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. 

  

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!

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. 

You are Devine Mr Devine!

As you know we have the coolest caretaker in the whole world. Our caretaker does just as his name suggests, he cares! He cares so much about our school he makes sure that it is immaculate at all times. He comes every morning to make sure our Puketaha School is ready for us and then at the end of the day to make sure it is left tidy. In the holidays he has been water blasting our grounds, shampooing the carpets, mowing the lawns, trimming the edges, getting rid of spiderwebs.... You may have noticed his handy work from last year, the train hedge outside the staffroom, purpose built furniture, lost property pick up and the tidy up and maintenance of the pool just to name a few things. A big thank you Mr Devine, we really do think you are devine!

Big Picture Planning

Here we are again! 'Big picture' planning day today in Ropu Puawai. We collaborate on our planning so we get a shared understanding of what our students need to learn. First we start with a big brainstorm of all our ideas. After this we use some key questions to help focus our direction. We get the benefit of five professional's ideas and experiences to design our curriculum for the term. 

It was a big day but we are now ready to go away and plan more personalised learning experiences for groups based on their varying needs. 

Friday Funday

The teachers from Ropu Mahuri are engaged in conversations about their timetable and programme for 2016. 

Mr Swan is up to his usual antics while Miss Casey stays on task and sorts through resources.

Miss Stantiall and Mrs Hill collaborating on ideas for how they might set up the space. Mrs Hill talks with her hands. Check out Miss Stantiall's new shoes!!

Planning in our teams and starting to organise spaces for learning was the goal for today. It was a busy but productive day.

Joining the Dots

Happy New Year everyone! Today all of the staff from Puketaha School were back at work excited to see each other and get ready for when you come back on Wednesday Feb 3rd. We spent the morning have lots of fun playing team building games and getting to know our new staff members.  We even produced some music videos which brought out the rockstars amongst us. After a delicious lunch of sushi we had Mark Bunting come to help us discover more about communication which will be very useful when we are collaborating in our teaching teams. Tomorrow we will be meeting again to continue preparing for your learning. We hope you are enjoying your break. Have fun and take care. Mrs Dixon