intensive. Green level: teach chunking....  a much more effective strategy than sounding out. Other strategies to teach:  * Self-correct * Notice errors * Monitor or checking * Search for information * Find the information (e.g. look for a cue in picture and finding it) * Use the information * Self-correcting * Cross checking Taking running records: * Text must have been seen and taught (guided text) * Record on Marie Clay Running Record Sheet * Include on form: the level, the...

Understanding Behaviour: Responding Safely (Staff Workshop with MOE, 2 May 2017)

Staff workshop from Ministry of Education (Behaviour support team), 2 nd  May 2017 Modules: Understanding behaviour Encouraging ready-to-learn behaviour Responding safely                 Reflection & embedding Strong, positive relationships increase the likelihood of constructive outcomes. Legal Definitions from Guidance for New Zealand Schools on Behaviour Management to Minimise Physical Restraint (Oct 2016) Physical restraint is when staff use their own body to deliberately limit the movement of the student. Staff Preventative and de-escalation measures should be used by staff. Restraint is a last resort to prevent imminent danger of physical injury to the student or others. There must be imminent danger to the physical safety of others Restraint includes taking a child by arm/hand when the student pulls away. It  includes blocking an exit when a child is in the room and wants to leave. You may need t...

Phonics with Yolanda Soryl 4.04.17

The best single predicator of future reading achievement at school entry is phonological awareness. Gillon (2004); Pressley (2002); Elhri et al (2001); Goswami (2001); Blachman (2000) Repetition is required build the neural paths for new knowledge and skills in the brain. What is the single most effective thing you can do to help the low level reader? Hear them read out loud at instructional level every day. Reading requires:          Knowing letter sounds          How to blend sounds together          Requires graphic knowledge & memory (e.g. for high frequency words)          Comprehension          Fluency When faced with a new word, a child can use graphic knowledge (word chunks e.g. ing; graph etc) and phonics (letter sounds).  Spelling requires:          Segmentation      ...