Working Alongside Our Students

For part of today I was chief photographer, charged with the responsibility of photographing our staff to update our website. 

Every learning space I went into revealed teachers and teacher support staff working along side children. Whether it was taking a guided reading/writing/maths group or working with individuals they were deeply involved in their craft. 

This is Susan Hill, one of our new teachers in Ropu Puawai, working with a guided reading group. 

Student's Sharing and Assessing Their Learning

Children need to know what they are learning, why they are learning it and how they will know if they have learn't it. Today we were learning how to make our writing interesting by making our sentences descriptive. 

We were putting ourselves in someone else's shoes by writing from the perspective of children whose journey to school is dangerous, based on some fascinating pictures we had found on the internet. 

To make our sentences descriptive we were using the 'magic' formula of describing and activating the noun in the sentence. After some teacher modelling, expectation setting and then a chance to have a go on their own, with guidance from me, there were some very interesting sentences being developed. 

A chance to share these sentences was done in our lesson wrap up where the children sat in pairs and read their sentences out to each other actively listening for enjoyment and of course that the writer had used the 'magic formula'. This sharing and assessing of their writing is a very important part of the process of children becoming responsible for their own learning. Children who identified that they had not met the objective spent some time remedying this. When students know they have met the expectation for the lesson they feel successful and motivated to reinvest in learning again next time. 

To enrich this process, the teacher gives their feedback based on the learning intention adding to the success the writer feels when acknowledged for their achievement and progress. 

Technology Today

Today our students went to Ngaruawahia Primary for Technology for the second time this term. This group sewed and decorated pin cushions. Technology is part of our Year 7 & 8 programme. They go by bus once a fortnight and learn about soft and hard materials, gardening and food technology.

What happened next?

I walked into Puawai 7&8 just in time to listen to some very proud writers share their 'what happened next' pieces. 

Sharing is a very important part of the writing process. It not only celebrates the success of the writer and encourages active listening,  but is an important time of reflection on the purpose of the session and whether it has been met. 

Sea Scientists in Ropu Kakano

The students in Ropu Kakano Two are 'sea scientists' surveying the sea of Puketaha School to see how many creatures live there and adding to their tally chart. They are concerned with a statistic they found out that said 

'...by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish..."

Learning this way taps into our children’s capacity for pretending’ games. Not only does this build engagement and make learning fun’, it also aligns to the child’s own way of learning about the world.

Getting Our Fingers Dirty!

Did you know that gardening, getting your hands dirty, can help you learn? 

There are so many obvious benefits to involving our children in our garden environment. But I have just been reminded that bacteria in the soil, mycobacterium vaccae, activates brain cells that help with mood, reduce anxiety and enhance learning. 

Here are our newly planted sunflowers outside Ropu Mahuri. Grow little sunflowers grow!!

Completely Absorbed

There is something quite magical about capturing a child who is completely absorbed in their piece of work! Nothing was going to distract this budding Van Gogh from their art. 

To cater for our 21st Century Learners our programmes must be engaging.

Peer Teaching in Action

I look forward to the days that I am in the classroom. It reminds me how much I love my job, working alongside teachers and students with learning at the heart of all we do. Today was no different. I captured the above moment between two five year boys where one was teaching the other how to make a helicopter rotor from K'NEX. The language of learning was so constructive and a successful helicopter rotor was made. 

Learning from our peers makes sense as often we are at a similar stage in our development. The learning is fresh in our minds and that gives us an insight into how to frame it in a way that is relevant. Children are no different, they learn successfully from each other all the time, they speak the same language and feel comfortable to ask questions of each other if they don't understand. 

Peer teaching is a model we value here at Puketaha School and deliberately develop in our children. Often this is scaffolded by the teacher but often, because of the way we have designed our environments and curriculum, this happens naturally between learners. 

  

Life Long Learning

"...The brain the does the thinking does the learning..."

As professionals we regularly reflect on our practice in a range of ways both formally and informally. Our professional learning sessions are one of the scheduled times the whole teaching staff come together to focus on the development of our school priorities. Yesterdays session was re-visiting the reason why we believe in Student Led Conferences as part of Personalising Learning for our students. 

We believe that Student is the best person to tell their parents what they have learnt and through this rich communication between the child, parent and teacher, they are able to build their knowledge of themselves as a learner as well as inform their parents about where they are at with their learning and what their next steps are. 

These constructive partnerships, focussed on learning, that develop over time between the student, their whanau, and their teachers empower families to continue these conversations at home. This type of communication increases the motivation to learn as well as  extending and enriching the learning happening at school.

Summertime

Summer feels like hot sand under my feet
Summer smells like ice-cream
Summer tastes like fish and chips
Summer looks like hot sun
Summer sounds like wind howling
By Dylan M

Often when we first come back after the holidays we use the context of that holiday to build learning around. There are many rich and varied ways teachers can design curriculum that gives children the opportunity to bring their lives into the learning environment. Writing about their experiences is one of these opportunities.

Teachers of writing encourage their students to become observant of their surroundings, looking at their everyday experiences as a chance to tell a story.

Collaborate Collaborate Collaborate

This is one of the main reasons we believe in our Modern Learning Environments - teachers working together to evaluate their impact on student achievement!

'Stick Insects'

One of the reading groups in Ropu Mahuri have insects as their context for learning. One of their follow up activities from their Shared Reading text was designed to challenge them to apply their understanding. Constructing an insect from sticks was a hands on task that showcased how well they could follow instructions and work collaboratively with a buddy. They also showed creativity and critical thinking when they chose sticks that suited each part of the insects anatomy. 

Curious Cows

Look who wanted to come to school today!! I wonder how well they would get along with the chickens, Bluebell and Maggie?

Showing Courage

This morning we got a wonderful surprise when Regan played the guitar for our National Anthem. He had butterflies in his stomach at the idea of following in Mr Drury's footsteps but proud of him we were because he did an amazing job.  Geoff went on to talk about the courage that Mr Swan showed by stepping up and taking on this important role and likened it to a courageous call made by the umpire at the cricket yesterday when he called Marsh out from Henry's bowl that hit his foot before he caught it. Our children were reminded, and that is what our quote is about today, that sometimes it is hard to make that right decision but the right decision is always the best decision in the long run.

Courage is one of our 6 C's here at Puketaha School. The reason being, that in the world we live in, it is becoming more and more essential that we are developing the ability to be 'courageous' and to make brave decisions. When we design our learning programmes we ensure that there are opportunities for our students to take risks, be resilient, try new things, enjoy challenge and to seek support if and when they need it. We are a school where we encourage intelligent mistakes. Nobody is expected to be perfect at Puketaha School.

The Promise of Things to Come

It's that time of year again, brand new stationery! The promise of things to come. Empty pages waiting to be filled with ideas.  "...I love decorating the cover pages, writing stories, solving problems and creating artistic masterpieces...". Traditional stationery combined with digital tools provide our students with a range of ways to think and communicate. 

Children using the Purposeful Spaces for Learning

Today I was working in Ropu Mahuri so my photo of the day reflects this. I thought I would capture our children learning in their purposeful spaces. Here they are working on an art project for their Learning Journal covers. 

There were four different guardian groups operating in this space, each with their own unique learning activity, however the children had the opportunity to choose a physical space that suited the learning they were doing and what type of learner they are. Some chose an independent space in the cave and were so focused they were oblivious to me taking the picture, others chose a buddy space and the top photo shows two students collaborating on the one piece. 

These children are being supported to be agents of their own learning by getting to know themselves and the way they learn best. They enjoy having a sense of ownership of their learning and therefore are more fully engaged in the process. It is a joy to be part of.

First Day Back

School feels right again. Why? Because of the buzz of excited students and their families coming back from their summer break wanting to learn and be with their friends. We have missed your smiling faces and endless energy and are looking forward to an action packed term full of learning and fun. Here are a few photos of us at assembly and of Room 8 and 9 settling in on their first day together with their new teachers and spaces. 

Purposeful Spaces for Learning

In the same way that our homes support and often shape the way we live, the way we live can shape our home. So to can our school environment support and shape the way we learn, and the way we learn can shape the way we design our classrooms and wider school environment.

Today's 'photo' of the day shows how the Ropu Mahuri teachers have organised their space into zones for authentic and engaging learning. There is the Meeting Zone, Collaborative Zone, Cave Zone and a new Zone for learning this year, called the Buddy Zone. A lot of thought has gone into the design of these zones to ensure that our students have a place that suits the type of learning they are doing as well as cater for the type of learner they are. 

These spaces allow  for a range of different learning experiences, such as reading, group work, project space, wet areas, reflection, and presenting. As well as for the learner who likes to work independently, with a buddy or in a collaborative situation.

We encourage you to come and see for yourself how learning happens in these spaces.