Connecting Curriculum, Linking Learning

The above statement is a quote from Deborah Fraser from her book Connecting Curriculum, Linking Learning.

At Puketaha School our goal to to design curriculum that shows children the natural connections within and between subjects. Curriculum that has issues that our children care about will be at the centre and be based around their questions. Ultimately children will be in the drivers seat with their learning negotiating how and what they learn in their pursuit of knowing. Teachers will direct this learning using their knowledge of curriculum and of their learners. Our Puketaha 6 C's, Values and Learning Model are all an integral part of this. 

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. 

  

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.